1To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-François Joly de Fleury de La Valette, 15 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la lettre que Votre Excellence m’a fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 9. de ce mois avec l’état des Lettres de change tirées de l’Inde et de l’Amérique, pour le service de la Marine qui appartiennent aux Américains et dont le paiement est reculé d’une année, en vertu de l’arrêt du Conseil du Roi du 26. fevrier dernier. S’il étoit possible de...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Benezet, 8 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote a few days past, by a french Gentleman, but now my dear friend thy daughter having procured me an oppertunity, which appears more sure, I make use of it to inform, that in my last was inclosed an earnest petition to thee from Francis Geay de la Gaconniere, the person to whom an Estate is fallen at Fontenay le Vicomte in Poitou, which I think thou...
3The American Peace Commissioners: Declaration of the Cessation of Arms, 20 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ADS and AD (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives By the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America for making Peace with Great Britain: A Declaration of the Cessation of Arms, as well by Sea, as Land, agreed upon between His Majesty the King of Great Britain and the United States of...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Patience Wright, 22 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I This moment made up my Packet for america Sent by a old faithful Servant of Doct Franklin Sons: from New Jersey of govonr Franklins— This man is Sent off to america from his master who is now Lodging in Suffolk Street no 16 where he Sd. govonor has undertaken to pettition in aid on behalf of all the tories together with the famous of that Partie— His late...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Sr., 16 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Wrote you that I Could not obtain a new addition of the Common prayer Book. I have Since found one. I take this oppertunity to send it by the Bearrer mr. [ blank ]. Your friends Wh. are many have expectations of Seing you here some time in the summer & I belive you will find them as harry & prehaps more so then ever. London is so much like home that I...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Ingraham & Bromfield, 10 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Letter which we have the Honor to enclose reach’d us Yesterday under a Cover dated so long ago as last October. We proffit of this Opportunity to mention that we have here a Ship which will be ready to sail for New England in a few Days & beg Leave to ask whether a particular Passport will be necessary for Security against Capture, or whether any Act of...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes,5 March [i.e., April] 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; draft: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères J’ai communiqué, Monsieur, à Mr. le Garde des Sceaux la demande que vous avez faite pour publier par la voye de l’impression la traduction du livre des constitutions des Etats-unis de l’amque. Sepale. Mr. le Garde des Sceaux vient, Monsieur, de me répondre qu’il avoit autorisé le Sr. Pierres Imprimeur à...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Le Roy, 12 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je Suis chargé Mon Illustre Docteur de la part de M. Le Cte de Maillebois de vous demander si vous pouvez lui faire L’honneur de venir dîner chez luï ruë de Grenelle, Vendredy prochain 14 de ce mois. Vous y trouverez M O Connell que Je Sais qui vous a demandé un rendez vous. Je Souhaite bien Mon Illustre Docteur que vous acceptiez La proposition de M. De...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 7 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Massachusetts Historical Society I have received your several late favors by Mr Jonathan Williams & Mr. Penn, with many thanks.— I cut out such parts of your newspapers as I judged proper to have published here, & was about to send them to some printer, but young Mr H. Laurens coming at the moment, I put them into his hands, as his father was well enough acquainted with the...
10To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Perrault and Other Applicants for Emigration, 24 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The number of people applying to Franklin for help in emigrating to America increases markedly during the months following the signing of the preliminary peace treaty. Those letters for which no responses have been located are summarized here, with Perrault’s letter published as a sample. Johann Philipp Breidenstein writes in Latin from Giessen on February...
11To Benjamin Franklin from the Abbé Georg Joseph Vogler, 5 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai eu l’honneur tant au Musée de Paris, dont je suis membre, qu’à Passi chez vous même, de vous expliquer quoîque bien faiblement ma Theorie nouvelle musicale ainsi que mon Instrument le Tonometre approuvè par l’academie des Sciences. Vous avez bien voulu m’accorder vos suffrages et encourager un auteur qui paroit pour la premiere fois en France. J’ose...
12To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 28 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Le Mis. De la fayette fait Ses compliments à Monsieur franklin et le prie de lui faire lhonneur de Venir diner chez luy jeudy prochain en Sa maison Rue de Bourbon. May 1. The other American peace commissioners went as well: Butterfield, John Adams Diary , III , 117. Having reached the age of majority (25 years), Lafayette was able to purchase a house on the...
13To Benjamin Franklin from the Conde de Aranda, 6 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society L’ambassadeur d’Espagne ne pouvait point oublier l’invitation de Mr. Franklin pour samedi, il desirait meme le moment d’y concurrir avec la plus grande satisfaction. Mr. le chevr. del Campo profitera egalement de ses bontès. A l’egard du jeune Mr. Campos s’il etait de retour pour ce jourla, puisqu’il est atendu d’un jour a l’autre il sera bien flatè du...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Bowens, 29 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Having received certain information from a friend of some Consequence at Bruxelles, that the Government of the Low Countries has taken the Resolution of sending a person of Rank to America in quality of a plenipotentiary to negotiate a treaty of Commerce between the united States & this Country— I most respectfully take the liberty of enclosing you a...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Caffiéri, 25 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je vien D’aprendre par Des vois indirect que Les Etats unis de L’amerique etoient dans Lintentions de faire Elevé une Statue a La Gloire Du Roy, Si La chose est vraie, il Sauroit tres flateure pour moi D’Etres chargé de L’execution de Se monument. Je vous prie Monsieur Dans cette occasion et Dans touts autre de vouloire bien vous Resouvenire de moy et...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 31 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer is the Honble. John Wheelock President of Dartmouth College, who has come to Europe with a Deputation from the Trustees, supported by strong Recommendations from the first Characters in America, in order to obtain Donations for an Institution for the propagation of Knowledge & Virtue. The respectable Recommendations Mr. Wheelock has with him make...
