To Joseph Priestley Dear Sir, Craven Street, April 10, 1774. In compliance with your request, I have endeavoured to recollect the circumstances of the American experiments I formerly mentioned to you, of raising a flame on the surface of some waters there. When I passed through New Jersey in 1764, I heard it several times…
All posts in The Writings of Benjamin Franklin, Vol III: London
An Open Letter to Lord North
For the Public Advertiser. To Lord NORTH. My LORD, All your small Politicians, who are very numerous in the English Nation, from the patriotic Barber to the patriotic Peer, when big with their Schemes for the Good of poor Old England, imagine they have a Right to give Advice to the Minister, and condemn Administration…
A War It Will Be
“A War It Will Be” To the Printer of the Publick Ledger Sir, Nothing can equal the present Rage of our Ministerial Writers against our Brethren in America, who have the Misfortune to be Whigs in a Reign when Whiggism is out of Fashion, who are besides Protestant Dissenters and Lovers of Liberty. One may…
My Supposed Application to Mr. Grenville
To Josiah Tucker Reverend Sir, London, Feb. 26, 1774. I thank you for the Frankness with which you have communicated to me the Particulars of the Information you had received relating to my supposed Application to Mr. Grenville for a Place in the American Stamp-Office. As I deny that either your former or later Informations…
Nothing Can Be Farther from the Truth
To Josiah Tucker Reverend Sir, London, Feb. 12, 1774. Being informed by a Friend that some severe Strictures on my Conduct and Character had appeared in a new Book published under your respectable Name, I purchased and read it. After thanking you sincerely for those Parts of it that are so instructive on Points of…