1Definitive 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,...
2From 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...
3From 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...
4From 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...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Silas Deane, 31 [i.e., 1?] August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from The Deane Papers, 1774–90 (5 vols.; New-York Historical Society Collections , XIX-XXIII , New York, 1887–91), V , 192. I received last night the letter you did me the honor of writing to me the 20th. past, and in answer inform you that I never heard anything of the discourses or resentments you mention, either at Versailles or at Paris; that I do not think your personal safety...
6From 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...
7From 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...
8Notes 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...
9“Une Abonnée,” [after 27 August 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress; copy: American Philosophical Society Letters to the editor written in the guise of a woman were one of Franklin’s earliest and favorite forms of satire. The present example is the only instance we have seen of his crafting this sort of spoof in France. Whether it was truly intended for publication or simply meant to amuse his friends is not known; no mention of...
10The 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...
11From Benjamin Franklin to Pamphili: Observations and Note on American Catholics, [before 27 August 1783] (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) Copy: Archives of the Congregatio de Propaganda Fide M. Franklin après avoir lu la notte de M. Le Nonce et y avoir murement réflechi, croit absolument inutile d’envoyer cette notte au Congrés, qui d’après Ses Pouvoirs et Ses constitutions ne peut ni ne doit dans aucun cas Se mêler des Affaires Ecclesiastiques d’aucune Secte ni d’aucune Religion établie en Amérique. Chaque Etat...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 24 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Reprinted from Earl P. L. Apfelbaum, Public Auction (June 3–4, 1976). <Passy, August 24, 1783: Recommends M. Bertaud, a surgeon, to Cooper’s> Notice and Civilities, and request you would assist him with your good Counsel & Advice. You will thereby much oblige, Dear Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Servant Only the second sheet of this letter was reproduced as an illustration; it is...
13From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes: Two Letters, 24 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Mr: Carnes, an American Merchant settled at Nantes, who has already presented your Excellency with a Petition requesting un Arrêt de Sur-seance , informs me that it cannot be complied with unless he first obtains the Consentment of a third of his Creditors; that in order to do this, his Presence is necessary at Nantes; but that...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, 23 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Bibliothèque de Genève Reflecting with Pleasure on the agreable and instructive Conversation you favour’d me with, when I had the Happiness of seeing you in London, I embrace this Opportunity of recalling myself to your Remembrance, & of requesting your Acceptance of a Copy of the American Constitutions. With great and sincere Esteem I have the honour to be Sir, Your most obedient and...
15From Benjamin Franklin to Graf von Brühl, 22 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office M. de Kempel, the ingenious Author of the Automaton that plays Chess, will have the Honour of putting this Line into the Hands of your Excellency; and I beg leave to recommend him to your Protection, not merely on Account of that wonderful Machine, but as a Genius capable of being serviceable to Mankind by more useful Inventions which he has not yet communicated....
16From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph-Mathias Gérard de Rayneval, 22 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Mr Carnes having informed me that my Application is necessary to his obtaining a Personal Safety or Sauf Conduite , in order to afford him the Time necessary to get the Consentment of his distant Creditors, to his obtaining Lettres de Sur-seances for the space of Six Months: I hereby request you would comply with his Request, not doubting but...
17From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, 22 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This Line will be presented to you by a very ingenious Gentleman, M. Kempel, inventor of the Automaton that plays at Chess. He has other Inventions in Mechanics of a more useful Nature, which he has Thoughts of communicating in England, if he can meet with Encouragement. I beg leave to recommend him to your Civilities & Counsels, and am ever, with sincere Esteem &...
18From Benjamin Franklin to John Whitehurst, 22 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Descendants of the Rawle and Corning Families, Connecticut (2010) The Bearer, Mr Kempel, is the Creator of the Wooden Man who plays so well at Chess; but he is very ingenious in other Matters of more Importance, and has some useful Inventions to communicate to the Publick. I beg leave to recommend him to you Civilities, and to request your Advice to him, as to the Manner of making those...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Laurens, 21 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library; press copy of ALS and copy: Library of Congress I do not doubt but you have written to some one or other of your Colleagues since your Arrival in England; and as we have heard nothing from you, I thought it necessary by a Line to inform you that none of your Letters are come to hand. After making and sending over many Propositions of ours & of Mr. Hartley’s, and...
20From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper Johonnot, 19 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received your Letter of the 14th. Instant, and am glad to hear of your safe Arrival at Nantes; it gives me Concern however to learn that you were too late for the Boston Vessel. If you had gone in the first Diligence after you came here, as I directed when I sent Lamotte with you to Paris to secure a Place for you, which you would not suffer him to do, you would...
21From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 16 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have the honour to inform your Excellency, that the English Ministry do not agree to any of the Propositions that have been made either by us, or by their Minister here; and they have sent over a Plan for the definitive Treaty, which consists merely of the Preliminaries formerly signed, with a short Introductory Paragraph, & another at the...
