1From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis Turgot, 1 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Library of Congress I did intend when in London to have published a Pamphlet, describing the new Stove you mention, and for that purpose had a Plate engrav’d of which I send you an Impression. But I have since been too much engag’d in Affairs to execute that Intention. Its Principle is that of a Syphon revers’d, operating on Air in a manner...
2From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Huntington, 3 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives, American Philosophical Society; transcript: National Archives Enclos’d are Copies of a Number of Publick Letters taken from the English in a late New York Pacquet, of which I have already sent Duplicates by several Conveyances. I have the honour to be, with great Respect, Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Servant Notation: Letter May 3. 1781 Doctr. Franklin Recd....
3From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Daniel Schweighauser, 3 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have received your Favour of the 19th. past. It may be as you observe very reasonable that Capt. Barnes should have the Gratification he demands, and also that the Col. Armand should have the Passage paid of himself and Servants, but as I have no orders relating to such Advances, I cannot meddle with them. I approve of your assisting Capt. Williams [ and ] the two...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas, 4 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives It is so long since I heard from you, that I begin to fear you are ill. Pray write to me, and let me know the State of your Health. I inclose Morgan’s Acct. of his Engagement with Tarleton. If he has not already received it, it may be agreable to our Friend the Gazetteer of Leiden. Everything goes well here, and I am ever, Your...
5From Benjamin Franklin to John Laurens, 4 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : South Carolina Historical Society; copies (two): Library of Congress Inclos’d is a Letter I have receiv’d for you. The Seal of the Cover being imprudently plac’d over that of the Letter, and sticking to it, occasion’d it to be almost broke open.—I want to see you about a Letter I have received from New Orleans, which proposes my Paying Drafts to the Amount of 55000 Livres, whereon I...
6From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 5 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Columbia University Library; al (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress I have received your Favours of the 18th. and 24th. of April. It was with great Satisfaction I read Gen. Morgan’s Soldierly Account of his Engagement with Tarleton, which you so kindly sent me. I have, with the Approbation of Col: Laurens accepted the second of a Set of Bills drawn on you for 4444 Dollars in...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Jefferson, 6 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Pierpont Morgan Library; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress This will be delivered to your Excellency by Mr. Grieve, who goes to America with a View of establishing himself in the State of Virginia, where he has also some Business in which your Countenance & Protection may be of great Service to him. I beg leave to recommend him to you as a Gentleman, who has always been a Steady...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Montet & Henry, 6 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 28th. past, acquainting me that you are in possession of a Bill drawn by Mr. Pollock of New Orleans on Messrs. Delap for 4000 Dollars, which they have refused to pay, and which you have been advised in that Case to propose to me. Your Letter enclosed one from M. Pollock, who desires the same thing of me,...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 6 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your respected Letter of the 28th. past and shall duly honour the Bills you mention to have drawn for the 4444 Dollars.— I delivered your inclosed to M. Laurens, who will write to you. What Goods he intends to go in the Active are at Nantes, viz, some Chests of Arms & some Medecines, which he thinks will not be a Quantity to make the relanding of the old...
10From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 6 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
L , AL (draft), and copy: Library of Congress The Bearer Mr. Grieve, goes to Virginia, with an Intention of settling there, where he has also some Business in which you are concern’d. I beg leave to present him to your Exlleny. as a Gentleman of Character, & who has long distinguished himself in England as a firm Friend to the Cause of America. I purpose writing to you fully by Col: Laurens,...
11From Benjamin Franklin to Court de Gébelin, 7 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: Library of Congress I am glad the little Book prov’d acceptable. It does not appear to me intended for a Grammar to teach the Language. It is rather what we call in English a Spelling Book , in which the only Method observ’d, is, to arrange the Words according to their Number of Syllables, placing those of one Syllable together, then those of two Syllables, and so on.— And it is...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre-François de Boy with Franklin’s Note to John Laurens and Laurens’ Response, May 7 [–on … (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Sent to you the Copy of the Certificate, and too that of the Some Sundry papers, from the War Office who Given to me, because I have Lost’d my Comission from the Hble. Congress, when the ennemies have Taken Brunswick, and too Besides all my things. I shall desire to Go again in your Country, if you Can Employ me, as you will please, very much oblige, to...
13From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 11 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress I am honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 27th. past, acquainting me with your Appointment as Minister Plenipotentiary to the States General, on which please to accept my Compliments and best Wishes for Success in your Negociations. We have just received Advice here, that M. la Motte Piquet, met with the English Convoy...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Francis M. Dana, 11 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; ALS (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 1st. Instant; and immediately apply’d to Mr. Grand our Banker to furnish you with the Credit you desir’d at Amsterdam. He acquainted me that having a Correspondent at Petersburgh, he could give you a direct Credit there; and that the Chancellor Count Osterman being an old Friend of his, he...
15From Benjamin Franklin to Richard and Sarah Bache, 14 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete AL (draft): Library of Congress; incomplete AL : American Philosophical Society; incomplete ALS : Princeton University Library; incomplete copy and partial ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your pleasing Letters of Jan. 14. & 16. and one since of the 30th of March with the Newspapers. They gave me great Pleasure, as they inform’d of your Health and that of your...
16From Benjamin Franklin to John Hancock, 14 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress Permit me to repeat my Congratulations on your Election to the Government of your Country, and my best Wishes for your Health & Happiness. A Privateer of this Country having taken an English Packet bound to New York, with her Dispatches, some of which it may be of particular Use to your State that your Excellency should see, as...
