The images above and the transcript below are from the original letter at the Library of Congress May, 1788 Your saying last evening that Sir Isaac Newtons principle of Gravitation would not explain, or could not apply as a rule to find the quantity of the attraction of cohesion, and my replying that I never […]
Images from the Library of Congress London, England, SIR: I mentioned to you that I had some conversation with the Marquis de Lafayette respecting the Bridge, and his opinion is that it would be best to make some direct proposition to which either yes or no should be given. My principal object is to get
PARIS, DEAR SIR: I received your favor of . . . when at London, from which place I returned a fortnight since. I am obliged to you for the account you gave me of the steamboat, the bridge and the plan of the newly proposed Constitution. There are many excellent things in the new system.
THETFORD, NORFOLK The Abbe Morellet your Lordship’s very good friend and mine, desired me, on my leaving Paris to present you his respects. I am sorry I have not an opportunity of delivering them personally, with such other matters as arise in conversation between the Abbe and myself. But I request your Lordship to be
To the Right Honorable the Marquis of Lansdowne Sept. 21, 1787 Read Post »
PARIS SIR: This comes by Mr. Derby, of Massachusetts, who leaves Paris today to take shipping at L’Orient for Boston. The enclosed for Dr. Franklin is from his friend Mr. Le Roy, of the Academy of Sciences, respecting the bridge, and the causes that have delayed the completing the report. An arch of 4 or
PARIS, [Gentlemen:] I have the honor to present to you the model for the construction of an American bridge. This bridge made of iron bars forming a single arch, is to be built over the Schuylkill River in Pennsylvania, where piles cannot be used. The high opinion which the government of Pennsylvania, at whose head
From the original letter at the American Philosophical Society Paris June 22nd, 1787 My Dear Sir We left N York the 26 April, and arrived at Havre de Grace 26 of May saturday — On the Monday I set off in company with Mr. Germon a French gentle man passenger from America for Paris. I
From the original letter at the American Philosophical Society Dear Sir I mentioned in one of my essays of my design of going this Spring to Europe. I intend landing in france and from thence to England, and that I should take the model with me. The time I had fixed with myself was May,
To His Excellency Benjamin Franklin March 31, 1787 Read Post »
To George Clymer, Esquire Nov 19th, 1786 BORDENTOWN, SIR: I observe by the minutes that the Agricultural Society have presented a petition to the House for an act of incorporation for the purpose of erecting a bridge over the Schuylkill on a model in their possession. I hope this business will not be gone into
To the Honarable Thomas Fitzsimmons November 19th, 1786 BORDENTOWN, SIR: I write you a few loose thoughts as they occur to me. Next to gaining a majority is keeping it. This, at least (in my opinion), will not be best accomplished by doing or attempting a great deal of business, but by doing no more
To the Honarable Thomas Fitzsimmons November 19th, 1786 Read Post »
From the original letter at the American Philosophical Society Borden Town Sept 22d 1786 Old Friend In the first place I have settled with Mr. Gordon for the time he has been in the house — in the second I have put Mrs. Read who, you know has part of our house, Col. Kirkbride’s but
From the original letter at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Sept 1786 Old Friend I enclose you a publication of mine on the affairs of the State. — It was my intention at the conclusion of the war to have laid down the Pen and satisfied myself with silently beholding the prosperity of a
