Title: Poor Richard, 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

Courteous Reader,
This is the 15th Time I have entertain’d thee with my annual Productions; I hope to thy Profit as well as mine. For besides the astronomical Calculations, and other Things usually contain’d in Almanacks, which have their daily Use indeed while the Year continues, but then become of no Value, I have constantly interspers’d moral Sentences, prudent Maxims, and wise Sayings, many of them containing much good Sense in very few Words, and therefore apt to leave strong and lasting Impressions on the Memory of young Persons, whereby they may receive Benefit as long as they live, when both Almanack and Almanack-maker have been long thrown by and forgotten. If I now and then insert a Joke or two, that seem to have little in them, my Apology is, that such may have their Use, since perhaps for their Sake light airy Minds peruse the rest, and so are struck by somewhat of more Weight and Moment. The Verses on the Heads of the Months are also generally design’d to have the same Tendency. I need not tell thee that not many of them are of my own Making. If thou hast any Judgment in Poetry, thou wilt easily discern the Workman from the Bungler. I know as well as thee, that I am no Poet born; and it is a Trade I never learnt, nor indeed could learn. If I make Verses, ’tis in Spight—Of Nature and my Stars, I write. Why then should I give my Readers bad Lines of my own, when good Ones of other People’s are so plenty? ’Tis methinks a poor Excuse for the bad Entertainment of Guests, that the Food we set before them, tho’ coarse and ordinary, is of one’s own Raising, off one’s own Plantation, &c. when there is Plenty of what is ten times better, to be had in the Market. On the contrary, I assure ye, my Friends, that I have procur’d the best I could for ye, and much Good may’t do ye.
I cannot omit this Opportunity of making honourable Mention of the late deceased Ornament and Head of our Profession, Mr. Jacob Taylor, who for upwards of 40 Years (with some few Intermissions only) supply’d the good People of this and the neighbouring Colonies, with the most compleat Ephemeris and most accurate Calculations that have hitherto appear’d in America. He was an ingenious Mathematician, as well as an expert and skilful Astronomer; and moreover, no mean Philosopher, but what is more than all, He was a PIOUS and an HONEST Man. Requiescat in pace.
I am thy poor Friend, to serve thee,
R. Saunders

XI Mon. January hath xxxi days.

To show the Strength, and Infamy of Pride,
By all ’tis follow’d, and by all deny’d.
What Numbers are there, which at once pursue
Praise, and the Glory to contemn it too?
To praise himself Vincenna knows a Shame,

And therefore lays a Stratagem for Fame;
Makes his Approach in Modesty’s Disguise,
To win Applause, and takes it by Surprize.

   Strive to be the greatest Man in your Country, and you may be disappointed; Strive to be the best, and you may succeed: He may well win the race that runs by himself.
XII Mon. February hath xviii days.

See Wealth and Pow’r! Say, what can be more great?
Nothing—but Merit in a low Estate.
To Virtue’s humblest Son let none prefer
Vice, tho’ a Croesus or a Conqueror.
Shall Men, like Figures, pass for high, or base,
Slight, or important, only by their Place?
Titles are Marks of honest Men, and Wise;
The Fool, or Knave that wears a Title, lies.

’Tis a strange Forest that has no rotten Wood in’t
     And a strange Kindred that all are good in’t.

   None know the unfortunate, and the fortunate do not know themselves.
I Mon. March hath xxxi days.

Celestial Patience! How dost thou defeat
The Foe’s proud Menace, and elude his Hate?
While Passion takes his Part, betrays our Peace;
To Death and Torture swells each slight Disgrace;
By not opposing, Thou dost Ill destroy,
And wear thy conquer’d Sorrows into Joy.

   There’s a time to wink as well as to see.
   Honest Tom! you may trust him with a house-full of untold Milstones.
   There is no Man so bad, but he secretly respects the Good.

II Mon. April hath xxx days.

Religion’s Force divine is best display’d,
In a Desertion of all human Aid:
To succour in Extreams is her Delight,
And cheer the Heart when Terror strikes the Sight.
We, disbelieving our own Senses, gaze,
And wonder what a Mortal’s Heart can raise,
To smile in Anguish, triumph in his Grief,
And comfort those who come to bring Relief.

  When there’s more Malice shown than Matter:
  On the Writer falls the satyr.

III Mon. May hath xxxi days.

Girls, mark my Words; and know, for Men of Sense
Your strongest Charms are native Innocence.
Shun all deceiving Arts; the Heart that’s gain’d
By Craft alone, can ne’er be long retain’d.
Arts on the Mind, like Paint upon the Face,
Fright him, that’s worth your Love, from your Embrace.
In simple Manners all the Secret lies.
Be kind and virtuous, you’ll be blest and wise.

   Courage would fight, but Discretion won’t let him.
   Delicate Dick! whisper’d the Proclamation.
   Cornelius ought to be Tacitus.
IV Mon. June hath xxx days.

O, form’d Heav’n’s Dictates nobly to rehearse,
Preacher Divine! accept the grateful Verse.
Thou hast the Power, the harden’d Heart to warm,
To grieve, to raise, to terrify, to charm;
To fix the Soul on God, to teach the Mind
To know the Dignity of Human Kind;
By stricter Rules well-govern’d Life to scan,
And practise o’er the Angel in the Man.

   Pride and the Gout,
Are seldom cur’d throughout.

   We are not so sensible of the greatest Health as of the least Sickness.
   A good Example is the best sermon.
V Mon. July hath xxxi days.

Men drop so fast, ere Life’s mid Stage we tread,
Few know so many Friends alive as dead;
Yet, as immortal, in our uphill Chace,
We press coy Fortune with unslacken’d Pace;
Our ardent Labours for the Toy we seek,
Join Night to Day, and Sunday to the Week,
Our very Joys are anxious, and expire
Between Satiety and fierce Desire.

   A Father’s a Treasure; a Brother’s a Comfort; a Friend is both.
   Despair ruins some, Presumption many.

A quiet Conscience sleeps in Thunder,
But Rest and Guilt live far asunder.

VI Mon. August hath xxxi days.

A decent Competence we fully taste;
It strikes our Sense, and gives a constant Feast:
More, we perceive by Dint of Thought alone;
The Rich must labour to possess their own,
To feel their great Abundance; and request
Their humble Friends to help them to be blest;
To see their Treasures, hear their Glory told,
And aid the wretched Impotence of Gold.

   He that won’t be counsell’d, can’t be help’d.
   Craft must be at charge for clothes, but Truth can go naked.
   Write Injuries in Dust, Benefits in Marble.

VII Mon. September hath xxx days.

But some, great Souls, and touch’d with Warmth divine,
Give Gold a Price, and teach its Beams to shine;
All hoarded Treasures they repute a Load,
Nor think their Wealth their own till well bestow’d.
Grand Reservoirs of public Happiness,
Thro’ secret Streams diffusively they bless;
And while their Bounties glide conceal’d from View,
Relieve our Wants, and spare our Blushes too.

   What is Serving God? ’Tis doing Good to Man.
   What maintains one Vice would bring up two Children.
   Many have been ruin’d by buying good pennyworths.
VIII Mon. October hath xxxi days.

One to destroy, is Murder by the Law,
And Gibbets keep the lifted Hand in Awe.
To murder Thousands, takes a specious Name,
War’s glorious Art, and gives immortal Fame.
O great Alliance! O divine Renown!
With Death and Pestilence to share the Crown!
When Men extol a wild Destroyer’s Name,
Earth’s Builder and Preserver they blaspheme.

   Better is a little with content than much with contention.

A Slip of the Foot you may soon recover:
But a Slip of the Tongue you may never get over.

   What signifies your Patience, if you can’t find it when you want it.
   d. wise, £ foolish.
IX Mon. November hath xxx days.

I envy none their Pageantry and Show;
I envy none the Gilding of their Woe.

Give me, indulgent Heav’n, with Mind serene,
And guiltless Heart, to range the Sylvan Scene.
No splendid Poverty, no smiling Care,
No well bred Hate, or servile Grandeur there.
There pleasing Objects useful Thoughts suggest,
The Sense is ravish’d, and the Soul is blest,
On every Thorn delightful Wisdom grows,
In every Rill a sweet Instruction flows.

   Time enough, always proves little enough.
   It is wise not to seek a Secret, and Honest not to reveal it.
   A Mob’s a Monster: Heads enough, but no Brains.
   The Devil sweetens Poison with Honey.
X Mon. December hath xxxi days.

Old Age will come, Disease may come before,
Fifteen is full as mortal as Threescore.
Thy Fortune and thy Charms may soon decay;
But grant these Fugitives prolong their Stay;
Their Basis totters, their Foundation shakes,
Life that supports them, in a Moment breaks.
Then, wrought into the Soul, let Virtue shine,
The Ground eternal, as the Work divine.

   He that cannot bear with other People’s Passions, cannot govern his own.

He that by the Plow would thrive,
Himself must either hold or drive.

Courts.

From Earth to Heav’n when Justice fled,
The Laws decided in her Stead;
From Heav’n to Earth should she return,
Lawyers might beg, and Lawbooks burn.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 4 January 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Strahan, William

Sir,
Philada. Jany. 4. 1746[,7]
I wrote a Line to you some days since, via New York, enclosing a Bill of £25 Sterling; the second in a Copy by some other Vessel from that Port; the third you have herein, together with a Bill of £60 Sterling, which I hope will be duly honour’d. My Wife wrote to you per Mesnard for 6 Nelson’s Justice, 6 Dyche’s Dictionary, 12 Cole’s English ditto, 6 Female Fables, 6 Croxall’s Ditto, and Mrs. Rowes Works compleat. If not sent before, please to add them to the within Invoice, and send the whole per first Ship; add also Lemery on Foods, and Dr. Moffet on Health. Please to deliver the enclos’d Procuration to Mr. Acworth with the Bill. The Books you sent per Mesnard turn’d out all right and in good Order, except that the Prayer Books had all wrong Psalms the old Version: I do not know if they will ever sell. The Paper should not have been cut at the Edges, being to be bound in Accompt Books. Our Friends Hall and Read continue well. My Wife joins me in best Respects to Mrs. Strahan and your self: She will write per Seymour, as will Mr. Hall. The Life of Du Renty, charg’d at 6s. per Doz. has Price stitch’d Four pence under the Title Page. Is there not some Mistake in the Charge? I am, Sir, Your obliged humble Servant
B Franklin

Your Government sent no Fleet to protect us from the French under D’Anville. But they have been defeated by the Hand of God.

