51From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 14 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Permit me to introduce to your Excellency the Bearer Mr Nesbitt a very respectable American Merchant settled at L’Orient. He will himself have the honor of communicating to you the Business he is come to Paris upon, and I request your Excellency will give him a favourable Audience & that support which the nature of his Case seems to merit. With great Respect...
52From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 15 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library; ALS (draft): University of Pennsylvania Library You have probably had enough of my Correspondence on the Subject of the Balloons, yet I cannot forbear sending you Mr Charles’s Account of his Voyage, wch contains some Circumstances that are curious & interesting. And perhaps you may, for a Conclusion, have one more Letter from me by him, if he makes the Flight, said to be...
53From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 15 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Henry E. Huntington Library; press copy of LS and transcript: National Archives I am much concern’d to find by your Letter to my Grandson, that you are hurt by my long Silence, and that you ascribe it to a suppos’d Diminution of my Friendship. Believe me, that is by no means the case; but I am too much harassed by a Variety of Correspondence together with Gout and Gravel, which induces me...
54From Benjamin Franklin to Crocco, 15 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS : National Archives I have just received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 25th. past. I did indeed receive your former Letter of July, but being totally a Stranger to the mentioned Proceedings of Mr. Montgomery and having no Orders from Congress on the Subject, I knew not how to give you any satisfactory answer, till I should receive farther Information;...
55From Benjamin Franklin to David Rittenhouse, 15 December 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 , 464. All astronomical news that I receive, I think it my duty to communicate to you. The following is just come to hand, in a letter from the President of the Royal Society, dated at London the 9th instant. “A miserable comet made its appearance to Mr....
56From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 15 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I understand that the Bishop or Spiritual Person who superintends or governs the Roman Catholic Clergy in the United States of America, resides in London, and is supposed to be under Obligations to that Court, and subject to be influenced by its Ministers. This gives me some uneasiness, and I cannot but wish that one should be appointed to...
57From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 17 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Archives Nationales, Library of Congress To the Honorable Captain John Paul-Jones Commodore in the service of the United-States of America. In pursuance of a Resolution of Congress of the first of November 1783. a Copy wereof is hereunto annexed, I do hereby authorize and direct you to solicit as Agent for payment and satisfaction to the officers and crews citizens or subjects of the...
58From Benjamin Franklin to Bariatinskii, [c. 22 December 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I have never before heard of the Resolution of Congress you mention, and I doubt much of its Existence. Nor do I know any thing of the suppos’d Decision in Council at Versailles concerning it. I understand that a Number of the American Officers have agreed to form themselves into a Society for the laudable Purpose among others of relieving their poor...
59To Benjamin Franklin from Mercy-Argenteau, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, 22 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society L’Ambassadeur de l’Empereur ayant été chargé par sa Cour de recourir à la complaisance de Monsieur Franklin relativement à l’Envoi des deux Lettres ci-jointes à l’adresse de MMrs. le Baron de Beelen et le Professeur Märter, il a l’honneur de Le prier de vouloir bien les faire passer à leur destination par la premiere occasion qui se présentera, L’Ambassadeur...
60From Benjamin Franklin to Ingenhousz, 24 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I am greatly indebted to you for Letters. I shall write largely to you soon. With this I send you some American Papers, more Letters to Sir Jos. Banks, A Letter to Mr Nairne on Thermometers, & some Catalogues of Seeds.— I have sent the Order to America for Seeds which your Friend desired, but I fear the Vessel I sent it by is lost, not being arriv’d the 6th of...
61From Benjamin Franklin to Mercy-Argenteau, 25 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
L : Haus-, Hof- und Staatsarchiv, Austria M. Franklin a reçu les deux Lettres à l’adresse de Mrs. Le Baron de Beelen et le professeur Marter que Monsieur l’Ambassadeur de l’Empereur lui a fait l’honneur de lui adresser pour faire passer en Amerique. C’est un vrai plaisir pour Mr. Franklin de trouver l’occasion de faire quelque chose qui puisse être agréable à Monsieur l’Ambassadeur et il aura...
62From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Mifflin, 25 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS , copy, and transcript: National Archives; AL (draft): Library of Congress Not having heard of the Appointment of a new Secretary for foreign Affairs, I take the Liberty of addressing this Dispatch directly to your Excellency. I received by Capt. Barney, a Letter from the late President, directed to the Commissioners, dated Novr 1. with a Set of Instructions dated the 29th of October, a...
63From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 25 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress; incomplete press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society I have received your Favour of the 30th of September, for which I thank you. My Apprehension that the Union between France & our States might be diminished by Accounts from hence, was occasioned by the extravagant and violent Language held here by a Public Person in public Company, which had that...
