31From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 5 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress I have received the honour of your Letter dated the 25th. past, advising me of your Drafts for Forty Thousand Livres payable to the Order of Captain Joiner, which I shall accept when they appear. No specific Sum having been mentioned to me by Col. Laurens, as what would be wanted to fulfil his Orders in Holland, I think...
32From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, 7[–15] June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Yale University Library; AL (extract): American Philosophical Society J’ai ete hier au soir chez vos voisines, ou j’ai pris la Thé. Toute la bonne Famille, exceptée Mademoiselle, m’ont embrassé cordialement & ardemment: Castor même m’a caressé avec violence, & a couru devant moi pour faire ouvrir la Porte, frappant avec son Tête: Cette Demoiselle seule m’a reçu avec le Froideur & la...
33From Benjamin Franklin to Mallet, 7 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and L (draft): Library of Congress J’ai reçu, Monsieur, Votre Lettre du 2. de ce mois. Je n’ai aucune connoissance du nomme William Williams qui se dit mon Neveu; et Je ne puis prendre sur moi de lui faire aucunes Avances jusqu’a ce que Je sois sure qu’il est réellement dans le Cas d’en attendre de moi. A cet effet J’enverrai la Lettre qu’il m’a écrite à un habitant de Boston qui porte le...
34From Benjamin Franklin to Clifford & Teysset, 8 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 31st. past, and I immediately apply’d to M. de Chaumont, representing to him the ill Consequences that must attend the Return of those Bills to America protested. He took the Matter into Consideration, and it is but this Instant that I have received his Answer, which I inclose. As I think with you...
35From Benjamin Franklin to D. Wendorp and Thomas Hope Heyliger, 8 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the Honour of Writing to me the 31st past, relating to your Ship supposed to be retaken from the English by an American Privateer and carried into Morlaix. I apprehend that you have been misinformed, as I do not know of any American Privateer at present in these Seas. I have the same Sentiments with you of the Injustice of the...
36From Benjamin Franklin to William Jackson, 9 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I receiv’d your Letter of the 31st past, relating to the Term of Bills to be drawn on me from Amsterdam. I enter’d into the Engagement with Mr Laurens for the Payment of those Bills, on the Promise that they were to be made payable at Six Months sight. Mr Neuville senr. who was here with Mr Laurens about that time, made no Objection to the Term that I...
37From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 10 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft), press copy, and copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me on the 8th. Inst. in answer to mine of the 4th—. The State of Mr Lawrens’s Transaction in Holland, as I understood it, is this.— Capt. Gillon represented to him, that he had bought Clothing &ca for the Troops of South...
38From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 11 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft) and two press copies: Library of Congress; two copies, press copy and transcript: National Archives; copy: Columbia University Library Mr. Grand has communicated to me a Letter from your Excellency to him, relating to certain Charges in your Account, on which you seem to desire to have my Opinion. As we are all new in these Matters, I consulted...
39From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Huntington, 11 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS , transcript, and press copy: National Archives; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress; copy: New York Public Library I have lately done myself the honour of writing largely to your Excellency by divers Conveyances, to which I beg leave to refer. This is chiefly to cover the Copy of a Letter I have just received from the Minister, relative to the Disposition of the late Loans; by which...
40From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 11 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have received your favour of the 7th. inclosing your Account, and advising me of your Drafts upon me for the same, which I shall duly honour. I have already furnish’d Mr. Robert Beverly Chew, with as much Money as I could afford, considering the Numbers that apply to me. You may if that will be acceptable furnish him with another Gunea. But not a farthing more to...
41From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 11 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 8th. Inst. relating to the Pension of M. Toussard. I am persuaded that his not receiving the Same regularly, does not proceed from any Change in the Disposition of Congress towards that brave Officer, nor from any Neglect or...
42From Benjamin Franklin to Durival, 12 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy, AL (draft), and copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 8th Inst. and am perfectly of the same Sentiments with you, respecting the exactitude & Clearness necessary to be preserved in all Money Transactions, in order to prevent Confusion and Misunderstanding when they come to be examined by those who may succeed us. Hitherto there...
43From Benjamin Franklin to Conrad-Alexandre Gérard, 17 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I enclose the Letters for M. Beyerlé. But as by the Note concerning him it seems he has Expectations of being employ’d in our Army, I cannot but be sorry that he should undertake so expensive & hazardous a Voyage with those Views, being persuaded that he will not find such Employment. I am expressly charged not to encourage officers to go over, and therefore can give...
44From Benjamin Franklin to Michael Hillegas, 17 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Bearer, Mr. Beyerlé, goes to America with Views of settling himself in that Country. His Father is a man of Substance, and will assist him with what may be sufficient to establish him, if there may be a Prospect of his doing well. As a Stranger your Counsels may be of Use to him, which I therefore request you would afford him. He is recommended to me by very...
45From Benjamin Franklin to Gustavus Conyngham, 20 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received with great Pleasure the News of your being safely arrived at Dunkirk. Mrs. Conyngham is not yet come up to Paris. I believe she has continued at l’orient ever since her Arrival. I shall write to her to Day, to acquaint her with your Escape. Now you are at Dunkirk, I wish you would settle the Demand of a Number of Men who went out with you from thence and...