 Addressed: To  Mr Wm Strahan  Printer in Wine Office  Court.  Fleetstreet  London  per Capt. White


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Darling, 27 January 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Darling, Thomas

Sir
Philada. Jan. 27. 1746/7
I receiv’d yours of the 26th past, which I shall endeavour to answer fully per next Post. In the mean time please to tender my best Respects and Service to good Mr. and Madam Noyes, and the most agreable Ladies their Daughters, with Thanks for the Civility they were pleased to shew me when at Newhaven. We have printed nothing new here lately, except the Enclos’d Pamphlet, which I send, in hope it may afford the Ladies and yourself some Amusement these long cold Winter Evenings. I am, Sir, Your most humble Servant
B Franklin
 Endorsed: I Received this Letter Feb 12 1746/7


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Darling, 10 February 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Darling, Thomas

Sir
Philada. Feby. 10. 1746/7
I wrote a Line to you per last Post, which I hope came to hand.
The Ingredients of Common Window and Bottle Glass are only Sand and Ashes. The Proportions of each I do not exactly know.
The Heat must be very great. Our Glasshouse consumes Twenty-four Hundred Cords of Wood per Annum tho’ it works but Seven Months in the Year. (But the Wood is only of 3 Foot Length, which lessens the Quantity One Fourth.) It is split small and dried well in a Kiln before ’tis thrown into the Furnace. The Cutting, Hauling, Splitting and Drying of this Wood, employs a great many Hands, and is the principal Charge; for this Consumption of Wood in Making the necessary Heat furnishes at the same Time great Part of the Ashes that are wanted: An Advantage they have not in England, where they burn Sea Coal, the Ashes of which will make no Glass, nor even Soap.
The House and Furnace may cost about a Thousand Pounds of your Money. The Tools a Trifle, being only a few Iron Rods made hollow, with wooden Handles, Sheers &c. The Pots which contain the melted Glass Metal, are made of a particular Clay, which will stand a violent Fire. At first ’twas brought from England; ’tis now found here. They may be large enough to contain about 100 lb. of Metal.
There are no Workmen to be had here. But as several Glasshouses about London have blown out, since the discouraging Act which lays so heavy a Duty on Glass, possibly Hands may be easily procured from thence.
It will be adviseable, if you go on with this Affair, to procure a Tract of Land well wooded. 1500 or 1000 Acres may do, seated on or near some navigable Water. By dividing your Land, and cutting suppose a Thirtieth Part of your Wood yearly, suffering it to grow again, you may always be supply’d. And by Means of the navigable Water, carry your Glass to Market cheaper and with less Risque of Breakage.
It will not suit me to be concern’d at such a Distance. I heartily wish you Success, and if you need any further Information that I can procure for you, please to command me. My Wife joins with me in presenting our Service to good Mr. and Madam Noyes, to your good Spouse and amiable Sister. I hope little Miss continues well, and am, Sir, Your very humble Servant
B Franklin

Addressed: To  Mr Thomas Darling  in  Newhaven  Free  B Franklin
Endorsed: B Franklens Letter 10 feby 46/7


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Darling, [February 1747?]
From: Darling, Thomas
To: Franklin, Benjamin

[February? 1747]
1. How many men imployed in the whole?
2. How many men imediately about the Glass blowing?
3. How maney feet of Glass Do they make a Day?
4. How Do they Sell it per foot in their Philedalphia?
5. What are the Stone they make their furnace of and
6. Where Do they Git them?
7. Where are the pots made that Contain the metal?
8. Who makes them?
9. Can they be bought amonst you and what a peace?
10. How Large the furnace and where Does it Stand?
11. How Do you think workmen are to be hired i.e. glass mongers: are they to be had by the Day and how much their money per Day: if they be or are they to be hiered in as partners?
12. [How] Maney pots Shall I need per Annum [and] how Long will they Last?
13. How maney men Shall I Have Need to Send for to England?
14. How Soon may the furnice be got a going?
15. What Do you think their furnice Clears per annum?
16. Where Does their furnice Stand? in what town? how far from Philedalphia?
17. Whether there be any thing Special to Seperate the Glass from the Sedements?
18. Why Dont the Iron Grates between the first and Second Chambers melt when the fire is So Extream? Cramer upon Metals.

19. What the Reason workmen may not be had with you?
20. When will their Furnace begin to work this Spring: because &c.
21. What is the Contrivance of their Kiln?
22. Do they in England Use potashes in m[aking] Glass?
23. What part of Sand and ashes is Converted into Glass?


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 6 March 1747
From: Logan, James
To: Franklin, Benjamin

My friend B. Franklin,
Stenton March 6. 1747
I utterly forgot to send thee the N York Paper by my Son who was here this Morning but I now do it with my hearty thanks. I ordered him further to see thee to day and to beg thy Excuse for my desiring thee to send me a List of your Addition of Books to your Library which I did not the least apprehend would be sufficient to fill so much as one Quarter of a sheet of common paper, and indeed I am surpriz’d to hear the number is so considerable since the year 1742 as to require the Press. But for my justification thou may’st remember I had from thee about two years since (I think it was) a written List from thy own hand of the last Addition before. But I own I am grown very forgetful notwithstanding Cicero’s expression (de Senectute) Omnia quae curant senes meminerint. Tho I shall scarce forget that I am thy obliged friend
J. Logan


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Darling, 27 March 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Darling, Thomas

Sir
Philada. March 27. 1747
There are, I am informed, Six Hands employed in blowing Glass; at first there were but two, who instructed the Rest. The two first Workmen were taken in as Partners by the Person who found Stock, and set up the Business, the others are Servants, therefore there are no Workmen to be engag’d here for you. They work seven Months in the Year, and ’tis said make 20 Pounds worth of Glass per Diem. The Furnace is made of Bricks of white Clay, and renew’d every Blast. The old Bricks are Pounded fine and mix’d with fresh Clay to make the new. The Pots are made of Clay found here; they are made by the Workmen, and often fail. Cotton Stone might possibly be of Service. The Furnace is about 12 foot long, 8 wide, 6 high, has no Grate, the Fire being made on its Floor. Cramer’s is a Furnace for Experiments only, therefore small. Its Grate melts not because of the fierce Draught of cold Air continually passing between the Bars. On each Side in the Furnace is a Bench or Bank of the same Materials with the Furnace, on which the Pots of Metal stand, 3 or 4 of a Side. I think the likeliest Way to get good Workmen from England, would be to invite them into Partnership. I suppose the Works might be compleated ready to go on, in a few Months. In England they get Salt by burning Kelp and Fern; they also buy foreign Potash. Our Works are now going, and as you propose to visit them this Spring, you will then have such an Opportunity of Satisfying your self in every Thing you want to know, as makes a more particular Answer to your Queries at this Time unnecessary. The Glasshouse is about 35 Miles beyond this City. I shall be glad to see you here, and am, with Respects to good Mr. Noyes and Family, Sir, Your humble Servant
B Franklin

Please to give the enclos’d with my humble Service, to Mr. President Clap.

 Addressed: To  Mr Thomas Darling  at the Revd Mr Noyes’s in  Newhaven  Free B Franklin
Endorsed: This Letter Received Apr 4[?] per Thos Darling      B: Franklen Letter      From Benj B Franklin To Thomas Darling


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 28 March 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Collinson, Peter

This is the earliest surviving letter in which Franklin alludes to his electrical investigations. It introduced the fourth edition of his Experiments and Observations in 1769. That edition, its predecessors and its successor, will be discussed below, under their respective dates of publication. This note is concerned rather with the several manuscript and printed versions of Franklin’s reports of his electrical experiments.
Franklin’s practice was to keep drafts of his letters to Collinson, from which he made other copies for friends in America. Cadwallader Colden, for example, received several such copies. In the late summer of 1750 Franklin had Lewis Evans copy all his reports on electricity for young James Bowdoin of Massachusetts, who had shown keen interest during his summer visit to Philadelphia. Franklin corrected the 155–page manuscript and forwarded it to Bowdoin, October 25, 1750. Along with Franklin’s notes and corrections, there are marginal headings and notes in another hand, perhaps added from the printed editions. This manuscript belongs to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Boston.
Collinson showed Franklin’s letters to friends, read some of them to the Royal Society, and allowed copies to be made. He decided, late in 1750, to publish them, and they appeared in April 1751 with the title Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America, by Mr. Benjamin Franklin, and Communicated in several Letters to Mr. P. Collinson, of London, F.R.S., a thin pamphlet of 86 numbered pages, which included corrections and additions supplied by Franklin. Twenty more pages of letters, numbered 89–109 and called Supplemental Experiments and Observations … Part II …, were published in 1753; and another 44 (pp. 111–54), entitled New Experiments and Observations … Part III, appeared in 1754. Parts I and II were reprinted as a second edition in 1754; and all three parts, continuously paged, as a third edition in 1760, 1762, and 1764 respectively. Franklin was in London in 1769, and could supervise personally the publication of the fourth edition. He annotated the original parts of the first three editions with many corrections and additions, and added a number of scientific letters on other subjects. A fifth edition followed in 1774.
Thus five English editions of the Experiments and Observations appeared during Franklin’s lifetime: the first, 1751, with two additional parts, 1753 and 1754; the second, 1754, of Parts I and II only; the third, 1760, with the two additional parts, 1762 and 1764; the fourth, 1769; and the fifth, 1774.
The first three editions are similar, but not identical; and the differences, some of which go to the substance of the matter, cannot be explained by the vagaries of eighteenth-century printing offices. The fourth edition shows, naturally, significant differences; and there are only a few variations between the fourth and fifth editions. Since all five printed editions differ from the Bowdoin manuscript, the question arises which version of these six should be printed here.
In general, a printed work is the effective and authoritative one, and in Franklin’s case it was the printed editions which established his principles of electricity among the largest number of people. After 1754, however, the question arises, which printed edition? On the other hand, the manuscript reports Franklin sent Collinson, beginning with this letter in the spring of 1747, introduced him to the philosophers of the Royal Society and provided William Watson and other experimenters with hypotheses to test, discuss, and refine. If these manuscripts had survived they would take precedence here over any printed version.
The Bowdoin manuscript, though a copy, was supervised and corrected by Franklin. Made in 1750, it antedates the first printed edition of Experiments and Observations. It is also in several instances fuller than any printed version. It is therefore followed here.
Appreciating, however, the historical and scientific importance of the several printed versions, with their significant changes and corrections, the editors have collated them and indicated the changes between manuscript and printed editions. Footnotes appear as they did in the printed editions, corrections and other emendations have been incorporated in the texts, and though it seemed unnecessary to note changes in spelling, capitalization, punctuation and paragraphing and verbal differences not affecting sense (the editions improved, generally, on the Bowdoin MS ), all changes of substance are indicated, such as differences in singular and plural nouns and verbs.
Two additional sources provide important material for annotating these letters. One is a copy of the 1751 edition which Franklin presented to Yale College before 1755. The other is Franklin’s own volume of pamphlets, including the 1751 and 1754 editions. In both of these he made marginal notes and corrections. Both are in the Yale University Library. Citation will be precise as to which copy is meant—the Yale presentation copy, Franklin’s own copy, or any copy of the 1751 or 1754 editions.

