Zweig MS 149

Autograph. Signed.

Begins: ‘Sir I receiv'd your Favour p[er] Mr Chew dayed Sept. 10. and a Copy via Boston.’

Ends: ‘Your obliged humble Servant B Franklin’

Franklin acknowledges receipt from Strahan of 'Mr Middleton's Pieces' and places new orders: a range of pamphlets for friends of different tastes, six sets of Warburton’s new edition of Pope if published, a dozen copies of whatever the poet Thomson writes. He will send details of the books he wants to sell in his shop which must be obtained cheaply to match a competitor’s prices. Pamphlets and newspapers may be sent via New York and Boston if there is no direct ship to Philadelphia. He hopes Caslon will not delay in casting the English fount he wrote for. Mr Hall is gaining a good reputation.

Postscript by James Read promising a long letter to be sent in duplicate by different ships.

Addressed on f. 2v ‘To Mr Wm Strahan Printer in Wine Office Court Fleetstreet London

via Maryland P[er] Capt. Harrison.’

William Strahan (b.1715, d.1785) was a London printer and publisher, established from 1740 at Wine Office Court in the parish of St Bride's where this letter is addressed. The Dictionary of National Biography article (http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/26631?docPos=1) explains how through contact with the American James Read, he set up a wholesale trade in books to Philadelphia. Read also facilitated the appointment of Strahan’s friend and employee David Hall as manager of Franklin’s fourth printing company in America.

For account books and business papers of the Strahan Printing House, see BL Additional MSS 48800–48918 and the bibliography given in the catalogue description. David Hall’s papers, including his correspondence with Strahan and Franklin, are held by the American Philosophical Society (http://www.amphilsoc.org/mole/view?docId=ead/Mss.B.H142.1-3-ead.xml).

Benjamin Franklin (b.1706, d.1790) had worked as a journeyman printer in England and was postmaster of Philadelphia before embarking on his career as statesman and diplomat. He maintained a correspondence with William Strahan for many years before the latter’s attitude to the struggles of the American colonists led to friction between them.

There are references in the letter to pamphlets about Captain Christopher Middleton’s controversial attempt to discover the Hudson’s Bay Passage; William Warburton’s projected edition of Pope’s works, eventually published in nine volumes in 1751; new poems by James Thomson (b. 1700, d.1748), author of ‘The Seasons’; and William Caslon’s typeface which became widely adopted in America, notably for printing the Declaration of Independence.

Post stamp 6 MA