1The 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...
2The American Peace Commissioners to Alleyne Fitzherbert, [20 February 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society We have recd. the Letter wh you did us the Honor to write on the 18th. Inst, together with the Passports mentioned in it. His britannic Majesty’s Proclamation of the 14th. Instant has our entire approbation, and we have the Honor of transmitting to you, herewith enclosed, a Declaration perfectly correspondent with it. It appears to us important to...
3The 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 Article It is agreed, that so soon, as his Britannic Majesty shall have withdrawn all his Armies, Garrisons and...
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...
5To Benjamin Franklin from the Baronne d’Ahax, with Franklin’s Draft of a Reply, 12 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Monsieur apres avoir eu le bonheur de vous voir je desir de le renouveller et vous demande votre heurs la plus Comode ou je puis avoir la bonheur de vous revoir Seul car jai besoin dun Confidant et jesper de le trouver dans L’etre que je revere le plus au monde. Jai l’honneur d’etre avec la plus grand veneration monsieur votre tres humble et tres obeisante...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Guillaume Backhaus, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, 7 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai l’honneur de feliciter Vôtre Excellence de la paix glorieuse, qui vient être conclue, & dont l’histoire èternisera Vôtre nom très réspectable & Vos insignes merites. A Son rétour me vinrent quelques considerations en égard de l’Armée des Etats Souvrains de l’Amerique Septentrionale, les quelles mon Zêle m’inspira, & ma confiance réspectueuse aux...
7The 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...
8To Benjamin Franklin from John Fottrell, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, 21 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I had the honour of writing you About Sixteen Months ago per Mr DeClerck; the Subject whereof was for advice of a Draft on your Excellency for a Trifling Sum advancd to one Mr Robeson: I only mention this Circumstance to facilitate your recalling me to mind, and you was So Kind sir at that time to give him a List of Such articles as were then most In Demand...
9From 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...
10From 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...
11From 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...
12From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 9 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Privately owned Your Favour of the 25th past, is but just come to hand. I think with you, that the making you pay 23£ for our Passport is a shameful Imposition. Your Secretaries had 200 of us; in exchange for as many of theirs indeed; but we had no Occasion for a quarter of the Number; and those that were wanted we gave away gratis. There is no bounds to the Avidity of Officers in old...
13From 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...
14“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...
15From 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...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 21 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Robert J. Walker III, Jupiter, Florida (1969) The Bearer Mr John Darby, of excellent Character & Connections in England, and in very capital Business, goes over with a View of Visiting America; & may perhaps finally settle there.— I beg you will do every thing in you Power to render his stay as agreable as possible, by shewing him every Civility and Attention and by affording him your...
17From 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...
18Franklin’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....
19From 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...
20From 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:...
21From 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...
22From 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...
23From Benjamin Franklin to John Dickinson, 23 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy and press copy of LS : Library of Congress Permit me to congratulate your Excellency on your Advancement to the Presidency of Pennsylvania, wherein I hope you may find Opportunities of doing much good to your Country, the only Consideration that can make an elevated Situation agreable to a reasonable Mind. Mr Penn, Son of our late Proprietary,...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 26 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received in its time your kind Letter of Feb. 22. I am sensible of the Prudence of your Advice, respecting my coming to England, and shall follow it.— Accept my Thanks for that, and for your kind Invitation to Cheam when I do come; but the little left of Life at my Age, will perhaps hurry me home as soon as I can be quit of my Employment here. I should indeed...
25From 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...
26From 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...
27From Benjamin Franklin to Michel-Guillaume St. John de Crèvecœur, [after 2 April 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I have perused the foregoing Memoir, and having formerly had some Share in the Management of the Pacquet Boats between England and America, I am enabled to furnish you with some small Remarks.— The Project is good, & if carried into Execution will certainly be very useful to Merchants immediately, and profitable to the Revenue of the Post Office at least after...
28From 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...
29From Benjamin Franklin to John Coakley Lettsom, 6 [or 17] March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Thomas Joseph Pettigrew, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of the Late John Coakley Lettsom … (3 vols., London, 1817), I , 171–2 of second pagination. I received your favour of September last. It found me labouring under a painful disorder, which continued long, and put me much behind-hand in my correspondence. I thank you for the valuable publications that accompanied it,...
30From 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...