Sir,
Philadelphia, March 28, 1747
Your kind present of an electric tube, with directions for using it, has put several of us on making electrical experiments, in which we have observed some particular phaenomena that we look upon to be new. I shall, therefore communicate them to you in my next, though possibly they may not be new to you, as among the numbers daily employed in those experiments on your side the water, ’tis probable some one or other has hit on the same observations. For my own part, I never was before engaged in any study that so totally engrossed my attention and my time as this has lately done; for what with making experiments when I can be alone, and repeating them to my Friends and Acquaintance, who, from the novelty of the thing, come continually in crouds to see them, I have, during some months past, had little leisure for any thing else. I am, &c.
B. Franklin


Title: The Speech of Miss Polly Baker, 15 April 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

When Franklin wrote The Speech of Miss Polly Baker is not now known, though 1746 is a likely date. How a copy found its way to London is also a matter for speculation. All that is certain is that the earliest printing of the piece yet discovered was in a London newspaper, the General Advertiser, of April 15, 1747. Within a week five London papers reprinted it, and by the end of the month it had appeared in a number of provincial papers. Five monthly magazines picked it up—three in London, including the Gentleman’s, one in Edinburgh, and one in Dublin. The English magazines and papers reached America in midsummer. From one of them the Boston Weekly Post-Boy reprinted the Speech on July 20; both the New-York Gazette and the New-York Weekly Journal, each taking it from the Post-Boy, published it on August 3. Finally, on August 11, Franklin’s former journeyman Jonas Green of Annapolis published a somewhat different version in the Maryland Gazette. In an introduction that may have been designed to puff the printer, Green asserted that the Speech had been “published in the London and Gentleman’s Magazines for April past, as well as in some other British Papers; but was there printed incorrectly, which I suppose was occasioned by the Mutilation it suffer’d, in passing through the Hands of Transcribers before it reach’d the Press in London: And happening to have a correct Copy of it by me, I cannot think it amiss to give it my Readers, not doubting it’s favourable Reception.”
In London the crusading deist Peter Annet included Polly’s defense of her conduct in his Social Bliss Considered, 1749, a work on marriage, fornication, and divorce, which was later reprinted in his Collection of the Tracts of a Certain Free Enquirer. From time to time American newspapers revived the Speech. Probably from Annet or one of the London magazines the Abbé Raynal took it for his popular Histoire Philosophique et Politique, 1770. Citing Polly’s case as an example of the severity of New England’s laws, Raynal made changes and additions to suit his purpose. He reduced the humor and amplified the indignation in Polly’s outburst. Delivered “il n’y a pas long-tems,” Raynal asserted, the Speech had had such an effect on every mind that the court absolved Polly from punishment and, “pour comble de triomphe,” one of her judges married her: “tant la voix de la raison est audessus des prestiges de l’éloquence étudiée.” The piece was by this time so well known that one of the English translators of Raynal felt justified in omitting it, “as this speech is in the hands of every English reader.” Still other versions appeared in French, one of them in the Courier de l’Europe, printed in London, 1777.
Thus far, however, the authorship of the Speech was unknown, or at least unpublished. Raynal apparently had no suspicion that Polly Baker was not a real person or her case not authentic. How Franklin confessed his authorship Mazzei revealed in 1788.

“At the end of 1777 or the beginning of 1778, the Abbé Raynal, having gone one evening to visit Dr. Franklin, found Silas Deane at Franklin’s house. ‘We were just speaking of your work,’ Deane remarked, ‘and were saying that you had been poorly served by those who gave you information about America and particularly my country.’
“As the Abbé would not admit this, Deane cited several passages in which there was not a word of truth. Finally they came to speak of the tale of Polly Baker. This subject brought on a most serious dispute since the Abbé maintained that he had taken it from an authentic account. Dr. Franklin after having enjoyed listening to the debate for some time, broke his silence and, addressing the Abbé Raynal, said, ‘M. l’Abbé, I am going to set you straight. When I was young and printed a newspaper, it sometimes happened, when I was short of material to fill my sheet, that I amused myself by making up stories, and that of Polly Baker is one of the number.’
“‘My word,’ replied the Abbé Raynal, giving up the argument, ‘I would rather have included your tales in my book than many other men’s truths.’”
Mazzei may have heard this anecdote from his friend Thomas Jefferson who was fond of telling the same story and who put it on paper in 1818, saying that he had heard it from Franklin himself in Paris—that is, in 1784 or 1785.
Four other authorities may also be cited on the question of authorship. John Adams, writing to James Warren on April 13, 1783, listed Polly Baker’s Speech as one of Franklin’s many “Outrages to Morality and Decorum.” The Abbé Morellet recorded the episode of Franklin and Raynal in his Ana, a systematized commonplace book now in the British Museum. In the posthumous Kehl edition of Voltaire’s works, in a volume published in 1784, appears the statement that Franklin wrote the Speech—the first time this statement is known to have been made in print. And William Franklin told Jonathan Williams, Jr., in 1807 that his father “wrote and printed a Piece called the Speech of Polly Baker, a young Woman supposed to have had several natural Children.”
Though Miss Baker’s awkward predicament had its humorous side and Franklin presented only that, the plea he wrote for her moved many Europeans to sympathy. Raynal and other French philosophes used her, as they used the Good Quaker and the Noble Savage, as yet another weapon in the arsenal of revolution and reform.

The Speech of Miss Polly Baker, before a Court of Judicature, at Connecticut near Boston in New-England; where she was prosecuted the Fifth Time, for having a Bastard Child: Which influenced the Court to dispense with her Punishment, and induced one of her Judges to marry her the next Day.
May it please the Honourable Bench to indulge me in a few Words: I am a poor unhappy Woman, who have no Money to fee Lawyers to plead for me, being hard put to it to get a tolerable Living. I shall not trouble your Honours with long Speeches; for I have not the Presumption to expect, that you may, by any Means, be prevailed on to deviate in your Sentence from the Law, in my Favour. All I humbly hope is, That your Honours would charitably move the Governor’s Goodness on my Behalf, that my Fine may be remitted. This is the Fifth Time, Gentlemen, that I have been dragg’d before your Court on the same Account; twice I have paid heavy Fines, and twice have been brought to Publick Punishment, for want of Money to pay those Fines. This may have been agreeable to the Laws, and I don’t dispute it; but since Laws are sometimes unreasonable in themselves, and therefore repealed, and others bear too hard on the Subject in particular Circumstances; and therefore there is left a Power somewhat to dispense with the Execution of them; I take the Liberty to say, That I think this Law, by which I am punished, is both unreasonable in itself, and particularly severe with regard to me, who have always lived an inoffensive Life in the Neighbourhood where I was born, and defy my Enemies (if I have any) to say I ever wrong’d Man, Woman, or Child. Abstracted from the Law, I cannot conceive (may it please your Honours) what the Nature of my Offence is. I have brought Five fine Children into the World, at the Risque of my Life; I have maintain’d them well by my own Industry, without burthening the Township, and would have done it better, if it had not been for the heavy Charges and Fines I have paid. Can it be a Crime (in the Nature of Things I mean) to add to the Number of the King’s Subjects, in a new Country that really wants People? I own it, I should think it a Praise-worthy, rather than a punishable Action. I have debauched no other Woman’s Husband, nor enticed any Youth; these Things I never was charg’d with, nor has any one the least Cause of Complaint against me, unless, perhaps, the Minister, or Justice, because I have had Children without being married, by which they have missed a Wedding Fee. But, can ever this be a Fault of mine? I appeal to your Honours. You are pleased to allow I don’t want Sense; but I must be stupified to the last Degree, not to prefer the Honourable State of Wedlock, to the Condition I have lived in. I always was, and still am willing to enter into it; and doubt not my behaving well in it, having all the Industry, Frugality, Fertility, and Skill in Oeconomy, appertaining to a good Wife’s Character. I defy any Person to say, I ever refused an Offer of that Sort: On the contrary, I readily consented to the only Proposal of Marriage that ever was made me, which was when I was a Virgin; but too easily confiding in the Person’s Sincerity that made it, I unhappily lost my own Honour, by trusting to his; for he got me with Child, and then forsook me: That very Person you all know; he is now become a Magistrate of this Country; and I had Hopes he would have appeared this Day on the Bench, and have endeavoured to moderate the Court in my Favour; then I should have scorn’d to have mention’d it; but I must now complain of it, as unjust and unequal, That my Betrayer and Undoer, the first Cause of all my Faults and Miscarriages (if they must be deemed such) should be advanc’d to Honour and Power in the Government, that punishes my Misfortunes with Stripes and Infamy. I should be told, ’tis like, That were there no Act of Assembly in the Case, the Precepts of Religion are violated by my Transgressions. If mine, then, is a religious Offence, leave it to religious Punishments. You have already excluded me from the Comforts of your Church-Communion. Is not that sufficient? You believe I have offended Heaven, and must suffer eternal Fire: Will not that be sufficient? What Need is there, then, of your additional Fines and Whipping? I own, I do not think as you do; for, if I thought what you call a Sin, was really such, I could not presumptuously commit it. But, how can it be believed, that Heaven is angry at my having Children, when to the little done by me towards it, God has been pleased to add his Divine Skill and admirable Workmanship in the Formation of their Bodies, and crown’d it, by furnishing them with rational and immortal Souls. Forgive me, Gentlemen, if I talk a little extravagantly on these Matters; I am no Divine, but if you, Gentlemen, must be making Laws, do not turn natural and useful Actions into Crimes, by your Prohibitions. But take into your wise Consideration, the great and growing Number of Batchelors in the Country, many of whom from the mean Fear of the Expences of a Family, have never sincerely and honourably courted a Woman in their Lives; and by their Manner of Living, leave unproduced (which is little better than Murder) Hundreds of their Posterity to the Thousandth Generation. Is not this a greater Offence against the Publick Good, than mine? Compel them, then, by Law, either to Marriage, or to pay double the Fine of Fornication every Year. What must poor young Women do, whom Custom have forbid to solicit the Men, and who cannot force themselves upon Husbands, when the Laws take no Care to provide them any; and yet severely punish them if they do their Duty without them; the Duty of the first and great Command of Nature, and of Nature’s God, Encrease and Multiply. A Duty, from the steady Performance of which, nothing has been able to deter me; but for its Sake, I have hazarded the Loss of the Publick Esteem, and have frequently endured Publick Disgrace and Punishment; and therefore ought, in my humble Opinion, instead of a Whipping, to have a Statue erected to my Memory.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to [William Strahan?], 1 May 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Strahan, William

