Letters to Benjamin Franklin 117 



From The Library Company of Philadelphia. 



1 77 1. January 25. Philadelphia. 



Appointed by the Directors of The Library Co. to acknowledge Frank- 

 lin's favor of July 7, 1769; prevented from answ^ering it sooner by the 

 confusion arising from the union of the several libraries. They concur 

 with Franklin in his opinion of the propriety of having, in some of 

 their public libraries, all the transactions of every philosophical society 

 in Europe; before deciding, they desire to know the price of each set and 

 also of the French Encyclopaedia. Sends catalogue of books wanted. 

 L. S. M[ichael] Hillegas, Nicholas Wain and R. Strettell Jones, i p. 



Ill, 42. 



From Humphry Marshall. 1771. January 27. West Bradford. 



By all accounts the colonies have gone into the importation of goods 

 more largely than ever; instances of great spirit, however, remaining 

 among the farmers. Manufacture of china ; of double flint glass ; of silk, 

 which, mixed with worsted, forms a material of which they make clothes. 

 Has sent him some observations on the spots appearing on the sun's 

 disk; asks him to show them to his old friend, John Fothergill, and after 

 a perusal, to present them to the Royal Society, in his (Marshall's) 

 name. Offers to furnish seeds, young plants, etc., to any gentlemen in 

 England who may desire them, at lower prices than common ; has done 

 this work for his cousin, John Bartram, for many years. A. L. S. 2 p. 



HI, 43. 



Fro7n William] Knox. 1771. January 29. London. 



Encloses plan and papers in reference to the lands claimed by W[il- 

 lia]m Batner's representative. A. L. S. i p. LII, 86. 



From W[illiam] Henly. 1771. January 29. [London]. 



Thanks Franklin for the improvement of his electrometers; if he 

 has been able to produce any experiment in electricity upon which 

 Franklin can bestow the epithet ' curious,' his highest ambition and 

 vanity in that science is fully satisfied. Drawings and description of 

 an experiment. A. L. S. i p. Ill, 44. 



From Isaac Gamgius. 1771. January 31. London. 



Left Capt. Dalrymple's ship because his station was not a suitable 

 one; hoped Franklin could have gotten a berth for him in another 

 ship. A. L. S. I p. Ill, 45. 



