Benjamin Franklin was an American polymath: a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher and political philosopher. Among the most influential intellectuals of his time, Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States; a drafter and signer of the Declaration of Independence; and the first postmaster general.
London, March 20. 1774. Sir, I am ashamed that my late continued Embarras in public Affairs, should have so long prevented my answering the Letter you honoured me with, of…
London, March 22. 1774. Sir, I received your Favour of Jan. 23. 9 I suppose we never had since we were a People, so few Friends in Britain. The violent…
London, March 23. 1774 Dear Sister, A violent Cold which affects my Head and Eyesight, makes it inconvenient to me to write much; yet I would not miss the Opportunity…
Cravenstreet, March 25. 1774 Gentlemen, The Bearer Mr. James Adair is well recommended to me from America, as a Person of Credit and Veracity, whose Accounts of what he has…
London, April 2. 1774 Sir My last was of the 22d past, since which I have received none of your Favours. I mentioned that the Bill brought into Parliament for…
London, April 7. 1774 Gentlemen, I thought Mr. Strahan had transmitted to you the Invoice with the Books by Falconer. 9 It is but yesterday he brought it to me,…
Craven Street, April 10, 1774. Dear Sir, In compliance with your request, I have endeavoured to recollect the circumstances of the American experiments I formerly mentioned to you, of raising…
London, April 28. 1774 Sir, I have written several Letters to you lately by different Conveyances, and sent you the Bills pass’d and about to be pass’d relating to our…
London, April 28. 1774 My dear Love, I hoped to have been on the Sea in my Return by this time, but find I must stay a few Weeks longer,…
London, May 5. 1774 My dear Child, Our Family here is in great Distress. Poor Mrs. Hewson has lost her Husband, and Mrs. Stevenson her Son-in-law. He died last Sunday…
London, May 7. 1774 My dear Child It is now a very long time indeed since I have had the Pleasure of a Line from you. 5 I hope however…
[May 7, 1774] [ First part missing ] have an Opportunity of passing the new One. All the rest of the 15 Bills passed the same Day, viz. Feb. 26.…
London, June 30. 1774 Dear Friend I send you herewith a few Pamphlets which I request you to distribute among the Committee and others as you may think proper. The…
London, July 22, 1774 6 My dear Child, I have had no Line from you by several late Opportunities: I flatter myself it is owing not to Indisposition, but to…
London, July 22. 1774 Dear Sir, I received your Favour of May 14. with the very ingenious Oration you deliver’d at the Society, for which I thank you. The Bookseller…
London, July 25. 1774. Gentlemen I send herewith per Capt. Falconer, a Box directed for the Library Company, containing the following new Books, which I hope will be agreeable to…
London, July 25. 1774 Dear Sir, I have already written to you as a Friend by this Conveyance. I now write to you as one of the Secretaries of our…
London, Augt. 20. 1774 Dear Friend, This Line will be put into your Hands by my excellent Friend Dr. Priestly, whose Character in the learned World is not unknown to…
London, Sept. 3. 1774 Sir, It is a long time since I have been favoured by a Line from you. I suppose you thought me on my Return to America,…
London, Sept. 3. 1774 Dear Sister, Hearing just now of this Opportunity, I write a Line to acquaint you that I am well and hearty, Thanks to God, as I…
London, Sept. 7. 1774 Dear Friend, Mr. Todd call’d to see me yesterday. I perceive there is a good deal of Uneasiness at the Office concerning the Delay of the…
London, Sept. 7. [1774] Dear Son, I received yours of July 3. from New York, with the Bill of Exchange for Forty Pounds, Cobham on Bond & Ryland, which is…
London, Sept. 10. 1774. Dear Son The Bearer Mr. Ralph Westley, goes to Pennsylvania to look out a proper Tract of good Land, on which to settle some able Norfolk…
London, Sept. 10. 1774. It is now nine long Months since I received a Line from my dear Debby. I have supposed it owing to your continual Expectation of my…