Dear Sir
Philada. May 1. 1747
This is only to cover a Bill of Exchange for Eleven Pounds 2s. 2½d. Sterl. drawn on Richd. Atkinson of Colthouse by Wm. Satterthwaite, and to inform you that we are all well, as I hope this will find you and yours. I am Your most humble Servant
B Franklin

This via New York. Copy with first Bill and Letter of Advice via Boston by the Mermaid Man of War


Title: Verses on the Virginia Capitol Fire, 1 June 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

The capitol at Williamsburg, Virginia, was destroyed by fire on January 30, 1747. Addressing a special session of the General Assembly on April 1, Governor Sir William Gooch plunged directly into the matter: “The astonishing Fate of the Capitol occasions this meeting, and proves a Loss the more to be deplored, as being apparently the Effect of Malice and Design. I must indeed own it is difficult to comprehend how so flagitious a Crime could be committed, or even imagined, by any rational Creature. But when you have considered that the first Emission of the Smoke through the Shingles, was from an upper retir’d Room, without Chimney or Wainscot; that the Persons who on its first Appearance hasten’d thither to discover the Causes, found all the Inside of the Room in one Blaze, impossible to be extinguished; and that a Fire kindled by Accident could not have made so rapid a Progress; you will be forced to ascribe it to the horrid Machinations of desperate Villains, instigated by infernal Madness.” And he called upon the Assembly, as “the Fathers of your Country,” to take steps to repair the “Royal Fabrick.”
The Council replied in terms yet more fulsome. Saluting their governor as “a great Instrument under divine Providence, of conveying many Benefits to the Community, over which you so deservedly preside,” they asserted that “the raging Fire, which consumed the Capitol,” was “an awful Incitement to a general Reformation of Manners, the best Expedient for averting the wrathful Indignation of an incensed God …,” and expressed concern lest the religious enthusiasm introduced into Virginia by itinerant preachers should implant “a Spirit more dangerous to the common Welfare, than the furious Element, which laid the Royal Edifice in Ashes.” Finally they congratulated Gooch on his having been recently created baronet.
Gooch expressed his appreciation and thanks for the Council’s concern and congratulations, assuring them that he would “oppose the Progress of Heterodoxy and Immorality; and … promote true Religion and Virtue, the sure Foundation of our present Happiness, and the only Hope of our future Reward.” Neither Council nor Governor said anything more at this time about plans for rebuilding.
Franklin printed the addresses in the Gazette, May 14. At the same time, amused by the extravagant compliments and irrelevancies, he composed a humorous paraphrase in blank verse, which he sent to James Parker with copies of the original speech, address and answer, and a covering letter. Parker printed them at once in a supplement to his New-York Gazette for June 1. The Maryland Gazette reprinted the verses, which “made a deal of Laughter” in Annapolis. Parker printed them again in a supplement to the New-York Gazette, May 20, 1751.
The verses are ascribed to Franklin on authority of a letter from William Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., in 1807, in which he listed some of his father’s uncollected writings and recalled that “one of them was written in Doggrel Rhime, travesting the Addresses of the Council and Assembly of Virginia to the Governor, on the Burning of an old Court-House, which they pompously stiled the Capitol! … It must, I think, be between 50 and 60 Years since that Piece was publish’d.”

Mr. Printer,
It may entertain the curious and learned Part of your Subscribers, if you give them the following genuine Speech and Address, which, for the Importance of the Subject, Grandeur of Sentiment, and Elegance of Expression, perhaps exceed Any they have hitherto seen. For the Benefit of more common Readers, I have turn’d them, with some Paraphrase, into plain English Verse. I am told by Friends, that my Performance is excellent: But I claim no other Praise than what regards my Rhyme, and my Perspicuity. All the other Beauties I acknowledge, are owing to the Original, whose true Sense I have every where follow’d with a scrupulous Exactness. If envious Critics should observe, that some of my Lines are too short in their Number of Feet, I own it; but then, to make ample Amends, I have given very good Measure in most of the others. I am, Sir, your constant Reader,
Ned Type

[Here follow The Speech of Sir William Gooch, the Humble Address of the Council, and the Governor’s Answer.]

The Speech Versyfied.
L--D have Mercy on us! — the Capitol! the Capitol! is burnt down!
O astonishing Fate! — which occasions this Meeting in Town.
And this Fate proves a Loss, to be deplored the more,
The said Fate being th’ Effect of Malice and Design, to be sure.
And yet ’tis hard to comprehend how a Crime of so flagitious a Nature
Should be committed, or even imagined, by any but an irrational Creature.
But when you consider, that the first Emission of Smoke was not from below,
And that Fires kindled by Accident always burn slow,
And not with half the Fury as when they burn on Purpose you know
You’ll be forced to ascribe it (with Hearts full of Sadness)
To the horrid Machinations of desperate Villains, instigated by infernal Madness.
God forbid I should accuse or excuse any without just Foundation,
Yet I may venture to assert — for our own Reputation,
That such superlative Wickedness never entred the Hearts of Virginians, who are the Cream of the British Nation.
The Clerks have been examin’d, and clear’d by the May’r,
Yet are willing to be examin’d again by you, and that’s fair.
And will prove in the Face of the Country, if requir’d,
That it was not by their Conduct our Capitol was fir’d.

I must add, to do ’em Justice, that the Comfort we have,
In enjoying our authentic Registers, which those Clerks did save,
Is owing to their Activity, Resolution and Diligence,
Together with Divine Providence
All which would have been in vain, I protest,
If the Wind, at the bursting out of the Flames, had not changed from East to Northwest.
Our Treasury being low, and my Infirmities great,
I would have kept you prorogu’d till the Revisal of the Laws was compleat;
But this Misfortune befalling the Capitol of the Capital of our Nation
Require your immediate Care and Assistance for its Instauration.
To press you in a Point of such Usefulness manifest,
Would shew a Diffidence of your sincere Zeal for the public Interest
For which you and I always make such a laudable Pother,
And for which we’ve so often applauded one Another.
The same public Spirit which within these Walls us’d to direct you all,
Will determine you (as Fathers of your Country) to apply Means effectual
For restoring the Royal Fabric to its former Beauty
And Magnificence, according to your Duty;
With the like Apartments, elegant and spacious
For all the weighty purposes of Government, so capacious.
Mean time the College and Court of Hustings our Weight may sustain,
But pray let us speedily have our Capitol, our important Capitol again.
The Council’s Answer.
We the King’s best Subjects, the Council of this Dominion,
Are deeply affected (as is every true Virginian)
With the unhappy Occasion of our present Meeting:
—— In Troth we have but a sorry Greeting.
We are also not a little touch’d (in the Head) with the same Weakness as your Honour’s,
And therefore think this raging Fire which consum’d our Capitol, should incite us to reform our Manners:
The best Expedient at present to avert the Indignation divine,

And nobly to express our Gratitude for the Justice, which (temper’d with Mercy) doth shine,
In preserving our Records, tho’ Red hot,
And like Brands pluck’d out of the Flames, in which they were going to pot,
Without this Expedient we shall be ruin’d quite.
Besides, This Fire puts us in Mind of New-Light;
And we think it Heav’n’s Judgment on us for tolerating the Presbyterians,
Whose Forefathers drubb’d ours, about a hundred Year-hence.
We therefore resolve to abate a little of our Drinking, Gaming, Cursing and Swearing,
And make up for the rest, by persecuting some itinerant Presbyterian.
An active Discharge of our important Trusts, according to your Honour’s Desire,
Is the wisest Project of Insurance that can be, of the Public Safety, from the Attempts of such as would set it on fire.
’Tis a Project also for advancing the Honour and Interest of our King and Nation,
And a Project for engaging Heaven’s Protection from Generation to Generation.
We take this Opportunity, that we may not be suspected of Malignity,
To congratulate you, Sir, on your Promotion to the Baronet’s Dignity;
A fresh Instance of just Regard to your long and faithful Services, we say,
Because from Carthagena your Honour came safe away.
And you lent and sent such great Assistance

   *One WHOLE Company.

 for reducing Canada.

