Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 11 April 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Jackson, Richard

Dear Sir,
Philada. April 11. 1763.
I am now to acquaint you that the Assembly of this Province have unanimously made Choice of you as their sole Agent, and have united the two Salaries of £100, which they formerly paid to Mr. Partridge and Mr. Charles, by voting £200 Sterling as your Salary. I hope this Appointment will not be disagreable to you, as I think I had your Permission to name you on the Occasion. If you accept, you will keep and exhibit yearly an Account of any Disbursements you find necessary to make for the Province, which will be paid besides the Salary.
Being myself appointed one of the Committee of Correspondence, I shall shortly send you the Minutes of the late Session, and from time to time whatever may be necessary to inform you of our Affairs. And I hope to receive from you early Notice of such Proceedings at home, as it may be useful for our Assembly to be acquainted with.
Be so good as to present my respectful Compliments to your Speaker, whom I honour greatly, and to his worthy Brothers, whose Friendship and many Civilities I bear strongly in Memory. Please to remember me also very affectionately to your good Brother and Sister Bridges, and any others of your Family that may do me the Honour to enquire after me. My Son is in his Government, where he seems to have a Prospect of being very comfortably settled. I know he intends to write you as soon as his Hurry is a little over. I am, with the sincerest Esteem: Dear Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin
Account of the Number of Churches form’d in the 4 Governments of New England, as they stood at different Periods—viz

Anno 1637 —
16
Churches

1643 —
34
Do

1650 —
40
Do

1680 —
80
Do

1696 —
130
Do

1760 —
530
Do

An amazing Increase within the Memory of Man, 400 upon 130!
R. Jackson Esqr
 Endorsed: Philad April 11th 1763 B Franklin Esqr


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to John Ellicott, 13 April 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Ellicott, John

Dear Sir
Philada. April 13. 1763
I yesterday receiv’d your Favour of Jany. 8. and as it would be a particular Pleasure to me to be any way serviceable to your Hospital, I shall cause the Enquiry you desire to be carefully made at New York; and to that end I write to a Friend there by this Post: But as the Father of Capt. Holland is said in the Will to have been of James River, which is in Virginia, and there is likewise a York Town upon York River which is not far from James River in Virginia, I apprehend that may be the York intended, and not New York properly so named, and that at York in Virginia one may possibly hear something of Eliz. Holland if she is still in being or ever lived there. I am just about to take a Journey into Virginia on the Business of my Office, and shall go thro’ York town, where I shall make strict Enquiry, and as soon as possible let you know the Result.
The Mention of the London Hospital puts me in mind of a Favour I once ask’d of you, which was, to procure me a Copy of the Song that was sung by Mr. Beard on the Subject of Charity when I had the Pleasure of Dining with the Governors and other Contributors at your Invitation. I am concern’d in the Management of the Pennsylvania Hospital erected in this City, and think that Song on proper Occasions might be useful to us here. I would not suffer it to be printed, nor give any Copy of it. But perhaps you cannot easily procure it, and I should be sorry to give you much Trouble about it.
I am sorry I cannot give you an agreable Account of the Performance of the Watch. The new Spring unfortunately broke soon after I left England. Since my coming here, the old one is put in again; but I have not yet accurately adjusted the Watch so as to bring it to keep time as well as it us’d to do in London.
My Compliments to Mr. Hazard, and the rest of the Gentlemen at the George and Vulture. I shall always remember with Pleasure the agreable Hours I pass’d in that chearful, sensible and intelligent Society. The Monday scarce comes round but I think of you and am present with you in Spirit; and shall take it kindly, if, when you are not crouded, you would order a Chair for me, and only caution one another not to tread upon my Toes.
My best Respects to Mrs. Ellicot and to your Son, and Daughters. With sincere Esteem and Regard, I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant
B Franklin
 Addressed: To / Mr Ellicot / Watchmaker / Royal Exchange / London / Per the Pitt / Packet
Endorsed: Dr Franklin Philadelphia Apr 13 1763


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, 13 April 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Williams, Jonathan

Loving Kinsman,
Philadelphia, 13 April, 1763.
You may remember, that about ten years since, when I was at Boston, you and my brother sent directions here to attach on Grant’s right to some land here, by virtue of a mortgage given him by one Pitt. Nothing effectual could be done in at that time, there being a prior mortgage undischarged. That prior mortgage is now near expiring, and Grant’s will take place. Pitt’s widow is desirous of being enabled to sell the place, which cannot be done, without paying off Grant’s mortgage. Therefore, if your old demand against Grant still subsists, you may empower me in any manner you think proper to recover it.
Is Grant living? Or, if dead, are there any of his representatives among you? Inquire. Because here is a person desirous of purchasing, who, perhaps, may inquire them out, and get a discharge from them, before your claim is brought forward, unless the attachment formerly made in your behalf is still good, which I am inclined to think may be.
I am going in a few days to Virginia, but expect to be back in three or four weeks. However, send what you have to say on this subject to my son, at Burlington, who was formerly empowered by you, and he will take the steps necessary, if I should not be returned. I am your loving uncle,
B. Franklin.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Anthony Todd, 14 April 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Todd, Anthony

Copy
Sir
Philada. April 14. 1763
By the Harriot Packet, which arrived last Saturday at New York, I received your Favours of Dec. 7. and January 8. and congratulate you cordially on your Appointment to the Secretary’s Office, in which I wish you all Happiness.

I am just setting out on a Journey to Virginia, to settle Accounts with the Executors of my late Colleague Mr. Hunter, and recover the Money due from them to the General Post-Office. Mr. Foxcroft and myself then purpose a Journey to New England thro’ the whole present Extent of the Post Road, in order to examine every where into the State and Conduct of the Offices, see what new Regulations are necessary and what Improvements the Revenue is capable of in the several Parts of the Country; and before the next Winter we hope to render a satisfactory Account of our Proceedings to his Majesty’s Post-master General.
You may possibly remember that a little before I left England, a Complaint of the Merchants of Quebec concerning the Difficulty and Uncertainty of Correspondence there, was communicated to the Postmaster General by Governor Murray. When it was consider’d at the Board, I propos’d dispatching a special Messenger from New York with all the Canada Letters, immediately after the Arrival of every Packet, till it should be found convenient to establish a regular Post. This being approv’d of, I sent Orders accordingly to Mr. Colden, directing him withal to apply to General Amherst for Orders to the Commanding Officers at the several Military Posts on the Route, to assist and forward the Messenger, as he was to go thro’ a wild unsettled Country. On my Arrival here, I wrote to Mr. Colden to know what had been done in the Affair, and receiv’d the Answer and Papers which I enclose. You will observe that both in Governor Murray’s and Genl. Gage’s Letters Mention is made of the high Charge of Postage; which being settled by the Act of Parliament in Proportion to Distances, we apprehend it not in our Power here to abate. I cannot on the whole but be of Opinion with General Amherst, that while the Commander in chief continues to send Expresses with the Officers Letters whenever a Packet arrives, and permits those Expresses to carry the Merchants Letters, a Post is not so necessary: But whenever that Practice is discontinued, I should think it adviseable to establish a Post, tho’ the Expence should for some time exceed the Produce of the Letters; as the Facility and Regularity of Correspondence increases Commerce, and of course increases Correspondence and multiplies the Number of Letters; so that being carried on steadily for some Time, the Posts would become profitable to the Office. This I submit however to our Masters, and shall be glad to receive their Orders thereupon, which I will punctually obey. In the meantime, the Appointment of a Postmaster at Quebeck, to receive and deliver the Letters that may come there by Expresses or by Sea, and to forward such as are sent abroad, will be very proper; and as soon as I meet Mr. Foxcroft, which I hope will be in a few Days, we shall pay due regard to what you write concerning Mr. Hugh Finlay, every the least Intimation of the Pleasure of the Postmaster General, being a Law to us.
If the Packets are under absolute Orders to sail regularly, and not to be either detain’d beyond their Time, or hurried away before their Time, by the Commander in chief at New York, I am of Opinion they will answer much better than they did in time of War. At present the Merchants here have very little Dependance on them. The Method of late has been to keep the Packet that is in Port, till the Arrival of another, and then dispatch the first immediately. This is better than it has been, when sometimes three Packets have been all in Port detain’d together, and so long, that the fourth was daily expected. But yet any Detention of a Packet after the 20 Days from her Arrival makes the Conveyance looked upon as uncertain; and those who would write for Insurance or send Orders for Goods, cannot depend upon it. And the sudden Dispatch after the Arrival of another Packet gives no Opportunity to the Merchants of Philadelphia and Boston, two principal Trading Towns on this Continent, to answer the Letters receiv’d by the second Packet, till she, after the like Detention, shall be permitted to sail. This has occasioned the Packets to be so little used by the trading People for the Conveyance of their Letters. It is said the present Post, by which I now write, may possibly reach the Pitt Packet, and I have encourag’d others to write; but it is very uncertain, as it depends on the General’s Pleasure.
After our Return from our intended Tour, we shall be able to offer our Sentiments more particularly on the Points you mention, “the rendering Correspondence in the vast Empire of North America of the greatest Use to his Majesty’s Subjects, and at the same time to improve the Revenue of it.” I can now only desire you to present my humble Duty to my Lord Egmont and Mr. Hampden, and assure them of my most faithful and diligent Service in the Execution of the Office they are so good as to continue me in; and that you would do me the Justice to believe me, with sincerest Esteem and Regard, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin
Anth: Todd, Esquire


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 17 April 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Jackson, Richard

Dear Sir,
Philada. April 17. 1763
I wrote you a long Letter of the 8th and 29th of March on various Subjects, too long to copy unless it should be lost. But as Messrs. Coxe are sending Copies of their Request and Power to you, I must repeat so much of my Letter as related thereto.
[Here Franklin copied verbatim the long paragraph which formed the largest part of the postscript dated March 22 to his letter begun on March 8; see above, pp. 212–14. It is not repeated here.]

