1Editorial Note on Franklin’s Accounts, 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Two new accounts begin during the period covered by this volume: XXV. Account of Postage and Errands, April 1, 1780, to May 31, 1783: American Philosophical Society, 237 pages. A collection of monthly statements and bills which are all marked as having been paid by order on Ferdinand Grand. For the months under consideration in this volume the statements, in French, were submitted by the cook,...
2Editorial Note on Promissory Notes, 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Now that Franklin was distributing printed promissory note forms to prisoners receiving assistance, we will no longer publish individual promissory notes as sample documents. Instead, in this and subsequent editorial notes, we will take notice of each person, the date on which he received a loan, and the sum. Printed forms survive from thirteen escaped prisoners for the months covered by this...
LS : American Philosophical Society <[before March, 1780], in French: I feel sorrier every day that my suggestions of two years ago were not accepted. Had we been allowed to attack under the American flag the English sailing in the Mediterranean, as I proposed, we would have destroyed their commerce. If Sartine had given me the twelve hundred deserters for which I had asked, I would have...
4From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 1 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; two copies: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the Honour of writing to me the 25. & 28th past. I am glad to learn that you can take a Quantity of the Cloathing and Arms: and that you can accommodate the 4 Gentlemen I had mentiond to you. M. De Sartine desires also a Place for a Passenger that goes on some Business from him: I make no doubt of your...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Pierre Landais, 1 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I receiv’d the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 28th. past. Inclos’d I send you the certificate I gave you the last time I saw you to justify your stay in Paris till the Time of its Date, You left it on my table. As I do not understand that Capt. Jones has refused to deliver your Things, or that any Application has been made for them, an Order to him...
AL : American Philosophical Society M. de Chaumont a L’honneur d’envoyer a S. Ex. la depesche cy Jointe de M. Dumas, et La Lettre de M. Landais pour Scavoir Ce que S. Ex. veut qu’il Reponde. M. De Chaumont Croit que M. Jones n’a lair de Chercher a estre employé en france que pour pouvoir dire en amerique qu’il ne Couroit pas après Le Commandement de L’alliance. Notation: M. de Chaumont. On...
7To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 1 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having been very much chagrined with the delay of the Cartel I writ some time ago a very pressing letter to the admiralty earnestly requesting them for the sake of humanity to quicken the ceremonious forms of office. They have sent me notice of their compliance & that another vessel is under sailing orders; probably by this time sailed. They add in their...
8To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Du Marquet and Other Applicants for Emigration, 1 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The first applicant for emigration during the months covered by this volume, whose letter is printed below, is torn between his patriotism and a desire to provide his children with an upbringing appropriate to their birth. On March 4 a discalced Carmelite friar named Father Paulus writes in Latin from Saint Peter’s Church in Marseilles, wishing to emigrate...
9From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Lafayette, 2 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I receiv’d with Pleasure the Letter you honour’d me with of the 29th. past, and am infinitely obliged by the zeal and Assiduity with which you have forwarded our affairs at Versailles. The 15000. Arms and Accoutrements are a great article. I had written to Capt. Jones that Besides the 122. Bales of Cloth, we hoped for that quantity Arms which it was suppos’d he might...
10To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 2 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr Adams’s respectfull Compliments to Dr Franklin. Informs him that Monsieur the Comte De Vergennes has appointed him next Tuesday to be at Versailles in order to be presented to the King and Royal Family. Mr Adams will have the Honour to breakefast at Passy with Dr Franklin, at an hour early enough to go to Versailles, which he supposes will be 8 o Clock....
11To Benjamin Franklin from Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas: Two Letters, 2 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief; (II) AL : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief The Letter I send you a Copy herewith I have just received. The Autor of it having always professed himself a friend to the American cause, though not a more powerfull one than many others, deserves to be managed; & therefore I shall write to...
12From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 3 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This is to authorize & require you to receive & accomodate in your Ship as Passengers the honourable Arthur Lee & Ralph Izard, Esquires, late Ministers of the Congress at the Courts of France & Toscany. I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant Notations in different hands: Dr. Franklin’s order for our Passage / March 3d. 1780 Two weeks earlier BF had agreed to...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 3 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I recd your favrs. of the 2d. & 9th. Feby very safely, and by a Country man (Capn. Ben Carpenter of the Cartel ship lately from Boston to Bristol) I take the opportunity to forward you a letter from Mr DH which will explain the state of the Cartel; I am in hopes before I seal my letter to also get one from Mr Hodgson; & not unlikely one from Mr Banks...
14To Benjamin Franklin from John Jay, 3 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, Columbia University Library On this Day I gave the House of Messrs. Jaques, Louis And Laurt. Le Couteullx of this Place, a Set of Bills on you for two Thousand five hundred and Sixty four Livres Eighteen Sols and ten Donrs. [deniers] payable ninety Days after the Date. I am Dear Sir with great Regard & Esteem your most Obedient Servant For this firm’s prior...
