51From Benjamin Franklin to J.-B. Marioge, 23 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la Lettre dont vous m’avez honoré le 16 du mois dernier. Je n’ai Jamais été chargé de faire passer personne en Amérique pour y établir des manufactures. Le Pays est ouvert a tout le monde et le Congres ne cherche point à y attirer les Etrangers par des avantages particuliers. Chargé d’une Famille et à l’âge où vous étez,...
52From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 16 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: National Archives It was intended by the Commissioners to write a joint Letter to Congress, but I am afraid the Opportunity may be missed. This may serve to inform that Propositions of treating have been made by us to all the Powers of Europe, according to our Instructions, and we are waiting for their Answers. There are Apprehensions here of a War between the Emperor and Holland:...
53From 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...
54From Benjamin Franklin to John Walter, 17 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from John Walter, An Address to the Public, by J. Walter, Shewing the Great Improvement He Has Made in the Art of Printing, by Logographic Arrangements … (London, 1789), pp. 12–13. I received your favour dated in May last, with the specimens of your manner of cementing your Types, for which I am much obliged to you. My manner of making the Matrices for words I could freely...
55From Benjamin Franklin to Vicq d’Azyr, 24 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
L : Yale University Library M. Franklin a l’honneur de faire mille Complimens à Monsieur Vicq-d’azir, et le prie de vouloir bien lui envoyer le Rapport de Messrs. Andry et Thouret sur les Aimans présentés par Mr. L’abbé le Noble, il lui en sera infiniment obligé. Il desireroit aussi savoir si la Société Royale continue toujours à faire imprimer chaque Année la Collection de ses mémoires, qu’il...
56From Benjamin Franklin to Giuseppe Doria Pamphili, 18 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
L : Archives of the Congregatio de Propaganda Fide Mr. Franklin assure de son Respect son Excellence le Nonce, et lui envoye Copie de L’Instruction du Congrès qu’il a eu l’honneur de lui communiquer hier—avec une Traduction qu’il a paru desirer. Written by L’Air de Lamotte. BF enclosed a copy, made by BFB , of the second paragraph of the May 11 congressional instructions ( XLII , 222) and a...
57From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, 31 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society Voici, ma trés cher Amie, une de mes Plaisanteries serieuses, ou sourdes, que je vous envoie, esperant qu’elle pourra peutétre vous amuser un peu. Au quel cas, vous me recompenserez en me donnant, je n’ose dire un Baiser, car les votres sont trop precieux, & vous en étes trop chiche; mais vous me jouerez un Noel et l’excellent Marche des Insurgents—...
58Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 31 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour of acquainting your Excellency, that an Express from Congress is at last arrived, with their Ratification of the Definitive Treaty. Inclosed I send Copies of the President’s Letter, the Recommendatory Resolution, and the Proclamation, together with three Letters for yourself. We have written to M r Hartley, that we are now ready to make the Exchange. With great Respect, I am,...
59From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Price, 7 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: Library of Congress The Bearer, Count Mirabeau, who much respects your Character, has desired a Line of Introduction to you. He is Son to the Marquis de Mirabeau, Author of L’Ami des Hommes; is himself an excellent Writer, and has prepared for the Press a small Piece, much admired by the best Judges here, on the Subject of hereditary Nobility,...
60To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 11 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Mr. Jefferson, and requests he would be so good as to ask either of the Imperial and Sardinian Ambassadors the Favour of forwarding the enclos’d Letters, of which they will make no Difficulty. Mr. F. also recommends Dr. Ingenhauss to Mr. Jefferson, as a proper Correspondent in case he should have any thing to insinuate to that Court. Dr. F’s...
61From Benjamin Franklin to [Madame Durey de Meinières], 12 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Friend Made [Madame] Helvetius tells me that I do wrong to dine abroad, as it hurts my Health; and I much respect her Counsels: But I cannot resist the double Temptation you offer me of dining with you and with that amiable Family. So that if alive and well I shall certainly render my self on Sunday at the Pavilions of Chaillot, when I hope your...
We have now the Pleasure of acquainting you, that the Ratification of the Definitive Treaty is arrived here by an Express from Congress. You have already been informed that the Severity of the Winter in America, which hindered Travelling had occasioned a delay in the assembling of the States. As soon as a sufficient Number were got together, the Treaty was taken into Consideration, and the...
63From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 18 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received yours of the 5th (just after I had sent away mine of the 2d). It inclosed one from the good Bishop to you. I have since receiv’d yours of the 12th. I am glad to hear that Mrs Hewson resolves to come. My Love to her and her Children. I consent to your Staying till the End of the Month, on Condition however of your making a Visit to Chilbolton and...
64From 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...
65From Benjamin Franklin to Pierres, 3 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Je vous renvoïe cy inclus les Essais que vous avez bien voulu me montrer. Je vous en remercie. J’ai vû avec plaisir le Progrès que vous avez fait, dans une maniere qui differe de la mienne, quoique peut être meilleure. Je serai bien aise de vous voir, quand vous en aurez le Loisir, afin de finir notre Compte Je suis avec...