Thus far out of preceeding Letters. I have now only to add on this Head, that there are already several Schemes on foot among the People in different Parts of this and the neighbouring Provinces for Removal Westward, and great Numbers show a strong Disposition to go and settle on the Ohio or Missisipi, but they want Heads to form regular Plans of proceeding. I am convinc’d that a new Colony, that should be plac’d within Coxe’s Bounds, on the Rivers that discharge themselves into the Bay of Mexico, between Cape Florida and the Missisipi would have a more rapid Progress in Population than any heretofore planted.
Follows a Copy of my Letter of the 11th Instant sent via New York, viz
[Here Franklin copied verbatim the whole of his letter of April 11, including date line, salutation, and signature, but omitting the postscript about the growth in numbers of New England churches; see above, pp. 246–8. It is not repeated here.]
April 17. I am just setting out for Virginia, on Post Office Business. As I shall be on the Edge of North Carolina, I may have an Opportunity of learning something of their Land Affairs. I hope to be back in about 4 Weeks. Yours ut supra
BF.
P.S. In a former Letter I mention’d one Mr. Lyon’s Scheme for a new Colony, as being very crude. Another is just now put into my Hands, that has in it many things quite absurd. I send it you enclos’d. I know not who is the Mover at Bottom. These Things serve to show the present Disposition of the People.
Richd Jackson Esqr
 Endorsed: Philad Apr 1763 B Franklin Esqr


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from James Lyon, April 1763
From: Lyon, James
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir,
Brunswick N. Jersey Apr. 1763
As the least suspicion of a Letter from you to me might, possibly, dispose a curious Person to intercept it, permit me to inform you, That I have not yet been so happy as to recieve a Line from your Hand.
I need not remind you, Sir, of the Necessity of putting our Scheme into Execution immediately, if ever: And shall only tell you, that, without any Care or Pains of mine, for I have been entirely inactive since I had the Honor and Pleasure of conversing with you, the Number of Adventurers is vastly encreased. Daily Applications are made by Persons of Influence, who are ready to risque their all in such an Enterprize. Two Gentlemen in particular, of considerable Importance, one of which is worth £6000 or £7000 at least, came to me last Week to enquire if there was any Probability of Success, and express’d great desires to view the Country this Summer. Should the Scheme be so fortunate as to meet with your Approbation and Encouragement, I have some Thoughts of going with these Men to the Ohio, as soon as possible, while others are employed in raising the Settlers. We impatiently wait to know your Sentiments and Advice, for by these Laws we shall govern ourselves; and be assured, we shall make use of the most proper Measures to express our sincerest Gratitude. I am, Sir, your most humble obedient and obliged Servant.
James Lyon
P.S. Col. Bouquet’s Sentiments will also be very acceptable.
Dr. B. Franklin.
 Endorsed: Brunswick N Jersey Apr. 1763 from Jas Lyon to To Benj. Franklin


Title: Accounts between Benjamin Franklin and the Estate of James Parker, [April 1763]
From: Parker, Mary
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Between Franklin and his fellow printer James Parker there existed not only a warm personal friendship but a business relationship of many years’ standing and an official connection through Parker’s position as comptroller of the American postal system. Each man faithfully executed commissions for the other and made or received payments for his friend whenever convenience dictated. Inevitably their accounts with each other became somewhat complicated, particularly when Parker paid to Deborah Franklin in Philadelphia money due to her husband in England, or when, as occasionally happened, post-office and personal funds became mixed.
Parker died on July 2, 1770, and it became necessary for his widow and executrix, Mary Parker, to settle all the outstanding claims and obligations of his estate. To this end she prepared and sent to William Franklin early in 1772 a statement of Franklin’s account with the estate as it appeared on her husband’s books. Governor Franklin sent a copy to his father in London with an explanatory letter in February 1772. What is believed to be this copy, apparently in William Franklin’s hand, survives with Mrs. Parker’s original among the Franklin Papers in the American Philosophical Society Library. It differs from Mrs. Parker’s statement only in that someone, perhaps Benjamin Franklin himself, later added notations to show which figures represented Pennsylvania currency and which that of New York.
Meanwhile Franklin in London had sent his son a record of the account as it stood in his books on April 20, 1771, and William reported the next February that he had given it to the Parkers’ daughter for her mother. While this paper has not been located, its contents are known in full from a restatement of the account with two added entries down to Jan. 14, 1772, prepared for Franklin in 1774, by his grand-nephew Jonathan Williams, Jr., who was in London and was working on his relative’s account books.
Mrs. Parker’s account, in its two nearly identical versions, and Franklin’s are companion pieces and should be considered together. They are dealt with here because the earliest entry in the Parker account is dated April 1763. Apparently, during Franklin’s stay with Parker in Woodbridge, N.J., in early June of that year they had adjusted and settled their accounts up to within a few weeks and Parker then started a completely fresh record in his books with a belated entry of one relatively small charge against Franklin. It seems unnecessary to print these documents in full, though they should be described in sufficient detail to make clear their general contents and the nature of the two men’s financial transactions with and for each other.
The entries in the two accounts are wholly different from each other because they are taken from separate ledgers and relate to different transactions. The Parker account shows expenditures he made in America chargeable to Franklin, money he had paid over to Deborah Franklin, and, contrariwise, money or goods he had received in America for which he gave Franklin credit. Franklin’s account lists his payments in England for Parker and drafts by Parker that he had honored, and on the other hand drafts his friend had sent him in payment of debts, or money Franklin had received for Parker or his estate. In each statement the charges against the other man greatly exceed the credits to him, for neither one recorded the other’s expenditures on the opposite side of the ocean. Mrs. Parker’s account shows that her husband had twice struck a trial balance and that in the final unbalanced figures Franklin’s debits exceeded his credits by £159 9s. 3½d., New York currency. Franklin’s statement, on the other hand, shows that Parker’s estate was indebted in the net amount of £263 3s. 10d. sterling.
The Parker record shows that in 1764 he had expended a total of £38 15s. 6d. on behalf of Franklin’s unstable nephew, Benjamin Mecom, who was then transferring his printing activities from New York to New Haven, and that Parker had recovered and credited to Franklin £28 10s. by selling Mecom’s stock at auction. On eight separate occasions between April 10, 1765, and April 16, 1770, while Franklin was in England, Parker made payments to Deborah totaling £125 8s. to reduce his indebtedness to her husband. He also bought shoes for Sally Franklin, a yard of “Paris net” and two ounces of thread for her mother, as well as “2 pots of Lobsters” and “1 barrell beets.” Most of his other entries in this column related to payments Parker made to other men for Franklin. Among the few credits to Franklin perhaps the most surprisingly extravagant one was for receiving, apparently from Deborah, “a Piece of Silk for my Daughter” costing £17 10s.
Franklin’s account listed his payments during his second English mission for books, type, stationery, and newspapers sent to Parker and for cash provided to honor two drafts on himself that Parker had drawn. The only credits listed were for one draft in his favor Parker had sent and a final payment on Parker’s post-office salary received after the comptroller’s death. All the entries in Franklin’s account are taken directly from his ledger of Dec. 10, 1764, to July 8, 1775, to be described more fully in the next volume of this series.

The Parker-Franklin account was a troublesome one, both before and after Parker’s death, and later volumes will contain many references to it. Settlement proved to be a complicated and unsatisfactory business, and there were understandable complaints by participants on both sides that the records were inadequate. When Franklin’s amended account reached America during the last months of 1774, the matter had already dragged out for more than four years. By then the times were difficult: Franklin in England was preoccupied with his efforts to negotiate a satisfactory compromise of the disputes between the colonies and the mother country; his son William, the governor of New Jersey, was much involved in the problems caused by colonial unrest; and Deborah Franklin was failing in health and died before the end of December. Just how the accounts were finally adjusted and closed—if indeed they ever were—is unknown. The editors have found no document of any sort later than Franklin’s amended account described here which even alludes to the affair.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 9 May 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Strahan, William

Dear Sir,
Virginia, May 9. 1763
I have been from Philadelphia about 3 Weeks on a Journey hither upon the Business of the Post Office, but am now returning home, where I hope to find some Letters from you, as I hear that two Pacquets are arrived at New York since I came out. I have answer’d the Letters receiv’d from you by my Son, and have little to add. I congratulate you sincerely on the signing of the Definitive Treaty, which if agreable to the Preliminaries, gives us a Peace the most advantageous as well as glorious, that was ever before obtain’d by Britain. Throughout this Continent I find it universally approved and applauded; and am glad to find the same Sentiments prevailing in your Parliament, and the unbias’d Part of the Nation. Grumblers there will always be among you, where Power and Places are worth striving for, and those who cannot obtain them are angry with all that stand in their way. Such would have clamour’d against a Ministry not their particular Friends, even if instead of Canada and Louisiana they had obtain’d a Cession of the Kingdom of Heaven. But Time will clear all Things, and a very few Years will convince those who at present are misled by Party Writers, that this Peace is solidly good, and that the Nation is greatly oblig’d to the wise Counsels that have made it.
My affectionate Regards to Mrs. Strahan and your Children; and believe me ever, My dear Friend, Yours sincerely
B Franklin
Please to put Mr. Becket in mind to send me the French Work on the Arts as it comes out. Also any new Pieces that are thought good.
Have you put the Cato Majors into his Hands?
Mr. Strahan


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 20 May 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Mecom, Jane

Dear Sister
Philada. May 20. 1763
I am just return’d from Virginia, and find your Favour of April 11. I purpose setting out with my Colleague Mr. Foxcroft for New England, the Beginning of next Month, and hope soon for the Pleasure of seeing you; but have no Expectation of bringing my Dame to undertake such a Journey; and have not yet ask’d her Opinion of Sally’s going. My Love to Brother and your Children. I am, Your affectionate Brother
B Franklin
 Addressed: To / Mrs Jane Mecom / Boston / Free / B Franklin


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from W. Hick, 23 May 1763
From: Hick, W.
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Lancashire Furnace 23d. May 1763.
It gives us great pleasure to hear of your good Health, but are no less Mortified than you in not having the pleasure to see you, and do assure you that Mrs. Hick was so afraid of being out of the way when you call’d, that I could not prevail with her to go abroad for this three weeks past: but has now given up all thoughts of seeing you, for this year at least. I thank God we still continue to enjoy a good State of Health and are always glad to hear the same from our Friends.
I observe a proposal in the Pennsylvania Gazette of the 21th April to settle the Ohio, and should be glad of your Opinion as to an Adventure in making a Purchase there, a Young Man who lives in our Company’s Employ whose time (he Engag’d for) is nearly expir’d has an Inclination to go there and become a Proprietor, especially if he thought there was any probability of Iron Lead or Copper Mines. If it is your Opinion there is, as I make no doubt but you are Acquainted with that Country by Information from those that have been there: Three of us propose taking up five Thousand Acres, not in one Body but as Three Proprietors, which is one Mr. Phillips, Mr. Smith and myself; how far such a Scheme may Answer I can’t pretend to say, but if you give us Encouragement Intend to send Mr. Smith to the Ohio, as he is a Regular Miner, brought up in Mr. Tysington’s employ, and at present lives with me: He is really a very Ingenious Young Man and a good Mechannic. Should you approve of our Undertaking, your Advice how to Proceed will greatly oblige us.
I must beg you will be so obliging as to give me Directions for putting up the Iron Rod, Mrs. Hick is much more uneasy at the Smart Thunder we have had, then in case it was put up, and is very anxious to have it up.