17From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Huntington, 14 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS , press copy, and transcript: National Archives; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I did myself the honour of writing to your Excellency pretty fully on the 12th. March, to which I beg leave to refer. Col. Lawrens arriving soon after, we renew’d the Application for more Money. His indefatigable Endeavours have brought the good Dispositions of this Court to a more speedy Determination...
18From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Lafayette, 14 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and incomplete copy: Library of Congress You are a very good Correspondent, which I do not deserve, as I am a bad one. The Truth is, I have too much Business upon my hands, a great deal of it foreign to my Function as a Minister, which interferes with my writing regularly to my Friends. But I am nevertheless extreamly sensible of your Kindness in sending me such frequent and full...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 15 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy: American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress I received your kind Letter of Feb. 1 by Col. Johonot. Your Sentiments of the present State of our Affairs appear to me very judicious, and I am much oblig’d by your free Communication of them. They are often of Use here: for you have a Name and Character among us, that give weight to your Opinions. The End of Col....
20French Loan Certificate, [15 May 1781] (Franklin Papers)
Passy, printed by Benjamin Franklin. Forms with MS insertions in blanks, signed: American Philosophical Society; Perc S. Brown, Orinda, Cal. (1956) (two) N° 11 Pour 750,000 livres Nous Benjamin Franklin Ministre Plenipotentiare des ETATSUNIS de l’Amerique Septentrionale, en vertu du pouvoir dont nous sommes revetus par le CONGRES desdits Etats, promettons en son nom et solidarement pour...
21From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Lewis, 16 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; AL (draft): Library of Congress; incomplete copy: Library of Congress; press copy: American Philosophical Society; transcript: National Archives I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 1st. January. The Bill for 4444 Mexican Dollars which you remitted to Mr. Schweighauser, being refus’d Payment by Mr. Jay, for want of a regular Indorsement by...
22From Benjamin Franklin to John Laurens, 17 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library; copy: Library of Congress Inclos’d is the Order you desire for another Hundred Louis.— Take my Blessing with it, and my Prayers that God may send you safe & well home with your Cargoes. I would not attempt persuading you to quit the military Line, because I think you have the Qualities of Mind and Body that promise your doing great Service & acquiring Honour in...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Le Roy, [on or after 18 May 1781] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Je vous envoye mon illustre et ancien cher Ami les nouvelles que j’ai reçues, non seulement de la Bataille entre le General Greene & le General Cornwallis, mais aussi celui entre les Amiraux des Touches & Arbuthnot. Les deux Actions paroissent avoir ceci de semblable, que ni l’un ni l’autre Parti avoit beaucoup a se vanter de la Victoire. Quand vous...
24From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 19 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft), press copy, and incomplete copy: Library of Congress I received the Honour of yours, with an Account of the Bills you have to pay. I have accepted your Drafts for 77,000 Crowns, at 15 Days Date. The Shortness of the Term is inconvenient; and as our Money comes to hand by Degrees, and these unexpected Demands from Holland and Spain oblige me to...
25From Benjamin Franklin to Gourlade & Moylan, 21 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and incomplete copy: Library of Congress I receiv’d the Letter you honour’d me with of the 2d Instant. Mr Williams having seen & approved of the Acct. for the Ballance of which, (6942.13.3) you drew on me in favour of Messrs Pothonnier & Co. I have this Day accepted that Bill, and it will be duly paid.— I have also just received Mr Gourlade’s Letter of the 16th. relating to the...
26From Benjamin Franklin to John Laurens, 21 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress I sent you Yesterday some Letters whi[ch] came here for you since your Departure. Mr. Necker is no longer in Place. M. Joly de Fleury succeeds him. I am again applied to for the Expences on the Alliance. Be so good as to draw an Order on me for what you think proper to pay of Gourlade and Moylands Acct. I repeat my Wishes for...
27From Benjamin Franklin to Pothonnier & Cie., 24 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your Letter of yesterday, and am surpriz’d to find in it a positive Assertion three Times repeated that I formally promised to you the Payment of Gourlade & Moylan’s Account of Disbursements on the Frigate Alliance. Those Disbursements were not made by my Orders. The Account was sent by those Gentlemen, not to me, but to Col. Laurens. He...
28From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Baptiste Luton Durival, 25 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 22d. Instant, Informing me, of the Order M. Le Cte. De Vergennes has been so good as to send Mr. D’harvelay for the Payment of the four hundred and sixteen thousand Livres, gave me great Pleasure, and I beg you to accept my Thanks for your kind Attention, I shall take Care to furnish the Receipit or acknowledgement...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Gauthiers frères, 1 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Le 24. Janvier 1780. M. Bouens d’Ostende expedia pour moi par acquit à Caution un Tonneau et un Paquet contenant de la Clincaillerie &c. Il chargea ces éffets sur une voiture conduite par le nommé Champon adressé à messrs. les officiers de la Douane. Comme le Voiturier ne m’a jamais presenté sa Lettre de voiture, J’ai toujours ignoré s’ils étoient arrives ou non....
30From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, 4 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft) and copy. Library of Congress I beg leave to acquaint your Ecellency that the Purchases of Clothing &ca for the Troops made by Mr. Lawrens, or by his Orders in Holland, will, as I understand, amount to near a Million, which he has left for me to pay. And that in consequence of his Majesty’s late liberal Grants in Aid of the United...