Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Corin, 22 December 1738
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Corin, Isaac

Mr. Corin
Dec. 22. 1738
Please to let the Bearer Stephen Potts have a pair of Leather Breeches, and charge them to the Account of your Friend
B Franklin


Title: Subscription to Christ Church, 7 May 1739
From:
To:

Philadelphia, May 7th, 1739
Whereas, the Episcopal church of Philadelphia, having been long built, and much out of repair, as well as too small for the convenient seating of the congregation, it was therefore resolved, by two several vestries, in the year seventeen hundred twenty-seven, that a sum of money should be raised by subscription, for erecting a new, larger and more commodious building; which good design, with much care and industry hath been carried on, the foundation of a steeple laid, and the body of the new church on the outside almost finished; but the said subscription falling short, and insufficient to complete the same, the inside of the church remains unfinished, and many of the congregation yet unprovided with pews for themselves and families; which makes it necessary that some pews, a gallery, and other conveniences, should yet be added, as well as the whole finished; for which pious and good purpose, we whose names are hereunto subscribed, do promise to pay to the church wardens of the said church, or such others as shall be appointed to receive the same for the use aforesaid, the sums of money by us respectively subscribed. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our names the date above written.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Josiah Franklin, 26 May 1739
From: Franklin, Josiah
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Loving Son.
Boston, May 26, 1739
As to the original of our name there is various opinions; some say that it came from a sort of title of which a book, that you bought when here, gives a lively account. Some think we are of a French extract, which was formerly called Franks; some of a free line; a line free from that vassalage which was common to subjects in days of old: some from a bird of long red legs. Your uncle Benjamin made inquiry of one skilled in heraldry, who told him there is two coats of armour, one belonging to the Franklins of the north, and one to the Franklins of the west. However our circumstances have been such as that it hath hardly been worth while to concern ourselves much about these things, any farther than to tickle the fancy a little.
The first that I can give account of, is my great grand father, as it was a custom in those days among young men too many times to goe to seek their fortune, and in his travels he went upon liking to a taylor; but he kept such a stingy house, that he left him and travelled farther, and came to a smith’s house, and coming on a fasting day, being in popish times, he did not like there the first day; the next morning the servant was called up at five in the morning, but after a little time came a good toast and good beer, and he found good housekeeping there; he served and learned the trade of a smith.
In queen Mary’s days, either his wife, or my grandmother, by father’s side, informed my father that they kept their bible fastened under the top of a joint-stool that they might turn up the book and read in the bible, that when any body came to the dore they turned up the stool for fear of the aparitor, for if it   was discovered, they would be in hazard of their lives. My grandfather was a smith also, and settled at Eton [sic] in Northamptonshire, and he was imprisoned a year and a day on suspicion of his being the author of some poetry that touched the character of some great man. He had only one son and one daughter; my grandfather’s name was Henry, my father’s name was Thomas, my mother’s name was Jane. My father was born at Ecton or Eton, Northamptonshire, on the 18th of October, 1598; married to Miss Jane White, niece to Coll. White, of Banbury, and died in the 84th year of his age. There was nine children of us who were happy in our parents, who took great care by their instructions and pious example to breed us up in a religious way. My eldest brother had but one child, which was married to one Mr. Fisher, at Wallingborough, in Northamptonshire. The town was lately burnt down, and whether she was a sufferer or not I cannot tell, or whether she be living or not. Her father dyed worth fifteen hundred pounds, but what her circumstances are now I know not. She hath no child. If you by the freedom of your office, makes it more likely to convey a letter to her, it would be acceptable to me. There is also children of brother John and sister Morris, but I hear nothing from them, and they write not to me, so that I know not where to find them. I have been again to about seeing . . . . . . . . . but have mist of being informed. We received yours, and are glad to hear poor Jammy is recovered so well. Son John received the letter, but is so busy just now that he cannot write you an answer, but will do the best he can.
Now with hearty love to, and prayer for you all, I rest your affectionate father
Josiah Franklin


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Simon Meredith, 29 July 1739
From: Meredith, Simon
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
July 29 1739
Please to let my Son Hugh Meredith have the Sum of Eight pounds and place the Same to the Account of your Real Friend And very Humble Servant
Simon Meredith
To Mr. Benjamin Franklin Postmaster in Philadelphia

[Receipted:] Receiv’d the above Eight Pounds per meJuly 30. 1739
Hugh Meredith

[Receipted:] Borrowed and receiv’d also of Benjamin Franklin Six pounds more per me£6. —. —
  Hugh Meredith


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Spotswood, 12 October 1739
From: Spotswood, Alexander
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir,
Germanna, Octob. 12. 1739
The Part which your Predecessor, Mr. Andrew Bradford, has acted with respect to the Post-Office Accompts, is no longer to be born with. The Deputy Post-Masters in Great-Britain account every two Months with the General Post-Office there; and I am obliged every half Year to have the Accounts of the General Post-Office in America made up: But I have not been able to obtain any Account from Mr. Bradford of the Philadelphia Office, from Mid-summer 1734, notwithstanding all the pressing Demands that the Comptroller has been continually making upon him for so many Years past. Wherefore I now peremptorily direct, that, upon receipt hereof, you commence Suit against him, without hearkning any more to his trifling Excuses and fallacious Promises. If he lays any Stress on the Reputation of a Man of Truth and Sincerity, he must blush upon a Trial, before his Towns-Men, to have his Letters produced, continually pleading Sickness, for his not sending his Accompts: Whereas, upon Enquiry, I am well assured, that, for these two Years past, he has appeared abroad in as good State of Health, as ever he used to be. Such an Imposition I think ought not to be passed over, without some Mark of my Resentment; and therefore I now direct, that you no longer suffer to be carried by the Post any of his News-Papers, or Letters directed to him, without his paying
   *The Privilege of Free-Postage was allow’d Mr. Bradford, on Condition of his acquitting himself fairly of the Office, and doing Justice to the Revenue. [Franklin’s footnote.]
 the Postage thereof: Which you are to observe, until farther Orders in that Behalf, from, Sir, Your most humble Servant,
To Mr. Franklin
A. Spotswood


Title: Extracts from the Gazette, 1739
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

	  [Advertisement] Benjamin Franklin, Printer, is removed from the House he lately dwelt in, four Doors nearer the River, on the same side of the Street. [January 11]

	  We hear from the Head of Timber-Creek in the Jerseys, That a Woman there has lately had Five Children, all born alive, within the space of 11 Months, by two Husbands. [January 25]

	  [Advertisement] The French Tongue Compleatly Taught, in the most easy and expeditious Manner; by a Person who has for many Years past taught the same with great Success both in the West-Indies, and in London. He may be spoke with every Day at the Post-Office; and waits on Gentlemen and Ladies at their respective Houses, at convenient Hours. [February 15]

[Advertisement] Stolen on the 15th Instant, by one William Lloyd, out of the House of Benj. Franklin, an half-worn Sagathee Coat lin’d with Silk, four fine homespun Shirts, a fine Holland Shirt ruffled at the Hands and Bosom, a pair of black broadcloth Breeches new seated and lined with Leather, two pair of good worsted Stockings, one of a dark colour, and the other a lightish blue, a coarse Cambrick Handkerchief, mark’d with an F in red Silk, a new pair of Calf skin Shoes, a Boy’s new Castor Hat, and sundry other Things.

N.B. The said Lloyd pretends to understand Latin and Greek, and has been a School-Master; He is an Irishman, about 30 Years of Age, tall and slim: Had on a lightish colour’d Great Coat, red Jacket, a pair of black silk Breeches, an old felt Hat too little for him, and sewed on the side of the Crown with white Thread, and an old dark colour’d Wig: but may perhaps wear some of the stolen Cloaths above mentioned.
    Whoever secures the said Thief so that he may be brought to Justice, shall have Thirty Shillings Reward and reasonable Charges, paid by
    B. Franklin
	    [February 22]

	  We hear that Tuesday Night last, a young Dutchman was married to an old Dutchwoman, who was known to have Money. They had a Fiddle at the Wedding, and when the Bride was about to Dance, the Bridegroom told her he was oblig’d to go out a little Way and would return in a short Time. She danc’d ’till it was late, and then he not appearing, she went to look for him in the Bed-Chamber; where she found to her great Surprize that he had been and taken away her Money, and he has not since been heard of. [March 22]

	  We hear from Pensoken, that on the first Inst. one John Collis, being reproach’d by his Acquaintance for suing a Debtor who was unable to pay him, was so stung with Remorse, that he went voluntarily into the River and drowned himself, in about two or three foot Depth of Water. [April 12]

	  [Advertisement] Great Variety of Maps and Prints Sold by B. Franklin. [April 19]

	  [Advertisement] Canary Wine, sweet Oyl, and Lime-juice by the Gallon or lesser quantity, to be Sold by Hugh Roberts, in Second-Street, Philadelphia. Also fine Salt by wholesale or retail. [May 10]

	  Yesterday one James Johnson, met a Man riding into Town, who (in Company with another Man, not yet taken) robb’d him in his Journey from North-Carolina to this Place of upwards of Three Hundred Pounds, Carolina Money, and a Note for Fifty Pounds Sterling; and laid hold of him: The Highwayman beg’d not to be expos’d, and pretended he had marry’d a rich Widow in Town, and would immediately refund the Money, if the other would go with him to his House; on this Pretence he led him to the outside of the Town, then leap’d on his Horse and made his Escape down to the Lower-Ferry, but finding himself closely pursued, and the Boat not ready to go over, he made into the Neck, where he was taken some Hours after; and after an Examination before a Magistrate, committed to Prison. [May 31]

	  We are assur’d that the Man now in Prison in this City for a Robbery committed in Carolina, is the same, who under various Names has been guilty of a great Number of Cheats and Rogueries in this and the neighbouring Provinces for several Years past. [June 14]

	  [Advertisement] Lost on Monday last, somewhere in this City, the Sheath of an Hanger, with a Silver Tip and Hook, and a Knife and Fork with Buck-Horn Handles, fix’d near the Top of it. Whoever brings it to the Post-Office, shall be handsomely rewarded. [June 14]

	  [Advertisement] Lately found a Pocket Book, with a Bond and other Papers in it; the Owner applying to the Printer hereof, and paying the Charge of this Advertisement, may hear of it again. [June 21]

