1To John Adams from Daniel Roberdeau, 4 July 1788 (Adams Papers)
The public papers anounce your return with your family to your native land, and I cannot refrain my congratulations particularly as to the season in which so favorable a revolution has mervelously taken place without the direful concomitants universally attendant on such Events in profund peace. The experience I have had since I had the honor of seeing you in Europe furnishes the most...
2To George Washington from Daniel Roberdeau, 17 June 1785 (Washington Papers)
The request you made of me in a letter to Wm Minor I instantly obeyed as a command, and have now the happiness to inform your Excellency, that the last Evening I convinced him of his indecency in making any demand of you, particularly in refusing your generosity in the offer of a ballance to which he had no claim, but from that principle, and for which he would consider himself obliged. I am...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel Roberdeau, 26 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am honored by your favor of the 13th. and much obliged by your attention to Mr. Vanderhorst and his Daughter which he speaks of with great satisfaction and thankfulness; Also for your care in forwarding to Mr. Grand my letter, but more particularly for your condescending notice of my son and attention to his improvement in the art of refining as practised...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel Roberdeau, 2 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Vanderhorst with his Daughter are on an excursion to Paris, and their return will be most favorable for remittance, if you should, in consiquence of my Letter and a bill of Exchange enclosed to you a few days ago, have it in your power, you’ll oblige me to send by Mr. Vanderhorst who is directed in that case to pay the money, or transmit the seal to my...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel Roberdeau, [January 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I arrived here in September last, with a purpose of visiting France and of paying my respects and offering my Congratulations on the restoration of Peace, and to you for the honor you have acquired in this business, as I cannot now do it personally permit the offering in this mode with my best wishes for a continuance of your health and strength of which I...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel Roberdeau, 28 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society I cannot hardly refrain my concratulation although the great Event of peace has not been announced here. From experience of your good offices betwixt my relations & myself, permit me to ask the favor of an immediate conveyence of the inclosed. I am Sir Yr. most obt. huml. Sert Addressed: His Excellency / Doctor Benjamin Franklin / at the Court of France...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel Roberdeau, 5 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society As you were so polite as to enclose me a Letter from my Namesake permit me the liberty of using the same Channel of conveyance and to ask the favor of you to forward the enclosed. I am very respectfully Dr. Sir Yr. most obt. & very huml. Servt. Addressed: His Excellency / Benjamin Franklin Esquire / Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court / of France— /...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel Roberdeau, 3 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Le Chevalier Mauduit Du Plessis by whose hands I received your introductory favr. last year is also the Bearer of this to acknowledge the service you did your Country, as well as the honor confered on me in that Instance. To be more particular in commending the good and brave conduct of this worthy Officer would be to sanctify the repeated acts of Congress...
9To George Washington from Daniel Roberdeau, 4 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am ever loath to intrude on your Excellency, as I well know the great embarrassments attending your important sphere do not admit of any unnecessary or fruitless Correspondence, but I am as sensible of your attention to the most minute Circumstance which has a tendancy to promote the common Cause, therefore permit me to inform your Excellency that the want of Smelters of lead is the only...
10To John Adams from Daniel Roberdeau, 21 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
I acknowledge your favors of the 19th. and 24th. Ultimo, and with great pleasure find you obey the call of your Country. May it prove her advantage and your honor, of which I have not the least doubt, notwithstanding the deficiency you mention. I shall highly esteem a constant correspondence with you, which I shall endeavour to encourage and improve a friendship I so greatly value. A lex...
11Daniel Roberdeau to Abigail Adams, 19 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
So much good sense, prudence, conjugal affection and patriotism blended in your favor to me was a juster portraiture of the dear deceased, the subject of your compassionate sympathy, than I have met with, since the awful Catastrophe from which you borrow a comparison, to illustrate your feelings by anticipating a separation from your worthy partner my friend. Nor be offended at the comparison,...
