391The American Peace Commissioners: Three Proposed Articles, [29 April 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society (three), National Archives (two), William L. Clements Library, Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, Library of Congress; press copy of copy: American Philosophical Society; transcript and partial copy: National Archives No. 1. Article It is agreed, that so soon, as his Britannic Majesty shall have withdrawn all his Armies, Garrisons and...
392Three Draft Replies to Applicants for Emigration, [between 24 January 1783 and 9 March 1784] (Franklin Papers)
(I) AL (incomplete draft): Library of Congress; (II) and (III) AL (incomplete draft): American Philosophical Society Following the signing of the preliminary peace treaty, Franklin was inundated with requests for assistance from people all over Europe who wanted to emigrate to America. More than 30 are summarized in the headnote to Perrault’s letter of January 24, above; they represent only...
393Contract between Louis XVI and the United States, Signed by Vergennes and Franklin, 25 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Archives Nationales, National Archives; two copies and transcript: National Archives; press copy of copy: American Philosophical Society Contrat entre le Roi et les Treize Etats Unis de l’Amérique Septentrionale, passé entre M. le Cte. de Vergennes et M. Franklin, le 25. Fevrier 1783./. Contrat entre le Roi et les Treize Etats-Unis de l’Amérique Septentrionale. La paix rétablie entre les...
394Franklin’s Passport for British Ships, 1 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Massachusetts Historical Society, American Philosophical Society Exchanging ships’ passports was the first official act between the former belligerent nations, whose vessels needed protection until the news of the armistice was generally known, and whose merchants were anxious to race their cargo to newly opened ports. But were those ports truly open? Franklin maintained that until the...
395The Loge des Neuf Sœurs and Franklin: Announcement of a Fête Académique, [before 10 May 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Printed announcement: National Heritage Museum, Massachusetts Though the peace was publically celebrated all over Paris in the spring of 1783, this was the only celebration in which Franklin had a hand—or at least, to which he lent his name. Initially, the Nine Sisters planned to hold this fête académique on May 5 at its quarters on the rue Coquéron. They sent printed invitations to the...
396The American Peace Commissioners: Passport for British Ships, [3 February 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society (three), Library of Congress We John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, three of the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America for making Peace with Great Britain. To all Captains or Commanders of Ships of War, Privateers or armed Vessels belonging to the said States, or to either of them, or to any of the Citizens of the same, And...
397Answers to “The Claim of the American Loyalists,” [during or after February 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): University of Pennsylvania Library In the latter part of February, 1783, William Franklin and the other Loyalist representatives who had submitted a petition to Parliament at the beginning of the month published a pamphlet entitled The Case and Claim of the American Loyalists Impartially Stated and Considered . The first section, “The Case of the American Loyalists,” reviewed the...
398Editorial Note on Franklin’s Accounts, 1783 (Franklin Papers)
The following previously identified accounts cover the period of this volume: VI and VII ( XXIII , 21); XVII ( XXVI , 3); XIX and XXII ( XXVIII , 3–4); XXV, XXVII, and XXVIII ( XXXII , 3–4); XXX ( XXXVI , 3); and XXXI ( XXXVIII , 3). We offer here a summary of items that have not found a place elsewhere in our annotation but that provide insights into Franklin’s private and public life....
399Franklin: Certificate for the Capricieuse, [14 May 1783] (Franklin Papers)
D (draft): American Philosophical Society The Imperial Ship the Capricieuse, burthen about 350 Tons , Commanded by Capt. Simpson being bound from Trieste to Philadelphia, or some other Part of the United States , with Merchandize, but being uncertain what Port she may make; I hereby request that you would on his Arrival , favour the said Capt. Simpson with your Protection & Advice, for the...
400Franklin’s Specimen of Polytype Printing, 24 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Yale University Library A Wit’s a Feather, & a Chief’s a Rod; An honest Man’s the noblest Work of God. Pope. On April 10, WTF and others had visited François Hoffmann and participated in a demonstration of his polytype process, a method of reproducing handwriting or line drawings. (See the annotation of Samuel Vaughan, Jr., to BF , [April] 6, above.) BF visited Hoffmann on April 24 and...
401George III: Commission for David Hartley, 14 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society (four), Library of Congress, National Archives; transcript: National Archives George R. George the Third, by the Grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburgh, Arch Treasurer and Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire &c. To all to whom these Presents shall come Greeting. Whereas for the...
402The Swedish-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce, with Translation, 3 April [i.e., 5 March] 1783 (Franklin Papers)
(I) DS : National Archives, Svenska Riksarkivet; copy: National Archives; incomplete press copy of DS : American Philosophical Society; (II) translation and copy: National Archives This treaty, negotiated by Franklin and the comte de Creutz, Swedish ambassador to the French court, was the first pact signed by the United States with a nation that was not already an ally in the War of...