[Advertisement] Intending with the Leave of my Master, to collect and print the poetical Writings of my deceas’d Father Aquila Rose, I desire all Persons who are possess’d of any of those Pieces in Manuscript, to bring or send them to me at the New-Printing-Office in Market-Street; and I promise to give, in Return for each Manuscript, one of the Printed Collections, assoon as they shall be finished.
Joseph Rose
	[June 28]

	  On the 30th of May past, the Children, Grand-Children and Great-Grand-Children of Richard Buffington, senior, to the Number of One Hundred and Fifteen, met together at his House in Chester County, as also his Nine Sons- and Daughters-in-law, and Twelve Great-Grand-Children-in-law. The old Man is from Great Marle upon the Thames, in Buckinghamshire in Old-England, aged about 85, and is still hearty, active, and of perfect Memory. His eldest Son, now in the Sixtieth Year of his Age, was the first born of English Descent in this Province. [July 5]

Mr. Franklin,
The following is a Paragraph contain’d in a Letter I received lately from my Brother Thomas Bond, in Paris, dated Feb. 20. 1738, 9: As I think it will in no small Measure confirm the Character of the Seneca Snake-Root, set forth by Dr. Tennent, common Justice to that Gentleman obliges me to make it known to the Publick.
Phineas Bond

	  “The Seneca Snake-Root, was sent from Virginia to Mr. Jussieu, Physician and Professor of Botany to the King, with a Recommendation and the Method of Use in a Pleurisy, and has been frequently tried by him and many others in that Disorder with surprizing Success, and is in great Esteem: He is a Man of Great Reputation and Learning, and told me this himself.” [July 26]

	  [Advertisement] A few Days past was lost, a Magnifying Glass set in a Cup of Wood about the Bigness of a Taylor’s Thimble. The Finder shall be well rewarded upon bringing or sending it to the Printer. [August 2]

This Gazette Numb. 564 begins the 11th Year since its first Publication; And whereas some Persons have taken it from the Beginning, and others for 7 or 8 Years, without paying me one Farthing, I do hereby give Notice to all who are upwards of one Year in Arrear, that if they do not make speedy Payment, I shall discontinue the Papers to them, and take some proper Method of Recovering my Money.
B. Franklin

	N.B. No new Subscriber will be taken in for the future without Payment for the first half Year advanc’d. [October 4]

	  We hear from Macunja in Bucks County, that last Week two Brothers, the youngest about 10 Years of Age, and the eldest about 18, both of them deaf and dumb, went out into the Woods together, where the eldest cut the Throat of the youngest.  [October 18]

	  Last Week the Rev. Mr. Whitefield landed from London at Lewes-Town in Sussex County, where he preach’d; and arrived in this City on Friday Night; on Sunday, and every Day since he has preach’d in the Church: And on Monday he designs (God willing) to set out for New-York, and return hither the Week after, and then proceed by Land thro’ Maryland, Virginia and Carolina to Georgia. [November 8]

[Advertisement] To Be Sold, At the House of the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, In Second-Street (the same in which Capt. Blair, lately dwelt) the following Goods: Being the Benefactions of Charitable People In England, towards Building an Orphan-House In Georgia:
Brass Candlesticks, Snuffers and snuff-Dishes, four, six, eight, ten and twenty-penny Nails, Pidgeon, Duck and Goose Shot, bar Lead, Pistol Powder in quarter and half Barrels, English Duck Numb. 1, 2, 3, and 4, English Cordage, Ratling, Worming, Marline and Spun-yarn, Ruggs and Blankets, Duffills strip’d, Drills for Bed-sacking, seven eighths and three quarter Garlix, white Roles, white Hessins, Russia Hempen Ditto; narrow Lawns, Scotch Cloth, cotton Romalls, Seirsuckers, white Dimities, Carradaries, Cherconees, long Romalls, colour’d Ginghams with Trimings, Gorgoroons black, black Persian Taffities, strip’d Linseys, Swanskin Bays, broad Cloth, Shalloons, long Ells, Buttons, Buckrams, and sewing-Silk. [November 8]

	  On Thursday last, the Rev. Mr. Whitefield began to preach from the Court-House-Gallery in this City, about six at Night, to near 6000 People before him in the Street, who stood in an awful Silence to hear him; and this continued every Night, ’till Sunday. On Monday he set out for New-York, and was to preach at Burlington in his Way going, and in Bucks County coming back. Before he returns to England he designs (God willing) to preach the Gospel in every Province in America, belonging to the English. On Monday the 26th he intends to set out for Annapolis. [November 15]

The Rev. Mr. Whitefield having given me Copies of his Journals and Sermons, with Leave to print the same; I propose to publish them with all Expedition, if I find sufficient Encouragement. The Sermons will make two Volumes in twelves, on the same Character with this Advertisement, and the Journals two   more, which shall be delivered to Subscribers at 2s. each Volume bound. Those therefore who are enclined to encourage this Work, are desired speedily to send in their Names to me, that I may take Measures accordingly.
B. Franklin
[November 15]

	On Friday last the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, arrived here, with his Friends from New-York, where he preach’d eight Times; and on his Return hither preach’d at Elizabeth-Town, Brunswick, Maidenhead, Trenton, Neshaminy and Abingdon. He has preach’d twice every Day in the Church to great Crowds, except Tuesday, when he preach’d at German-Town, from a Balcony to about 5000 People in the Street: And last Night the Crowd was so great to hear his farewel Sermon, that the Church could not contain one half, whereupon they withdrew to Society-Hill, where he preach’d from a Balcony to a Multitude, computed at not less than 10,000 People. He left this City to day, and is to preach at Chester; to morrow at Willings-Town, Saturday at New-Castle, Sunday at Whiteclay-Creek, and so proceed on his Way to Georgia, thro’ Maryland, Virginia and Carolina. [November 29]

	On Thursday last the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, left this City, and was accompany’d to Chester by about 150 Horse, and preach’d there to about 7000 People; on Friday he preach’d twice at Willings-Town to about 5000; on Saturday at New-Castle to about 2500, and the same Evening at Christian-Bridge to about 3000; on Sunday at Whiteclay-Creek he preach’d twice, resting about half an Hour between the Sermons, to about 8000, of whom about 3000 ’tis computed came on Horse-back. It rain’d most of the Time and yet they stood in the open Air: On Monday he was to preach at North-East, and then proceed directly for Annapolis. [December 6]

Just Publish’d, Poor Richard’s Almanacks, for the Year 1740. Containing besides the usual Matters, many pleasant Verses, merry Jokes and wise Sayings, with a Letter to the Author from Titan Leeds, deceas’d; also Dr. Tennent’s infallible Method of Cure in the Pleurisy by the Seneka Rattle-Snake Root.

Note. As the Plant is very plainly described, and may be found in Pensilvania, the Jerseys, New-York, &c. and as the Method of using it is particularly laid down, it is not doubted but this Almanack may be a Means of saving the Lives of Thousands. Sold by B. Franklin at the New Printing-Office, Market street. Price 3s. 6d. per Dozen, or 5d. Single. [December 6]

	  Thursday last died, Mrs. Dorcas Bradford, Wife of Mr. Andrew Bradford, Printer; and on Saturday Evening was decently interred. Her Death is much lamented by all that knew her. [December 27]

Philadelphia: Printed by B. Franklin, Post-Master, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. Price 10s. a Year. Where Advertisements are taken in, and Book-Binding is done reasonably, in the best Manner.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from William Dewees, Jr., 26 January 1740
From: Dewees, William, Jr.
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
Janry. the 26th 1739/40
I Sent you Last week 7½ Reemes of Large Printing Paper and 8 Reemes of Brown Ditto and Now Send you by the Same Barrer 12 Ditto of Corse printing which I would have you Place to the Cr. of Yours
Wm. Dewees Jnr
To Mr. Benjn Franklin this


Title: Note on Closing the Concert Room, 8 May 1740
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

Dancing parties and concerts by a musical club, both taking place in a room kept by the dancing-master Robert Bolton, gave pleasure to some of Philadelphia’s wealthier citizens. But to George Whitefield and his enthusiastic followers music and dancing were “devilish diversions” and, as such, should be suppressed. Accordingly his traveling companion William Seward, with Bolton’s assent, locked up the room and took away the key. The episode made “a great Stir”; the gentlemen who had rented the room for their entertainments broke in the door, accosted Seward “very roughly,” and threatened him with a caning. “What a Hurry Satan puts his Servants into,” he wrote, “when their darling Idols are opposed?” On Tuesday, April 22, “the Company met to Dance as they used to do,” their spokesman asserted. This was the last such weekly assembly scheduled for the season; there was no dance on April 29.
Seward may or may not have known the reason for this omission, but he took the credit, and rejoiced that the forces of righteousness had “taken Satan’s strongest Hold in this City.” He sent the following note to the Pennsylvania Gazette, which Franklin printed on May 1: “Since Mr. Whitefield’s Preaching here, the Dancing School, Assembly and Concert Room have been shut up, as inconsistent with the Doctrine of the Gospel: And though the Gentlemen concern’d caus’d the Door to be broke open again, we are inform’d that no Company came the last Assembly Night.”
The “gentlemen” were angered by the note’s implication that Bolton’s patrons had given up their dancing party because of Whitefield’s preaching, since nothing was further from the truth. In a sharply-worded protest and explanation, which they asked Franklin to print, they charged Seward with wilfully misrepresenting the facts “in order to ... spread his Master’s Fame, as tho’ he had met with great Success among the better Sort of People in Pennsylvania....” Though this protest seemed to Franklin to contain as much vilification as vindication, he printed it, with a short preface.

In my last, at the Request of Mr. Seward, I inserted an Article of News, relating to the shutting up of the Concert Room, &c. which it seems gives great Offence to the Gentlemen concern’d in the Entertainments usually carry’d on there; for tho’ the Article is allow’d to be literally true, yet by the Manner of Expression ’tis thought to insinuate something that is not true, viz. That the Gentlemen forbore meeting on the Night mentioned, as thinking such Entertainments inconsistent with the Doctrine of the Gospel. I have often said, that if any Person thinks himself injured in a Publick News-Paper, he has a Right to have his Vindication made as publick as the Aspersion. The Gentlemen above mentioned have brought me the following Letter to be inserted in my Paper, believing the Publication of it will be advantageous to their Reputation: And tho’ I think there is a good deal of Difference between a Vindication and an Invective; and that, whatever Obligations a Printer may be under to publish Things of the former kind, he can be under none with Regard to the latter: Yet, as the publishing of this, will obviate a groundless Report (injurious to that Gentleman) that Mr. Whitefield had engag’d all the Printers not to print any Thing against him, lest his Doctrine and Practice should be expos’d, and the People undeceiv’d; I shall therefore print it as I received it: And when the Publick has heard what may possibly be said in Reply, they will then judge for themselves.


