BIB_ID
159466
Accession number
MA 152.9
Creator
Franklin, William, 1731-1813.
Display Date
1763 Nov. 15 and 1764 May 1.
Credit line
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1905.
Description
1 item (3 p., with address) ; 23.5 cm
Notes
Address panel with seal and addressed to "Mr. Wm. Strahan / Printer / New Street, Shoe Lane / London / per the King of Prussia / Capt. Robinson."
Endorsed on verso "June 22: 1764 gave Mr. Chamberlin the order."
Mason Chamberlin (1727-1787) painted a portrait of Benjamin Franklin in 1762 which had been commissioned by Col. Philip Ludwell, III, a Virginia landowner and a friend of Benjamin Franklin's. It is believed that William Franklin commissioned this replica in order that his father might make a gift of it to him.
Part of a collection of letters of Benjamin and William Franklin to William Strahan; see collection-level record for more information.
Endorsed on verso "June 22: 1764 gave Mr. Chamberlin the order."
Mason Chamberlin (1727-1787) painted a portrait of Benjamin Franklin in 1762 which had been commissioned by Col. Philip Ludwell, III, a Virginia landowner and a friend of Benjamin Franklin's. It is believed that William Franklin commissioned this replica in order that his father might make a gift of it to him.
Part of a collection of letters of Benjamin and William Franklin to William Strahan; see collection-level record for more information.
Provenance
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan at the Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker sale in Philadelphia, December 14, 1905, lot. 284.
Summary
Referring, in the letter of November 15, 1763, to letters he believes may have been lost; discussing, at length, a fabric order for "three Window Curtains;" adding "My Father desired Mr. Chamberlyn would make a good Copy of his Picture which was done for Col. Ludwell. Let it be put in a handsome Gilt Frame, & sent over, as soon as it can be well done, to him;" referring, in the letter of May 1, 1764, to his copy of the letter of November 15, 1763, which "you mention was not received," to his fabric order for the curtains and to an order to a silversmith for serving pieces; referring to conditions in America saying "My Reason for not writing you any American Politics was because this Province afforded nothing of any Consequence, & I have been so taken up as not to attend to the Affairs of others. As to what passes in Pensylv'a I suppose my Father & Mr. Hall give you full Accounts. Both that Province & Maryland seem to be in a State of Anarchy, & unless the King takes them under his immediate Government (which all but the Proprietary officers & Dependents are anxious for) the worst of Consequences will probably ensue;" discussing the status of the Indian War and a peace with the Senecas.
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