64From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 26 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS and transcript: Library of Congress I have received your Favour of the 16th October, and am much oblig’d by the Intelligence it contains.— I am happy to hear that your Government has agreed to furnish Congress with the Means of discharging the National Debt. The Obstruction that Measure met with in some of the States, has had very mischievous Effects on this side the Water;...
65From Benjamin Franklin to Ebenezer Hazard, 26 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am desired by the General Post Office of Great Britain to recommend to your Consideration a Sketch of an Advertisement respecting the Packet Boats, which they think it may be useful to publish. You will do in it what you think proper. Perhaps you have already done what is necessary. As I was formerly long connected with that Office, & have Friends in...
66From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 26 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library In reading Mr Viny’s Letter when I receiv’d it, I miss’d seeing yours which was written behind it in a Corner. I thank you much for your kind Offer respecting my Grandson. I was fully resolv’d on sending him in September last, and engag’d Mr Jay, one of my Colleagues then going to England, to take him over in his Company: But when it came to be propos’d to him, he...
67From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 26 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from The London Magazine, new series, III (1825), 479. Our Cousin, Mr. Williams, left London in June last, on his return to Boston. He carried some goods for you. I hope he arrived safe, though I have no Letter from him. I have since sent him a bill of exchange for your account on Dr. Cooper, and signified my desire that the whole might be put to interest to produce a little annual...
68From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Mifflin: Two Letters, 26 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
(I) AL (incomplete draft): Library of Congress; (II) ALS and transcript: National Archives I congratulate you very sincerely on your Appointment to that very honourable Station, the Presidency of Congress: Every Testimony you receive of the public Sense of your Services and Talents, gives me Pleasure. I have written to you a long Letter on Business, in my quality of Minister. This is a private...
69From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 26 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from The Pennsylvania Packet, And General Advertiser, June 29, 1784; copy: Bibliothèque de Genève I do not know who is at present secretary of our philosophical society, and therefore I address to you, who read French, a book lately published here, which gives an account of one of the most extraordinary discoveries that this age has produced, by which men are enabled to rise in the...
70From Benjamin Franklin to Elias Boudinot, 27 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Your two Letters to the Commissioners, dated at Princeton the 27th of October & 1st of November, and one to me of the first of November, came duly to Hand; Mr Adams saw the public Letters in England, Capt. Jones having landed with them at Plymouth. We thank you much for the Intelligence they contain. I am now alone here, Mr. Jay being at Bath, with Mr Laurens, and...
71From Benjamin Franklin to John and Rosamond Sargent, 29 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Princeton University Library You cannot conceive, my dear Friends, how happy your kind Letters make me. To find that thro’ all the unpleasant Circumstances that so long have separated us, you still retain your ancient Regard for me, gives me a Pleasure inexpressible. A Thousand Thanks for your hearty Invitation to your House. I am sure I can be no where happier, than with a Family I so...
72Franklin: Certificate for Cripps & May, 31 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Archives Départementales de la Gironde J’ai eu Connoissance de la Lettre de Mrs. Cripps et May dont il Est fait mention, négocians de Charlestown. Je Crois qu’elle Contient Vérité, et Je ne puis qu’espérer que Le placet du Capitaine Conte, Sera favorablement accüeilli. A South Carolina mercantile firm that owned and outfitted ships, and traded with firms in Bordeaux: XXV , 428; XXIX ,...
73Drawing and Description of a Boat for Fishing Parties on the Delaware River, [1784?] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society The person who inspired Franklin to think about the design of small craft for use on rivers was, it seems, Julien-David Le Roy. By the early 1780s, when the architect began discussing his ideas with Franklin—including improvements to hot-air balloons—he was deeply absorbed in trying to design boats with sails, masts, and hulls that would allow for more...
74From Benjamin Franklin to [Mary Hewson], 1 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Health and Prosperity, and many happy Years, to my dear Friend, and to her Children, for whom I send the three enclos’d little Books. Let me know if you have not the compleat Year.— Endorsed: Passy Jan 1 — 84 44 The October, November, and December issues of L’Ami des enfans. Berquin ceased publication of the series at the end of 1783. BF had evidently lost...