17To Benjamin Franklin from John MacMahon, 25 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Lady who intends to wait upon you with this letter is Daughter to an Irish Gentleman Sir Walter Rutledge, and married to a French Officer M. le Chevalier D’Herbigny. She is related to Mr. Rutledge of America, who was, I think and perhaps is still in Congress. She wants to obtain a favour that depends upon M. le Comte De Vergennes, and begged me to...
18Antoine Court de Gébelin to the American Philosophical Society: Extract, 15 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Extracted from ALS : American Philosophical Society Le 6. de ce mois, notre Societé litteraire connue sous le nom de Musée de Paris a donnè une brillante fete pour la paix: le Dr Franklin l’honora de sa presence: il y avoit l’élite des Academies, des Ambassadeurs, de Paris: 400. Dames plus brillantes les unes que les autres: les lectures en vers & en prose commencerent un peu après 5 heur. Le...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 9 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Pennsylvania Library; AL (draft): New-York Historical Society; transcript: National Archives We have yet had no information from you subsequent to the signature of the Preliminary Articles by France, Spain and Britain, tho’ we have seen a declaration for the cessation of Hostilities signed by you, Mr. Adams, and Mr Jay— We grow every day more anxious for the definitive...
20To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte de Milly et al., [before 10 May 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mrs. Le Cte. de Milly, Mis. De La Salle, & Cte. de Préaux Vble. Ex vble. & Membres de La Loge des IX soeurs Sont venus pour rendre leurs devoirs a Monsieur Franklin & le prevenir que la fête a L’occasion de La paix qui Se donne le 12. mai a la redoute chinoise fbg. & foire st. laurent Commencera a 6. heures du soir, & qu’il est instemment prié d’y être rendû...
21To Benjamin Franklin from the Abbé André Morellet, [24 February 1783] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Vous m’avez promis que vous me donneriéhés moi avec mr. le chevalier de chatelux. Vous devez cette complaisance (car c’en est une) à son amitié à la mienne et aux desirs de toute ma petite famille. Il faut absolument que vous me donnies ou samedi ou lundi de la semaine prochaine et que vous me fassies savoir votre reponse demain matin en venant à paris, ou...
22To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 18 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the liberty of inclosing you the Act for the Repeal of the prohibitory acts relative to America the Bill rec’d the Royal assent Yesterday, there is another act in some degree of forwardness for taking away the necessity of certain documents that American Ships were required to bring— I hope it will be all that at present is necessary to remove the...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Franz Ulrich Theodor Aepinus, 1 [i.e., 12] February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Vous pardonnerez sans doute, à l’empressement, que je montre, à l’occasion de la grande nouvelle, qui nous est arrivée, ces jours-ci, de me rappeller à Votre souvenir, qui me sera aussi precieux, que me l’a été dans le tems, l’approbation, que Vous avez crû pouvoir accorder autrefois, à mes travaux pour l’avancement des sciences. J’ai l’honneur de Vous...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Vaughan, Jr., with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, 6 March [i.e., April] 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hope you will have the goodness to excuse my not communicating in person the following extract of a letter from my Brother Ben, which I should do with a great deal of pleasure, was it not entirely out of my power from the Business I have at present; &, as the latter part should be communicated early. “Tell Dr Franklin, with my most affectionate respects,...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Ferdinand Grand, 13 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania J’ai l’honneur de vous renvoyer la lettre de Mr. Le Comte de Vergennes et le projet d’Acte qu’elle renfermait, que l’on a omis d’insérer dans celle que j’ai eu celui de vous écrire hier. Je n’ai rien a ajouter a ce que j’ai eu l’honneur de vous marquer au Sujet de ces piéces. Mais je dois vous observer encore que le Traité du 16. Juillet 1782. n’ayant...
26To Benjamin Franklin from François Bowens, 8 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I have in Course received the honour of your Excellencies favour of the 24th. Ulto. in Consequence of which I transmitted the necessary directions to London, on the 2d Currt. to prevent your Newspapers from being sent me in future which I have no doubt will be paid proper attention to. I am very sensible to the acknowledgements, Your Excellency, makes me on...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Jacob Smith, 24 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Sur I take This Opurtunety to inform You Of the Onhapy Setuation of Our People Now in this Prison. I Must inform You that thay Are Entering Out of Prison Averry Day for the Wont of Close and Vitels for thare Are Sum of them that Have Ben Hear this Aight Monts And Have Not Had the Lest Asistance from Any Body. And thare is the french and Duch and Spanish...
28To Benjamin Franklin from L. Martineau aîné and Other Offerers of Goods and Schemes, 25 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Once the general peace was declared, merchant firms and individuals all over Europe wanted to form connections with the United States. For many of them, writing to Franklin was the first step. The letters we summarize in this headnote did not, to the best of our knowledge, receive responses. The earliest letter, published below, seeks a generous advance...
29From Benjamin Franklin to the Earl of Buchan, 17 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; press copy of ALS : Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I received the Letter your Lordship did me the honour of writing to me the 18th past, and am oblig’d by your kind Congratulations on the Return of Peace, which I hope will be lasting. With regard to the Terms on which Lands may be acquired in America, & the Manner of beginning new...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Patience Wright, 28 [April] 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the pleasure to See your Son at my house govonour Franklin and acording to my Custom I had a long Chatt with him—as I am now in Fashon at Court or in other words am not in the Same Disgrace as while America was in Rebelion —Wherefore now I Can Speak out Such truths as may be useful to the honest Well meaning Rulers: who all own, they have not had...