The Baronet’s Reply.

   The just Sense you express for the Loss of our Capitol, which to be sure was a fatal Mishap,
   Your affectionate Concern for the Infirmities of my Honour,
   And Joy at my new Title, of which our good K—g is the Donor,
   Claim sincere Acknowledgments of Thankfulness,
   And Gratitude, for this obliging Address.
And, (lest here and hereafter we’re left in the Lurch)
   To promote true Religion, (I mean our own Church)
   I’ll heartily concur with you, and lend a few Knocks
   To suppress these confounding New Light Heterodox.
   Then if from our Sins, we also refrain,
Perhaps we may have our Capitol! our dear Capitol! our glorious Royal Capitol again.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 1 June 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Strahan, William

Dear Sir
Philada. June 1. 1747
Mr. Hall will acquaint you of the Footing we are about to go upon &c. &c. I have only time to acquaint you, that I have sent you several Bills lately, and will speedily remit you whatever shall be due to you after the Receipt of the Parcel of Books some time since wrote for. My best Respects to Mrs. Strahan and Wishes of Happiness to you and all Yours, in which my Wife joins me heartily, is all at present from Your obliged Friend and Servant
B Franklin

Add Feuquiere’s Memoirs of the late War 2 Vols. 8vo. Also Parker’s military Memoirs printed for Austin price 3s. 6d.

Addressed: To  Mr William Strahan  Printer in Wine-Office Court Fleetstreet  London  Per Capt. Budden


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 1 June 1747
From: Collinson, Peter
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Respected friend
Londn. June 1: 1747
I shall be pleased to Hear that Mine per Mesnard and Dowers are come safe to your Hands with the books &c. and 4 Transactions all Committed to the Care of Elias Bland to putt up with his Letters. via N York I advised of your Bill on Oliver for £47 5s. 5d. is received and placed to Account.
Inclosed are some proposals. Pray send one to J: Logan.
I am with Respects thine
P Collinson

Books &c. by Dowers and Mesnard
£2:
2:
6

Ditto by this Ship

4:
   –

I doubt not but your proprietors fine present of an Electrical aparatas setts you all to Work.

Addressed: To  Benn. Francklin  These


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from George Whitefield, 23 June 1747
From: Whitefield, George
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Mr. Franklin
[Philadel]phia June 23. 1747
I thank You heartily for Your kind preamble to the Subscription. I only object against its being made publick so as to engage persons in America and Great Britain. I think such a procedure would betray somewhat of meaness of Spirit and of a confidence in Him who hitherto has never left me in extremity, since I think a private subscription among my Friends here and elsewhere would raise as much as I want. The publication of such a subscription would raise I believe more than is sufficient to pay my debts. I seek no such thing. If I can say I owe no man anything but love, I do not desire to save a groat, any more than will serve for a visible fund for the Orphan-house after my decease. [That?] institution I cannot give up. I know it would grieve thousands. Besides I am persuaded the New plantation in South Carolina will more than supply Bethesda with what (as it now subsists) it stands in need of. Need I add that there are several fatherless Children, [torn: whom I] look upon as my own who must then be turned out into a [torn] I cannot bring them to Pensylvania, because I [torn] to [torn] here; and if the Orphan-house should be given up [before?] my departure to my Native Country, America, in all probability, would see me no more. Whilst that stands, I shall have a visible call to visit these parts again. If this reasoning be not sound, let me be indulged in the Orphan-house since it is my darling, and a darling in which my own private interest cannot be concerned. Let it suffice to inform You that if I am helped out of my present embarrassments, I intend troubling no one for the Orphan-house any more. Excuse me from adding anything further. You know how generous minds work. I think it more blessed to give than to receive. But I submit to [torn] once tho’ Lord of all condescended to live [torn] alms. At the same I would be humbled for all im [torn] cies in his service, and committing all my concerns to [His] hands, I subscribe myself Dear Sir Your very affectionate Friend and Servant
G W.

Would it not be for a few Trusty Friends to [have?] Copies of the preamble and to agree to call upon such persons as they have most interest with? I depend on my Friends Readiness and dispatch. Bis dat qui cito dat.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from James Turner, 6 July 1747
From: Turner, James
To: Franklin, Benjamin

   Mr. Franklyn
   Sir
Boston July 6th. 1747
Herewith I send the Seal which you so long ago Spoke to me for, for Mr. Read. The Occasion of my sending it to you and not directly to him was because that the Seal being very heavy might cause him a great Charge which I thought he might be eased of by my sending it to you as you are Postmaster. I am very Sorry that I disappointed the Gentleman of it so long but it has been my Ill fortune ever Since I have been for my Self to be Involved in a great deal of large Unprofitable Silver Smiths work which was particularly my Case when your Brother Mr. J Franklyn procured me a large Job of Engraveing so that I cou’d not begin on that work till some time after you was last in Town but I hope as I have now Just got these plates ready for the press that I shall be able to mend this fault of keeping work so long, for the future. I have sent with the Seal 2 Impressions from it one on wax taken off by hand the other on a Wafer taken off in Colonel B Pollards Press. The Letters show best on the latter because of its being such a large body of Metal that it chils the Wax before it can enter the Letters, but I think that either of ’em are legible enough. Soon after I began to work upon it I found that the Price I mentiond to you was much too little, and that I cou’d not afford to take pains to do it well under at least £3 more, but however depending on the Gentleman’s Generosity I have taken no less pains about it than if I had actually agreed for £15. One thing I must Confess seems sufficient to stop my mouth on this Account viz. my keeping it so long in hand but I think my Self punish’d enough by the Constant falling of our money. But after all I do not demand any more than £12 the Sum I Mentiond to you (tho it was but a guess as I had never done one of this Size and but one great or Small in Steel before) for I always make it my rule to stand strictly to any bargain I make tho I lose by it and £12 I shall account to be the bargain that I made with you about this Seal Unless the Gentleman is Convinc’d that it is worth more and he is willing to allow it so hoping it will give him Satisfaction and resting the price Intirely with him I remain his and Your most Obliged humble Servant
James Turner

P.S. Unless the Gentleman has Money already in Boston he may direct it Either to me or to your Brother Mr. J Franklyn and if you or any Other Gentlemen wants any graveing work done of any Sort I should be glad of an Oppertunity of retrieveing the Credit I may have lost by keeping this and the things I did for you long.
Yours JT

Addressed: To  Mr. Benj: Fraklyn Postmaster  In  Philadelphia


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 13 July 1747
From: Logan, James
To: Franklin, Benjamin

My friend B. Franklin
July 13. 1747
I received this afternoon a Copy of the Proposals for printing another Edition of Universal History of which I had a sight of the first vol: about two or three years since from my Friend Richd Peters, of which notwithstanding I could not approve of some particulars in the Preface which 1 was very sensible were wrong, tho’ I cannot remember at present what they were, yet I very much approve of the design, and should be much pleased with the sight of these 20 volls, tho’ I conceive there must be at least as many more to compleat the work. I should be pleased to know whether R.P. has the whole 9 volls in folio that have been publish’d. But I am of opinion that the Modern History of Europe had as well be omitted, and that they had as good only give what concerns the Asiaticks and Africans. Since these proposals are dated the 30th of May 1746 I admire they should not publish the first till January last. I presume thou hast not yet received any or more than one or two at most. I thank thee for thy new Catalogue but am sorry thy Friend Parker could have no help to range their Library into some tolerable order. Old as I am, now near 73, and much fail’d in all respects, I want to lay out about £200 Sterling more in Books which I shall do if I am so happy as to see a peace without farther disturbance and I have my Catalogue ready drawn. I should take it as a favour if I could see thee oftner here, for I want to ask divers questions; but shall add no more at present but that I am with great Truth and Reality Thy sincere Friend
J. Logan


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Jared Eliot, 16 July 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Eliot, Jared