75List of Letters to Write, [c. 1 January 1784?] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Lettres à ecrire Chev. de Karalio M. de Breteuil Mr. le Chancelier Mr Chase M. de Vergennes Mr Todd Quy. what is become of the Post-Office Negn Chevr d’Osmont M. Lamy Made Chaumont Bonnefoy Hambourgh R Peters Esqr Turin Miss Davies Amelia Barry—
76To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 3 January 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received the Letter you did me the Honour of writing to me by Capt. Jones, and immediately answer’d it, acquainting you that my Packets contain’d no Commission, nor any Mention of one. I have just receiv’d another Letter from you, dated the 14th past, with a Number of Dispatches, but they are Duplicates only and as old as July; they contain nothing of the Commission neither, except the Vote...
77From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 3 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I received the Letter you did me the Honour of writing to me by Capt. Jones, and immediately answer’d it, acquainting you that my Packets contain’d no Commission, nor any Mention of one. I have just receiv’d another Letter from you, dated the 14th past, with a Number of Dispatches, but they are Duplicates only and as old as July; they contain nothing of...
78From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Chase, 6 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I duly Receiv’d your Letter of the 18th. of September, with the Papers that accompanied it; but being at that time afflicted with two painful Disorders, the Gout and Gravel, I could not then give any Attention to Business; and before my Recovery, the Letters and Paper were both most unaccountably missing. I spent Hours from time to time in searching...
79From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 6 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. Marion Brawley, Oakley, South Carolina (1959); press copy of ALS , copy, and incomplete copy: Library of Congress I received your kind Letter of the 26th past, and immediately sent the inclosed to Mrs Jay, whom I saw a few days since with the Children, all perfectly well. It is a happy Thing that the little ones are so finely past the Small Pox, and I congratulate you upon it most...
80From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 7 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: William L. Clements Library I have this moment recd your favour of the 25th past acquainting me with the change in administration. I am sure that in reforming the Constitution wch is sometimes talked of, it wd not be better to make your great offices of State hereditary, than to suffer the inconvenience of such frequent & total changes. Much Faction & Cabal wd be prevented, by having a...
81From Benjamin Franklin to von Blome, 12 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Reproduced in Charles Hamilton Auction Catalogue No. 49 (May 6, 1971), Lot 162. The Underwritten Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America to the Court of France, acknowledges the Receipt of the official Representation sent to him the 21st of November by his Excellency the Baron de Blome, Envoy Extraordinary from his Danish Majesty at the same Court, respecting...
82From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 12 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress I duly received the Letters your Excellency did me the honor of writing to me the 24 of Octr., and the 3d of December past, respecting the Arrest of our Arms & Ammunition by the sieur Puchelberg, accompany’d by Copies of the Letters of M. Le Marquis de Castries and M. Chardon, and a Paper of the said...
83From Benjamin Franklin to Daniel Lathrop Coit, 14 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Printed invitation with MS insertions: Johns Hopkins University Library Dr. Franklin requests the honour of Mr. Coit’s Company at Dinner on Sunday the 18. Inst The favour of an Answer is desired. Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Coit. chez / Mr. Carter / Hotel d’Angleterre / Rue des Filles St Thomas. Endorsed: Doctr. Franklin’s Billet to Dine Daniel Lathrop Coit (1754–1833), a merchant of...
84From Benjamin Franklin to Ingenhousz, 16 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library; copy: Library of Congress I have this Day received your Favour of the 2d Instant. Every Information in my Power respecting the Balloons I sent you just before Christmas, contain’d in Copies of my Letters to Sir Joseph Banks. There is no Secret in the Affair, and I make no doubt that a Person coming from you would easily obtain a Sight of the different Balloons of...
85From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 17 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; press copy of LS : Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 15th. Instant, inclosing one from a certain Schaffer, who calls himself Lieutenant Colonel of the Continental Militia, requesting that you would cause to be restored to him a Bill of Exchange for 60 Dollars, that has my Name on...
86From Benjamin Franklin to Sarah Bache, 26 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript, AL (draft), and press copy of LS : Library of Congress Franklin had been aware of the Society of the Cincinnati since at least mid-December, when Pierre-Charles L’Enfant arrived in Paris to deliver George Washington’s letters and begin the work of establishing a French branch. A week after L’Enfant’s arrival, however, Franklin still knew nothing specific about the organization and...
87From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, 1 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I receiv’d duly yours of the 23d past, as well as those therein mentioned, with the Enclosed for the Office of Foreign Affairs, all of which except the last are forwarded, and that will go next Wednesday.— I thank you for the Opportunity given me of seeing the Intelligence they contain. I sent you 5 or 6 Weeks since, a Packet containing some fresh...
88Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 5 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received the Letter you did me the Honour of writing to me the 24th past. You have had a terrible Passage indeed, taking it all together from London to Amsterdam. The Season has been, and continues, uncommonly severe, and you must have suffered much. It is a Pity that the good Purpose of your Voyage, to save if possible the Credit of M r Morris’s Bills could not be accomplished, by your...