Mrs. Hick Joins me in Compliments to you Mrs. Franklin and Miss Franklin. And am Dear Sir Your very Humble Servant
W Hick
 Addressed: To / Benjn. Franklin Esqr. / In / Philadelphia
Endorsed: Lanc Furnace May 23d 1763 from Mr. Hick to B Franklin Esqr
May 23d 1763 Mr Hick about Ohio


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from John Pringle, [May? 1763]
From: Pringle, Sir John
To: Franklin, Benjamin

[May? 1763]
[Torn] would take the liberty of recommending [torn], who had been put in by Lord Bute, and [torn: we]ll qualified for his office. His Lordship then [torn] heard the young gentleman had ene[torn]ying that, I took an opportunity of telling [torn: ima]gined it came about. Lord Shelburne made no promises, but [torn] hear me with some indulgence.
This being the state of that affair, I am perswaded that if you were determined before to return to England, you will now see a good reason for hastening your departure; because your being present yourself, may be a considerable weight in the scale, in case matters should come near to a ballance.
I have forgot whether I wrote to you in answer to the last letter I received from you before you sailed. If I did not, I acknowledge the favour now. Into Lord Bute’s hands I put your proposal about the preservation of gun-powder, and also mentioned your thoughts about securing the health of our garrison at Senegal: for both which communications he desires me to return you thanks. Neither did I omit letting Lady Bute know both yours and your son’s intentions to search the coast for shells; but that Lady, deeper in that study than either you or I, told me, that your seas afforded none of any value, but was obliged to you for the trouble you undertook. She then said that people in her way were fond of those shells only in which the fish were found alive; for that if they were dead shells found upon the beach, they lost a certain glow of colour on the inside, for which they were as much estimable as for the colours without. Her Ladyship said further, that if you favoured her with any shells, she wished to have none larger than her two fists, so as that she could put [torn] otherwise, by being exposed to the air [torn] colours.
I have never heard more of your pa[per? torn] told me to whom I was to apply for it. I ha[ve? torn] name: so I beg of you to put me again upon [torn] that sketch of yours. I shall grudge losing the sligh[torn]
Our friends continue to meet at my house on the Sunday evenings. I suspect they would not be so punctual, if they did not hope for your return; for having that in their view they could not with any face leave me now, and come back with you. Be that as it will, you are always mentioned by them with the greatest affection and esteem. I read to them your letter, and they begged me to remember to you in the warmest manner. (I believe I have said this before.) We are all agog about this new property of fluids.
You remember our conditions of correspondence, and therefore My dear Doctor and good friend, sans ceremonie, adieu
[Here the author skipped the equivalent of three lines]
P.S. I mentioned your account of the paper currency to Lord Shelburne, and as he seemed desirous to see it, I am to send it to him.
Dr. Watson has lately published an account of a cure he performed on a girl in the orphan hospital by means of electricity after the common remedies had failed. The distemper was a tetanas viz. an obstinate cramp of the muscles of the neck attended with several bad symptoms.
[Torn] you give of Lord Bacon’s writings [torn] read him with attention, which gave me [torn]
 Addressed: To / Doctor Benjamin Franklin / Conjunct Postmaster of North America / at / Philadelphia
[In another hand:] New York the 28 July 1763 Received under Cover and forwarded by Sir Your most Obedient Servant
Lawr: Reade
 Endorsed: Dr. Pringle


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 2 June 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Strahan, William

Dear Friend,
Philada. June 2. 1763
I have just received your Favour of Feb. 28. being but lately returned home from Virginia. Dr. Kelly in his Letter, appears the same sensible, worthy, friendly Man I ever found him; and Smith, as usual, just his Reverse. I have done with him: For I believe no body here will prevail with me to give him another Meeting. I communicated your Postscript to B Mecom, and receiv’d the enclos’d from him. I begin to fear things are going wrong with him; I shall be at New York in a few Days, and will endeavour to secure you as far as it may be in his Power, and will write you from thence. My Love to good Mrs. Strahan and to your Children. I hope to live to see George a Bishop. Sally is now with her Brother in the Jerseys. Mrs. Franklin joins with me in best Wishes, &c. I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin
I fear my Letters to you per Capt. Friend never came to hand, as I hear he is taken. It was the Ship I came over in, the Carolina. I wrote pretty fully to you and Mrs. Stephenson, but kept no Copies.
 Addressed: To / Mr William Strahan / Printer / London / Snow James & Mary / Capt. Sparkes
Endorsed: Mr. Franklin


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Greene, 6 June 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Greene, Catharine

Dear Katy
Philada. June 6. 1763
On my Return from Virginia lately, I found your agreable Favour of April 24. by which I had the Pleasure of learning that you and Mr. Greene and your little ones were well. Your Invitation is extreamly obliging, and certainly I could not have forgiven myself if I had pass’d thro’ New England without calling to see you, and enjoying the Pleasure of finding you in the happy Situation I us’d to wish for you and advise you to. You desire to know the time I expect to be your way. In so long a Journey one cannot be exact to a Day or a Week. I can only tell you, that I purpose setting out tomorrow; and having Business to do, and Friends to see in several Places, I suppose it may be near the End of the Month before I reach your Government. My Thanks to Mr. Green and you for your kind Congratulations on my Son’s Promotion and Marriage. All Happiness attend you both, in which good Wish my Wife joins, and my Children would join if they were here, but they are all in the Jerseys. I am, as ever, dear Katy, with the sincerest Esteem Your affectionate Friend and humble Servant
B Franklin
My Respects to your late Governor and his Lady, your good Sister. Ask him whether he does not find, (as General Shirley told me, when supers[ed]ed by Lord Loudon that he found) a low Seat the easiest.


Title: Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft to Anthony Todd, 10 June 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin,Foxcroft, John
To: Todd, Anthony

This letter marks the first stage of the inspection trip Franklin and Foxcroft took through New Jersey, New York, and New England between June 7 and November 5, 1763. Lasting just two days less than five months, this was the longest time Franklin was ever away from home on post-office business. Accompanied most of the time by Sarah (“Sally”) Franklin, who celebrated her twentieth birthday while in Boston, the deputy postmasters general traveled as far north as Portsmouth, New Hampshire, inspecting the offices along the way and transacting other business. Characteristically, however, Franklin seized every opportunity to visit with friends en route and during the long stay in Boston. Not the least of his satisfactions must have come from the chance to show his daughter the New England in which he had been born, but which she had never seen before, and in turn to present her for the first time to his relatives and acquaintances in Boston, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
Two accidents marred the journey for him. On some rough road along the western shore of Narragansett Bay he fell from his “chair” (presumably the chaise in which they were riding) and injured his shoulder, forcing him to stay for recuperation considerably longer than he had planned in the home of William and Catharine Greene at Cowesett, near East Greenwich. He had another fall, injuring his shoulder again, during his trip between Boston and Portsmouth, forcing a postponement of the return journey to Philadelphia. In spite of these misfortunes, the tour seems to have been one of the most enjoyable of his many travels through the colonies.
It may be useful to provide here a chronology of the trip, as detailed as possible, both because references to places and dates in the letters that follow are occasionally rather confusing, and because later writers have sometimes placed him during the journey in communities he did not visit or have ascribed to him activities he would never have had time to perform within the days he spent along the route.

June 7: BF and Foxcroft leave Philadelphia for the north.
June 9?-14: At Woodbridge with James Parker, controller of the Post Office.
June 14: BF and Foxcroft leave Woodbridge, go to Elizabeth Town, are joined by the Franklin “children,” and attend a dinner given by the Corporation for WF; reach New York before dark.
June 15: BF and Foxcroft wait on Governor Monckton and General Amherst; dine with Lord Stirling; BF attends Archibald Kennedy’s funeral in evening.
June 16: BF and Foxcroft dine with General Amherst.
June 19: Sally is in Amboy with WF and wife; will go to New York in a few days.
July 1?: BF, Foxcroft, and Sally embark on packet for Newport, R.I., traveling by water because of the “hott weather,” instead of through Connecticut as first planned.

July 8: In Newport (arrival date not certain), BF visits with Ezra Stiles, July 8 and 11.
July 13?-18: After leaving Newport (date of departure not certain), party goes to Cowesett, near East Greenwich, R.I., to visit William and Catharine Greene; somewhere en route BF suffers fall and injures shoulder; they remain at Greene home until he is able to travel.
July 18–19: At Providence, the Greenes having accompanied them part way.
July 19–20: At Wrentham, Mass., for the night.
July 20: Arrive at Boston. BF probably stays with Jane Mecom, and Sally with Jonathan Williams. Foxcroft’s lodgings are not known.
July 20-October 12: With Boston as headquarters, BF and Foxcroft transact post-office business; sometime between August 12 and September 5, they travel to Portsmouth, N.H., and back. On this trip a second fall, dislocating BF’s shoulder, causes delay in return journey to Philadelphia.
October 12: Leave Boston; visit Nathaniel Ames, almanac maker, at Dedham; probably spend night there.
October 14–15: Spend night with the Greenes at Cowesett.
October 15–18: Spend from Saturday evening to Tuesday afternoon at Newport.
October 19–21: At Westerly, R.I., with Joshua Babcock and family.
October 21–25: At New London, Conn., “among our Friends.”

October 27–28: At New Haven from Thursday morning to Friday afternoon.
October 31: Arrive in New York about 11 A.M., after a “very pleasant Journey, and without the least ill Accident.”
November 1: Spend one day and night at Woodbridge with James Parker.
November 4: With WF at Burlington, he having met them “20 Miles on the Road.”
November 5: Arrive at Philadelphia “on Saturday Night.”