Dear Sir
Philada. July 16. 1747
I receiv’d your Favour of the 4th Instant. I ought before this Time to have acknowledg’d the Receipt of the Book, which came very safe and in good Order, to hand. We have many Oil Mills in this Province, it being a great Country for Flax. Linseed Oil may now be bought for 3s. per Gallon; sometimes for 2s. 6d: But at New York I have been told it generally holds up at about 8s. Of this you can easily be satisfy’d, it being your Neighbour Government. In your last, you enquir’d about the kind of Land from which our Hemp is rais’d. I am told it must be very rich Land; sometimes they use drain’d Swamps and bank’d Meadows: But the greatest Part of our Hemp is brought from Canistogo which is a large and very rich Tract [of Land] 70 Miles [west] from this City on the Banks of Sasquehanah a large fresh Water River. It is brought down in Waggons. If you should send any of your Steel Saws here for Sale, I should not be wanting where my Recommendation might be of Service. We have had as wet a Summer as has been known here these Thirty Years, so that it was with Difficulty our People got in their Harvest. In some Parts of the Country a great Deal of Hay has been lost, and some Corn mildew’d: but in general the Harvest has been very great. The two preceding Summers (particularly the last,) were excessively dry. I think with you, it might be of Advantage to know what the Seasons are in the Several Parts of the Country. One’s Curiosity in some philosophical Points might also be gratified by it. We have frequently along this North American Coast, Storms from the N East, which blow violently sometimes 3 or 4 Days. Of these I have had a very singular Opinion some years, viz. that tho’ the Coarse of the Wind is from NE. to S.W. yet the Course of the Storm is from S.W to NE. i.e. the Air is in violent Motion in Virginia before it moves in Connecticut, and in Connecticut before it moves at Cape Sable, &c. My Reasons for this Opinion (if the like have not occur’d to you) I will give in my next. I thank you for the curious Facts you have communicated to me relating to Springs. I think with you, that most Springs arise from Rains, Dews, or Ponds, &c. on higher Grounds: Yet possibly some that break out near the Tops of high Hollow Mountains, may proceed from the Abyss, or from Water in the Caverns of the Earth, rarified by its internal Heat, and raised in Vapour, ’till the cold Region near the Tops of such Mountains condense the Vapour into Water [again?] which comes forth in Springs and runs down on the outside of the Mountain, as it ascended on the [Inside?]. There is said to be a large Spring near the Top of Teneriffe; and that Mountain was formerly a Volcano, consequently hollow within. Such Springs, if such there be, may properly be call’d Springs of distill’d Water. Now I mention Mountains it occurs to tell you, that the great Apalachian Mountains, which run from York River back of these Colonies to the Bay of Mexico, show in many Places near the highest Parts of them, Strata of Sea Shells, in some Places the Marks of them are in the solid Rocks. ’Tis certainly the Wreck of a World we live on! We have Specimens of those Sea shell Rocks broken off near the Tops of those Mountains, brought and deposited in our Library as Curiosities. If you have not seen the like, I’ll send you a Piece. Farther, about Mountains (for Ideas will string themselves like Ropes of Onions) when I was once riding in your Country, Mr. Walker show’d me at a Distance the Bluff Side or End of a Mountain, which appeared striped from top to Bottom, and told me the Stone or Rock of that Mountain was divided by Nature into Pillars; of this I should be glad to have a particular Account from you. I think I was somewhere near Newhaven when I saw it. You made some Mistake when you intended to favour me with some of the new valuable Grass Seed (I think you call’d it Hurd Seed) for what you gave me is grown up, and proves meer Timothy; so I suppose you took it out of a wrong Paper or Parcel.
I wish your new Law may have the good Effect expected from it, in extricating your Government from the heavy Debt this War has oblig’d them to contract. I am too little acquainted with your particular Circumstances to Judge of the Prudence of such a Law for your Colony with any Degree of Exactness. But to a Friend one may hazard one’s Notions right or wrong. And as you are pleas’d to desire my Thoughts, you shall have ’em and welcome. I wish they were better. First, I imagine that the Five Per Cent Duty on Goods imported from your Neighbouring Governments, tho’ paid at first Hand by the Importer, will not upon the whole come out of his Pocket, but be paid in Fact by the Consumer: For the Importer will be sure to sell his Goods as much dearer as to reimburse himself: So that it is only another Mode of Taxing your own People, tho’ perhaps meant to raise Money on your Neighbours. Yet if you can make some of the Goods, heretofore imported, among yourselves, the advanc’d Price of 5 percent may encourage your own Manufacture [torn] and in time make the Importation of such Articles unnecessary, which will be an Advantage. Secondly, I imagine the Law will be difficult to execute, require many Officers to prevent Smugling, in so extended a Coast as yours; and the Charge considerable: And if Smugling is not prevented, the fair Trader will be undersold and ruined. If the Officers are many and busy, there will arise Numbers of vexatious Lawsuits, and Dissensions among your People. Quere whether the Advantages will overballance. Thirdly, if there is any Part of your Produce that you can well spare and would desire to have taken off by your Neighbours in Exchange for something you more want, perhaps they, taking Offence at your selfish Law, may in Return lay such heavy Duties or Discouragements on that Article, as to leave it a Drug on your Hands. As to the Duty on transporting Lumber, (unless in Connecticut Bottoms to the West Indies) I suppose the Design is to raise the Price of such Lumber on your Neighbours, and throw that advanc’d Price into your Treasury: But may not your Neighbours supply themselves elsewhere; or if Numbers of your People have Lumber to dispose of, and want Goods from, or have Debts to, pay to your Neighbours, will they not, (unless you employ Numbers of Officers, to watch all your Creeks, and Landings) run their Lumber, and so defeat the Law; or if the Law is strictly executed, and the Duty discourage the Transportation to your Neighbours, will not all your People that want to dispose of Lumber, be laid at the Mercy of those few Merchants that send it to the W. Indies, who will buy it at their own Price, and make such Pay for it as they think proper. If I had seen the Law, and heard the Reasons that are given for making it, I might have judg’d and talk’d of it more to the purpose. At present I shoot my Bolt pretty much in the Dark: But you can excuse, and make proper Allowances. My best Respects to good Madam Elliot and your Sons; and if it falls in your Way, my Service to the kind hospitable People near the River, whose Name I am sorry I’ve forgot. I am, Dear Sir, [with] the utmost Regard, Your obliged humble Servant
B Franklin


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 19 July 1747
From: Logan, James
To: Franklin, Benjamin

My friend B. Franklin,
Stenton July 19  1747
   I can scarce ever forgive thee for not shewing me, in now above two years and a half, Dr. Colden’s Answer to my Objections to his Fluxions: For he had good reason to say that either my Memory had fail’d me, or I had read that piece with little attention; the last of which is exactly true, tho’ I remember not now what other business diverted me from it; but some there was: And the whole piece prov’d to me intolerably tedious, for so it truly appears to me at this time. But then he was exceedingly himself to blame, for writing in page 10 at the 2dx+x+1 which ought according to the usual notation to have been wrote ẋ+1 and even then with the point on the line itself which in that case is the only common method. I might have overlooked it but as he wrote it, I took no manner of notice of the point. And as himself says, but by a mistake in too much haste I presume I own they more properly might have been mark’d thus √10+0.1 instead of √10+0.1, and it is a mistake to say the [remainder missing].


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from G. Row[se?], 21 July 1747
From: Rowse, G.
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
North East July 21st. 1747
I’m informd of Some Letters from Virginia being directed for your care, if any arrived please send per Enoch Story and if any shoud Soon come to hand please to Order the Post to deliver them at my house which will much oblige Sir Your humble Ser[vant]
G. Row[se?]
To Mr. Franklin

Addressed: To  Mr. Benjn. Franklin  Postmaster in  Philadelphia  By favour Captn. West


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Dowse, 27 July 1747
From: Dowse, Joseph
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
Boston July 27 1747
Mrs. Steel who got here last week desires me to write you in her behalf, to acknowledge the many kind Acts of Freindship she hath received from you and at the same time to sollicit you to let me or her know what new Matter you had received after her leaving Philadelphia to be displeased with her or her conduct as you Seem to be in a letter she received after she left you. She assures me she is not consious of any thing either said or done and doth with the utmost Sincerity esteem you her freind, and therefore thinks she can fairly chalange your open Answer to this earnest demand. I tell her Im assured from your Character there must have happned some Mistake between you, or some ill minded persons delivered wrong representations or fashoods. To this desire of Mrs. Steel, I would add my own and pray you would be so kind as to comply with her request and let me know, if you please, what hath been the cause of these surmises. Please also let me know whether you have sold her Horse and Chair and what she may be indebted to you which I will with the utmost care see you reimbursd: Your complyance with this request will greatly oblidge Sir Your Most Humble Servant
Joseph Dowse

I beleive it would be best to dispose of the Horse &c. assoon as may be for what it will fetch. I can assure you Mrs. Steel speaks of you, and your kindness with the greatest esteem.

 Addressed: To  Mr: Benja Franklin  at  Philadelphia


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 28 July 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Collinson, Peter

Sir
Philada. July 28. 1747
The inclosed is a Copy of my last, which went by the Governour’s Vessel: since which we have received, by Mesnard and Ouchterlony, Hill’s Theophrastus, Pemberton’s Dispensatory, Wilson’s Electricity and some other Pamphlets. The Proprietor’s handsome Present of a complete Electrical Apparatus &c. is also come to Hand in good Order, and is put up in the Library; but little has been done with it yet, the Weather having been excessively hot and moist ever since it arrived. The Directors have ordered his very kind Letter to be answered with the Thanks of the Company. I suppose it will be done by this Ship, if her unexpected sudden Departure does not prevent.