89From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 5 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I received the Letter you did me the Honour of writing to me the 24th past. You have had a terrible Passage indeed, taking it all together from London to Amsterdam. The Season has been, and continues, uncommonly severe, and you must have suffered much. It is a Pity that the good Purpose of your Voyage, to save if possible the Credit of Mr Morris’s Bills...
90From Benjamin Franklin to Cadet de Vaux, 5 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Bibliothèque Municipale, Nantes Malgré tout le desir que J’ai, Monsieur, de faire quelque Chose qui puisse vous etre agreable ainsi qu’a M. Votre Frere,— Il m’est absolument impossible de faire le voyage de Paris dans Ce moment cy; ma Maladie, et la saison rigoureuse, sont des obstacles insurmontables pour moi— J’ai moi meme fait executer un Poele Cheminée propre a bruler le Charbon de...
91Recipe for Making Bread of Corn Flour Mixed with Wheat Flour, [c. 5 February 1784] (Franklin Papers)
D : American Philosophical Society Pour faire du Pain avec la Farine de Maïs, mêlée avec la Farine de Blé. La Farine de Maïs demande plus de tems pour bien cuire, que la Farine de Blé; C’est pourquoi si on les mêle à froid, et qu’on les fasse fermenter et cuire ensemble, la Partie de Blé sera suffisamment cuite, lorsque la Partie de Maïs sera encore crue. Pour parer à cet Inconvenient, Nous...
92From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Laurens, 12 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : South Carolina Historical Society; incomplete copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 3d Inst. by your Son, with the News papers for which I thank you. The Disorders of that Government whose Constitution has been so much praised; are come to a height that threatens some violent Convulsion, if not a Dissolution; and its Physicians do not seem even to guess at the Cause of...
93From Benjamin Franklin to Creuzé, 14 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I received the three several Letters you did me the honour of writing to me on the Subject of the Aerostatic Machines, and the means of directing their Motion. The Academy of Sciences having appointed a Committee to consider that Subject, I thought I could not better dispose of your Papers than by communicating them to that learned Body, especially as...
94From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Laurens, 15 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since mine of the 12th, I have had an Interview with Mr Grand; and on my acquainting him with your Situation, and proposing to him to furnish you with such a Sum as you might have occasion for, he most readily agreed to it, saying you had only to draw upon him, and your Bills would be honoured. I seize with Pleasure the first Opportunity to inform you of...
95From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 16 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; two copies: Library of Congress I received and read with Pleasure your kind Letter of the first Inst. as it inform’d me of the Welfare of you and yours. I am glad the Accounts you have from your Kinswoman at Philadelphia are agreable, and I shall be happy if any Recommendations from me can be serviceable to Dr Ross or any other Friend of yours going to America.—...
96From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, 25 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society Enclosed I send you a Letter and sundry Papers I lately recd from Mr. Eckhardt of Utrecht, a most ingenious Mechanician whom I first knew in London. You will see what he desires, and what Answer I have made him. If you can do him any Service, I need not pray you to do it, because you have a Pleasure in assisting Genius: Show if you please what he says of...
97From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 26 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Mr. Williams desiring no farther Surseance against the Bulk of his Creditors with whom he has amicably arranged his Affairs, and to whom he proposes to do exact Justice, I the more willingly join my Request with his, that he may be secured against the small Number remaining, who aim at forcing him to...
98Benjamin Franklin and John Jay to John Adams, 28 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
We had the honor of receiving your Favour of the 20 th: Inst, and are persuaded that the Communication of the Friendly Disposition of his Prussian Majesty made to you by the Baron de Thuilemeyer will give great Pleasure to Congress. The Respect with which the Reputation of that great Prince has impress’d the United States, early induced them to consider his Friendship as a desirable Object;...
99Franklin and John Jay to John Adams, 28 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society We had the honor of receiving your Favour of the 20th. Inst, and are persuaded that the Communication of the Friendly Disposition of his Prussian Majesty made to you by the Baron de Thuilemeyer will give great Pleasure to Congress. The Respect with which the Reputation of that great Prince has impress’d the United States, early induced them to consider his...
100Aux Auteurs du Journal de Paris, [before 31 March 1784] (Franklin Papers)
(I) French translation: press copy of D : American Philosophical Society; printed in Journal de Paris, April 26, 1784; (II) Reprinted from The Repository, I (1788), 5–10; partial copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; fragment: American Philosophical Society In February, 1784, a Parisian apothecary named Quinquet and his friend Lange, a distiller, began to demonstrate in Paris a new kind of...