Title: Statement of Editorial Policy, 24 July 1740
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

George Whitefield’s doctrine and eloquence had sensational effects throughout the colonies. One of those who resisted him, strongly disapproving his excessive religious emotionalism, was Ebenezer Kinnersley, a Baptist lay preacher in Philadelphia. In a sermon on July 6, 1740, Kinnersley expressed abhorrence of “Enthusiastick Ravings ... that ... proceed not from the Spirit of God; for our God is a God of Order, and not of such Confusion....” These sentiments gave great offense, some of the congregation stormed out of the meeting-house “in a most disorderly and tumultuous Manner,” and Kinnersley was denounced as an enemy of the Reformation, a tool of Satan, and an opposer of the doctrine of Christ. He refused to recant and apologize, and on July 12 the church forbade him to preach again. On July 15 he wrote a strongly-worded defense and justification that concluded with a savage attack on Jenkin Jones, the regular minister of the Philadelphia Baptists. Franklin printed this defense, entitled “A Letter ... to a Friend in the Country,” as a Postscript to the Gazette, July 24, prefacing it with his own justification for doing so.

It is a Principle among Printers, that when Truth has fair Play, it will always prevail over Falshood; therefore, though they have an undoubted Property in their own Press, yet they willingly allow, that any one is entitled to the Use of it, who thinks it necessary to offer his Sentiments on disputable Points to the Publick, and will be at the Expence of it. If what is thus publish’d be good, Mankind has the Benefit of it: If it be bad (I speak now in general without any design’d Application to any particular Piece whatever) the more ’tis made publick, the more its Weakness is expos’d, and the greater Disgrace falls upon the Author, whoever he be; who is at the same Time depriv’d of an Advantage he would otherwise without fail make use of, viz. of Complaining, that Truth is suppress’d, and that he could say MIGHTY Matters, had he but the Opportunity of being heard.
The Printers of this City have been unjustly reflected on, as if they were under some undue Influence, and guilty of great Partiality in favour of the Preaching lately admir’d among us, so as to refuse Printing any Thing in Opposition to it, how just or necessary soever. A Reflection entirely false and groundless, and without the least Colour of Fact to support it; which all will be convinc’d of when they see the following Piece from one Press, and the Rev. Mr. Cummings’s Sermons against the Doctrines themselves, from the other.

Englishmen thought it an intolerable Hardship, when (tho’ by an Act of their own Parliament) Thoughts, which should be free, were fetter’d and confin’d, and an Officer was erected over the Nation, call’d a Licenser of the Press, without whose Consent no Writing could be publish’d. Care might indeed be taken in the Choice of this Officer, that he should be a Man of great Understanding, profound Learning, and extraordinary Piety; yet, as the greatest and best of Men may have some Errors, and have been often found averse to some Truths, it was justly esteem’d a National Grievance, that the People should have Nothing to read but the Opinions, or what was agreeable to the Opinions of ONE Man. But should every petty Printer (who, if he can read his Hornbook, may be thought to have Learning enough to qualify him for his own Sphere) presume to erect himself into an Officer of this kind, and arbitrarily decide what ought and what ought not to be published, much more justly might the World complain. ’Tis true, where Invectives are contain’d in any Piece, there is no good-natur’d Printer but had much rather be employ’d in Work of another kind: However, tho’ many personal Reflections be interwoven in the following Performance, yet as the Author (who has subscrib’d his Name) thought them necessary, to vindicate his own Conduct and Character, it is therefore hoped, on that Consideration, the Reader will excuse the Printer in publishing them.


Title: James Franklin: Indenture of Apprenticeship, 5 November 1740
From: Franklin, James
To: Franklin, Benjamin

[November 5, 1740]
This Indenture Witnesseth, That James Franklin late of Newport in Rhodeisland, but now of Philadelphia in Pennsilvania Hath put himself, and by these Presents, doth voluntarily, and of his own free Will and Accord, put himself Apprentice to Benjamin Franklin of the City of Philadelphia, Printer to learn his Art, Trade, and Mystery, and after the Manner of an Apprentice to serve the said Benjamin Franklin from the Day of the Date hereof, for, and during, and unto the full End and Term of Seven Years next ensuing. During all which Term, the said Apprentice his said Master faithfully shall serve, his Secrets keep, his lawful Commands everywhere readily obey. He shall do no Damage to his said Master, nor see it to be done by others without letting or giving Notice thereof to his said Master. He shall not waste his said Master’s Goods, nor lend them unlawfully to any. He shall not commit Fornication, nor contract Matrimony within the said Term. At Cards, Dice, or any other unlawful Game, he shall not play, whereby his said Master may have Damage. With his own Goods, nor the Goods of others, without Licence from his said Master, he shall neither buy nor sell. He shall not absent himself Day nor Night from his said Master’s Service, without his Leave: Nor haunt Ale-houses, Taverns, or Play-houses; but in all Things behave himself as a faithful Apprentice ought to do, during the said Term. And the said Master shall use the utmost of his Endeavour to teach or cause to be taught or instructed the said Apprentice in the Trade or Mystery of Printing and procure and provide for him sufficient Meat, Drink, Cloaths Lodging and Washing fitting for an Apprentice, during the said Term of Seven Years, and at the Expiration thereof shall give him one good new Suit of Cloaths, besides his common Apparel And for the true Performance of all and singular the Covenants and Agreements aforesaid, the said Parties bind themselves each unto the other firmly by these Presents. In Witness whereof, the said Parties have interchangeably set their Hands and Seals hereunto. Dated the Fifth Day of November in the Fourteenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the second King of Great-Britain, &c. Annoque Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty.
James Franklin
Sealed and delivered in  the Presence of usChristopher ThompsonRichard Verguson [sic]
Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office, near the Market
 Endorsed: Jemmy’s Indenture


Title: Advertisement of the General Magazine, 13 November 1740
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

The American Weekly Mercury, November 6, 1740, printed a long, ambitious “Plan of an Intended Magazine,” to be called The American Magazine, or A Monthly View of The Political State of the British Colonies. John Webbe, who was to be the editor, probably composed it, though it was signed by Andrew Bradford. Each issue would contain four sheets, or equivalent, of the size the Mercury was printed on; the price was 12s. a year Pennsylvania currency; and the first number would appear in March, if enough subscriptions were received. A week later Franklin announced his plan to publish The General Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, for all the British Plantations in America. It would be the same size as the American Magazine, but cost only 9d. a copy; and the first issue would appear in January. There was, however, much more to the rivalry than this indicates, as is shown by Franklin’s advertisement and the replies it called forth.

In January next will be published, (To be continued Monthly) The General Magazine, and Historicle Chronical, For all the British Plantations in America: Containing,
  I. Extracts from the Votes, and Debates of the Parliament of Great Britain.
II. The Proclamations and Speeches of Governors; Addresses, Votes, Resolutions, &c. of Assemblies, in each Colony.
III. Accounts of, and Extracts from, all new Books, Pamphlets, &c. published in the Plantations.
IV. Essays, controversial, humorous, philosophical, religious, moral or political.
V. Select Pieces of Poetry.
VI. A concise CHRONICLE of the most remarkable Transactions, as well in Europe as America.
VII. Births, Marriages, Deaths, and Promotions, of eminent Persons in the several Colonies.
VIII. Course of Exchange between the several Colonies, and London; Prices of Goods, &c.
  This Magazine, in Imitation of those in England, was long since projected; a Correspondence is settled with Intelligent Men in most of the Colonies, and small Types are procured, for carrying it on in the best Manner. It would not, indeed, have been published quite so soon, were it not that a Person, to whom the Scheme was communicated in Confidence, has thought fit to advertise it in the last Mercury, without our Participation; and, probably, with a View, by Starting before us, to discourage us from prosecuting our first Design, and reap the Advantage of it wholly to himself. We shall endeavour, however, by executing our Plan with Care, Diligence and Impartiality, and by Printing the Work neatly and correctly, to deserve a Share of the Publick Favour: But we desire no Subscriptions. We shall publish the Books at our own Expence, and risque the Sale of them; which Method, we suppose, will be most agreeable to our Readers, as they will then be at Liberty to buy only what they like; and we shall be under a constant Necessity of endeavouring to make every particular Pamphlet worth their Money. Each Magazine shall contain four Sheets, of common sized Paper, in a small Character: Price Six Pence Sterling, or Nine Pence Pennsylvania Money; with considerable Allowance to Chapmen who take Quantities. To be printed and Sold by B. Franklin in Philadelphia.


Title: John Webbe: The Detection, 17 November 1740
From: Webbe, John
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Franklin’s advertisement of the General Magazine, November 13, accused John Webbe, to whom as prospective editor he had revealed his scheme in confidence, of carrying the idea to Bradford in order to get ahead of Franklin and reap the advantage personally. Webbe responded immediately with this defense and countercharge. The second part of “The Detection,” promised for the Mercury’s issue of November 27, never appeared, because Webbe substituted a discussion of his own literary competence (see below, p. 270) in answer to charges which must have been circulated by word of mouth, for they do not appear in the Gazette. On December 4 Webbe renewed his defense, though not by a continuation of “The Detection,” and this time accused Franklin of unfair use of his office as postmaster to deny free circulation to the Mercury (see below, p. 273). This charge shifted the grounds of controversy and ended the public discussion of the proposed agreement for the production of Franklin’s magazine.

The Detection.
Philadelphia Nov. 17. 1740
Tho’ Nothing could be more imprudent in Mr. Franklin than to thrust me into his Advertisement, in any Shape whatsoever; yet he has not only thought fit to introduce me there, but has at the same Time accused me, of such Practices, which if I were guilty of, I should not deserve to breath in any Society.
However highly impertinent it may be deemed in Mr. Franklin, to have troubled the Public with any private Difference between him and my self, yet my appearing at this Time, in my own Vindication, cannot be looked upon in the same Light, for as much as it is an absolute Necessity that constrains me to it.

