"HER ELDEST SON, FRANCIS… IS A VERY INGENIOUS YOUNG MAN, AND IS DAILY GROWING IN ESTEEM FOR HIS GOOD MORALS & OBLIGING DISPOSITION": EXTRAORDINARY PERSONAL COPY OF A LENGTHY LETTER WRITTEN AND SIGNED BY BENJAMIN FRANKLIN JUST TWO MONTHS AFTER PASSAGE OF THE STAMP ACT, REFERENCING SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE FRANCIS HOPKINSON AND HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW, REVEREND JACOB DUCHÉ, THE FIRST CHAPLAIN OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

FRANKLIN, Benjamin. Autograph letter signed. London, May 10, 1765. Single unlined leaf measuring 8 by 12-1/2 inches; pp. 2.

Remarkable signed autograph personal copy (marked with the notation "Copy") of a lengthy letter written entirely in Benjamin Franklin's hand in May 1765 to James Burrows, a prominent lawyer and close friend, responding to a memorandum found in papers returned to Franklin and offering details on the Philadelphia relations of the Bishop of Worcester, including the future Declaration of Independence signer, Francis Hopkinson ("an ingenious young man"), and the first chaplain of the Continental Congress, Rev. Jacob Duché ("admir'd for his singular Eloquence in the Pulpit").

This is Franklin's personal handwritten copy of a letter sent to his close friend and frequent correspondent James Burrows, a prominent British lawyer, antiquarian, and natural philosopher. While best known for his accomplishments in court, Burrows published five papers on earthquakes in Philosophical Transactions and his scientific interests rendered him an ideal companion for the scientifically inclined Franklin. This letter concerns a person of mutual concern, the Bishop of Worcester, James Johnson, the first cousin of Mary Hopkinson. Before Benjamin Franklin left Philadelphia in November 1764, Hopkinson requested that Franklin inquire after her relatives in England and presumably mentioned her connection with the Bishop.

The letter is marked "Copy," dated "May 10, 1765," and mentions both Declaration signer Francis Hopkinson and first Chaplain of the Continental Congress Jacob Duché: written from "Craven Street" and dated "May 10, 1765," it reads: "In the papers you returned to me yesterday, I find a Memorandum that you had 'told the Bishop of Worcester of his Relatives in the West Indies, of whom he seemed desirous to be further informed.' I therefore send you the following short Account of those who live in Philadelphia, which if you think proper may be communicated to his Lordship. Mrs. Hopkinson, Daughter of Mr. Baldwin Johnson is greatly esteemed by the best People of the Place, as a prudent and good Woman. her Husband, Mr. Hopkinson, was in Repute as a Lawyer, sometime Judge of the Admiralty Court and one of the Governor's Council; Great Confidence was plac'd in him where-ever he was employ'd, as he was not only an able Man, but of great Integrity. He left her a Widow about 12 years since, with 5 young Children, two Sons & three Daughters, to bring up. [Thomas Hopkinson died on Nov. 5, 1751.] These she has carefully educated, genteelly, but frugally, out of the Income of a small Estate, and I believe without much diminishing their Portions.

Her eldest Son, Francis, had a College Education at Philadelphia, where he took his Degrees, has since read Law under the Attorney General, but still lives with his Mother, and has not entered into any material Business as yet. He is a very ingenious young Man, and is daily growing in Esteem for his good Morals & obliging Disposition. The eldest Daughter, an amiable Woman, is married to Mr. Duché, a young Clergyman of the Church of England, a Native of that Place and of a good Family. He study'd sometime at Cambridge in England, where I saw him in 1759, a gentleman Commoner. He was ordained here in 1762, and has a Church at Philadelphia, where he is much follow'd as a serious Preacher, and at the Same time admir'd for his singular Eloquence in the Pulpit. Another of these valuable Daughters I have heard is shortly to be married to Dr. Morgan, a young Physician who has distinguished himself by his great Application to his Studies here and at Edinburgh, & by his extraordinary Improvements. [Just a week earlier, Dr. John Morgan had been elected Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine in the new medical department of the College of Philadelphia Medical School, North America's first medical school.] It is the same that had the Honour of being chosen a Member of our [Royal] Society a few Weeks since, and is just gone home to America. The other Children are still young, but promising.

Mrs. Hopkinson's Motive to the Enquiry we have made for her, I take to be chiefly that natural Curiosity which People have to know Something of their Relations, there being a Satisfaction in learning their Circumstances & hearing of their Welfare, however remote in Degree or Situation. I have therefore been the more particular in this Account of her Family, supposing it will give the same kind of Satisfaction to her Relatives here. With great Esteem and many Thanks for the Pains you have so obligingly taken in this Affair, I am, Sir Your most obedient humble Servant B Franklin."

At the time of this letter, Franklin was Deputy Postmaster General of the British North American Colonies and agent of Pennsylvania in London, appointed by the Pennsylvania Assembly to protest against the political influence of the Penn family in the colony. The Stamp Act of 1765 was passed on March 22, 1765, two months before he wrote this letter. The stamp tax was the first internal tax to be levied on the colonies. Initially, Franklin supported the new tax, but quickly switched to opposition after hearing of the angry response in Pennsylvania. It forced colonists to buy a British stamp for every official document they obtained. Newspapers had to be printed on imported, stamped appear that required payment of a duty. Franklin's testimony before the House of Commons helped to secure the repeal of the Stamp Act and greatly enhanced his reputation both in England and America. Franklin wrote this letter from 36 Craven Street, London. Situated close to Trafalgar Square, it is the only surviving former residence of Benjamin Franklin.

Expert and unobtrusive paper repair, mainly to folds and margins. Most exceptional.