2581From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 30 August[–2 September 1783] (Franklin Papers)
LS : Royal Society; press copy of LS : Harvard University Library; AL (draft): University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Library of Congress During August, while Etienne Montgolfier was conferring with the Académie des sciences, working on his new balloon, and pursuing his business interests as a papermaker, his competitors were scrambling to figure out how they could safely generate the 900...
2582The American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley, 30 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: National Archives, William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society; press copy of copy: National Archives The American Ministers Plenipotentiary for making Peace with great Britain, present their Compliments to Mr. Hartley. They regret that Mr. Hartley’s Instructions will not permit him to sign the Definitive Treaty of Peace with America at the Place...
2583From Benjamin Franklin to Elias Boudinot, 31 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS , press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives; copy: University of South Carolina Library After a continued Course of Treating for 9 Months, the English Ministry have at length come to a Resolution to lay aside for the present all the new Propositions that have been made & agreed to, their own as well as ours; and they offer to sign again as a Definitive Treaty the Articles of Novr...
2584From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Durey de Meinières, 31 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I send with great Pleasure the Constitutions of America to my dear & much respected Neighbour, being happy to have any thing in my Power to give that she will do me the honour to accept, and that may be agreable to her. I am, ever, with sincere Esteem, my dear Friend, Yours most affectionately Which she had requested in the letter immediately above. BF ’s...
2585Notes on Establishing a Packet Boat Service to and from New York, [c. 31 August 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): American Philosophical Society American Postmaster at New York to receive and distribute all Letters brought by the Pacquets of England & France To give Receipts for the Amount, & keep an Account with each Settle & pay every three Packets Allow’d for dead, return’d or missent Letters.— All preceding Postage of Packet Letters to be paid on both sides before they are sent forward by...
2586From Benjamin Franklin to Ingenhousz, 2 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. James A. de Rothschild, England (1962) Inclos’d I send you a Copy of a Letter to Sir Joseph Banks, concerning the Ballons that at present occasion much Conversation here. I imagine that if you make one, and fill it with inflammable Air, you will contrive to fire it by Electricity when it is up, and by that means match in Report the Thunder of Nature. To morrow is to be signed our...
2587Definitive Treaty of Peace between the United States and Great Britain, 3 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two), Public Record Office; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two.) Early on the morning of September 3, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and William Temple Franklin rode into Paris carrying four official copies of the treaty that would end the War for American Independence. Joined by Adams,...
2588From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Laurens, 3 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : South Carolina Historical Society This Line is just to acquaint you that the Definitive Treaty between England and the United States was signed this Morning at Paris, and the others are suppos’d to be sign’d at the same time at Versailles. I shall write to you fully in a Day or two. With great & sincere Esteem, I have the honour to be Dear Sir, Your most Obedt & most humble Servt...