15To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 3 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft) and transcript: National Archives I had the Honor to write to your Excellency the 21st: & 25th: Ulto.— We have hitherto had no Assistance from the Port and I now hope to get the Alliance ready with out them.— The Arms for the Continent if I am to take them on board the Alliance will be wanted soon as they cannot so well be Stowed after we begin...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Mancet & Cie. and Other Offerers of Goods and Schemes, 3 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A number of people had concrete goods to offer the Americans and some others hoped Franklin would collaborate with or promote their pet project or plan for the new republican states. The Brest shipowners Mancet & Cie., whose letter is published below, want permission to give Franklin’s name to their new privateer. Also in the maritime line comes a project...
17From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Bancroft, 4 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress You will see by the enclos’d that a Demand is made of replacing the Things belonging to The Serapis which Comme. Jones borrowed from her and took on board the Alliance when he changed ships. I request you to manage this affair with him in your usual Prudence. I am ever, my Dear friend, Yours most affectionately. When Jones, on BF ’s orders, turned over his prize, the...
18From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Huntington, 4 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS and AL (draft): National Archives; copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives M. Gerard, under whose Care I understand the Dispatches from Congress to me, were forward’d, is not yet arrived here, and I have not received them. I cannot therefore at present answer any thing that may be contained in them. He is however expected next Week, and I may afterwards have time to write...
19To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, [4 March 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I am for the last time Going to Versaïlles, My Good friend, and Any Command from You on this occasion will be very well Come— As I am in a great hurry for My departure, Be so kind as to let me know if You want me to Come to Your lodgings to Morrow at ten o’clock or if you choose Better to Call here. If it is equal to you, I’d thank you for your dispatches...
20To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Briqueville de La Luzerne and Other Favor Seekers, 4 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Franklin received a large number of requests for favors during the four months covered by this volume. Heading them chronologically is Briqueville de La Luzerne’s plea for Franklin’s help in obtaining his release from jail, which we publish below. A prisoner of another kind, captured at war, tries to obtain his freedom on March 20 through the intercession...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Lewis Littlepage, 4 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You will I hope excuse my neglect in not sooner answering the letter with which you honour’d me and returning thanks for your generous and friendly advice I only waited to do it in person; but my journey has been daily pospon’d for the company of an American Gentleman, ’till I beleive we have both declin’d it. I am sorry to have no American papers for your...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Horatio Gates, 5 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I embrace this Opportunity of the Marquis de La Fayette’s return to the Army, to Salute you, my dear old friend, and to present you with my best Wishes for your Health and prosperity. He will deliver you a Book lately published by General Burgoyn to explain and account for his misfortune. The perusal may amuse you to make the work compleat— Methinks he ought to have...
23From Benjamin Franklin to the Chevalier de La Luzerne, 5 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I received with great Pleasure the Letter you did me the Honour of writing to me from Boston. I rejoiced to hear of your safe Arrival, and that the Reception you met with in my Country, had been agreable to you. I hope its Air will suit you, and that you while you reside in it, you will enjoy constant Health and Happiness. Your good Brother does me sometimes the...
24From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 5 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress I received but lately the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me in Recommendation of the Marquis de la Fayette. His Modesty detain’d it long in his own Hands. We became acquainted however, from the time of his Arrival at Paris, and his Zeal for the Honour of our Country, his Activity in our Affairs here, and his firm...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Neave & Son, 5 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Convinced that His Excellencys time is too much (Just now) engrossed, than to Attend to the Complaint of Individuals Suffering— We beg the Favour of You to take an Opportunity soon of Briefly hinting to him the present Situation of Richd Neave & Son:— Who have been now near three Years in France, Upon a full assurance of a Passage to America wth. Mr....
26To Benjamin Franklin from Juliana Ritchie, 5 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Permit me to address You in the freedom of a friend, one who has for many Years sincerely esteemed & respected you for your singular Virtues—tho’ I had never the happiness of a Personal acquaintance with you, such I ever thought a real loss to me, & in the present situation of affairs I find an assencial one. Suffering as I do incessent aggitation of mind...
27To Benjamin Franklin from George Scott, 5 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society After a very cold & a very tedious Journey I arrived here on the evening of the 27th. Ulto. & have been luckey enough to find a Genoese Vessell here just upon the point of departure for Naples, the Captain says that we shall positively saill to day & I expect him sending for me every moment. From Paris to Lyons I travelled in Company with a friend of yours,...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 5 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I beg leave to introduce to your particular notice my Friend Mr Mason of Virginia a Gentleman of a respectable Family & plentifull Fortune by showing him every civility & every mark of Friendship he may have occasion for you will very sensibly Oblige Dear & hond Sir Your dutifull & affectionate Kinsman Addressed: The Hon. / Doctor Franklin / Passy...
29Francis Hopkinson to the American Commissioner or Commissioners, 6 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society Since my last of the 14th. of Jany. the following Setts of Exchange have issued from my Office Viz To Pennsylvania Dolls 150 setts 36 Dolls. No. 2218–2367 = 5,400 To New Jersey Dolls 50 setts 30 Dols. No. 2026–2075 = 1,500
30To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 6 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress I inclose for your Excellencies approbation an extract of a letter that I have received from Sir R Finlay respecting an invention of Bombs that are Calculated to set fire to any Object against which they are discharged from a Cannon.— If they answer the description that I have had they will be an Acquisition of some...