As Mr. Franklin has now professedly applied his News Paper to the gratifying his own particular Malice by blackening the Reputation of a private Person; it is reasonable to believe that, without a proper Animadversion on such a Proceedure, he will not stop at this single Instance of spitting his Malignity from his Press, but be incouraged to proceed in making use of it as an Engine to bespatter the Characters of every other Person he may happen to dislike.
My endeavouring, then, to expose the Iniquity of this his first Attempt, by detecting the Falshoods insinuated in his Advertisement, does not only concern me in particular, but is the Cause of every Man in general.
These Falshoods are not directly asserted, and therefore I said they were insinuated, which is by far the most mischievous Kind of Lying; for the Strokes being oblique and indirect, a Man cannot so easily defend himself against them, as he might do, if they were straight and peremtory. There is something too more mean and dastardly in the Character of an indirect Lyar than a direct one. This has the Audacity of a Highwayman, That the Slyness of a Pickpocket. Both indeed rob you of your Purse, and both deserve a Gibbet; but, were I obliged to pardon either, I could sooner forgive the bold Wickedness of the one, than the sneaking Villainy of the other.
The first Falshood, which I shall take Notice of as insinuated by the Gazetteer, is couched in Expressions that at first sight may seem to admit of several Meanings. He says I advertised his Scheme, or as he calls it afterwards, his Plan, in the Mercury, without his Participation tho’ it had been communicated to me in Confidence. He indeed communicated to me his Desire of printing a Magazine or a monthly Pamphlet, if I would undertake to compose one. But surely his making the Proposal neither obliged me to the writing of one for him to print, nor restrained me from the printing of it at any other Press without his Leave or Participation. If that were a Consequence, then Mr. Franklin has only to offer himself as a Printer of Books or Pamphlets to every Man that he thinks has a Talent for Writing, and they shall from thenceforth be restrained from publishing any Thing without his Consent. The Consequence would be equally ridiculous, if on the publishing the Plan of a monthly Pamphlet Mr. Franklin should call it his Scheme, because he happened to mention the Word Pamphlet to the Writer: Nor would the Absurdity be at all lessened, if instead of Pamphlet Mr. Franklin had dropped the Word Magazine. Again, one applies to a Person, that he believes has some Skill in Architecture, for the Draft of an Edifice. Shall he, because of his Application, be entitled to the Merit of the Draft? Suppose his Request was to build him a House, and the Architect in the first Place draws the Plan of it. Shall the other, because he barely proposed a Building in general, be intitled to call the Plan his, when he never dreamt that it was a previous Requisite to the Building?
Tho’ Mr. Franklin mentioned to me the composing a Magazine, yet he never once hinted at any Plan to be wrote on which the Work was to proceed. The Absurdity therefore in claiming it for his, on such Grounds, is too evident to be farther insisted on. He must therefore insinuate that it was wholly his Scheme, or at least drawn with his Assistance, and that I afterwards clandestinely published it as mine.
What I have asserted, concerning his Share in it, would have entirely rested on the Credit of my own Testimony, which on Mr. Franklin’s Denial would have been left at large for every one to believe as they pleased, had I not accidentally preserved my rough Draughts contrary to my usual Custom of destroying them the Moment I make a fair Copy, which Custom Mr. Franklin was well acquainted with. The various Alterations and progressive Improvements made in them will evidently demonstrate I could have no Assistance in drawing the Plan but from my own Judgment. Moreover, by a singular Piece of good Fortune, I found, among my neglected Papers, some Minutes of Proposals made to me by Mr. Franklin in his own Hand-writing, a litteral Copy of which immediately follows, which will show that his long projected Scheme was never intended to be carried on by him in any other Capacity than that of a meer Printer.
Magazine to consist of 3 Sheets 1000 to be printed at first. Price 15s. a Year, or 15d. a piece single. 12s. a Doz. to those that sell again.

B.F. to be at all Expence of Paper, Printing, Correspondence for procuring Materials &c. vending, keeping Accounts &c.
J.W. to dispose the Materials, make Abstracts, and write what shall be necessary for promoting the Thing &c.
The Money received to be divided thus—B.F. for and towards defraying the Expence above mentioned to take first one half, the Remainder to be equally shared between him and J.W: Bad Debts if any to be divided in the same Manner.
To agree for a Term of 7 Years. The above Agreement to be for all under 2000; all above 2000 sold the Money to be equally divided; B.F. to be at all Expence.
On the Delivery of these Proposals he told me he thought himself intitled to the half of the Profits of the Work, besides his Gain as a Printer, for two Reasons. First, for that he had a small Letter that no other Printer in America had besides himself. 2dly the Privilege which he had from his being Post-Master. Either of these advantages being wanting, he affirmed the Work could not possibly go on. Tho’ I was then utterly ignorant of the Nature of those several Matters, yet, having an entire Confidence in his Sincerity, I did not at all doubt of the Truth of any Thing he told me, and therefore I frankly agreed to his Proposals. But afterwards finding that every Moment of my Time would be necessarily ingrossed in the Execution of the Undertaking, tho’ Mr. Franklin who had it long under his Consideration, had told me, that it would only require about 3 or 4 Days in a month; and having also discovered that his Reasons for claiming half the Profits, over and above the Gain accruing to him as a Printer, were groundless and ridiculous: I thought my self, on these Discoveries, even supposing there were no grosser Frauds yet behind to mention, acquitted from my Engagement, tho’ it was ingrossed and ready for Execution. But if I had perfected it, yet being drawn in upon such Circumstances, I should have been relieved from such a Contract, in any Country in the World, by a universal Maxim in Equity.
Tho’ what I have alledged is strictly Truth, yet I will acknowledge every Particular to be false, If Mr. Franklin can produce any one Instance of my acting an insincere or dishonest Part in the Course of this Transaction, or on any other Occasion whatsoever, either in Respect to him or any one else, except my not suffering my self to be made his Bubble shall be deemed so.
Of what Composition, then, is the Soul of that Man, who, having contrived to make a Property of his Friend, will afterwards charge him with a Violation of Trust, and coolly and deliberately endeavour to murder his Reputation in the most publick Manner, on which his Livelihood, tho’ not in the Capacity of a Magazine-Writer, entirely depends.
John Webbe

(The Remainder of the Detection in the next)


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from George Whitefield, 26 November 1740
From: Whitefield, George
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Mr. F[ranklin],
Reedy-Island, Nov. 26, 1740
I thank you for your letter. You may print my life, as you desire. God willing, I shall correct my two volumes of sermons, and send them the very first opportunity. Pray write to me by every ship, that goes shortly to Charles-Town.
I shall embark for England, God willing, about February. I desire I may hear from you there also, as often as possible. I have prefaced Jenks, and Presumptuous sinners detected. Mr. Bradford has the last, because he said he was to print it. You may have it of him. The Ornaments of the daughter of Sion, you may have hereafter. Dear Sir, Adieu. I do not despair of your seeing the reasonableness of Christianity. Apply to God; be willing to do the divine will, and you shall know it. I have heard from Mr. S-----; all is well. To-day several friends have taken leave of me at this place, waiting for a fair wind in order to embark for Georgia. I think I have been on shore 73 days, and have been enabled to travel upwards of 800 miles, and to preach 170 times, besides very frequent exhortations at private houses. I have collected, in goods and money, upwards of £700 sterling, for the Orphan-house; blessed be God! Great and visible are the fruits of my late, as well as former feeble labours, and people in general seem more eager after the word than ever. O the love of God to Your unworthy friend,
G. W.


Title: The Postmaster and the Mercury, 11 December 1740
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

The Publick has been entertain’d for these three Weeks past, with angry Papers, written expressly against me, and publish’d in the Mercury. The two first I utterly neglected, as believing that both the Facts therein stated, and the extraordinary Reasonings upon them, might be safely enough left to themselves, without any Animadversion; and I have the Satisfaction to find, that the Event has answered my Expectation: But the last, my Friends think ’tis necessary I should take some Notice of, as it contains an Accusation that has at least a Shew of Probability, being printed by a Person to whom it particularly relates, who could not but know whether it was true or false; and who, having still some Reputation to guard, it may be presum’d, could by no Means be prevail’d on to publish a Thing as Truth, which was contrary to his own Knowledge.
“Mr. Franklin (says the Writer in the Mercury) has, since my first Letter, in Quality of Post-Master, taken upon him to deprive the Mercury of the Benefit of the Post, and will not permit it to travel with his Gazette which charges me with the most infamous Practices. His Resentment against his Brother Printer is altogether unreasonable; for a Printer should always be acquitted from being a Party to any Writing, when he discovers the Author, or when the Author subscribes his Name; except the other KNOWS he publishes a Falshood at the Time; which cannot be supposed to be the Case in respect to what Mr. Bradford printed for me.”
It unluckily happens, that this not only may be supposed to be the Case, but really is the Case, in respect to this very Paragraph.
For the Truth is, that ’tis now upwards of a Twelvemonth since I refus’d to forward Mr. Bradford’s Papers free by the Post, in Obedience to a positive Order from the Hon. Col. Spotswood, then Post-Master General.
To prevent any Suspicion of the Reality of such an Order, or that I obtain’d it by some Misrepresentations of Mr. Bradford, or that it was given hastily, thro’ Caprice, or without just Reason, I am sorry I am oblig’d to mention, That his Detaining the Ballance of his Accounts, and his Neglecting to render any Account for a long time, while he held the Post-Office himself, as they were the Occasion of his Removal, so they drew upon him, after long Patience and Forbearance, the Resentment of the Post-Master General, express’d in the following Letter.
[Here Franklin incorporated the text of the letter from Alexander  Spotswood, October 12, 1739, printed above, pp. 235–6.]
Upon the Receipt of this Letter it was, that I absolutely refus’d to forward any more of Mr. Bradford’s Papers free by Post; and from that time to this, he has never offered me any to forward. This he cannot but KNOW to be true.
I must however do Mr. Bradford the Justice, to vindicate him from an injurious Suspicion which I apprehend may arise on this Occasion, to wit, That he has impos’d that Story on his unhappy Writer, and misled him by a wrong Account of Facts he might be ignorant of. For this, in my Opinion, cannot possibly be: Inasmuch as that Person is thoroughly acquainted with the Affair, was employ’d as Attorney in the Action against Bradford, and had, at the very Time he was writing the Paragraph in Question, the Original Letter from Col. Spotswood, in his own Possession.
B. Franklin


Title: John Webbe: The Postmaster and the Mercury, 18 December 1740
From: Webbe, John
To: Franklin, Benjamin

