361From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 7 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and transcript: National Archives I but this moment hear of this Opportunity, by which I can only send you a Line to acquaint you, that I have concluded the Treaty with Sweden, which was signed on Wednesday last. You will have a Copy by the first good Opportunity. It differs very little from the Plan sent me,—in nothing material.— The English Court is in Confusion by another Change of...
362From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 21 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS and transcript: National Archives; press copy of ALS : Myron Kaller and Associates, Asbury Park, New Jersey (1991) I have just received your Letters of Novr. 9. & Decr. 3. This is to inform you, & to request you would inform the Congress, that the Preliminaries of Peace between France, Spain, and England were yesterday signed, and a Cessation of Arms agreed to by the Ministers of those...
363From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 27 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS and transcript: National Archives The Count Del Verme, an Italian Nobleman of great Distinction, does me the honour to be the Bearer of this. I have not the satisfaction to be personally acquainted with this Gentleman, but am much sollicited by some of my particular Friends, to whom his Merits & Character are known, to afford him this Introduction to you.— He is, I understand, a great...
364From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 15 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS , press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress You complain sometimes of not hearing from us. It is now near three Months since any of us have heard from America. I think our last Letter came with General de Rochambeau. There is now a Project under Consideration for establishing Monthly Packet Boats between France & New-York, which I hope...
365From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 10 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : New-York Historical Society Permit me to introduce to you the Bearer Mr. Hogendorff, of an illustrious Family, and Lieutenant in the Dutch Guards. He is strongly recommended to me by Persons of Distinction, as a Gentleman of excellent Character: His principal Design in going to America is to make himself acquainted with the Country, & its Inhabitants: I beg you will favour him with your...
366From Benjamin Franklin to Lotbinière, 28 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 26 de ce mois. Je vous renvoye cy joint les Papiers que vous m’avez laissés. Je suis tous les Matins chèz moi Jus qu’à onze heures, excepté les mardis, et Je vous verrai avec plaisir Si vous m’honorez d’une Visite. J’ai l’honneur d’être très parfaitement, Monsieur votre très humble...
367From Benjamin Franklin to the Loge des Commandeurs du Temple, 1 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Bibliothèque de Carcassonne I received your fraternal Letter dated the 21st. past, and am extremely sensible of your kind Congratulations, and of the Honour you propose to do me by an Act of Affiliation into your most respectable Lodge. I accept the Offer with great Satisfaction. And wishing you every kind of Felicity, particularly that your Power of doing Good may always be equal to...
368From Benjamin Franklin to Philip Mazzei, [11] March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: American Philosophical Society According to Mr Mazzei’s Request, Dr. Franklin has the honour to inform him that there is no Court at Versailles on Tuesday next, consequently that he shall not be there.— Dr. Franklin desires the honour of Mr & Mrs Mazzei’s Company at Dinner on Wednesday the 12th Inst.—at ½ pst 2 Made in 1952 from a private collection in Geneva. Mazzei wrote in his...
369From Benjamin Franklin to Philip Mazzei, [2 March 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr Franklin presents his Compliments to M. Mazzei and acquaints him that some unforeseen Business will prevent his being at Versailles on Tuesday; He thinks too that there will be no Court, it being Mardi-gras. Who arrived in Paris around the beginning of February and spent most of the year in France. He returned to Virginia at the beginning of December:...
370From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 7 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS : New Hampshire Historical Society With this I send you a Copy of the last Contract I made with this Court respecting the late Loan of Six Millions, the Terms of the Loan and the Times of Repayment. It was impossible for me to obtain more, and indeed, considering the State of Finances and Expences here, I wonder I have obtained so much. You will see by the inclosed Gazette,...
371From Benjamin Franklin to Matthew Ridley, 28 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have read the Letter from Monsieur de Rayneval to you of the 20th. instant, wherein he thinks that the Representation of Mr. Putnam’s Case as stated by a Resolve of Congress of Septr 4. 1780, ought to be from me. The Multiplicity of Affairs in which I was engaged when Mr. Putnam was at Paris made me wish that some American Gentleman would...
372From Benjamin Franklin to François-Marie-des-Neiges-Emmanuel (Emanuel) de Rohan-Poulduc (Polduc), 6 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and transcript: National Archives J’ai l’honneur d’adresser à votre Altesse Eminentissime la Medaille que Je viens de faire frapper: C’est, Monseigneur, un Hommage de Reconnoissance du à l’Intérêt que vous avez pris à notre Cause, et nous ne le devons pas moins à vos Vertus et à la Sagesse du Gouvernement de votre Altesse Eminentissime. Permettez, Monseigneur, que Je demande votre...
373From Benjamin Franklin to Marcus Gerhard Rosencrone, 15 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Two press copies of LS , LS , and transcript: National Archives; AL (draft), copy, and press copy of copy: Library of Congress M. de Walterstorff has communicated to me a Letter from your Excellency to him, which affords me great Pleasure, as it expresses in clear and strong Terms the good Disposition of your Court to form Connections of Friendship and Commerce with the United States of...