46From Benjamin Franklin to J. Rocquette, T.A. Elsevier & P. Th. Rocquette, 21 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honor of writing to me the 11th. Inst. The List of Bills it inclosed is not particular enough for me to examine whether they have or have not been already accepted: to enable me to do this it is necessary I should be acquainted with the Person’s Name in whose Favor each Bill is drawn. You may rely on my taking the greatest...
47From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 26 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 16th. respecting Capt. Pickles. I should be happy if I could supply every American’s Wants to the Extent of their Wishes. But tho’ they feel their own Difficulties, they are insensible of mine, and imagining that I have a Mint of Money at command, they set no bounds to their Expences and Expectations. The Number of Such...
48From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 27 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Enclosed I send your Excellency the Copy of a Letter I have just received from Mr Hartley, in which he expresses a Desire of making me a visit to talk about Peace, if it may be done with the Consent of the Ministry here. I should be glad to see him as my Friend and a Friend to America: but unless he...
49From Benjamin Franklin to Fizeaux, Grand & Cie., 28 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and partial AL (draft): Library of Congress This is to desire you would retain in your Hands, if it is still there, the money that was lodg’d with you on Account of the United States by order of the Ministry here: Or if you have already delivered it, that you would again receive it, agreable to Orders I have sent by this Conveyance that it should be return’d to you; and I request you...
50From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Gillon or John Joyner, 28 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and partial AL (draft): Library of Congress The essential Interests of the United States making it absolutely necessary to retain the Money which had been ordered to America by the Conveance of your Ship, I am obliged hereby to desire that you would return the same, if already shipt to Messieurs Fizeaux Grand & Co., for which this shall be your Order and Justification. I have the honour...
51From Benjamin Franklin to William Jackson, 28 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives Since my Acceptance of your Bills I have applied to the Ministers for more Money to discharge the other Engagements I enter’d into for Payment of the Congress Bills drawn on Holland and Spain. I find so much Difficulty and even Impossibility of obtaining it at this Time, that I am under the absolute Necessity of...
52From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 30 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress This is to request that you will accept no more Bills with an Expectation of my Paying them, till you have farther Advice from me: For I find that Mr. Laurens, who went away without informing me what he had done, has made so full a Disposition of the Six Millions granted at my Request before his Arrival, that...
53From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 30 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: Library of Congress I received, my dear Friends, kind Letter of the 15th. Instant, and immediately communicated your Request of a Passport to M. le Comte de Vergennes. His Answer, which I have but just received, expresses an Apprehention that the Circumstance of granting a Passport to you, as you mention the Purpose of your coming to be the discoursing with me on the Subject of...
54From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 30 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Royal Library, Windsor; AL (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress You acquaint me that Bills have appear’d drawn on you in March last, and ask very properly if this can be reconciled to the obvious Dictates of Prudence & Policy?— It cannot. And if you are unable to pay them, they must be protested: For it will not be in my Power to help you. And I see that nothing will cure the...
55From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, [before 1 July 1781] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Hôtel des Commissaires-Priseurs, Paris (1970) ; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Pour vous faire mieux comprendre la force de ma Demonstration que vous ne m’aimez pas, je commence par un petit Conte. Un Mendiant demandoit d’un rich Eveque un Louis en Aumone. Tu es un Extravagant: On ne donne pas des Louis aux Mendiants. Un Ecu, donc. Non: c’est trop. Un Liard, donc:—ou vôtre...
56From Benjamin Franklin to Fizeaux, Grand & Cie., 5 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the Honour of Writing to me the 30th past. I have no doubt of obtaining such an Order from the Ministry respecting the Money in your Hands, as you apprehend to be necessary. In the mean time, as that Money was granted to the United States on my Application, and I am under more than equivalent Engagements on their Account...
57From Benjamin Franklin to William Jackson: Two Letters, 5 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS and transcript: National Archives; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress; (II) ALS and transcript: National Archives; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I have this Instant received your Letter of the 2d. urging the Delivery of the Money. I must be Short in my Reply, as your Express waits. Col. Laurens indeed obtained a Promise of Ten Millions to be raised by a Loan in...
58From Benjamin Franklin to William Jackson, 6 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS and transcript: National Archives; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received and answer’d two of your Expresses Yesterday Morning, and in the Evening I recd. a third Letter from you, all dated the 2d Inst. In this last you tell me, “that I must be sensible I cannot have the Disposal of the Money, as it was obtained without either my Knowledge or Concurrence by Col. Lawrens,...
59From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes: Two Letters, 6 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS , AL (draft), and copy: Library of Congress; copy: R.M. Salter, London (1979); (II) AL (draft): Library of Congress I have at length received from M. De Viemerange the Estimates of the Furniture made and to be made by Order of Mr Lawrens, and find that it exceeds two Millions. This with the two Millions & half sent from Brest, and the Million & half in Holland, absorbs the whole of the...
60From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 7 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Massachusetts Historical Society Dr Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr Adams, and sends such of his Trunks as can be got at; W.T.F. in whose Chamber it is suppos’d there may be more, being gone to Paris; and having with him Mr F’s Carriage prevents his waiting on Mr Adams immediately as he would otherwise wish to do; but Mr F. requests the Honour of Mr Adams’s Company at Dinner...