66From Benjamin Franklin to Anisson fils, 10 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Bibliothèque nationale I send you enclos’d the Characters you desire to see, cast in the new manner lately invented in England. They are first cast separately, and after being compos’d into Words or Parts of Words, those are united by a second Casting of additional Metal. This Operation doubles the Price of the Fount. I have directed my Grandson who is now in London, to visit the...
67From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 31 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I write this Line by the English Packet, just to inform you that Col. Harmar arriv’d here last Monday Evening with the Ratification, &c. and that Mr Jay & myself, (Messrs Adams & Laurens being absent) have written to Mr Hartley at London, that we are ready to exchange with him. I have not heard that the Delay is likely to occasion any Difficulty. I had before...
68From Benjamin Franklin to Frecon, 3 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Wyndham Robertson Library, Hollins University, Virginia; AL (draft): Library of Congress The following is the best Answer I can give to your Letter of the 29th. past. I am, Sir, your humble Servant. The real Money us’d in the United States is French, Spanish, Portuguese and English Coins, Gold & Silver. The most common is Spanish mill’d Dollars, worth 5 Livres 5 Sols tournois. The nominal...
69Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 15 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
M r Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to M r Adams, and enclosos a Paper left with him by the Secretary of the Portuguese Ambassador last Night, being an Extract of a Letter from the First Minister of that Court. No Notice is taken in it of the preceding Plan of a Treaty, and M r. F. mentions for Consideration, whether it would not be right to send a Copy of the new Plan immediately...
70From 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...
71From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 8 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS and transcript: Library of Congress; copy: William L. Clements Library I received your favour of the 24th past, and rejoice that you have a reasonable Prospect of the Recovery of your dear Sister in time. I join with you most cordially in “Wishes to forward, not only the Continuance of Peace between the two Countries, but the Improvement of Reconciliation”; and I “presume” as...
72From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 13 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress Mr Livingston having resigned, I am obliged to trouble you with some Notes of Enquiry, and other Papers that have been put into my Hands from time to time. If you can procure any of the Informations desired, you will much oblige me and some of my Friends.— With great Esteem, I am ever, Yours most affectionately Endorsed: Letter from Doct Franklin Sept 13. 1783.— After...
73From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Mercy-Argenteau, 30 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; transcript: National Archives I have the honour to communicate to your Excellency an Extract from the Instructions of Congress to their late Commissioners for treating of Peace, expressing their Desire to cultivate the Friendship of his Imperial Majesty and to enter into a Treaty of Commerce for the mutual Advantage of his...
74From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 18 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I was much obliged by the Readiness with which your Excellency favour’d my Request of a Sauf Conduit for Mr Bondfield, and I beg you to accept my thankful Acknowledgements. Permit me to ask another Favour of the same kind for my Nephew Mr Williams, who I am confident will make Use of it for the Advantage of his Creditors. With great and...
75From 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;...
76From 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...
77From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 31 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Gilder Lehrman Collection; copy: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Some Inconveniencies are said to have arisen from a want of Certainty in the Powers of our Consuls. The Articles respecting that Matter have been some time prepared and agreed to between Mr de Raynevall and me. If there is no Change of Sentiment respecting them, I beg leave to request your Excellency would...
78From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 22 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library When I am long without hearing from you, I please my self with re-perusing some of your former Letters. In your last of April 24. 83. you mention the Departure of Anna Maria with her Husband for Bengal. I hope you have since heard often of their Welfare there. When you next favour me with a Line, please to be particular in letting me know how they do. My Grandson,...
79From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Sr., 20 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Biblioteca Labronica The Bearer, Mr Biederman, is recommended to me by Persons of Distinction, as a Gentleman of Worth & very respectable Character, charged with the Concerns and Interest of many principal Manufacturers and Merchants in Saxony, between which Country and ours I should be glad to see a commercial Intercourse opened and established, as it might be advantageous to both. I...
80From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 30 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library; press copy of ALS : Harvard University Library I did myself the honour of writing to you the Beginning of last Week, and I sent you by the Courier, M. Faujas’s Book upon the Balloons, which I hope you have receiv’d. I did hope to have given you to day an Account of Mr Charles’s grand Balloon, which was to have gone up yesterday; but the filling it with inflammable Air...
81From Benjamin Franklin to Félix Vicq d’Azyr, 1 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Académie Nationale de Médecine, Paris I should be very happy to be present at the Reading of your Eloges of Messrs Sanchez & Hunter; but my Indisposition, the Stone, makes it extreamly inconvenient to me to use a Carriage on the Pavement, or to be confined long in a Room, so that I cannot have the Pleasure you propose to me so kindly of meeting the Society whom I highly respect, on...
82From 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...