Copy
Sir
New Jersey June 10th. 1763
Your three Letters of March 12th. are now before us.
As soon as we have settled the Business of the Office here, we shall proceed to New York, where we Expect to be in a few Days, and shall, agreable to the pleasure of the Post-Master General, signify’d to us by you, use our best Endeavours to Establish a Regular Post between that place and Canada, which we hope may be effected during 8 Months of the Year, if not for the whole. We have not yet heard of the Arrival of Mr. Finlay at Quebec, but have made out a Commission, appointing him Postmaster there.
We observe in the Memorial of the Merchants by you transmitted to us, a Complaint that “an excessive high and exorbitant Postage has been of late exacted from them.” If this is meant of the postage mark’d on their Letters by Mr. Colden Postmaster of New York, when he sent a Post there two or three Times last Summer; we can at present only say, that we suppose he govern’d himself by the Act of Parliament; but we shall enquire into that matter, and if he has made any Mistakes they shall be rectified.

We hope the Continuance of the Packets will in a short time be as advantageous to the office, as it must be to the Commerce of Britain and the Colonies. Nothing in our Power shall be wanting to second the laudable Views with which that Continuance is order’d. It is already advertis’d, and we have order’d the Advertisement to be constantly inserted for twelve Months to come in all News Papers of America. The regular and punctual Dispatch of the Mails will greatly recommend the Use of the Packets to the Merchants; and we doubt not but the good Effect of that Regularity will soon appear in the great Increase of Letters. If some Method could be fallen upon effectually to oblige the Masters of Ships to deliver all their Letters into the Office, it would raise a great Sum in Aid and Support of the Packets. A Clause inserted in some Act of Parliament relating to the Revenue requiring an Oath of every Captain, to be taken at the Custom House when he enters, that he had sent his Letters to the Office; and making it penal to break Bulk till that was done; might possibly have a very good Effect. Or perhaps a Clause obliging all Coffee Houses where Bags are put up, to bring such Bags of Letters to the Post Office before they are sent away; to be seald and directed to the Post Office of the Port to which the Ship is bound; and allow the Coffee House a half penny per Letter, for their Trouble in Collecting them; might be of use. All Opening of Ship Bags, at Coffeehouses or elsewhere by Persons not authorized from the Post Office, and distributing the Letters gratis to the Persons they are directed to, or others, should likewise be forbidden.
These Things we suggest, as what occur to us at present; the Post master-General will judge how far such Provisions would be useful, or whether if they might be useful, it would be practicable to obtain them.
We have directed Mr. Colden, in making up the Mail for England, to bind up the Letters from each Government or Province in separate Bundles, marking at the same time upon each Bundle the exact Number of Letters contained therein, and the amount of the inland Postage paid thereon, agreable to your Directions; and have acquainted him, that he will be allow’d by us, in his future Accounts the Salary of £60 Sterling per Annum as Agent for the Packet Boats.
With regard to what you mention concerning the Account exhibited by Mr. Franklin in April 1762, we would observe, that the Receipts and Ballances of the several Postmasters could not then be stated, as few of them had been regular in sending in their Quarterly Accounts, tho’ always directed so to do; and this Point has been found very difficult to obtain. The Advantage of the Office to a postmaster in these Countries has been in many Places so inconsiderable, that the Office is not sought after as in England, but we were glad to find an honest careful Man who would at our Request undertake it, to oblige us and his Neighbours. Such Persons would remit us Money from time to time as it arose in their Hands, and when it suited with their Leisure draw out and send us their Accounts but if rigidly required to do it at certain Periods, would decline the Service, and desire us to provide some other Person to undertake it. We were therefore under some Necessity of tolerating these Omissions, and content ourselves with obtaining a Settlement when we could. As Correspondence is lately much encreased, more of the Offices become valuable; and as People increase in the Towns, it is more easy to find suitable Officers. In these Cases, we can insist more absolutely on a Regularity in the Execution of the Office; and shall do it; but as in this growing Country there is a Continual Necessity of erecting new Offices in Young Places, the same Difficulty will for a Time continue in such Places, and we do not see how it can be avoided. Every Direction, however, contained in your Letters concerning our future Accounts, shall be complied with as far as in our Power.
Undoubtedly an able Surveyor would be of great Use to us, and prevent the Necessity we are under of making frequent and long Journeys in Person, to see things with our own Eyes, regulate what is amiss, and direct the necessary Improvements; and if on the general Settlement of Accounts we are now making with every Office, we find, as we hope we shall, that the income will be sufficient to defray the additional Expence of such an Officer, we shall not hesitate a Moment to apply for one, especially as you have intimated to us your Opinion that an Assistance so material would not be refused to us, on our Application. And when it is considered, that we have hitherto been without such Assistance, perhaps the Article of travelling Charges in our Accounts will not be thought quite so exceptionable, especially as they amount to much less than the constant Salary of such an Officer. If we reside in New York, to be sure no Journey can be necessary to settle Affairs there; but then it may be necessary from New York to other Places where we now reside, which would be equally distant and expensive. It would be equally agreable to us to live in New York, but there is no House there belonging to the General Post-Office in which we might reside and keep the Office. Perhaps the Postmaster-General may be willing to allow us to rent a suitable House there till the Produce of the Office will bear the Expence of Building one, which we suppose will in time be thought proper and necessary, if the Packets are continued.
With regard to the Articles of £32 11s. 0d. and £59 17s. 0d. for 31 and 57 Days travelling Charges of the late Mr. Hunter, we send you an Original Letter of his to Mr. Franklin explaining the Necessity of undertaking those Journeys, and showing that the Affairs of the Office required his presence in many Places on the Road as well as at New York, particularly at Annapolis in Maryland.
In the first Journey he made with Mr. Franklin in 1754 he got a severe Fever that left him under an obstinate Disorder in his Bowels which reduced him extremely, baffled all the Skill of our American Physicians, and obliged him to go to England, to recover his Health if possible by change of Air and better Advice. He was near three Years in England, at great Expence, and almost continually harrass’d by that Disorder, before he obtain’d a Cure and was able to return. He therefore, as you will see by his Letter, undertook these new Journeys with extreme Reluctance: and his Apprehensions seem not to have been groundless, for in the last of them, he got a severe Cold which fell upon his Lungs, and put an End to his valuable Life. We think when those Circumstances are known and considered, it will not be required of us to insist with the Executors on their refunding that Money; but we shall wait farther Directions, which it will be our Duty to obey.
We shall set about the Maps of America as soon as we return from our present Journey, and send them with all the particulars required, as well as Tables of all the Post Towns, Postmasters Names, Salaries &ct. and in every thing else, shall endeavour punctually to comply with every Order, and every Intimation of the Pleasure, of the Postmaster-General; and exert our utmost Abilities for the Improvement of this part of the Revenue.
Several Governors of Provinces have refused Payment of Postage, of which Mr. Franklin acquainted the Board when he was in London, but some of them have since paid their Accounts, and we have now Hopes of obtaining Payment from them all. We are, with great Regard, Sir Your most obedient humble Servants
B FranklinJ. Foxcroft


Title: Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft: Certificate of Hugh Finlay’s Appointment as Postmaster, 10 June 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin,Foxcroft, John
To:

In consequence of the royal proclamation George III issued four months after his accession, which is summarized in the preamble below, Franklin and Foxcroft prepared and had printed this form of certificate to protect their local postmasters from any interruptions in the performance of their duties. The certificate was, of course, not itself the postmaster’s commission, but rather an additional document intended to satisfy the civil or military authorities that he was properly entitled to the specified exemptions and privileges.

[Seal]
[June 10, 1763]
Benjamin Franklin, and John Foxcroft, Esquires, joint Post-Masters-General of all his Majesty’s Provinces and Dominions on the Continent of North-America.
To all Governors, Mayors of Corporations, Justices of the Peace; and to all other his Majesty’s Officers and Ministers, Ecclesiastical, Civil, or Military, within the said Provinces and Dominions, Greeting.
Whereas His Majesty, by his Royal Letters Patents under the Great Seal of Great-Britain, bearing Date the 28th Day of February, 1761, and in the First Year of His Majesty’s Reign; to the End the Deputies, Agents, and other Officers, employed in the Service of His Majesty’s Revenue of the Post-Office might not be impeded or hindered in their respective Duties, was thereby pleased to declare his Royal Will and Pleasure, That no such Deputies, Agents, and other Officers, shall be compell’d or compellable to serve on any Jury or Inquest, or to appear or serve at any Assize or Session, or to bear any public Office or Employment, either Ecclesiastical, Civil, or Military.
These are to certify, That the Bearer hereof Hugh Finlay Esquire is appointed by us to be Postmaster of Quebec which Employment requires at all Times his Personal Attendance, and that His Majesty’s Revenue in the Post-Office (great Part of which is now subjected to the Payment of the public Debts), may suffer very much by his being obliged to serve in the Train’d-Bands, or any other public Office, Ecclesiastical, Civil, or Military: For Notification whereof, We have Signed and caused the Seal of our Office to be hereunto affixed, this Tenth Day of June in the Third Year of his Majesty’s Reign.
B FranklinJ. Foxcroft


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 10 June 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Jackson, Richard

Dear Sir,
Woodbridge, New Jerse June 10. 1763
I have your Favours of Mar. 10. and April 4. Your being in Parliament gives me great Pleasure; it will afford you many Opportunities of patronizing effectually the important Interests of your America. I rejoice to hear your Work is finished: and feel already the Obligations we shall all be under to you for it. You mention a Proposal to charge us here with the Maintenance of 10,000 Men. I shall only say, it is not worth your while. All we can spare from mere Living, goes to you for Superfluities. The more you oblige us to pay here, the less you can receive there. I thank you for your Congratulations on my Son’s Promotion. The People seem much pleas’d with him, and the Assembly have added £200 to the old Salary of £1000. I forget whether I mention’d to you, that Mr. Symmer, a Gentleman that lives in Mount Street, near Berkely Square, could give you some Information concerning Dr. Barker, Father of the Heir to the Land Mr. Hughes desires to purchase. In preceding Letters I mention’d to you the great Eagerness of the People to remove westward; I send you enclos’d two Letters I happen to have with me that show something of it. One is from a Projector, who has a Number of Adventurers engag’d. Ensign Webb’s crude Scheme is suppress’d by Order of Gen. Amherst; but even that, had a great Number of Subscribers. The Indians however ought to be previously and prudently prepar’d for such Things, or they cannot succeed. The Delawares have broke out again, and kill’d 14 or 15 People about the Ohio; if this is in consequence of any general Discontent in that Nation concerning their Lands, as I apprehend it is; we shall have more Trouble before they are quelled. I am here on a Journey to New England, to regulate and improve the Post Offices. If you or any Friend of yours can have a convenient Opportunity of speaking a few kind Things of me to my new Master Lord Egmont, who does not know me, it may be of Service to me, and I shall be greatly obliged. I am, Dear Friend, Yours most affectionately
B Franklin