A Particular must imagine himself to be of mighty Consequence, when he thinks his private Differences deserve to be decided at the public Tribunal. But when he is dragged there against his Inclination, every one must acknowledge that he has a Right to be heard in his Turn. This was my Case in Respect to the Scandalous Accusation, which without the least Provocation on my Part Mr. Franklin brought against me.
“There is something very terrible (to use the words of Sir Richard Steel) in attacking a Man in a Way that may prejudice his Character or Fortune.” I thought all in general as much concerned in discouraging, as I in particular was in vindicating my self from the unjust Calumny endeavoured to be propagated in the Gazette. I therefore warmly, yet I hope justly, resented the undeserved Injury, which every Man, in my humble Apprehension of Things, would, nay should do, in like Circumstances.
The Advertisement that gave Occasion to those Reflections is lately dropped; and Nothing could compensate the Reader for the Loss of so ingenious a Performance, which the Gazetteer, as a Sample of his Abilities for carrying on a Magazine, favoured us with for four Weeks successively, but the wonderful Letter substituted in the Place of it.
Previous to the Remarks I intend to make on it I would premise, That it is true that after the Orders mentioned by the Gazetteer, Mr. Bradford never sent him any of his Papers to be forwarded in the Mail. But it is as true, that, as they were made up in unsealed Packets, he sent them to the Riders who used to distribute them on their several Routs. This Method, which Mr. Bradford was obliged to have Recourse to a considerable Time past for the Conveyance of his News-Papers, was NO Secret; and consequently could not be unknown to Mr. Franklin; and therefore it must be presumed to have had his Approbation. Moreover, I was well assured that He had declared, some Time before he laid me under the Necessity of writing against him in my own Defence, that as he favoured Mr. Bradford by permitting the Postman to distribute his Papers, he had him therefore under his Thumb; and was confident, in Regard he could at any Time deprive him of that Privilege, that he would not, if he understood his own Interest, be prevaild upon to publish any Thing against him the Gazetteer.
Of this incontestable Proof can be brought, if it should be denied; for untill it be, as the Fact lies within his own Knowledge it would be idle to produce it.
Again, Mr. Bradford, on whom I ought to relie, informed me before I wrote my last, that the Postman who generally carried his News-Papers lately mentioned he was apprehensive it wou’d be displeasing to Mr. Franklin, were he to know he distributed them. Now such Apprehensions which could only be judged to arise from some Declaration of Mr. Franklin; (whether directly or indirectly is left to his Choice to say; for either is equal for our Purpose) being considered with the Information I had of his previous Resolution to stop the Passage of the Mercury, whenever he should think himself disobliged by it: I therefore, and justly therefore, inferred, That he had already begun to put his Threats against the Mercury in Execution.
Tho’ I think this Inference can be maintained upon the strictest Rules of Reasoning; yet, admitting it to be only a very probable Conjecture, the Event has shown it was made on the justest Grounds, if it be true, and Mr. Franklin can best tell whether it be so or no, that he has as well before as after the Publication of his Letter affirmed, That, supposing the Postmen had distributed the Mercury, since Mr. Spotswood’s Orders above mentioned, They did it by Corruption, and without our Post-Master’s Approbation. This surely was a Prohibition to them not to receive it any more. Now, as it sprung from what I wrote in my own Defence, it will be incumbent on Mr. Franklin to show, what I defy him to show, that he had greater Reason to forbid the Passage of the Mercury on the Publication of my last Letter than on that of my first; or he must allow us to date this same Edict of his something higher than 2 Weeks ago, which puts the Point out of Dispute.
This Edict in Regard to the Postman was what I meant by depriving the Mercury of the Benefit of the Post. And I expressly charge it on Mr. Franklin that he was sensible I so meant before he wrote his abusive Letter, which I call upon him to deny if he can. If I had thought the general Expression had been less favourable to him than this particular Explanation of it, I should not have left it at large as I did.
He NOTWITHSTANDING, partly with a View, as I am apt to imagine, to convince the World of his great Address in Argument, undertook to prove, and did most elaborately and UNDENIABLY prove (what he was sure no Body would deny) the Receipt of Mr. Spotswood’s Orders: I say he well knew those Orders would not be denied; for it was commonly known he had such; besides the Letter in which they were contained, being in my own Custody, I readily delivered up on his sending for it, without once pretending it was mislaid, a few Days before the publishing of it in the Gazette.
Such an Absurdity would be pardonable, if it only arose from his natural Fondness of being thought a man of Sagacity. But because he could not in one Respect be said to deprive the Mercury of the Advantage of the Post, in as much as he had Orders so to do, that Therefore he did not in any other Respect; and from thence in express Terms peremptorily to charge me with writing and Mr. Bradford with publishing a wilful Falsehood, tho’ the Gazetteer was thro’ly Sensible at the Time it was not one, is such a flagrant Evidence of his great Candour and Sincerity, as well as of a violent inclination to defame, that I think it may be safely left to it self without any farther Animadversion.
We have already examined into our Gentlemans Pretensions to Candour and Veracity. We would now most humbly crave his gracious Permission to consider him in the Capacity of a Writer. Tho’ I had wrote much, too much, in his Gazette, yet he never favoured me with a Specimen of his Skill that Way, so as to form any certain Judgment of it, before his late Advertisement. I have already pointed out some of the Nonsense of that laboured Piece, which it seems was the Scheme that, to the great Credit of his Learning, he boasts he had been hatching for several Years. I hope he will not insult the Understanding of the Public so much, as to endeavour to palm it upon them again without Correction. For that Reason I would put him in mind of another egregious Blunder, which I desire he will expunge; I mean that Part where he says, That my declaring an Intention of beginning a Magazine, tho’ above 4 Months after such Notice, was probably with a View to get the Start of him. Now this is highly improbable, except waiting so long behind and Starting before signify one and the same Thing.
The Letter now under Consideration is the second Specimen he ever favoured me with of his Abilities as a Writer. I frankly own that I think it far beneath a Criticism. But as he has introduced it with much Solemnity, telling us he undertook it by the Advice of his Friends, I shall therefore animadvert on some Passages in it. It would swell my Paper too much to observe on all the Absurdities contained in that Epistle, for it has not one Line of accurate Sense, except what is comprized in the late General’s Letter, which, after his Decease, the Gazetteer, contrary to all Rules of Honour, and the Laws of Humanity, has taken the modest Freedom to Print.
It will be evident to every Man of Attention, That the true Design of publishing it was to defame Mr. Bradford. But the Gazetteer being obliged to conceal that Design and to devise some plausible Reasons for covering it, therefore says, To prevent any Suspicion of the Reality of such an order, [This was needless for he knew no one would call the Reality of such an order in Question] or that I obtained it by some Misrepresentation of Mr. Bradford, [the Gazetteer has here, instead of laying a Suspicion raised one, by going about to obviate Misrepresentations before he was called upon] or that it was given hastily, thro’ Caprice, or without just Reason, [if the honourable Person was alive, I believe he would not think himself much obliged to this Advocate, for endeavouring to vindicate him from Hastiness, Caprice, or Unreasonableness; since the very Suspicion, which the Printer undertakes to clear the General from, of any one of those Failings, in so great a Character, must be highly injurious to it] I am sorry I am obliged to mention, [Absurd again, to express a Concern for being obliged to mention, what he was not under the least Obligation to mention] That the detaining the Ballance of his accounts and his neglecting to render any account for a long Time, while he held the Post-Office himself, as they were the Occasion of his Removal, [The Letter no where says so, and Mr. Bradford says he was removed by the false Representations, and private Sollicitations of the Gazetteer] so they drew upon him the Resentment of the Post-Master General expressed in the following Letter, which afterwards ensues. But the Post-Master General on the contrary, plainly declares, that for as much as on Inquiry he found, That the Sickness pleaded by Mr. Bradford was only pretended, he therefore thought that such an Imposition should not be passed over, without some Mark of his Resentment. If Mr. Bradford can prove, as he says he can, that his Sickness was not imaginary, no Body can be Suspected of giving that false Information of his State of Health to the Post-Master General but his Deputy here. It appears from the Scope of the Letter to which I refer, that the honourable Person who wrote it, designed it should be communicated to Mr. Bradford, which he declares never was done. Perhaps the Reason of concealing it from him, ’till after the Post-Master General’s Death, was an Apprehension he might be convinced that the Order in it was obtained upon a Misrepresentation of Mr. Bradford, the Suspicion of which Mr. Franklin, tho’ not charged with it, thought himself under a Necessity, even of going out of his Way, to clear himself from. I leave the Paragraph with this farther Observation on it, that I never met with so many Blunders and Inconsistencies crowded together in so small a Compass.
I should not discharge the Part of a just Critic, if, in animadverting on the Faults, I should pass over any Excellency in this inimitable Writer. I cannot therefore but highly applaud the ingenious and concise Method he has invented for refuting Facts, i.e. Truths, tho’ they manifestly prove him to be false and treacherous, by only telling you that he utterly neglects them. But as very few can be supposed [to] have a Taste for relishing a Delicacy in Writing so perfectly new, I am therefore of Opinion, that the Expression which imediately follows, to wit, that the Event has answered his Expectation, or in other Words, that his Method has been generally admired, ought rather to be taken in a hyperbolical than in a litteral Sense; and that, for the true Construction of it, we ought to have Recourse to a certain Figure in Speech, which the French generally call a Gasconade.
J. W.


Title: Poor Richard, 1741
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

Of the Eclipses, 1741.
This Year there will be but two Eclipses, and those will be of the Sun, the first will happen June the Second Day: The other, November the 27th: Neither of which will be seen in these Parts of the World: But to the present Inhabitants of Cuba, and other Spanish Settlements in the West-Indies, these are like to appear very great Eclipses.
XI Mon. January hath xxxi days.

Your homely Face, Flippanta, your disguise,
With Patches, numerous as Argus’ Eyes:
I own that Patching’s requisite for you;
For more we’re pleas’d, if less your Face we view:
Yet I advise, if my Advice you’d ask,
Wear but one Patch;—but be that Patch a Mask.

Enjoy the present hour, be mindful of the past;
And neither fear nor wish the Approaches of the last.

  Learn of the skilful: He that teaches himself, hath a fool for his master.
XII Mon. February hath xxviii days.

The cringing Train of Pow’r, survey;
What Creatures are so low as they!
With what obsequiousness they bend!

To what vile actions condescend!
Their Rise is on their Meanness built,
And Flatt’ry is their smallest Guilt.

Best is the Tongue that feels the rein;
He that talks much, must talk in vain;
We from the wordy Torrent fly:
Who listens to the chattering Pye?