The necessary Trouble of copying long Letters which perhaps, when they come to your Hands, may contain Nothing new or worth your Reading, so quick is the Progress made with you in Electricity, half discourages me from writing anymore on that Subject. Yet I can not forbear adding a few Observations on Mr. Muschenbroek’s wonderful Bottle. vizt.
1. The Non-electric, contained in the Bottle, differs, when electrised from a Non-electric electrised out of the Bottle in this; That the Electrical Fire of the latter is accumulated on it’s Surface, and forms an Electrical Atmosphere round it, of considerable Extent; but the Electrical Fire is crouded into the Substance of the former; the Glass confining it.
2 At the same Time that the Wire and Top of the Bottle &c. is electrised positively or plus, the Bottom of the Bottle is electrised negatively or minus in exact Proportion. i.e. Whatever Quantity of Electrical Fire is thrown in at [the] Top, an equal Quantity goes out of the Bottom. To understand this, Suppose the common Quantity of Electricity in each Part of the Bottle, before the Operation begins, is equal to 20, and at every Stroke of the Tube, suppose a Quantity equal to 1 is thrown in; then after the first Stroke, the Quantity contained in the Wire and upper Part of the Bottle will be 21, in the Bottom 19. After the second, the upper Part will have 22, the lower 18, and so on, till after 20 Strokes, the upper Part will have a Quantity of Electrical Fire equal to 40, the lower none: and then the Operation ends; for no more can be thrown into the upper Part, when no more can be driven out of the lower Part. If you attempt to throw more in, it is spued back thro’ the Wire, or flies out in loud Cracks thro’ the Sides of the Bottle.
3 The Equilibrium can not be restored in the Bottle by inward Communication, or Contact of the Parts; but it must be done by a Communication form’d without the Bottle, between the Top and Bottom, by some Non-electric touching both at the same Time. In which Case, if the Contact be large especially, it is restored with a Violence and Quickness inexpressible; or touching each alternately, in which Case the Equilibrium is restored by Degrees.
4 As no more Electrical Fire can be thrown into the Top of the Bottle, when all is driven out of the Bottom. So in a Bottle not yet electrised, none can be thrown into the Top, when none can get out of the Bottom; which happens either when the Bottom is too thick, or when the Bottle is placed on an Electric-per-se. Again, when the Bottle is electrised, but little of the Electrical Fire can be drawn out from the Top, by touching the Wire, unless an equal Quantity can at the same Time get in at the Bottom. Thus place an Electris’d Bottle on clean Glass or dry Wax, and you will not, by touching the Wire, get out the Fire from the Top. Place it on a Non-electric, and touch the Wire, you will get it out in a short Time; but soonest, when you form a direct Communication, as above.
So wonderfully are these two States of Electricity, the plus and minus combined and ballanced in this miraculous Bottle! situated and related to each other in a Manner that I can by no Means comprehend! If it were possible that a Bottle should in one Part contain a Quantity of Air strongly comprest, and in another Part a perfect Vacuum; We know the Equilibrium would be instantly restored within. But here we have a Bottle, containing at the same Time a Plenum of Electrical Fire and a Vacuum of the same Fire; and yet the Equilibrium can not be restored between them but by a Communication without! Tho’ the Plenum presses violently to expand, and the hungry Vacuum seems to attract as violently in Order to be filled.
5 The Shock to the Nerves (or Convulsion rather) is occasioned by the sudden Passing of the Fire thro’ the Body in its Way from the Top to the Bottom of the Bottle. The Fire takes the shortest Course, as Mr. Watson justly observes; but he was mistaken in supposing, that for a person to be shock’d a Communication with the Floor is necessary (see Sequel p. 67, 68, 69). He that holds the Bottle with one Hand, and touches the Wire with the other, will be shockt as much, tho’ his Shoes be dry, or even standing on Wax, as otherwise. And on the Touch of the Wire (or of the Gun Barrel, which is the same Thing) the Fire does not proceed from the touching Finger to the Wire, as he supposes, but from the Wire to the Finger, and passes thro’ the Body to the other Hand, and so into the Bottom of the Bottle. We are all obliged to that Gentleman for Publishing his ingenious Observations. It is likely he has seen these little Mistakes himself before this Time; and therefore it is hardly necessary to shew him what I write: If you should, I hope, he will excuse the Freedom I have taken; it being only in a private Letter; There is also some apparent Contradiction between his No. XLVII and LXII in the Sequel which I need not further point out.
Experiments confirming the above
Exper. I. Place an electrised Vial on Wax. A small Cork Ball suspended by a dry Silk Thread held in your Hand, and brought near to the Wire, will first be attracted and then repell’d. When in this State of Repellency, sink your Hand, that the Ball may be brought towards the Bottom of the Bottle, it will there be instantly and strongly attracted, ’till it has parted with it’s Fire. If the Bottle had an Electrical Atmosphere as well as the Wire, an Electrified Cork would be repell’d from one as well as from the other.
   Exper. II [fig. 1]. From a bent Wire [(a)] sticking in the Table, let a small Linen Thread [(b)] hang down within half an Inch of the Electrised Vial [(c)]. Touch the Wire of the Vial repeatedly with your Finger; and at every touch you will see the Thread instantly attracted by the Bottle. This is best done with a Vinegar Cruet, or some such belly’d Bottle. As soon as you draw any Fire out from the upper Part, by touching the Wire, the lower Part of the Bottle draws an equal Quantity in by the Thread.
   Exper. III [fig. 2]. Fix a Wire in the Lead, with which the Bottom of the Bottle is armed [(d)], so as that bending upwards, it’s Ring End may be level with the Top, or Ring End of the Wire in the Cork [(e)], and at 3 or 4 Inches Distance. Then electrise the Bottle, and place it on Wax. If a Cork suspended by a Silk Thread [(f)] hang between these two Wires, it will play incessantly from one to the other, ’till the Bottle is no longer electrised. That is, it fetches and carries Fire from the Top to the Bottom of the Bottle till the Equilibrium is restored.
   Exper. IV [fig. 3]. Place an electricised Vial upon Wax. Take a Wire [(g)] bent in the Form of a C, the Ends at such a Distance when bent, as that the upper may touch the Wire of the Bottle, when the lower touches the Bottom; stick the outer Part to a Piece of Sealing Wax [(h)] which will serve as a Handle. Then apply the lower End to the Bottom of the Bottle, and gradually bring the upper End near the Wire in the Cork: the Consequence is; Spark follows Spark till the Equilibrium is restored. Touch the Top first, and on approaching the Bottom with the other End, you have a constant Stream of Fire from the Wire entering the Bottle. Touch Top and Bottom together, and the Equilibrium will soon be restored but silently and imperceptibly, the Contact being small; the crooked Wire forming the Communication.
   Exper. V [fig. 4]. Let a Ring of thin Lead or Paper surround the Bottle [(i)], even at some Distance from or above the Bottom: From that Ring let a Wire proceed up till it touch the Wire of the Cork [(k)]. A Bottle, so fixt, can not by any Means be electrised; the Equilibrium is never destroyed. For while the Communication between the upper and lower Parts of the Bottle is continu’d by the outside Wire what is driven out at Bottom is constantly supplied from the Top. Hence a Bottle can not be electrised that is foul or moist on the Outside.
Exper. VI. Place a Man on a Cake of Wax and present him the Wire of the Electrified Vial to touch, you standing on the Floor, and holding it in your Hand. As often as he touches [it] he will be electrified plus, and any one standing on the Floor may draw a Spark from him. The Fire in this Experiment passes out of the Wire into him; and at the same Time out of your Hand into the Bottom of the Bottle.
Exper. VII. Give him the electrified Vial to hold, and do you touch the Wire. As often as you touch it, he will be electrified minus, and may draw a Spark from any one standing on the Floor. The Fire now Passes from the Wire to you, and from him into the Bottom of the Bottle.
Exper. VIII. Lay two Books on two Glasses back towards back, 2 or 3 Inches distant, set the electrified Vial on one, and then touch the Wire; that Book will be electrified minus; the Electrical Fire being drawn out of it by the Bottom of the Bottle. Take off the Bottle, and holding it in your Hand, touch the other Book with the Wire; that Book will be electrified plus; the Fire passing into it from the Wire, and the Bottle at the same Time supplied from your Hand. A suspended small Cork Ball will play between these Books, ’till the Equilibrium is restored.
Exper. IX. When a Body is electrised plus it will repel an electrified Feather or small Cork Ball. When minus (or when in [the] common State) it will attract them; but stronger when minus than when in the Common State, the Difference being greater.

Exper. X. Tho’ as in Expert. VI. a Man standing on Wax may be electrised a Number of Times by repeatedly touching the Wire of an electrised Bottle held in the Hand of one standing on the Floor, he receiving the Fire from the Wire each Time; yet holding it in his own Hand, and touching the Wire, tho’ he draws a Strong Spark, and is violently shockt, no Electricity remains in him; the Fire only passing thro’ him from the upper to the lower Part of the Bottle. Observe, before the Shock, to let some one on the Floor touch him, to restore the Equilibrium in his Body; for in taking hold of the Bottom of the Bottle, he sometimes becomes a little electrised minus, which will continue after the Shock, as would also any plus Electricity he might have given him before the Shock. For, restoring an Equilibrium in the Bottle, does not at all affect the Electricity in the Man thro’ whom the Fire passes: that Electricity is neither increased nor diminished.
   Exper. XI. The Passing of the Electrical Fire from the upper to the lower Part of the Bottle to restore the Equilibrium, is rendered strongly visible by the following pretty Experiment. Take a Book, whose Cover is filletted with Gold; bend a Wire of 8 or 10 Inches long in this Form, slip it on the End of the Cover of the Book, over the Gold line, so as that the Shoulder of it may press on one End of the Gold Line, the Ring up, but leaning towards the other End of the Book. Lay the Book on [a] Glass or Wax; and on the other End of the Gold Line set the Bottle electrised. Then bend the springing Wire, by pressing it with a Stick of Wax, ’till it’s Ring approaches the Ring of the Bottle Wire: instantly there is a strong Spark and Stroke, and the whole Line of Gold, which completes the Communication between the Top and Bottom of the Bottle, will appear a vivid Flame, like the sharpest Lightning. The closer the Contact between the Shoulder of the Wire and the Gold at one End of the Line, and between the Bottom of the Bottle and the Gold at the other End, the better the Experiment succeeds. The Room should be darkned. If you would have the whole Filleting round the Cover appear in Fire at once, let the Bottle and Wire touch the Gold in the diagonally opposite Corners.
The rest of this Letter on private Affairs.
To Peter Collinson Esqr. F. R. S. London


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 29 July 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Strahan, William

Sir,
Philada. July 29. 1747
Your Favours of March 18 and April 1 are come to Hand with all the Books, &c. mentioned in the invoice, in good Order, and am much obliged to you for your ready Compliance with all my Requests.
I believe I could have got Subscriptions for 20 Sets of the Universal History, and perhaps more, but unluckily a Ship from Ireland has, since the Receipt of your Letter, brought in 20 Setts compleat, and they are offer’d at a lower Rate than the English Edition can be afforded at, even if I paid but 4s. per vol. I do what I can to lessen the Credit of that piratical Edition, and talk much of the Improvements made in this; but that being to be had entire immediately, and this not until after many Months, weighs a good deal with Some; and others object, that ’tis to be apprehended the London Booksellers will either curtail the folio Edition greatly to save Money, or put the Subscribers at last to the Expense of a greater Number of Volumes than 20; seeing the Volumes are much less than those of the Irish Edition, the 3 first of the one containing but little more than the first of the other. If they think fit to venture a Parcel here Hall will do his best to dispose of them, and I will assist him what I can. They may send a Parcel also to Mr. Parker Printer of New York, a very honest punctual Man.
I am glad all the Bills I sent you have been paid or accepted. You may expect more in a short Time, and after the next Parcel of Books are paid for you will chiefly have to deal with Mr. Hall, into whose Hands I have agreed to put the Shop, &c.