12To John Adams from Daniel Roberdeau, 28 November 1777 (Adams Papers)
I would not take pen in hand until I could reasonably suppose you safe arrived to your long wished for home, on which I now presume to congratulate you and sincerely hope you have met with Mrs. Adams and your Children well and every domestick concern to your entire satisfaction for all which I feel myself much interested from the sincere regard contracted for you in our short intimacy, which I...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel Roberdeau, 1 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Being one of the Committee for Foreign applications I had it in my power to pay the more immediate attention to your recommendation of le Chevalier de Mauduit du Plessis and through Favor of Congress immediately procured him a Commission for Capt. of Artillery and he was with out delay in two or three days after his arrival here forwarded to General...
14To George Washington from Brigadier General Daniel Roberdeau, 19 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Post rider just past through here with a very incredible story which he told with great Confidence vizt that you had received a Flag from Lord Howe “proposing to retire with the Fleet and Army and that he was willing to settle the present dispute on any terms you should ask” for which he quoted the Authority of an Officer in your Army who told him that he might spred the News without the...
15To George Washington from Brigadier General Daniel Roberdeau, 15 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
In the absence of General Mercer, he being on duty at Elizabeth Town or its neighbourhood, I just now received from one of our posts at South Amboy, two prisoners escaped from the English Fleet—They are inhabitants of Philadelphia and well known to many of us from thence. Their Examination which I forward enclosed may be depended on according to their knowledge. I am Sir Yr most obt hume Serv:...
16Daniel Roberdeau to Benjamin Franklin, John Fothergill, and Charles Pearce, 2 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook draft): Historical Society of Pennsylvania You’ll please to be refered to what I wrote you some Months past respecting the Sale of my Estate in St. Christophers, since which I have not been favoured with any answer but an obliging kind Letter from Doctor Franklin informing that you had appointed a meeting to converse on that subject, so that I am ignorant of the steps you have...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel Roberdeau, 28 September 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook draft): Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am honoured with your favour of the 11th. June which lais me under great obligation; I should not have been so tardy in my reply but that I have for some considerable time past been greatly afflicted in my wife’s Illness the latter part of her pregnancy and since her delivery occasioned by repeated Accidents which very much endangered...
18From Daniel Roberdeau to Benjamin Franklin, John Fothergill, and Charles Pearce, 27 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook draft): Historical Society of Pennsylvania However reluctant a man may be within his sprere of action to give trouble to another, yet the circumstance of distance of place lays him under an indispensable necessity, and when that happens his first thought leads to the object of his confidence, and he is exercised therein in proportion to the trust he is to repose. I have motives...
19From Daniel Roberdeau to Benjamin Franklin or John Fothergill, 27 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been for weeks past meditating a Voyage to London, which would be attended with very great inconvenience, to sell my Estate in St. Christophers, as a long lease thereon is now almost expired, when a presumptious thought occurred, that if you would condescend to look down from Affairs of the highest publick concern, to an Affair of the highest private...
20From Daniel Roberdeau to Benjamin Franklin, 27 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook copy): Historical Society of Pennsylvania After writing the rough draft of a Letter to you this day at very considerable length, I was informed by a friend that it was highly probable that you would return by next June, which occasioned me to accomodate that Letter to that Circumstance and to direct it to you or Dr. John Fothergill refering him in a private Letter to the same. I...
21From Daniel Roberdeau to Benjamin Franklin, John Fothergill, and Charles Pearce, 27 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook copy): Historical Society of Pennsylvania Please to be refered to what I wrote you the 27th. Ulto, on considering the possibility of your not obtaining £6,500 Sterl. for my Estate the Sum by which you were then limited, and as I would not have my purpose mared by failing of the above sum, and in Case you cannot obtain an intermediate Sum I even consent to take Six Thousand...
22From Daniel Roberdeau to Benjamin Franklin, John Fothergill, and Charles Pearce, 27 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society If by this time you have not succeeded in [the sale of my Plantation,] according to what I wrote you the 27th. Feby. and 20th. March, as [I am anxious to] transfer my Property from the West-Indies to the more eligible Situa[tion of my] own residence, and as a last effort, although I have little doubt that by [the time] this gets to your hands, that you will...