  Think Cato sees thee.
  No Wood without Bark.
I Mon. March hath xxxi days.

Enrag’d was Buckram, when his Wife he beat,
That she’d so often lousy Knave, repeat.
At length he seiz’d and drag’d her to the Well,
I’ll cool thy Tongue, or I’ll thy Courage quell.
Ducking, thy Case, poor Buckram, little mends;
She had her Lesson at her Fingers Ends.
Sows’d over head, her Arms she raises high;
And cracking Nails the Want of Tongue supply.

Monkeys warm with envious spite,
Their most obliging Friends will bite;
And, fond to copy human Ways,
Practise new Mischiefs all their days.

  Joke went out, and brought home his fellow, and they two began a quarrel.
II Mon. April hath xxx days.

Rash Mortals, e’er you take a Wife,
Contrive your Pile to last for Life:
On Sense and Worth your Passion found,
By Decency cemented round;
Let Prudence with Good-Nature strive
To keep Esteem and Love alive;

Then, come old Age when e’er it will,
Your Friendship shall continue still.

  Let thy discontents be thy Secrets; if the world knows them, ’twill despise thee and increase them.

E’er you remark another’s Sin,
Bid your own Conscience look within.

  Anger and Folly walk cheek by jole; Repentance treads on both their Heels.
III Mon. May hath xxxi days.

Fair Decency, celestial Maid,
Descend from Heav’n to Beauty’s Aid:
Tho’ Beauty may beget Desire,
’Tis thou must fan the Lover’s Fire:
For, Beauty, like supreme Dominion,
Is best supported by Opinion:
If Decency bring no Supplies,
Opinion falls and Beauty dies.

  Turn Turk, Tim, and renounce thy Faith in Words as well as Actions: Is it worse to follow Mahomet than the Devil?
  Don’t overload Gratitude; if you do, she’ll kick.
  Be always asham’d to catch thy self idle.
IV Mon. June hath xxx days.

When painful Colin in his Grave was laid,
His mournful Wife this Lamentation made;
I’ve lost, alas! (poor Wretch, what must I do?)
The best of Friends, and best of Husbands too.
Thus of all Joy and Happiness bereft;
And with the Charge of ten poor Children left;
A greater Grief no Woman sure can know.
Who (with ten Children)—who will have me now?

Where yet was ever found the Mother,
Who’d change her booby for another?

  At 20 years of age the Will reigns; at 30 the Wit; at 40 the Judgment.
  Christianity commands us to pass by Injuries; Policy, to let them pass by us.
V Mon. July hath xxxi days.

Nature expects Mankind should share
The Duties of the publick Care.
Who’s born for Sloth? To some we find
The Plough-share’s annual Toil assign’d;
Some at the sounding Anvil glow;
Some the swift sliding Shuttle throw;
Some, studious of the Wind and Tide,
From Pole to Pole our Commerce guide.

  Lying rides upon Debt’s back.
  They who have nothing to be troubled at, will be troubled at nothing.

Wife, from thy Spouse each blemish hide
More than from all the World beside:
Let Decency be all thy Pride.

VI Mon. August hath xxxi days.

Some (taught by Industry) impart
With Hands and Feet the Works of Art;
While some, of Genius more refin’d,
With Head and Tongue assist Mankind:
Each aiming at one common End
Proves to the whole a needful Friend.
Thus, born each other’s useful Aid,
By Turns are Obligations paid.

  Nick’s Passions grow fat and hearty; his Understanding looks consumptive!

If evils come not, then our fears are vain:
And if they do, Fear but augments the pain.

  If you would keep your Secret from an enemy, tell it not to a friend.
  Rob not for burnt offerings.
VII Mon. September hath xxx days.

The Monarch, when his Table’s spread,
To th’ Farmer is oblig’d for Bread;
And when in all his Glory drest,
Owes to the Loom his royal Vest:
Do not the Mason’s Toil and Care
Protect him from th’ inclement Air?
Does not the Cutler’s Art supply
The Ornament that guards his Thigh?

Bess brags she ’as Beauty, and can prove the same;
As how? why thus, Sir, ’tis her puppy’s name.

  Up, Sluggard, and waste not life; in the grave will be sleeping enough.
  Well done, is twice done.
  Clearly spoken, Mr. Fog! You explain English by Greek.
VIII Mon. October hath xxxi days.

All these, in Duty, to the Throne
Their common Obligations own.
’Tis he (his own and People’s Cause)
Protects their Properties and Laws:
Thus they their honest Toil employ,
And with Content the Fruits enjoy
In every Rank, or great or small,
’Tis Industry supports us all.

Formio bewails his Sins with the same heart,
As Friends do Friends when they’re about to part.
Believe it Formio will not entertain,
One chearful Thought till they do meet again.

  Honours change Manners.
IX Mon. November hath xxx days.

Syl. dreamt that bury’d in his fellow Clay,
Close by a common Beggar’s Side he lay:
And, as so mean a Neighbour shock’d his Pride
Thus, like a Corpse of consequence, he cry’d:
Scoundrel, begone; and henceforth touch me not:
More manners learn; and, at a distance, rot.
How! Scoundrel! in a haughtier Tone cry’d he;
Proud Lump of Dirt, I scorn thy Words and thee;
Here all are equal; now thy Case is mine;
This is my Rotting Place, and that is thine.

Jack eating rotten cheese, did say,
Like Sampson I my thousands slay;
I vow, quoth Roger, so you do,
And with the self-same weapon too.

  There are no fools so troublesome as those that have wit.

Quarrels never could last long,
If on one side only lay the wrong.

X Mon. December hath xxxi days.

  On a Bee, stifled in Honey.
From Flow’r to Flow’r, with eager Pains,
See the poor busy Lab’rer fly!
When all that from her Toil she gains
Is, in the Sweets she hoards, to die.
’Tis thus, would Man the Truth believe,
With Life’s soft Sweets, each fav’rite Joy:
If we taste wisely, they relieve;
But if we plunge too deep, destroy.

  Let no Pleasure tempt thee, no Profit allure thee, no Ambition corrupt thee, no Example sway thee, no Persuasion move thee, to do any thing which thou knowest to be Evil; So shalt thou always live jollily: for a good Conscience is a continual Christmass. Adieu.

  Courts.
He that by Injury is griev’d,
And goes to Law to be reliev’d,
Is sillier than a sottish Chouse,
Who when a Thief has robb’d his House,
Applies himself to cunning Men
To help him to his Goods again:
When, all he can expect to gain,
Is but to squander more in vain.
For Lawyers, lest the Bear Defendant,
And Plaintiff Dog should make an End on’t,
Do stave and tail with Writs of Error,
Reverse of Judgment and Demurrer,
To let them breath a while, and then
Cry Whoop, and set them on again:
Until, with subtil cobweb Cheats,
They’re catch’d in knotted Law, like Nets,
In which, when once they are embrangl’d,
The more they stir the more they’re tangl’d:
For while their Purses can dispute,
There’s no End of th’ immortal Suit.Hud.

    Many Persons being at a Loss to know the Plant which is the true Indian Physick, I thought it not amiss to give the Publick a distinct and plain Account of it.
    The Root hath the Appearance of the true Ipecacuana, Branching from the Centre every Way near the Top of the Ground, or about two or three Inches deep, from which riseth one Stalk, finely chaneled with redish Lines; from the Sides of which grow alternately, about the Distance of two Inches, from near the Bottom to the Top, three distinct Leaves, two Inches long, and near an Inch broad, finely toothed round the Edges, and pointed at the Ends, but joined near the Stalk; out of the Bosom of which ariseth Branches of every Side the Stalk, which are in large Plants again divided into several Branches, and three Leaves joined together accompany the Beginning of every Branch, both which diminish the nearer they are to the Top; where there is commonly, set upon Foot-Stalks half an Inch long, three white Flowers, consisting of five Leaves to each Flower: The Plant groweth from two Foot to four Foot high, in hilly Ground; in these Northern Provinces the whole Plant is bitter in Taste. This is the true Indian Physick mentioned in that valuable little Book entituled, Every Man his own Doctor, written by a learned Gentleman in Virginia, whom I had a Letter of Recommendation unto from London: I enquired of him, particularly, concerning the Ipecacuana mentioned in his Book, and he shewed me a large Quantity of it, which was gathered for his own Practice: He told me, that less than Sixty Grains was not a full Dose for a Man. This I mention because many in Pensilvania and Maryland use a Species of the Spurges, which yieldeth Milk when broken, and is a violent Medicine, instead of this which the Gentleman designed.
John Bertram

In January next will be published,(To be continued Monthly)
  The General Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, For all the British Plantations in America:
Containing,

I.
Extracts from the Votes, and Debates of the Parliament of Great Britain.

II.
The Proclamations and Speeches of Governors; Addresses, Votes, Resolutions, &c. of Assemblies, in each Colony.

III.
Accounts of, and Extracts from, all new Books, Pamphlets, &c. published in the Plantations.

IV.
Essays, controversial, humorous, philosophical, religious, moral or political.

V.
Select Pieces of Poetry.

VI.
A concise Chronicle of the most remarkable Transactions, as well in Europe as America.

VII.
Births, Marriages, Deaths, and Promotions, of eminent Persons in the several Colonies.

VIII.
Course of Exchange between the several Colonies, and London; Prices of Goods, &c.

This Magazine, in Imitation of those in England, was long since projected; a Correspondence is settled with intelligent Men in most of the Colonies, and small Types are procured, for carrying it on in the best Manner. We shall endeavour, by executing our Plan with Care, Diligence and Impartiality; and by Printing the Work neatly and correctly, to deserve the Favour of the Publick: But we desire no Subscriptions: We shall publish the Books at our own Expence, and risque the Sale of them; which Method, we suppose, will be most agreeable to our Readers, as they will then be at Liberty to buy only what they like, and we shall be under a constant Necessity of endeavouring to make every particular Pamphlet worth their Money. Each Magazine shall contain four Sheets, of common sized Paper, in a small Character: Price Six Pence Sterling, or Nine Pence Pennsylvania Money; with considerable Allowance to Chapmen who take Quantities. To be printed and sold by B. Franklin in Philadelphia.


Title: Introduction to The New-Year’s Gift, 1741
From: Franklin, Benjamin,Saunders, Richard
To:

Franklin printed three almanacs for 1741 in addition to Poor Richard’s and John Jerman’s. One was a single sheet, another was A Pocket Almanack ... Fitted to the Use of Pennsylvania, and the neighbouring Provinces, and the third was The New-Year’s Gift. A miniature about three inches by one and printed, like some of the pocket almanacs, in red and black, The New-Year’s Gift contained much of the essential data of the larger pocket almanacs, as well as a characteristic introduction by the famous philomath Richard Saunders.