I wrote you before of your being chosen our Agent with £200 Sterling Salary. I hope it will not be disagreable to you.
R Jackson Esq

 Endorsed: Woodbridge N. Jersey 10 June 1763 B Franklin Esqr


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 10 June 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Strahan, William

Dear Straney
Woodbridge New Jersey June 10. 1763.
I am here in my Way to New England, where I expect to be till towards the End of Summer. I have writ to you lately and have nothing to add. ’Tis against my Conscience to put you to the Charge of a Shilling for a Letter that has nothing in it to any Purpose, but as I have wrote to some of your Acquaintance by this Opportunity, I was afraid you would not forgive me if I did not write also to you. This is what People get by not being always as good-natured as they should be. I am glad however that you have this Fault; for a Man without Faults is a hateful Creature, he puts all his Friends out of Countenance: but I love you exceedingly.
I am glad to hear that Friend was dismiss’d and got safe with his Ship to England; for I think I wrote you a long Letter by him, and fear’d it was lost; tho’ I have forgot what was in it, and perhaps it was not very material, but now you have it. Tell me whether George is to be a Church or Presbyterian Parson? into know you are a Presbyterian yourself, but then I think you have more Sense than to stick him into a Priesthood that admits of no Promotion. If he was a dull Lad it might not be amiss, but George has Parts, and ought to aim at a Mitre. God bless you and Farewell. If I write much more, I must use a Cover, which will double the Postage. So I prudently cut short (thank me for it) with, Dear Straney, Your affectionate Friend and humble Servant
B Franklin
 Addressed: To / Mr William Strahan / Printer / Newstreet Square / Shoe Lane / London


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Armbruster, 13 June 1763
From: Armbruster, Anthony
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Honour’d Sir.
Philadelphia June 13th. 1763
It is the greatest necessity that urges me to give You this trouble; as I have not been favoured with an answer of the first, sent by Mrs. Franklin, made me think it is unwarranted, but flatter myself You’l excuse both.
As you are on a Journey and not expected to be back for some Weeks, and as the circumstance will not allow to wait till then, and am at the loss how to get relief: I should take as an inestimable Favour, if you would send orders to procure me the sum you gave me some hopes of, before the commencing of [your] Journey.
I do assure you the distress is very great and if you do not rescue me, I shall be a great sufferer in my business: but I expect your generous disposition will prevent it. This inestimable favour shall during my life be acknowledged from Honoured Sir Your very humble and Obedient Servant
Anthony Armbruster
 Addressed: To / Benjamin Franklin Esqr. / General Postmaster of North-America / In / Boston


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 16 June 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Franklin, Deborah

My dear Child,
New York, June 16. 1763

We left Woodbridge on Tuesday Morning and went to Eliz. Town, where I found our Children return’d from the Falls and very well: The Corporation were to have a Dinner that day at the Point for their Entertainment, and prevail’d on us to stay. There was all the principal People and a great many Ladies: after Dinner we set out and got here before dark. We waited on the Governor and on General Amherst yesterday; din’d with Lord Sterling; went in the Evening to my old Friend Mr. Kennedy’s Funeral, and are to dine with the General to day. Mr. Hughes and Daughter are well, and Betsey Holt. I have not yet seen B. Mecom, but shall to day. I am very well.
I purpose to take Sally at all Events, and write for her to day, to be ready to go in the Packet that sails next Friday Week. If there is no other suitable Company, Mr. Parker will go with her and take care of her.
I am glad you sent some Wax Candle with the Things to Boston; I am now so us’d to it, I cannot well do without it.
You spent your Sunday very well, but I think you should go oftner to Church.
I approve of your opening all my English Letters, as it must give you Pleasure to see that People who knew me there so long and so intimately, retain so sincere a Regard for me.
My Love to Mr. Rhoads when you see him, and desire he would send me an Invoice of such Locks, Hinges and the like as cannot be had at Philadelphia, and will be necessary for my House, that I may send for them. Let me know from time to time how it goes on.
Mr. Foxcroft and Mr. Parker join in Compliments to you and Cousin Lizzey. Mr. F. prays his Mama to forgive him and he will be a better Boy. I am, my dear Debby, Your affectionate Husband
B Franklin


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Todd, 18 June 1763
From: Todd, Anthony
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Copy
Sir
General Post Office June the 18th. 1763
I had the pleasure to receive your Letter of the 14th. of April, on Wednesday the 8th. Instant, and the same day laid it before His Majesty’s PostMaster General, who were extremely well satisfied and promise Themselves great Information from your Correspondence.
They are very glad to find that before you had received my Letters to you of the 12th. of March, your own sentiments were the same with Theirs upon almost every point, which makes it unnecessary to add more for the present.
The Harriot Packet has been detained a Week that the Merchants might have Time to answer the Letters which were brought by her, but it is to be hoped this will seldom happen, and that when the Boats are once properly established, a regular Course of sailing may be depended on the second Saturday of every Month from both sides. I am Sir Yours &c.
Anth: Todd Secry
To Benj: Franklin Esqr.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from David Hall, 23 June 1763
From: Hall, David
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir,
Philada. June 23. 1763.
I recd. yours Yesterday, and observe what you say relating to what is inserted in the York Papers. That relating to Lord Bute shall be published next Week, if we have Room; the other the North Briton, if you had not mentioned it, should not have been inserted.
Yesterday very bad Accounts came to hand relating to the Indians; but as our Governor, his Council, and Provincial Commissioners, it seems, were not pleased with our publishing what we did the two last Weeks, we resolved to say nothing about them this, until something more certain should be known of their Proceedings; but the Advices now received come so well confirmed, that there is not the least Reason to doubt that the Indians design us all the Mischief in their Power. The Substance of what is come is as follows.
Colonel Armstrong writes Mr. Hoopes, that an Indian, who he knows well, and is married to a white Woman, is come to Shippensburgh from Potowmack, and says, he has been made acquainted with the Indians Intentions: That a great many Tribes are joined in the Affair: That they are to carry the War to as great an Extent as they can: That they are to attack the Inhabitants in the Season of the Harvest: That they design to burn and destroy all Kinds of Provisions; and are determined to make no Prisoners, but to kill all that fall into their Hands. This Account, the Colonel says he had from several People who had seen the Indian. He adds, that the People are leaving their Places fast, and that the Distress and Confusion the Country is in, is more easy to imagine than express.

Fort Bedford, June 18. 1763.
“The Scene of Indian Cruelty is at length opined. A Dog came into the Garrison wounded, upon which a Party went out immediately, and about 13 Miles from hence found his Master killed and scalped. With him a great many must have shared his Fate, as the Woods are full of Indian Tracts [Tracks]. Just come in a Man and his Wife, about eight Miles from this Place, who being in an adjacent Field to their House, heard a Gun go off, upon which a Cry insued, and then six Guns more were fired, when they set off for the Fort. About an Hour ago, the House was seen in Flames, and no Doubt the People are all murdered that were in the House.”
At Shippensburgh they are in great Confusion, expecting to be attacked, where they have neither Arms nor Ammunition. In the Path Valley they expected the Indians every Moment. The Accounts from Carlisle and Shippensburgh the 20th. Pittsburgh is certainly invested, and the Communication cut off, as there are no Accounts from thence since the Second of this Month. Wish I may soon have better News to send you. Hope you will return as soon as possible, as your Advice may be of Use, in this Time of Calamity. Our Governor and Commissioners have ordered 120 Men to be raised forthwith for the Garrison at Augusta. Shall be glad to hear from you by every opportunity. Our Compliments to Miss Sally and Mr. Foxcroft. I am, in Haste, Yours, &c.
D. Hall

 Addressed: To / Benjamin Franklin Esq; / at / New-York
Endorsed: Philad June 23d 1763 from Mr. Hall to Ben: Franklin Esqr


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to [Jonathan Williams], 26 June 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Williams, Jonathan

Dear Kinsman
New York, June 26. 1763
Inclos’d is a Receipt for some things of mine sent to your Care. I am thus far on my Journey to Boston, and hope now to have soon the Pleasure of seeing you. My Love to your Wife and Children. Tell my Cousin to have his Harpsichord in good Order, for I love Music and shall be pleas’d to hear him. My Daughter too, that comes with me, plays a little, and will be glad of his Instructions. I am, Your affectionate Kinsman
B Franklin


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 27 June 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Jackson, Richard

Dear Sir,
New York, June 27. 1763
Since my Arrival here, News is brought from all Quarters of the Indians having suddenly and pretty generally commenc’d Hostilities, without having first made any Complaint, or alledging any Reason.
I find the General is of Opinion, that it is the Effect of a large Belt sent last Year among them by the French Commander in the Ilinois Country, which was stopt sometime in one of their Towns, but afterwards carried round thro’ the Nations: and he thinks, it will cease when those French come to know that a Peace is concluded between England and France. But others here say, the Indians are disgusted that so little Notice has lately been taken of them, and are particularly offended that Rum is prohibited, and Powder dealt among them so sparingly. They have received no Presents: And the Plan of preventing War among them, and bringing them to live by Agriculture, they resent as an Attempt to make Women of them, as they phrase it: It being the Business of Women only to cultivate the Ground: their Men are all Warriors.
Perhaps these Causes have jointly contributed to produce the Effect. I think too, that we stoop’d too much in begging the last Peace of them; which has made them vain and insolent; and that we should never mention Peace to them again, till we have given them some severe Blows, and made them feel some ill Consequences of breaking with us. The Papers will tell you most of our News. The inclos’d Letter has some Particulars not yet publish’d.
Your Favour by Mr. Tunnicliff reach’d me here. I have recommended him for a Purchase of Land to Lord Stirling, who has great Tracts in the Jerseys out of the Indians way, and says he should like such a Man for a Neighbour, being himself employ’d at present in making great Improvements near Baskinridge where he purposes Building a Seat. I have recommended him also to Mr. Hughes, who is well acquainted with Country Affairs, and capable of giving him the best Advice. When I return to Pensilvania, which I hope will be about the Beginning of September, I shall readily afford him such Assistance as may be in my Power.
I have wrote to you lately, and little now occurs to add. I see in the Account of our Success at the Manillas, on which I congratulate you, one Barker mention’d as an Officer. It is probably the same we have been enquiring after. I hear our Assembly is to meet on Occasion of these Indian Disturbances, before the time to which they stood adjourn’d. With the greatest Esteem, I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant
B Franklin
P.S. This Renewal of Indian War in the Northern Parts, would incline our People much more to a southern Settlement. I long to hear your Sentiments of the Coxes Affair.
The Indians engag’d its said are the Outaways and Chippaways with some Seneca’s and Delawares.
R Jackson Esqr
 Endorsed: New York June 27 1763 B Franklin Esqr