22From Benjamin Franklin to François-Louis Teissèdre de Fleury, 15 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Courier de l’Europe , XIV (November 4, 1783), 290. This letter has puzzled editors for years. Its subject is the silver medal that Congress ordered Franklin to have struck for Lt. Col. de Fleury. Fleury himself delivered the congressional resolution to Franklin in early 1780 when he was on leave, but he was called back to America before Duvivier, the engraver, completed the...
23The American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley, 13 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Public Record Office; copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society We have received the Letter which you did us the honour to write on the 12th. Inst. and shall take the first Opportunity of conveying to Congress the agreable Information contained in it. The Sentiments & Sensations which the Re-establishment of Peace between our two Countries,...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Ann Hudson de Lavau, 10 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your Letter dated the first Instant, which I should have answered directly, but had mislaid the enclos’d Letter from your Mother which you desired might be sent you. The Bills mentioned by Mr Beall, came duly to my hands and I have received the Money, Seventy-two Dollars. I imagined you were long since gone to America, am sorry to...
25From Benjamin Franklin to [Vergennes], [on or after 28 July 1783] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; ALS (draft): Library of Congress When the Ship Alliance belonging to the Congress was at l’Orient, under the Command of Capt. Jones, Moylan & Co Merchants there, were appointed to supply the Ship with what was necessary during her Stay. Capt. Landais taking Possession of the Ship surreptitiously in the Absence of Capt. Jones, apply’d to one...
26“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...
27From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Blagden, 29 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : James M. Osborn, New Haven, Connecticut (1966) Dr Franklin presents his Compliments to Dr Blagden, requests his Care of the enclos’d, and wishes him a good Journey with a happy Sight of his Friends & Country. Blagden had paid his final visit to BF on July 25. He was received in the “inner cabinet” where a “Great cover [was] laid out,” and the two men discussed the Montgolfiers’ “flying...
28From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 29 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. Arthur Loeb, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1955) Whom I shall probably never have the Pleasure of seeing again: You some time since recommended Miss Beckwith to me; I in consequence recommended her to my Children in Philadelphia: the enclos’d will give you some Information of her present Situation. I hope you & yours continue well, as does Your affectionate Friend & humble Servant...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Nathaniel Falconer, 28 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your Favour of the 18th. Capt. Barney brought us the Dispatches we so long expected. Mr Deane as you observe is lost: Dr Bancroft is I believe steady to the Interest of his Country, and will make an agreable Passenger if you can take him. You desire to know something of the State of Affairs here....
30The American Peace Commissioners to Robert R. Livingston, 27 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society The Definitive Treaties between the late beligerent Powers are none of them yet compleated. Ours has gone on slowly, owing partly to the Necessity Mr. Hartley (Successor of Mr Oswald) thinks himself under of sending every Proposition, either his own or ours, to his Court for their Approbation; and their Delay...
31From Benjamin Franklin to Richard and Sarah Bache, 27 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society I have received lately several Letters from you, which gave me a great deal of Pleasure, as they inform’d me of your Welfare and that of the Children. Being inform’d that Benny had been ill of a Fever, and that he was dejected & pin’d at being so long absent from his Relations, I sent for him to come to me during...
32From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 27 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library; copy: Library of Congress In this letter, prompted by Banks’s overture of May 28, Franklin rejoices in the peace, muses on the folly of war, and reclaims his place in the British scientific community, as he had long wished to do. Erasing eight years of estrangement, he notes with pleasure the recent discoveries made by “our” Society. By way of reciprocation, he adds a...
33From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 27 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I have been honoured by your Letters in the Washington, of the 3d. 11th. 13th. 19th of January, and the 26th & 31st of May. Till that Ship arriv’d, we had been totally in the dark respecting American Affairs for near 6 Months. The Correspondence may henceforth be more regular, as 5 Pacquet Boats are now ordered here, to depart from LOrient for N. York the middle...
34From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 22[–26] July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS , press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives; AL (draft): Library of Congress You have complained sometimes with reason of not hearing often from your foreign Ministers; we have had cause to make the same Complaint, six full Months having intervened between the latest Date of your preceeding Letters, and the receipt of those per Capt. Barney. During all this Time we were ignorant...
35From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 24 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
L : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; L (draft): Library of Congress M. Franklin a l’honneur d’envoyer à Monsieur Le Comte de Vergennes un Exemplaire des Constitutions des Etats-Unis de l’Amerique qu’il le prie de vouloir bien accepter. M. Franklin prend la Liberté d’envoyer en même tems, ceux destinés pour le Roi et la Famille Royale; et il prie Monsieur le Comte de Vergennes, de...
36From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 23 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society; copy: Sächsisches Hauptstaatsarchiv This will be delivered to you by M. Thieriot, who goes to Philadelphia by order of his Court as Commissioner of the Commerce of Saxony, in order to establish a Correspondence between the two Countrys, that may, it is thought, be greatly advantageous to both. We have all along had many well-wishers in that Electorate, and I...