With all our best Respects to you and yours, heartily wishing you Health and Happiness, I conclude Your obliged humble Servant
B. Franklin
Per Mesnard


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 30 July 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Colden, Cadwallader

Sir
Philada. July 30. 1747
I receiv’d your Favour of the 26th. which I shall answer at large per next Post. In the mean time please to send me, if you have it with you, my Paper of Observations on Baxter’s Book, which I want to make some present Use of, and have no other Copy.
Mesnard sail’d this Day for London. But here is a Vessel bound to Bristol, which the next Post will reach. In haste I am, Sir Your oblig’d humble Servant
B Franklin

P S. Upon farther Enquiry I find that next Post will not reach the Bristol Vessel, she being to sail on Saturday.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel Cheston, 2 August 1747
From: Cheston, Daniel
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
Chester Augt. 2d 1747
I received your Favour of the 23d Ulto With Mr. Thos Fayerweathers order on Mr. Edward Scott in favour of Mr. Jeremiah Osborn Inclosed and Immediately Applyed to Mr. Edwd Scott for the Money who promised Me to pay It before the Return of our Mercury. But being Gone Down to Talbott County am afraid Shall not see him time Enough to Send It per this next return. You may Depend I will Doe Every Thing in my power to Get It as soon as possible and Send It up.
I am Sir Your Servant to Command
Danl Cheston

P S please send me per the post a Corderie and A Latin Clerk’s Introduction.

 Addressed: To  Mr Benj Franklin  In  Philadelphia


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 3 August 1747
From: Colden, Cadwallader
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
New York Aug 3d 1747
Baxters [book] was gon so much out of my memory that I could not for some time recollect any thing of it. I cannot now recollect whether I sent back your observations on it. If I have not they are among my papers which I carried to the Country and are now there. I can remember that when I lookt into that book I thought that he did not understand the subject on which he treated as appear’d to me from several passages in the book. Assoon as I return home I shall look carefully for the papers you sent but what they were I donot at present remember. Please therefor to assist my memory.
Some Gentlemen here are desirous to go on Electrical experiments. We hear that you have the whole Apparatus sent over from England. They would purchase the like if they can be made at Philadelphia from what you have sent to you. Please to let me know whether any of your Artists can do it and what may be the price. I am Sir Your most obliged humble servant
Cadwallader Colden
 Addressed: Mr Be[njamin Franklin] Pos[tmaster] The [rest cut off]
Endorsed: C Colden 1747


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 13 August 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Colden, Cadwallader

Sir
Philada. Augt. 13. 1747
I am glad the electrical Observations please you. I leave them in your hands another Week. Our Workmen have undertaken the Electrical Apparatus, and I believe will do it extreamly well: It being a new Job they cannot say exactly what their Work will come to, but they will charge reasonably when done, and they find what Time it has taken. I suppose the whole will not exceed ten or twelve Pounds.
I send you enclos’d the Advertisement of the History of the 5 Nations.
We are told here, that Gov. Belcher has brought Orders to disband the Forces raised for the Expedition against Canada; you know before this Time whether this is true, and whether the Expedition is postpon’d only, or the Thoughts of it entirely laid aside.
I am, Sir, with great Respect, Your most humble Servant
B Franklin
 Addressed: To  The honble. Cadr Colden Esqr  New York  Free B Franklin


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 7 September 1747
From: Parker, James
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
New York. Sept. 7. 1747.
Mr. Whiting came and [paid the] whole last Saturday Evening in Jersey Money, except 5s. in York, of the Pay[ment] for the Postage. I don’t know any Body has any of the Spanish Paper to sell cheap. I believe 5 or 6s. will be the lowest. I know several ask 8s. I can yet gladly spare you 4 or 5 Bales of that I have, having got about 10 Bales yet entire. If you please to order it I will send it by the first Oppertunity. I will make Enquiry if any be to be got else where.
As to what relates to the Copper Plate, tis thus; The Engraver is a Silver-Smith. During the Proposing of the Thing I gave him some Silver to make me two Silver Spoons; but he has not done ’em yet. I have been at him several Times: but one time he has been sick, another Time his Wife is sick, &c. I tell him we want him to go about the Plate, but I fear he is an idle lazy Fellow. I will try him again this Week, and I think if he don’t go on it, as he is well enough now, we may despair of getting him to do it at all.
As my Long-Primer is almost worn out I have had Thoughts of trying to get some new for which I have not seen an easier Way than to send home some Money by the Man of War now going in about 3 Weeks; but know not well the Price, or whom to apply to, or what Quantity will do. I could make up about £12 or 14 Sterl: and I would run my own Risk—but this I will not do without your Advice and Permission.
I received the Pocket Companion safe, tis well enough. May I ask, if the Young Man’s Companion be almost done?
I rejoice to hear you all keep your Health: May it continue! Our Son is recovered pretty well but my Wife is poorly, tho’ not with the present Sickness, but one She is pretty much accustomed to.
With all our hearty Respects, I remain, Sir Your most obedient Servant,
James Parker

P.S. I send 4 Quire Marble Paper, it cost 3s. 6d. a Quire. A Sheet of a different sort is sent, if you are minded for any of that. Payment for a little more than 1½ Dollar is coming to you; which with the 5s. York Money paid by Mr. Whiting will just clear this Paper.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 21 September 1747
From: Parker, James
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
New York. Sept. 21. 1747.
Last Week I accidently met Mr. DeLancey in the Streets: I ask’d him, if he had heard any Thing about the Affair, and he said No. I ask’d him, if he were willing to take the Money? He said Yes. I ask’d him how much it was? and he said £37 principal: which is more than what you mention. However, I will pay it, let it be what it may; On which I told him, I had Money of Yours in my Hands, and expected your Orders to pay it: and he said, It was well. I shall see him, God willing, Wednesday or Thursday.
I am heartily concerned at your frequent Losses. I will see about sending the Paper the first Boat.
Mr. H. is deprived of his being Councillor, and as he’s out of the Governor’s Favour, ’tis suppos’d he will be turn’d out of both his other Places before long.
The History of the Rebels will make about 24 Sheets; 8½ are done as you will perceive by what I send you.
As to what you say about the Materials I don’t think myself a competent Judge at all of the Prices, &c. I shall therefore rather entirely Submit it to you; tho’ unless you can better imagine it already than I, I am of Opinion, We had best wait till the Expiration of the Time; as we are both uncertain of our Lives so long; and if it please God to call me hence, I have none to leave either the Materials to, or a Desire to leave so much in Debt; you will then be obliged to take ’em again: I can then, if I live, give you a List of every Thing and you can set your Price on them.
The first Half Sheet of the History of the Rebellion, is of the new Letter, it sets up all the Italick, to about Half a Page more. It is not bottle-ars’d; but is unhappily about a Hair-space shorter than the other, i.e. the Old: so won’t stand in the same Word, but will do in the same page. This Letter will do very well for what Long-primer is in the Spelling-Books, &c.
I have not got Pay of the Undertakers of the History; but am promis’d some this Week: if tis not done, I must stop yet; for I begin to have less confidence than before: Hynshaw being poor, and t’other I’m afraid not honest.
I will see about the Marble Paper, &c. with all convenient Speed.
I was about purchasing a Saw of Mr. Meredith; if you have not already nail’d up the Box, and it is long enough to put the Plate in, I should be glad if you would put that in with the Books. Those sort of Saws are not to be got here.
I could wish you would send me One Ream of Cartridge Paper Along with the other Things, I not having above 8 Quire of that sort in the House.
The Sickness is greatly abated, thank God, tho’ there be a pretty many yet down with it, and some die of it still; By God’s Mercy, we are all well. With all our Respects, &c. remain Sir your most obliged Servant
James Parker


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 24 September 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Colden, Cadwallader

Sir
Philada. Sept. 24. 1747
I have one of your Histories come in among some Books sent me per Mr. Strahan: But Osborne I understand has sent 50 to Mr. Read per Recommendation of Mr. Collinson. I should sell them more readily than he can, I imagine; and he talks of putting them into my hands. Are any of them arriv’d in N York?
Enclos’d are two Letters for you. No others are yet come to hand; but perhaps we shall find more when the Ship is unloaded; for Mr. Collinson’s Letters are often in Trunks among Goods, &c. I should be glad to know if Mr. Darling, by whom I wrote a Line to you, had my Papers on Electricity. I am, Sir, Your most humble Servant
B Franklin
 Addressed: To  The honble Cadwalader Colden Esq  New York  Free  B Franklin


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Abiah Franklin, 16 October 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Franklin, Abiah

Honoured Mother,
Philadelphia, October 16, 1747
This has been a busy day with your daughter and she is gone to bed much fatigued and cannot write.
I send you inclosed, one of our new almanacks; we print them early, because we send them to many places far distant. I send you also, a moidore inclosed, which please to accept towards chaise hire, that you may ride warm to meetings this winter. Pray tell us, what kind of a sickness you have had in Boston this summer: besides the measles and flux, which have carried off many children, we have lost some grown persons, by what we call the Yellow Fever; though that is almost if not quite over, thanks to God, who has preserved all our family, in perfect health. Here are cousins Coleman, and two Folgers, all well. Your grandaughter is the greatest lover of her book and school, of any child I ever knew, and is very dutiful to her mistress as well as to us. I doubt not but brother Mecom will send the collar as soon as he can conveniently. My love to him, sister, and all the children. I am, Your dutiful son,
B. Franklin