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 27 June 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Hewson, Mary (Polly) Stevenson

Dear Polley,
New York, June 27. 1763
I received here your kind little Letter of April 14. with your good Mama’s Favour of the same Date. I write this Line chiefly to acknowledge it, having wrote to you lately, and little now to add. I congratulate you on your Dolly’s Recovery, which you mention as nearly compleated, assuring you that I do, as you suppose, participate your Pleasure. Tell her that the old American loves her; and all that agreable Family that he remembers and honours them. I am glad you are pleas’d with your new Neighbours; those you left you us’d to like, and as Wanstead is in itself a more pleasant Place than Kensington, you must have suffer’d greatly by the Exchange if those you found there were disagreable. I am asham’d to send a Letter so far with so little in it; In some future Letter I will endeavour to make Amends. My respectful Compliments to your good Aunts; I am, as ever, my dear Friend, Yours affectionately
B Franklin
 Endorsed: New York June 27–63


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to John Waring, 27 June 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Waring, John

Reverend and dear Sir,
New York, June 27. 1763
Being here on my Journey to New-England, I received your Favour of April 5. You will easily conceive that after an Absence of near Six Years from my Family and Affairs, my Attention must be much engross’d on my Arrival by many Things that requir’d it; not to mention a Multiplicity of Visits, &c. that devour abundance of Time, I enquir’d however of Mr. Sturgeon concerning the Negro School tho’ I could not visit it, and had the Satisfaction to hear it was full and went on in general well, tho’ he had met with some Difficulties during the late Dissensions in the Church; but they were pretty well over. He gave me the enclos’d List of the Scholars. As soon as I return to Philadelphia, which I hope to do by the Beginning of September, I shall inspect the School very particularly, and afford every Assistance in my Power to Mr. Sturgeon, in promoting the laudable Views of the Associates, to whom please to present my best Respects. Since my Arrival in America, I made a Journey too to Williamsburgh, near 350 Miles, which took me 5 Weeks; on Business of the Post Office. I there had a long Conversation with Mr. Nicholus concerning the School in that Place, of which I need not give you any Account, as you have receiv’d his Letter which he told me he had written to you. He appears a very sensible and a very conscientious Man, and will do his best in the Affair, but is sometimes a little diffident as to the final Success, in making sincere good Christians of the Scholars; their Continuance at the School being short. I think to visit the School here, which Mr. Auchmuty tells me is in a good way. And as I expect to be at Newport in Rhodeisland next Week, I shall speak to Mr. Brown concerning the Letters you have wrote him, and promote a School there if practicable. I thank you for your kind Congratulations on the Marriage and Proferment of my Son, and am with great Esteem, and Respect, Reverend Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant
B Franklin
P.S. At my Return I shall pay my Subscription as you desire to Mr. Sturgeon.
Mr. Waring
 Addressed: To / The Revd Mr Waring / at Mr Burd’s a Bookseller / in Ava Mary Lane, near St. / Paul’s / London
Endorsed: Dr. Franklin June 27. 1763


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to John Whitehurst, 27 June 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Whitehurst, John

Dear Sir
New York, June 27. 1763
Being here on a Journey to New-England, I received your Favour of March 18 with great Pleasure as it inform’d me of your and Mrs. Whitehurst’s Welfare.
As I was not at home to receive Mr. Tunnicliff and afford him personnally my Advice and Assistance, all I could do was to recommend him to some able and intelligent Friends there, who I am sure will be glad to serve him; and when I return, which I hope will be in about two Months I shall chearfully render him every Service in my Power.

I thank you for your kind Congratulations on my Son’s Marriage and Promotion. He and his Wife are safely arrived and settled. He is here at present with me, and desires his Respects to you.
My Compliments to Mr. Tissington and tell him a Silver Mine is discover’d here which they say is as rich as Potosi. Gen. Monckton carries over Specimens of the Ore.
Unluckily it lies under Water in the River. How it is to be work’d I know not, But as it is near the Shore perhaps it extends under the Bank into the Land and may there be wrought to Advantage. I have lately sent him, Mr. Tissington, a Catalogue of Ores, and Minerals found in these Parts. Remember me respectfully to Dr. Darwin. I shall be glad to see his Thoughts on Cold when he thinks fit to favour me with them. I am sure they will be ingenious and instructive.

Your new Theory of the Earth is very Sensible, and in most particulars quite Satisfactory. I cannot now give you my Sentiments fully upon it, this Ship just Sailing; but shall write you at large from Boston, where I expect to be some time.
I am glad to hear Mr. Harrison is like to obtain some handsome Encouragement. I have heard that Mr. Graham, (the famous Graham of your Trade) should say, Harrison deserv’d the Reward if it were only for his Improvements in Clockmaking: The Error of his Watch in the Voyage between Portsmouth and Portroyal in Jamaica, was it seems but 23 seconds of Time! A surprizing Exactness, if it holds. I never kept a Journal of the Weather but one Year. But have a Friend at Philadelphia who has kept it several Years, and I will get him to send you a Copy of it when I return.
I am ashamed to read here the Clamour of your political Scriblers against the Peace. Never did England make a Peace more truly and substantially advantageous to herself, as a few Years will evince to everybody; for here in America she has laid a broad and strong Foundation on which to erect the most beneficial and certain Commerce, with the Greatness and Stability of her Empire. The Glory of Britain was never higher than at present, and I think you never had a better Prince: Why then is he not universally rever’d and belov’d? I can give but one Answer. The King of the Universe, good as he is, is not cordially belov’d and faithfully serv’d by all his Subjects. I wish I could say that half Mankind, as much as they are oblig’d to him for his continual Favours, were among the truly loyal. Tis a shame that the very Goodness of a Prince, should be an Encouragement to Affronts. An Answer now occurs to me, for that Question of Robinson Crusoe’s Man Friday, which I once thought unanswerable, Why God no kill the Devil? It is to be found in the Scottish Proverb; Ye’d do little for God an the Deel were Dead.
I believe I desired you in a former Letter to deliver the Thermometer you was to make for me, well pack’d, to Mrs. Stevenson, who will pay you for it. The Derby China was so well pack’d that not even the thinnest part of the Foliage was Damag’d, It is much admired here. I am, with Sincerest Esteem, Dear Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant
B Franklin
Mr. Whitehurst.
 Endorsed:Dr Franklin 27 June 1763 to Mr Whitehurst [Note following endorsement:] (Indorsement by Dr. Hutton, whose daughter gave me the letter.)


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 28 June 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Strahan, William

Dear Friend,
New York, June 28. 1763
You will hear before this reaches you, that the Indians have renew’d their Hostilities. They have not as usual made any previous Complaint, and various Conjectures are therefore made of the Cause. Some think it is merely to secure their Hunting Countries, which they apprehend we mean to take from them by Force and turn them into Plantations, tho’ this Apprehension is without Ground. Others, that too little Notice of them has been taken since the Reduction of Canada, no Presents made them as before. Others, that they are offended at the Prohibition of selling them Rum and Powder; but I do not find this Prohibition has been general, and as to Powder that enough has been allow’d them all for their Hunting. Others, that they acquir’d a Relish for Plunder in the late War, and would again enjoy the Sweets of it. Others that it is the Effect of a large Belt sent among them by the French Commander in the Ilinois Country, before he heard of the Peace, to excite them to renew the War, and assure them of Supplies and Assistance. Others think all these Causes may have operated together. The Nations chiefly concern’d are said to be the Outawas and Chippewas who live West and North of the Lakes, and the Delawares on the Ohio; but some other Nations who have not yet appear’d are suspected privily to encourage them. It is however a War that I think cannot last long, tho’ for the present very mischievous to the poor Settlers on the Frontiers.
I expected when I left England, to have learnt in your Letters the true State of Things from time to time among you; but you are silent, and I am in the dark. I hear that Faction and Sedition are becoming universal among you, which I can scarcely believe tho’ I see in your public Papers a Licentiousness that amazes me. I hear of Ins and Outs and Ups and Downs, and know neither why nor wherefore. Think, my dear Friend, how much Satisfaction ’tis in your Power to give me, with the Loss only of half an Hour in a Month that you would otherwise spend at Cribbidge. I left our Friend David and his Family well. I hope this will find you so. I am here on my Journey to New England, whence I hope to return in about 2 Months. Sally goes with me. Billy and his Wife, came over here last Night from the Jerseys to spend a few Days with their Friends at New York, so that we are all together at present, except my Wife, and all join in best Wishes for you and good Mrs. Strahan and your Children. I wrote to you by the last Packet, and can now only add, that I am, with sincerest Esteem and Affection, Dear Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant
B Franklin
Mr. Strahan
 Endorsed: Britannia, Tillet Philadelphia Packett Budden


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 28 June 1763
From: Collinson, Peter
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Lond June 28. 1763
I received my Dear Friends Obligeing Letter with another Inclosed to our Friend Hamilton which I forwarded to Him. Doubt not but will proof Satisfactory. This Serves to convey Advice of a Box of Books for Thy Self, Lib: Com. and J. Bartram perticulars as under. From His Affectionate Friend
P Collinson

The Box is Directed for Thee and comes by the Carolina Capt. Friend. Hope to Inclose the Capts. Receipt. I have made Thee Debtor for the whole as I keep no Account with the Lib: Comy.

forLib: Com
{
No. 37 and 38 of Mod History
6.6
–:
13:
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Edwards VII Vol Birds and binding

2:
5:
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and many Catalogues

–:
–:
–

for YourSelf History Florida I thought this might be Entertaining to you

6:
–

Box

  1:
  –

3:
5.

primage &c

  4
  –

3:
9:

N:B. Mr Edwards has left off publishing. If the Lib: Com. have a Mind to Compleat their Sett, if any is wanting Lett them Send in Time. He has published seven Volumes of Birds and animals &c.
I wrote much to the Above purpose by Last Packet. I have seen nothing of your proprietor for a long while.