Courteous Reader,
Thou hast here an Almanack so small, as that it may be carried conveniently in a Corner of thy Pocket-Book, and yet contains many useful Things, viz. All the Days observ’d by the Church, Lunations, Moon’s Place, Sun, Moon and Seven Stars Rising and Setting, Length of Days, Eclipses, Fairs, Courts, Births of the Royal Family, &c. The Days of the Month are set down, but the Week Days I tho’t needless; the Weeks being separated by black Lines, and the Days of the Week easily discern’d thereby. It needs little Explanation: ☉ rise 7 16. signifies, The Sun rises 16 minutes after 7. the like of the Moon and Seven Stars. Day inc. 20 m. signifies, the Days are increas’d in length 20 minutes; Day 9 35, means, the Days are 9 hours 35 minutes long, &c. To oblige thee the more, I have omitted all the bad Weather, being Thy Friend
R. S.


Title: Advertisement in the General Magazine, [16 February 1741]
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

After the first announcements in November, Franklin and Bradford both hurried to get their magazines into print, each promising in his paper of February 5 that his would be published “next Week.” As it fell out, Bradford’s American Magazine won the race, coming off the press on February 13. Franklin’s General Magazine followed on February 16. It carried an “Advertisement” from the publisher.

[February 16, 1741]
Advertisement.
This Magazine will be published Monthly; the Paper and Page will be continued of the same Size, that so the Twelve Months may be bound in one Volume at the Year’s End, with a compleat Index or Table, which we shall add to the Month of December.
No Care shall be wanting, or Expence spared, to procure the best Materials for the Work, and make it as entertaining and useful as possible. The Character will generally be small, for the sake of comprising much in little Room, but it shall be good, and fairly printed.


Title: An Account of the Export of Provisions from Philadelphia, [16 February 1741]
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

Eighteenth-century periodicals contained almost nothing original, and the General Magazine was no exception. The printer extracted news from American and English papers, essays from London journals, and laws, proclamations, treaties, debates, and other documents from the proceedings of Parliament and the colonial assemblies. He included verses and excerpts from new books. These selections were, of course, made with reference to the interests of American readers. Accordingly Franklin printed extensive extracts from Robert Beverley’s History and Present State of Virginia, an account of the colony of Georgia, the manual of arms and infantry evolutions, and many letters about George Whitefield’s doctrine and preaching. There were several pieces on colonial economy, such as the plan of a New England manufactory and an interesting analysis of how a loan office would operate. The first number contained statistics on the provisions exported from Philadelphia in 1740, with a comment which, because of its argument and style, the editors believe to have been written by Franklin. The idea of the colonies’ value to the mother country, set forth in the concluding sentences, appears in some of his writings during the controversy with Great Britain.

[February 16, 1741]
An Account of the Export of Provisions from the Port of Philadelphia, in Pennsilvania, betwixt the 25th of December 1739, and the 25th of December 1740.

Wheat, 314, 570 and half, Bushels.
Bread, 49 and half, Tons; 7,980 Tierces, 9,573 Barrels, 885 half Barrels, 881 quarter Barrels, and 9 Cags.
Flour, 100 Tierces, 53,970 Barrels, 147 half Barrels.
Barley, 40 Bushels.
Indian Corn, 418 Tierces, 298 Barrels, 126,418 Bushels.
Rye, 17 Barrels, and 1574 Bushels.
Pork, 7 Tierces, 2978 Barrels, 137 half Barrels, 16 Cags.
Bacon, 10 Hogsheads, 218 Tierces, 258 Barrels, 1 Hamper, 5 Boxes, and 700 lb.
Beef, 313 Barrels, 75 half Barrels, 6 quarter Barrels.
Beer, 497 Barrels, 26 half Barrels, 1 Hogshead.
Butter, 1 Tub, 1 Barrel, 371 Firkins, 207 Cags, 1 Box, 4 Pots, and 400 lb.
Fish, 1 Hogshead, 594 Barrels.
Cyder, 2 Hogsheads, 26 Barrels.
Apples, 1 Hogshead, 17 Barrels, 4 Half-Barrels, 2 Cags.
Dry’d Tongues, 1 Barrel, 2 Boxes, 1 Cag.
Potatoes, 2 Barrels.
Hickery Nutts, 3 Barrels.
Pickled Sturgeon, 15 Cags.
Pease, 27 Barrels.
Beans, 4 Barrels.
Cheese, 1 Tierce, 102 single Cheeses, and 3,300 lb.
Hogs Lard, 28 Barrels, 42 half Barrels, 13 quarter Barrels, 46 Cags.
Sage, 1 Chest.
Oats, 4 Hogsheads, 3 Tierces, 370 Bushels.
Onions, 50 Barrels, 730 Bundles, 221 Strings.
The above Account is a Proof of the Fertility of this Province, and of the great Plenty wherewith God has bless’d the Industry of the Inhabitants; who in a few Years have made a Garden of a Wilderness, and, besides living well themselves, have so much Food to spare to other Countries. By means of this and the neighbouring Provision Colonies, the British Fleet and Forces in the West-Indies are at this Time supplied with Provisions at a moderate Price, while the Enemy is starving in Want; which shows that these Colonies give Great Britain a considerable Advantage over its Enemies in an American War, and will no doubt be an additional Inducement to our Mother Country to continue us its Protection.


Title: Teague’s Advertisement, 26 February 1741
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

Bradford promised in the Mercury, February 19, that each number of his American Magazine would “contain something more than four Sheets, or an Equivalent to four of such Paper, as the American Mercury is printed on; so that there will be not less than fifty two Sheets published in one Year, which will comprehend double the Quantity of Matter (not reckoning the Advertisements) contained in a common News Paper during a like Course of Time. Price single, one Shilling; to Subscribers twelve Shillings per ann. Pennsylvania Currency. It seems unnecessary to add that every Body will be at Liberty as being a Thing of Course, to withdraw his Subscription when he pleases. As the principal Part of this Magazine is not a Transcript from printed Copy, but is a Work that requires a continual Study and Application, it cannot be afforded for less Money than is mentioned. But whether it be therefore worth that Money, the Reader only has the Right to judge. The News will be inserted in the next, which was omitted this Time, as not being thought proper to repeat, what had been so often told over in other publick Papers. Care is also promised for the Buyer’s Sake, as well as from a Regard to the Reputation of the Country, to avoid reprinting any of the Rubbish or Sweepings of Printing-Houses.”
Having failed to deter Bradford by charging him with stealing the idea of a magazine and having lost out in the race to publish first, Franklin now tried ridicule, casting Bradford’s address to the public into dialect verse.

To the Printer of the Pennsylvania Gazette.
Your Adversary has always been shy of us his Country-Folks, and affected to be thought of some other Nation; but the Constraint with which he appears to write, in Shoes, and the great Brogue on his Pen at other Times, demonstrates him indisputably to be a Teague. I think Nonsense in Prose is not quite so agreeable as in Verse, and therefore, in respect to my Countryman, notwithstanding his want of national Affection, I have turn’d his last Performance
   See the American Weekly Mercury, Feb. 19.
 into Metre: The Reader, I hope, will excuse the want of Smoothness in my Verses, the Pegasus I ride being a hobbling Jade and a Trotter. I am your Servant,
Shelah

Teague’s Advertisement.

Arra Joy! My montly Macasheen shall contain Sheets four,
Or an Equivalent, which is someting more;
So dat twelve Times four shall make fifty two,
Which is twice as much as fifty two Newsh-Papers do:
Prishe shingle One Shilling: But shubscribe for a Year,
You shall have it sheaper,
   The Word cheaper, I own, is not express’d in the Original; but it must have been intended to be understood; otherwise, what Encouragement is there to take by the Year, or where is the Inducement to subscribe?
 at de shame Prishe, Honey dear:
And if you will but shubscribe to take it de Year out,
You may leave off when you pleashe, before, no doubt.
’Tis true, my Book is dear; but de Reashon is plain,
The best Parts of it ish de Work of my own Brain:
How can odher Men’s Writings be wort so much!
Arra! if you tink so, you’re no vhery good Shudge.
De Newsh which I left out, becaush it was old,
And had been in odher Papers so often told,
I shall put into my nexsht (do ’tis shince told onesh more)
Becaush ’twill be newer dan it wash before.
For de dear Buyer’s Shake, and de Land’s Reputaish’
No Shweepings, but dose of my own Shcull shall have plaish;
  And dose, you must tink, will be vhery fine:
  For do dis Advertisement my Printer does Shign,
  To tell you de Trute, de Shense is all mine.

SignedA. Bradford


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 6 May 1741
From: Logan, James
To: Franklin, Benjamin

My Good friend B. Franklin,
Stenton May 6. 1741
I return thee all thy Books with my hearty thanks for thy trouble in favouring me with a sight of them, and am highly pleased there are any in the Province who are so fond of such studies, and at the same time so well furnish’d with Cash as to take them all together in their present Condition at those prices. But as I have some knowledge of the unhappy young man that most (not all) of them belonged to, I am sorry he should strain so far as to say the Homer Cost him 4 Moydores. For one of the same, most exquisitely bound was offer’d to me the same year they were printed (1711) for less than one, and I never heard they were much started. I have one of the same Edition of the Herodotus, perfect with all it’s maps of which this has not one that was bought of Chr. Bateman for 14 shillings for Wm. Masters, but this has been bound at least a 2d time and only in sheeps skin after it had been grossly abused &c. I therefore advise thee by all means to accept the offer tho’ with some considerable abatement, but I would willingly know who the Possessor is to be of the Ovid, for I want the use of the 3d vol for about a week at most. I hope notwithstanding it suits us not to deal at present, Thou wilt still continue thy resolution to favour us with a visit. Thy real friend
James Logan
Cast: Test: 4s. Bats Gramr 10s. Dionys 8s. Pomey 7s. 6d. Mart. in U.D. 12s. Ovid 2 (of 3) vol. 30s. Quintil: Lond: 7s. 6d. Barnes Hom: 6s.[?]. Herod: 30s. Tully 40s. Brown of the Muscles 30s. Vossii Hist: Lat: and Gr: 15s. Epigr: Delectus 4s. Juvenal in U.D. 8s. Heb. Bible Athiae 1661 25s. Zosimus.