37From Benjamin Franklin to Schönfeld, [23 July 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Sächsisches Hauptstaatsarchiv Vous trouverés cy-joint les lettres que Vous m’avés fait l’honneur de me demander pour le Sr. Thieriot. Elles lui procureront, je n’en doute pas, cette reception et consideration qui sont dues à son Souverain ainsi qu’à son merite. Recevés, je Vous prie Mr., l’assurance du très parfait attachemt. avec lequel j’ai l’honneur d’etre Votre &a. Copie, de la...
38Recommendation for Pierre Sonnerat to the Royal Society, [22 July? 1783] (Franklin Papers)
DS : American Philosophical Society M. Pierre Sonnerat, Correspondent of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, Member of the Academy of Lyons, well known by his Voyages to New-Guinea and China, where he was employed by the King of France for the promotion of Natural History, being desirous of Admittance into the Royal Society; we whose names are subscribed do recommend him upon our personal...
39From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, [before 18 July 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress Mr. F. submits it to the Consideration of Mr. Jay, whether it may not be adviseable to forbear, at present, the Justification of ourselves, respecting the Signature of the Preliminaries; because That matter is, at present, quiet here; No Letter sent to the Congress is ever kept secret; The Justification contains some Charges of...
40The American Peace Commissioners to Robert R. Livingston, 18 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; press copy of LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, Yale University Library; transcript: National Archives We have had the honour of receiving by Capt. Barney your two Letters of the 25th. of March & 21st of April, with the Papers referred to in them. We are happy to find that the Provisional Articles have...
B. Franklin’s Observations on Mr Jay’s Draft of a Letter to Mr Livingston, which occasioned the foregoing Part to be left out.— M r . F. aubmits it to the Consideration of M r . Jay whether it may not be adviseable to forbear, at present, the Justification of ourselves, respecting the Signature of the Preliminaries, because That matter is, at present, quiet here; No Letter sent to the Congress...
42From Benjamin Franklin to the Farmers General: Memorandum, [before 17 July 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of AD and transcript: University of Pennsylvania Library Copy of [Note given] to the Farmers General Mr Robert Morris, Merchant, of Philadelphia, is Superintendant des Finances of the United States. It belongs to him to make Provision for the [Payment of the Debt due from the States to the Farmers General]. Mr Morris is a Man of S[kill] in Business, great Activity, great Exactness,...
43The American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley, 17 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Public Record Office; AL (drafts): American Philosophical Society, Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives We have the honour to inform you that we have just received from Congress their Ratification in due Form of the Provisional Articles of the 30th. of November 1782, and we are ready...
44Draft Letter from the American Peace Commissioners to Bariatinskii and Arkadii Markov, [before 15 July 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Around July 13, the American commissioners had been given to understand that mediation by the imperial courts was “a mere formality—a mere Compliment, consisting wholly in the Imperial Ministers putting their names & Seals to the parchment, & can have no ill effect.” On that basis, and believing that Vergennes was in favor of it, Adams drafted the...
45The American Peace Commissioners to Vergennes, 10 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Messieurs Adams, Franklin & Jay, Ministers of the United States for treating of Peace, present their Respects to Mr le Comte de Vergennes, & request he would be pleased to favour them with a Copy of the Offer made by the two Imperial Courts of their Mediation. Notations: juillet 10 / rep. le 31 Juillet 1783. Written by BF . At Versailles on...
46From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Laurens, 6 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania We have been honoured with several of your Letters, and we have talk’d of writing to you, but it has been delayed. I will therefore write a few Lines in my private Capacity. Our Negociations go on slowly, every Proposition being sent to England, & Answers not returning very speedily. Capt. Barney arrived here last Wednesday, & brought Dispatches for us...
47From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 4 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives I have the honour to communicate to your Excellency, by Order of Congress, their Resolution of the 2d of May. It will explain itself; and I can add no Arguments to enforce the Request it contains, which I have not already urged with an Importunity that nothing but...
48The American Peace Commissioners to Prince Bariatinskii, [2 July 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. 199. On Tuesday, July 1, at the weekly gathering of ministers at Versailles, Vergennes informed the American peace commissioners that the Anglo-French treaty had been settled, pending British approval, and the time had come for them to...
49From Benjamin Franklin to Le Couteulx & Cie., 2 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have the honour of sending you enclos’d a Letter I have just receiv’d for you from Mr Morris.— I find that from a Mistake in his Expectations of the Funds I should be able to furnish, he has drawn on Mr Grand to a larger Amount than I can possibly supply. Mr Grand will therefore be obliged to protest some of those Bills unless Means can be found...
50From Benjamin Franklin to [the Duc de Deux-Ponts], [on or after 14 June 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Reponse Without Information what are the Productions & Manufactures of the Palatinate & of Bavaria and their Prices, of which Mr Franklin is totally ignorant, it is impossible for him to say what of them will be proper for a Commerce with the United States of America. He can only answer in general, that America purchases from Europe all kinds of...