 Addressed: To / Benn: Franklin Esqr / in / Philadelphia


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from [Alexander Small], 5 July 1763
From: Small, Alexander
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
London July 5th 1763
I do not know whether any of our Burnet Seed, has yet been sent to your great World; and therefore to make sure of it, I send you Six pounds. It is a Native of England, but has hitherto passed unnoticed. The attention now paid it is intirely owing to one Roque a Gardener near Chelsea, a most curious Mortal. I truely think the World will be greatly indebted to him for the discovery. I never saw land bear so great a Burden of any grass as I have seen of this. It has a singular good quality for Northern Situations, viz. that its leaves are not destroyed by the Frost, of which we have had a remarkable Instance this Year, when the severest Winter which we have had since the Year 1740, did not in the least injure it. This promises to be of an Inconceivable advantage to Sheep and Lambs, which in the Spring seldom have any Succulent Plant to feed upon. The following [is] nearly the Culture of it which Mr. Roque recommends. It may be sown in Spring, tho’ he prefers August, because the Drougth during its first weak state in the Summer is apt to criple or destroy it; whereas in the Autumn, Rains are more frequent, and the Nights longer and moister: He allows ten or 12 pounds to the Acre. After it is grown up, it must be kept clear of Weeds and thinned where too thick. If sown in Spring, it may be cut in July and again in September; but not later, because it acquires strength in the Winter, and keeps the ground warm, when a good Cover is left. If sown in August it will bear but little cutting that Season. The Weeds must be kept carefully under next Spring, the Burnet thinned where too thick, or transplanted where too thin, so that the Plants may stand in rich ground at the distance of nine Inches from one another, and of Six in poor land. The Seed will be ripe in the latter end of June; but if intended only for Hay, it may be cut Sooner. In either Case it will yield a good 2d Crop, and leave an abundant Winter Crop. It will so cover the Earth next Spring that it effectually destroys all Weeds, and will ever after bear being cut thrice every Year. Horses are extremely fond of it; and it seems by what Roque has observed, to be a kind of Panacea for them, having performed some great Cures. This being only the 3d Year that he has cultivated it with Attention, you may beleive experiments have not yet made us fully acquainted with its Virtues.
Considering the low State of Mind to which the good Mr. Eliot was brought, I cannot say but I rather rejoiced to hear of his Death. His Ralations will, I hope, have the Satisfaction of receiving his letter; which gave him and them so much uneasiness, inclosed in my last to you. Had he been in his pristine State, this new grass would have afforded him pleasure in cultivating it.
When mentioning new plants, I can only inform You that the Marquiss of Turbilly has sent the Society a very small quantity of the Seed of an uncommonly good Cabbage which grows in Anjou. Of that small quantity I could only procure a few Seeds. Some of them are Sown and have come up. As soon as any Seed is saved, You shall have some, with an Account of the Plant. Thus it is I endeavour to decoy you into a Correspondence, which turns so much to my Pleasure and no small fame.
In Course of Posts, I should have had an Answer to mine relating to Mr. Mure’s thought of the Hemp Machine. Lest it may have miscarried, I shall here repeat it as well as my Memory can recollect a Subject I have ceased thinking of for sometime. Mr. Stevens the Ironmonger is much of Opinion it will Answer, as indeed is every one to whom I have mentioned it. Mr. Mure took the Hint from the Sugar Mills. His Proposal is that when the Hemp is thoroughly dry, (perhaps laid for sometime in an Oven or in a Kiln) it shall be pressed between two Cylinders, a little fluted, so as not only to crush the bun or reed, but also break it in Pieces, so that it may be the more easily separated from the Hemp. Mr. Stevens thinks that these Cylinders should be of Iron, and is of opinion they may be cast small enough for this purpose. We did propose that he should have made a Pair, to be sent over, but recollected that as you have founderies, you may cast them, and thereby lessen the Expence of Carriage, &c. If you think Mr. Stevens will do it better, having the Idea of it clearer in his head, which can at the same time have Mr. Mure’s Joined with it, we shall set [remainder missing.]


Title: Ezra Stiles: List of Franklin’s Honors, 11 July 1763
From: Stiles, Ezra
To: Franklin, Benjamin

During his stay at Newport in July Franklin had an opportunity to renew acquaintance with his old friend Ezra Stiles, now minister of the Congregational Church there, and to engage in conversations with him. On July 11 Franklin showed Stiles some of the papers which reflected the recognition accorded him, in America and abroad, for his scientific achievements. Almost certainly Franklin had brought these documents with him from Philadelphia at Stiles’s request. Stiles copied these papers into a volume of miscellaneous extracts now among the Stiles MSS in the Yale University Library, pp. 97–108. He headed them: “July 12, 1763. Copies of Papers taken by the Leave of Dr. Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia in Newport July 11, 1763.” Eleven documents follow. Ten of them are copies of diplomas, citations, or extracts of letters, most of which have been previously printed in this edition. The next to last, however, is the summary of Franklin’s “Honors” which Stiles compiled on this occasion and which is printed here.

Series of Dr. Franklin’s Honors &c.

1706.
Born in Boston N England

1746.
Immersed in Electrical Experiments

1752.
Received a Compliment from the King of France

1753.
Complimented with the Degree of A.M. in Harvard College.

1753.
Do. in Yale College—and an Oration

1756. Apr. 2.  Do. Wm and Mary College

Id. June Father Beccarias Letter to P. Collinson

1757
Elected F.R.S.

1759. Feb. 12.
Degree of J.U.D. from the University of St. Andrew

1762 Feb. 22.
Degree of J.C.D. voted him at Oxford and conferred the Summer following

1759 Sept. 5
Freedom of the City of Edinburgh

Sept. 19
Do. City of Glasgow

Oct. 2
Do. City of St. Andrew

1760
Letter of Count de Saluce at Turin


Title: Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft: Receipts to Thomas Vernon, 12 and 16 July 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin,Foxcroft, John
To: Vernon, Thomas

[July 12, 16, 1763]
Receiv’d July 12. 1763. of Mr. Vernon, One Hundred and Fifteen Pounds four Shillings and Sixpence on Account of the Post-Office, per us
B FranklinJohn Foxcroft

Recd July 16th. 1763 of Mr. Vernon One hundred and Thirty nine Pounds three Shillings on account of this post office. For B: Franklin and Self
John Foxcroft


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Greene, 19 July 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Greene, William

Dear Sir
Providence July 19. 1763
From the very hospitable and kind Treatment we met with at your House I must think it will be agreable to you to hear that your Guests got well in before the Rain. We hope you and Mrs. Green were likewise safe at home before Night, and found all well. We all join in the most cordial Thanks and best Wishes, and shall be glad on every Occasion to hear of the Welfare of you and yours.
I beg you would present our Compliments to your good Neighbour Capt. Fry, and tell him we shall always retain a grateful Remembrance of his Civilities.
The Soreness in my Breast seems to diminish hourly. Rest and Temperance I ascribe it to chiefly, tho’ the Bleeding, &c. had doubtless some Share in the Effect. We purpose setting out to go to Wrentham this Afternoon, in order to make an easy Day’s Journey into Boston to morrow. Present our Respects to Mrs. Ray, and believe me, with much Esteem, Dear Sir, Your obliged, and most obedient humble Servant
B Franklin


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from [Henry] Jackson, 29 July 1763
From: Jackson, Henry
To: Franklin, Benjamin

This extract of a letter and the accompanying remarks survive only in a copy headed “In a Letter from London to B. Franklin Esqr. which he sent me,” found among extensive manuscript notes on agriculture written, 1746–71, by Charles Read of Burlington, N.J., and interleaved in a copy of John Worlidge, Systema Agriculturae (3d edit., London, 1681). The writer of the letter and remarks must have been Henry Jackson, a London chemist who, in addition to earlier writings on bread and tar water, published in 1765 An Essay on British Isinglass. What may have occasioned his correspondence with Franklin is not known, nor the reason why Franklin gave this paper to Read.

Eastsmithfield Londn. July 29 1763
A Method of Making Glue from Sturgeon &c.
The Skin and Cartilages must be freed as much as possible from the other parts of the Fish and particularly from what are fat and unctuous, let them be washed clean and then boiled gently in a Sufficient Quantity of Water till they are disolved as much as possible or till little remains except some very gross Parts, The Liquor must be skimm’d pretty often, during the Coction and when it begins to grow thick, must be kept continually stirring to prevent burning; after wich the Decoction must be strained thro a fine wicker basket, permitted to settle an hour or 2 and then the clear Liquor must be evaporated in a proper Vessel till it is very thick, when it must be pourd into proper Moulds of Wood or Tin to stiffin, after wich it must be taken out and laid upon Netts stretchd in Frames, to dry till it becomes hard enough for Use.
Remarks
Copper Vessells for making Glues are most commodious. They must be of two kinds, One to boil the Subject in and the Other to evaporate the superfluous Moisture; The first may be constructed like a Brewers Copper fixed in Brick work with a Door, Grate, &c. After the Usual Method; The Other must be a double Vessel, or Water Bath, the outward Vessel of which, must be likewise set in Brick Work or the evaporating Vessel may be adapted to the Boiling Vessel wich thus may Answer two Purposes, first to boil the Subject in and afterwards receive the other Vessel to evaporate the Liquor, but where Dispatch in Busness is required it will be found to most advantage to have them seperate, that one may be boiling while the Other is evaporating; the double Vessel must therefore be very large in Diamiter and so shallow that altho it be large enough for its Companion to contain all the Decoction yet need not be more than 2 feet Deep or thereabouts; The two Vessels may be Set contiguous to each other with diffirent Flews in the same Chimney; The Companion to this shallow Pan must be adapted in such manner that it must be suspended within the Other by a broad Rim of Copper rivetted to its sides 6 Inches below [its] Edge or upper Rim, which Rim must rest upon the Edge or Top of the fixed Copper, the inward vesel must be less in Diamitir to the other, so as to leave 3 inches Space between the sides of the Two Vessels, every where around when the inner Vessel is suspended and 4 Inches Space from the bottom; At the Distance of every Foot in the Rim may be cut vent Holes, about Three Inches Long and two Inches Wide to let out the Steam of the boiling water in the outward Vessel; That Part of the inward Vessel above the Rim may be 6 or 8 inches that it may contain the more Matter to be evaporated, and be more readily taken out occasionally.
After the Glutinous Subjects have been disolved [word missing] slow continued boiling with repeated Quantities of water in the boiling Vessel; The Decoctions must be strained, permitted to subside in wooden Casks or tubs drawn off pretty Clear and put into the evaporating-vessel, previously suspended in the Other already filled 2 thirds with Water; The Fire must then be kept up, so as to keep the water round the inner vesel in a continued boiling State which water must be supply’d Occasionally as it wastes and the Decoction stir’d frequently till all the superfluous Moisture is evaporated and the Magma becomes just thin enough to pour into the moulds very slightly greased to prevent its sticking; In this state it must dry till it is stiff enough to lay upon Netts to be further dried for use; The Tin Pans need only to be made of a Sheet of tin, 6 or 8 inches Square, with the Edges turned up equal to the intended Thickness of the Glue Cake. The Nett Frames for drying resemble a little Hutt, They may be about eight Feet long as many high and Four wide, fixed about 6 inches distance from each other and one over another from the Ground to the Eaves of the Roof, wich Roof is weather boarded, the Hutt with its Roof must be built first, and the Frame with the Netts fastned within it afterwards; Thus the Netts will be open on all sides to the Air except the Top wich Defends them from Rain, the great Dificulty in making Glue is to prevent its burning which is effectualy done by this Method as the Decotion can receive no greater heat than [the] boiling water; The evaporating Pan is made broad and Shallow because all evaporations is in proportion to Surface exposed to the Air, Common Glue is generally of a brown Colour being generally a little burnt and full of heterogene particles, but Glue made after this Process will be the most perfect that can Possibly be made and will when finished appear tranparant and of a grenish Hue, it is the strongest that can be made and grows so hard between Timber as to resist moisture incredibly. Size is only Glue left in the Consist[ency] between Jelly and Glue, and Jellys are only thin Size, Papins Machine will disolve Animal Substance more readily, but is Inapplicable in a large way. Iron or Copper Ladles will be nessesasary to lade out the Glue; I know of nothing more worth describing but what will naturally occur to the Practitioner.
H Jackson