374From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 4 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library I take the Liberty of introducing to your Acquaintance the Bearer Mr. Redford, because I am persuaded that I shall therein do you a Pleasure. His Character you will find in an enclos’d Letter to me from Dr. Price. I hope his Reception in our Country will be such as to make it agreable to him and induce him to settle among us; as from the short Acquaintance I have...
375From Benjamin Franklin to John Sargent, 27 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society I received and read the Letter you were so kind as to write to me the 3d Instant, with a great deal of Pleasure, as it inform’d me of the Welfare of a Family whom I have so long esteem’d and lov’d and to whom I am under so many Obligations, which I shall ever remember. Our Correspondence has been interrupted by that abominable War: I neither...
376From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 17 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; copy: Library of Congress I received with great Pleasure my dear & respected Friend’s Letter of the 5th Instt. as it inform’d me of the Welfare of a Family I so much esteem & love. The Clamor against the Peace in your Parliament would alarm me for its Duration, if I were not of Opinion with you, that the Attack is rather against the Minister. I am confident none...
377From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, 23 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you a few Days since by Mr Williams, but I omitted some Newspapers which I had intended to send by him: I now inclose them. They contain sundry Articles relating to the Barbarities exercis’d by the British in America; and as you had borrow’d of me a Paper containing an Account of those committed by Lord Cornwallis, and thought there might be some...
378From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, [c. 21 March 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 227–8. You mention that I may now see verified all you said about binding down England to so hard a peace. I suppose you do not mean by the American treaty; for we were exceeding favourable in not insisting on the reparations so justly due for the wanton...
379From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 4 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have considered the Proposal of M. le Mis. de Segur, to cede to the Congress the military Stores left by M. de Rochambeau at Baltimore; and I am of Opinion that it is probable a Part of them may be acceptable, if not the whole; and that possibly some of the different States may be enclined to purchase what the Congress should not want. But...
380From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 16 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me respecting the Means of promoting the Commerce between France and America. Not being myself well acquainted with the State of that Commerce, I have endeavoured by Conversation with some of our Merchants to obtain Information. They complain in general of the Embarrassments...
381From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, 25 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 31st. of the last Month, relative to the fresh pecuniary Aid which the King was dispos’d to grant to the Congress.— I received also a second Letter on the same Subject, dated the 16th Instant. I am extremely sensible of his Majesty’s Goodness in according a new Loan to the...
382From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 9 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Mr. Barclay, our Consul general, waits upon your Excellency with a Complaint of a gross affront and Injury offered to the Congress of the United States at L’Orient, by some English Merchants residing at Bourdeaux, to which I beg your Excellency’s Attention, and that you would order such Measures to...
383From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 5 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have the honour to communicate to your Excellency herewith three Articles proposed between Mr. Hartley and the American Commissioners, respecting Commerce. He has sent them to his Court for their Approbation. I doubt their Obtaining it; But we shall see. I am with Respect, Sir, Your Excellency’s Most obedient & most humble Servant In the...
384From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 5 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society It was my Intention to pay my Devoirs at Versailles to-morrow. I thank your Excellency nevertheless for your kind Admonition. I omitted two of the last three Days from a mistaken Apprehension that being Holidays there would be no Court. Mr Laurens & Mr Jay are both Invalids; and...
385From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 24 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; draft: American Philosophical Society Je desirerois, Monsieur le Comte, faire imprimer la Traduction du Livre des Constitutions des Etats-Unis de l’Amerique publié en 1781 à Philadephie par Ordre du Congrès Général; plusieurs de ces Constitutions ont dèja paru dans le Journal des Affaires de l’Angleterre et de l’Amerique, d’autres ont déja...
386The 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...
387“Apologue,” [during or after February 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), III , 309–10. When William Temple Franklin published this piece (for which no manuscript survives), he placed it among the undated bagatelles, noting only that it was “written at the period of, and in allusion to, the claims of the American Royalists on the...
388Franklin’s Answers to Five Questions about Trade, [on or before 21 March 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Retranslation: reprinted from Nina N. Bashkina et al. , eds., The United States and Russia: the Beginning of Relations, 1765–1815 ([Washington, D.C., 1980]), p. 179. Question 1: Are all the nations of Europe, including those of the North, allowed to trade freely and safely with the United States of North America, to land on their coast, to frequent their ports, harbors, etc.? Answer: Yes....
389Editorial Note on Promissory Notes, 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Seventeen escaped prisoners made their way to Passy and received financial assistance from Franklin during the period covered by this volume. Benjamin Ramsdell of Massachusetts, captured aboard the ship Three Sisters , received 96 l.t. on February 10. Thomas Moore was given 48 l.t. on February 23. Four men applied for assistance on March 9, each of whom received 24 l.t. They were Richard...
390Franklin and Morellet: “Explanation of a Medal Struck by the Americans in 1782,” [c. 5 May 1783] (Franklin Papers)
D : printed by Philippe-Denis Pierres, 1783 Even before the Libertas Americana medal was struck, at the end of March, news of its design had spread throughout Europe and England by means of the following article published in the Gazette de Leyde on March 11 (in French) and widely reprinted: If ever an event deserved to be recounted on a durable monument, it is undoubtedly the American War and...