Title: A Short Account of the Library, [13 July 1741]
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

The Directors of the Library Company in 1741 instructed Franklin to print a catalogue of their collection. On July 13 he read them “a Paper containing a Brief Account of the Library, which he said he wrote to fill up a Blank that happens to be at the End of the Catalogue he is printing; of which he desired the Opinion of the other Directors present, and they approved of his Design.” This Franklin composition was first identified by Edwin Wolf, 2nd, in the “Bibliographical Note” to a facsimile edition of the 1741 Catalogue, Philadelphia, 1956.

[July 13, 1741]
A short Account of the Library.
The Library-Company was form’d in 1731, by Constitutions or Articles entred into by 50 Persons, each obliging himself to pay 40s. for purchasing the first Parcel of Books, and 10s. per annum to defray Charges and encrease the Library.
Ten Directors or Managers of the Library, and a Treasurer, are chosen yearly by Vote, at a General Meeting of the Company.
The Number of Members are now encreased to upwards of 70. Persons enclining to be admitted, apply to any one of the Directors, who nominates them at the next monthly Meeting of Directors; and being allowed, and paying to the Treasurer the Value of a Share at the Time, and signing the Articles, they become Members.
Any Member may borrow a Book for 2, 3, or 4 Weeks, leaving his Note for double Value, and paying a small Penalty if ’tis not return’d at the Time agreed; which Penalties are applied to defraying Charges, or purchasing more Books.
Every Member has an absolute Property in his Share; may devise it in his Will, or dispose of it when he pleases to any Person the Directors approve. And Shares so sold have always hitherto yielded as much as they had cost. As Shares encrease yearly in Value 10s. so much being yearly added by each Subscriber to the Stock of Books, a Share which at first was worth but 40s. is now valued at £6 10s. But for this small Sum, which, laid out in Books, would go but a little Way, every Member has the Use of a Library now worth upwards of £500, whereby Knowledge is in this City render’d more cheap and easy to be come at, to the great Pleasure and Advantage of the studious Part of the Inhabitants.
Those who are not Subscribers may notwithstanding borrow Books, leaving in the Hands of the Librarian, as a Pledge, a Sum of Money proportion’d to the Value of the Book borrow’d, and paying a small Acknowledgment for the Reading, which is apply’d to the Use of the Library.
The Library is open and Attendance given every Saturday Afternoon from 4 a Clock ’til 8.
Besides the Books in this Catalogue given to the Library, the Company have been favour’d with several generous Donations; as, a curious Air-Pump, with its Apparatus, a large double Microscope, and other valuable Instruments, from the Hon. John Penn, Esq; A handsome Lot of Ground whereon to build a House for the Library, from the Hon. Thomas Penn, Esq; Proprietaries of the Province; and the Sum of £34 Sterl. (to be laid out in Books) from Dr. Sydserfe, late of Antigua.
At present the Books are deposited in the West Wing of the State-House, by Favour of the General Assembly.
It is now Ten Years since the Company was first established; and we have the Pleasure of observing, That tho’ ’tis compos’d of so many Persons of different Sects, Parties and Ways of Thinking, yet no Differences relating to the Affairs of the Library, have arisen among us; but every Thing has been conducted with great Harmony, and to general Satisfaction. Which happy Circumstance will, we hope, always continue.
Note, A Copy of the Articles or Constitutions is left in the Library, for the Perusal of all that desire to be more fully informed.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from William Coats: Deed, 31 July 1741
From: Coats, William
To: Franklin, Benjamin

July 31, 1741
ABSTRACT: William Coats (spelled here “Coates”) of the Northern Liberties of Philadelphia, brickmaker, grants to Benjamin Franklin an irregularly shaped lot in the Northern Liberties (now in Franklin’s possession by virtue of a bargain and sale to him, dated the day before), which lot was formerly in the possession of Thomas Todd. The property is described as follows: beginning at a corner of land lately granted to Valentine Standley, extending by the same north 38 degrees east, 24.6 perches to a post; thence by the same and Coats’s meadow north 33½ degrees east, 16 perches to a post; thence by the said meadow south 74 degrees east, 9 perches to a post; thence by land lately granted to William Maugridge south 58½ degrees west, 42 perches to a post; thence by a 40-ft. lane or road intended to be laid out, south 64 degrees west, 13 perches to the place of beginning; containing 2 acres 90 perches. Also granted is free access with horses, carts, wagons, etc. along the lane and all rights and appurtenances belonging to the lot. Franklin is to pay Coats £3 4s. rent on August 2 annually with a right to Coats of entry, distraint, and repossession in case of default. Franklin shall not dig clay for brickmaking nor sink saw pits without the grantor’s consent. Coats warrants a clear title. Signed by William Coats; witnessed by Wm. Maugridge, Robert Greenway, the latter of whom appeared, February 15, 1757, before Chas. Brockden, justice of the peace, and swore to having seen Coats seal and deliver the indenture and that his own signature as witness was in his handwriting. Two notes in the margin cite decrees of extinguishment recorded “Nov. 14/07” and “Feb. 25–09” respectively.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Christopher and Mary Thompson: Deed, 1 August 1741
From: Thompson, Christopher,Thompson, Mary
To: Franklin, Benjamin

August 1, 1741
Abstract: Christopher Thompson of Philadelphia, bricklayer, and Mary his wife grant to Benjamin Franklin a lot in Philadelphia (now in Franklin’s possession by virtue of a bargain and sale, dated the day before), 22 ft. in breadth east and west and 140 ft. in length north and south, bounded north by Apple Tree Alley, west by other land of Thompson at about 62 ft. distance from Fifth Street, south by Mulberry (Arch) Street, and east by other land of Thompson, with all buildings, improvements, and appurtenances. This lot is part of a piece of land 149.5 ft. in breadth on Mulberry Street by 306 ft. in length northward therefrom, which William Penn’s commissioners patented to John Willis, August 14, 1705, with 3s. quitrent. John Willis and Esther his wife granted the whole to Joan Forrest, widow, in fee on November 22, 1716, and the latter granted it to Thompson in fee on July 17, 1720. Franklin is to pay a proportionable share of the proprietary quitrent and is to pay Thompson £3 17s., lawful money of Pennsylvania, rent on March 21 annually, with a right to Thompson of entry, distraint, and repossession in case of default. Thompson covenants Franklin’s possession if the rents are paid as stipulated. Signed by Christopher Thompson and (by her mark) Mary Thompson; witnessed by John Knight and Joseph Breintnall. Acknowledged by Thompson before Chas. Brockden, justice of the peace, February 14, 1757. Recorded, February 16, 1757.


Title: Directors of Library Company to John Penn, 3 August 1741
From: Directors of Library Company
To: Penn, John

Sir,
Philada. Aug: 3d. 1741
Your Present to the Library Company of a curious Microscope and Camera Obscura is received. This fresh Instance of your Generosity and Regard gives the Company a sensible Pleasure; and in their Name and Behalf we return you most hearty Thanks. We hope those Gentlemen who so generously countenanced our Undertaking may never have Occasion to think their Benefactions misplaced, but that they may perceive Learning, Virtue and Politeness advance daily under their Influence; which we are assured, will be more pleasing to them, than the most studied and elaborate Compliments.
We are, Sir, Your most obliged humble Servants &c.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Hancock, 10 August 1741
From: Hancock, Thomas
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Mr. Benja. Franklin
Sir
Boston Augt. 10th. 1741
Inclosed you have Coppys of Seven note of hand from Sundry Persons who have Since Run away in my Debt, and I am Told are Gon Towards Philadelphia the Jerseys and Penciliania. I have therefore Taken the Freedom per this Opportunity to ask the Favor of you to make Inquiery after the within named Gentry, and if to be found pray Secure them, or Oblige ’em to pay the money. In Case you meet with any and find it necessary to have the original notes of hand write to me and they Shall be Sent you. As you are in the Post office I Thought you would be the most likely to hear off or meet with Some of them. Intreat you to pursue Such measures as you think may be necessary in finding them, and for your Trouble (if you will be So Kind as to undertake for me) I oblige myself to allow you one Quarter part of whatever Sum you obtain for me of the Inclosed notes. You’l please to write me if any Success, being the needfull Concludes Sir your very humble Servant
T H
[On reverse:]
James Question is an old man much pock broken.
Thos. Thompson is a tall young man, about 21 years.
Willm. Houston an old man of the Kingdom of I[relan]d.
Willm. Maxwell is a Lusty man about 30 years of Age.
Valentine Downing a Little man with one hand.
Charles Mackay an old man.
 Endorsed: To Benj. Franklin Augst. 10. 1741


Title: Accounts with William Bradford, Jr., 1741–55
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

Franklin’s business relations with other printers are suggested by a bill he submitted to the younger William Bradford and by Bradford’s account with him. Franklin’s bill covers the period from October 27, 1741, when he lent Bradford £1 10s., to September 22, 1747, when the bill he submitted amounted to £70 17s. 10d. Most of Bradford’s purchases were of paper, lampblack, pasteboard, and other printing supplies. Fewer than a dozen other charges are recorded—an occasional spelling book, two dozen Pocket Almanacks for 1747, Bradford’s advertisement “of his Setting up,” July 8, 1742, and “for advertising Colledge in N Jersey,” August 13, 1747, a charge of one pound because the advertisement was a long one. On the back of the bill are the words: “This Acct has been delivered in but was never settled. BF. Apr. 2. 1757.”
Bradford’s account book records his side of this business. From June 12, 1742, when Franklin was charged £2 15s. for “1 peice of Calico,” to October 3, 1755, when he bought a copy of Isaac Watts’s Reliquae Juveniles: Miscellaneous Thoughts in Prose and Verse and a copy of The Young Lady Conducted through Life, Franklin’s purchases from Bradford came to £74 6s. 9d., plus charges for each year of Bradford’s newspaper. With the exception of the calico, rare purchases of paper, and “2 Mizetinto Pictures,” Franklin bought only books—spellers, grammars, Latin classics, and standard devotional literature, and a few dozen of the almanacs Bradford printed: his purchase of 26 dozen of Taylor’s almanac and two dozen of Birkett’s for 1745 was unusually large. Only a few titles are worth noting: Lord Anson’s Voyage round the World; Wollaston’s Religion of Nature Delineated, The Grub-Street Journal, John Freind’s Chymical Lectures, and Don Quixote. Bradford has not indicated when or whether Franklin settled the account.