83To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 10 September 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have received a Letter from a very respectable Person in America, containing the following Words viz. “It is confidently reported, propagated and believed ^ by some ^ among us, that the Court of France was at bottom against our Obtaining the Fishery and Territory in that great Extent in which both are secured to us by the Treaty; that our Minister at that Court favoured, or did not oppose...
84From 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...
85From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Price, 2 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. J. W. Williams, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland (1955) I received your Favour of the 12th past with the Pamphlet of Advice to the Americans, for which I thank you much; it is excellent in itself, and will do us a great deal of Good. I communicated immediately to Mr Dupont the Letter of Mr Turgot, thinking him the properest Person to consult on the Subject, as he has the Care of the...
86From 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...
87From Benjamin Franklin to La Condamine, 19 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; LS : Bakken Museum I receiv’d the very obliging Letter you did me honour of writing to me the 8th Inst. with the Epigram &c. for which please to accept my Thanks. You desire my Sentiments concerning the Cures perform’d by Comus, & Mesmer. I think that in general, Maladies caus’d by Obstructions may be treated by Electricity with Advantage. As to the...
88Benjamin 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;...
89From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 22 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), 11, 439. I received my dear friend’s kind letter of the 4th instant from Bath, with your proposed temporary convention which you desire me to shew to my colleagues. They are both by this time in London, where you will undoubtedly see and converse with them on...
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...
91To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 26 October 1785 (Jay Papers)
This will be delivered to you by M r . Houdon, the Statuary of Paris who was agreed with by M r Jefferson and my self, at the Request of the Government of Virginia, to come over & take the Bust of General Washington, in order to make his Statue for that State. He has made the Bust, which is much admired by the Connoisseurs here, and will show it to you. He goes to New York, partly with a View...
92From Benjamin Franklin to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 3 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I: Received the letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 30: past, and am very Sensible of your zeal for Supporting the Credit of the united States, and the difficulties you must be exposed to in accepting all the drafts of Mr. Morris of which you have advice. I Communicated your letter to our Banker Mr. Grand, and desired immediate Conference...
93To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 24 October 178[8] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Hopkinson has communicated to me a Letter of yours with a Proposal of a Mr. Pissot’s respecting his Editions of English Books. I am much oblig’d by your thinking of my Grandson on this Occasion; And if Mr. Pissot will send over a Dozen of each Work as a Trial, I will take Care that the Terms propos’d shall be punctually comply’d with. Our Disputes here about the new Constitution are...
94From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Mifflin, 12[–13] May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS and AL (draft): Library of Congress; copy: Yale University Library; transcript: National Archives In my last I acquainted your Excellency that Mr. Hartley was soon expected here to exchange Ratifications of the definitive Treaty. He is now arrived, and proposes to make the Exchange this Afternoon: I shall then be enabled to send a Copy.— Enclosed is the new British...
95To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 23 November 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
These People are so accustomed to see every thing done by Sollicitation of Interest, or what they call Protection, and nothing without it, that they hardly conceive it possible to obtain the Payment even of a just Debt but by means of Persons whom they suppose to have Influence enough to support and enforce their Pretensions. We should naturally suppose that the proper time for asking such Aid...
96From Benjamin Franklin to [Anthony Todd], 27 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d last Night your Favour of the 19th. Inst. and have this Day sent to propose a Meeting on the Subject with Mr. Couteulx; but he was not in Town. I shall do what you desire of me as soon as may be. Be so good as to forward the enclos’d, if not too late, by your next Wednesday’s Mail, and let me Know by a Line if it was in time. With...
97From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 11 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library I received your Letters of the 28th. of August, and 10th of September, with the Newspapers by M. Sailly, but they were very incompleat and broken Sets, many being omitted perhaps the most material, which is disagreable to me who wish to be well inform’d of what is doing among you. I was glad to receive the good Account B & S have given of their good Treatment of those...
98From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley: Two Letters, 7 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
(I) Copies: Library of Congress (two), William L. Clements Library, Massachusetts Historical Society; (II) Copies: Library of Congress (two), William L. Clements Library, Massachusetts Historical Society, Public Record Office The enclosed Letters to you and to Mr. Fox were written before I saw you yesterday. On my return home last night I found despatches from Congress which may remove the...
99From Benjamin Franklin to Morellet and Drago, 13 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of copy: American Philosophical Society Notte en reponse à celle des Negociants Morellet et Drago. Dans tous et chacun des Etats-Unis de l’Amerique, Il y a des Tribunaux de Justice établis, qui sont également ouverts aux Citoyens des dits Etats, et aux Etrangers qui pourroient étre dans le Cas d’y avoir Recours. Les Affaires s’y decident, legalement et promptement. On conseille aux...
100From Benjamin Franklin to Chapel, 12 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la Lettre dont vous m’avez honoré le 7 du courant. Je ne puis vous donner la Lettre de Recommandation que vous desirez pour le Ministre Américain à Londres, puisque nous n’avons point encore de Ministre dans cette Ville; et il y a trop long temps que J’en suis absent pour être en état de vous faire connoitre les Maisons de...