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Greene, 1 August 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Greene, Catharine

Dear Friend,
Boston, Augt. 1. 1763
I ought to acquaint you that I feel myself growing daily firmer and freeer from the Effects of my Fall; and hope a few Days more will make me quite forget it. I shall however never forget the Kindness I met with at your House on that Occasion.
Make my Compliments acceptable to your Mr. Greene, and let him know that I acknowledge the Receipt of his obliging Letter and thank him for it. It gave me great Pleasure to hear you got home before the Rain.
My Compliments too to Mr. Merchant and Miss Ward if they are still with you; and kiss the Babies for me. Sally says, and for me too: She adds her best Respects to Mr. Greene and you, and that she could have spent a Week with you with great Pleasure, if I had not hurried her away.

My Brother is return’d to Rhodeisland. Sister Mecom thanks you for your kind remembrance of her, and presents her Respects.
With perfect Esteem and Regard, I am, Dear Katy (I can’t yet alter my Stile to Madam) Your affectionate Friend
B Franklin
Mrs Cath. Greene


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to [Benjamin Waller], 1 August 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Waller, Benjamin

Sir
Boston, Augt. 1. 1763
I receiv’d yesterday your Favour of June 25. relating to the Son of my dear Friend Mr. Hunter. I am sensible that the Care of the Education of young Persons, is attended with Trouble, and like other old Men I begin in most things to consult my Ease: But I shall with Pleasure undertake the Charge you propose to me, if it be, as I suppose it is, agreable to his other Friends; for I loved his Father truly, and think it a Duty to perform the Request of a Friend deceas’d, who living would I am sure have thought little of any Trouble in obliging me. Mr. Foxcroft tells me, that your Son is likewise of a mild tractable Temper and Disposition; and as they will be Company for each other, and when I have undertaken the Care of one the Care of a second will be but little additional Trouble, I do not pretend to lay you under any Obligation in consenting to receive them both I shall be happy in being useful to them. As soon as I return to Philadelphia, which I purpose some time next Month I will procure and send you an Estimate of Expence of their Maintenance and Education and advise the time of sending them.
I shall give an Order to Mr. Foxcroft to receive at his Return the further Payment [you] mention, and am, with great Esteem, Sir Your most obedient Servant
B Franklin


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 8 August 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Jackson, Richard

Dear Sir,
Boston, Augt. 8. 1763.
Being here on the Business of the Post-Office, I have received your obliging Favour of May 19. which I shall answer by the next Pacquet. At present I have only time to introduce to you Col. Dyer, the Bearer of this Letter, a Gentleman of Character and Reputation in your Colony of Connecticut. He goes to England to lay the Affair of their Purchase on Sasquehanah before his Majesty, the Settlement of that Purchase being oppos’d by Mr. Penn. I have taken the Liberty to recommend him to you as the Person in all England most capable of advising and serving him in his Solicitation. As to the Sentiments of our People on that Settlement, I can assure you, that there is scarce a Man in Pensilvania who does not wish it to go on, provided it be with the free Consent of the Indians; as it would, when once establish’d be a good Barrier for our N. West Frontier in case of a future Indian War; and the intended Settlers are a kind of People whose Neighbourhood we should like. I am even at a loss to guess on what Principle the Proprietor opposes it; since if the Land is not within his Grant, or the prior Grant of Connecticut is valid, he has no right to intermeddle; and if it finally appears to be within his Grant, and that of Connecticut does not extend to it, the Settlers must become his Tenants. With the greatest Esteem, I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant
B Franklin
R. Jackson Esqr.
 Endorsed: Boston Augst 8th 1763 B Franklin Esqr


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 8 August 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Strahan, William

Dear Friend,
Boston, Augt. 8. 1763
I have received here your Favour of May 3. and Postscript of May 10. and thank you cordially for the Sketch you give me of the present State of your political Affairs. If the stupid brutal Opposition your good King and his Measures have lately met with should as you fear become general, surely you would not wish me to come and live among such People; you would rather remove hither, where we have no Savages but those we expect to be such. But I think your Madmen will ere long come to their Senses; and when I come I shall find you generally wise and happy. That I have not the Propensity to sitting Still that you apprehend, let my present Journey witness for me, in which I have already travelled eleven hundred and forty Miles on this Continent since April and shall make Six hundred and forty Miles more before I see home. No Friend can wish me more in England than I do my self. But before I go, every thing I am concern’d in must be so settled here as to make another Return to America unnecessary. My Love to every one of your dear Family, of whose Welfare I always rejoice to hear: being with the greatest Esteem and Affection, Dear Sir, Yours sincerely
B Franklin
 Addressed: To / Mr. William Strahan / Printer / London


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Templeman, 12 August 1763
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Templeman, Peter

Sir
Boston, Augt. 12. 1763
In my Journey from Philadelphia hither, I have had the Pleasure of meeting with sundry Persons in different Places, who are attempting the Produce of Silk from the Encouragement offered by the Society: And am persuaded that in time you will see very considerable Effects of that Encouragement.
The Produce of Potash, cheap enough to be exported with Profit to Britain, which had almost been despaired of here, and the Attempt nearly laid aside, is now revived by Mr. Willard of this Country, who, animated by the Society’s Offers, has persever’d in prosecuting the Design, and at length has found a more easy, certain, and much less expensive Process than what was heretofore known and used here, and which is said to produce a more perfect Commodity. He sends home by this Ship 23 Tons, hoping that the Society have continued their Premiums on that Article for the Year 1763. He is very frank and candid in communicating his Method, and willing it should be made public for the general Good. I would therefore recommend to the Society a particular Examination of the Qualities of this Potash; and if it is found excellent, as I am told it is, that Mr. Willard may receive some Mark of the Society’s Favour, tho’ the Premiums offer’d for 1762, should happen not to be continued.
With sincerest Wishes of Prosperity to the Society, and Success to their most laudable Endeavours for the Publick Prosperity, I am, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin
Dr. Templeman


Title: From Anthony Todd to Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft, 13 August 1763
From: Todd, Anthony
To: Franklin, Benjamin,Foxcroft, John

Gentlemen
General Post Office August the 13th 1763
I am glad to acquaint you that the Postmaster General are very well satisfied with Mr. Franklin’s Letter of the 1st. and your joint Letter of the 10th. of June.
The several proposed Regulations and Improvements which you mention, have met with Their entire approbation, and They wait your own Time for making the ample Report you mention at the End of this Summer season when you have finished your surveys, so that for the present, I am required to say little more than acknowledge the Receipt of the two Bills for Four Hundred and Ninety four Pounds, four Shillings, and eight pence, being the Balance to Mr. Hunters Death, which Remittances for the future, you will send to The Postmaster General and make them payable only to Mr. Trevor.

With regard to the articles of £32 11s. and £59 17s. for the said Mr. Hunters travelling Charges, they are both allowed of, for the reasons you alledge, and herewith I return his Letter to Mr. Franklin upon that Subject in April 1760.
The hopes you express that the Continuance of the Packets, which must of Course be advantageous to the Commerce between Great Britain and North America will in a short Time be to the Benefit of this Office also, is very satisfactory and if a favourable opportunity should offer in the Course of the next Sessions of Parliament to obtain the Clause you so heartily recommend, to oblige the Masters of all Ships, to deliver their Letters into the Post Offices of the respective ports they arrive at, which at present appear to be too much exposed to the Curiosity of private persons, who often destroy or delay them, you may be assured that so material a point, towards rendering the Correspondence of His Majesty’s Subjects more safe and expeditious, as well as a Benefit to this Office, will be carefully attended to.
When you may be able to make it appear, that the Revenue intrusted to your Management, is become so flourishing, as clearly to admit of it, I should be glad to move The Postmaster-General on your behalf, to Rent a Convenient House in New York, or even to build a Commodious Chief Office there.
That your most sanguine Views may meet with no cheque from hence, The Postmaster General have added a fifth Boat, to maintain with greater certainty, the monthly Correspondence between Falmouth, and New York, which you will do well to make known throughout the several provinces.
I am glad to find that some Governors, who once refused have at length paid the postage due to this Office. For the Time to come, you are to consider it as a positive Injunction from His Majesty’s Postmaster General, not to suffer any Letter or Packet whatsoever, though upon the Governments immediate Service to pass free, The Postmaster General having by the Act of the 9th. of Queen Anne no such dispensing Power. I am Gentlemen Yours &c.
Anth: Todd Secry
Copy
To Benj: Franklin and John Foxcroft Esqrs:Deputy Postmaster General of America