1The Commissioners to John Ross?, 9 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 29 of August We duely received. We return you the Contract inclosed in it. We are neither instructed nor authorised, to discharge your Debts, whether contracted in a private Capacity or otherwise, and if We were, our Finances would not enable Us to do it, at present. In one of your Letters you Say you have certain Merchandises on Hand to ship to America, which you will not ship...
2The Commissioners to John Ross, 30 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have received your Letter of the twenty second of September, and take this Opportunity to say, that We have no Authority, either to give you Orders or Advice, any further than respects the large Sum of Money, which the Commissioners put into your Hands sometime ago. Of the Expenditure of this Money, We have demanded an Account, which you have refused to give Us. With your private Concerns...
3The Commissioners to John Ross, 3 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have received yours of the twenty seventh of October, inclosing a Copy of a Resolution of Congress of the 11. Aug. 1778. We shall conform ourselves exactly pay the strictest Attention and Obedience to this Resolution of Congress, and to all others, as far as shall be in our Power; and shall be always ready to receive your Accounts and to settle them, and pay the Ballance if any should...
4From Benjamin Franklin to John Ross, 14 February 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your obliging Favour of Dec. 20. and am glad to find, that tho’ so distant from them, I still live in the Remembrance of my Friends. We have been of late so much engag’d in our general American Affairs, that it was necessary to let what related particularly to our Province sleep a little for the present; but it is nevertheless working...
5From Benjamin Franklin to John Ross, 8 June 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania If, according to the Custom here, I congratulate you on your having a severe Fit of the Gout, I cannot avoid mixing some Condolance with my Congratulations: For I too have lately had a Visit, or rather a Visitation , from the same Friend (or Enemy) that confin’d me near a Fortnight. And notwithstanding the salutary Effects People talk of, to comfort us...
6From Benjamin Franklin to John Ross, 11 April 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your Favour of Dec. 8. and Feb. 22. and thank you for the particular Accounts you send me of Affairs on your side the Water, which are very agreable to me to read. Here publick Affairs are in great Disorder; a strong Opposition against the Ministry which at the same time is thought not to be well united, and daily Apprehensions of new...
7From Benjamin Franklin to John Ross, 12 December 1767 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D F.R.S. &c ., Quarto Edition, II, printed with separate title as The Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D. F.R.S. &c . (London, 1817), p. 148. I received your kind letter of October 18. I had before seen with great pleasure your name in the papers as chosen for the...
8From Benjamin Franklin to John Ross, 14 May 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your Favour of March 13. and am extreamly concern’d at the Disorders on our Frontiers, and the extreme Debility if not wicked Connivance of our Government and Magistrates, which must make Property and even Life more and more insecure among us, if some effectual Remedy is not speedily apply’d. I have laid all the Accounts before the Ministry...
9The Secret Committee to John Ross, 27 September 1776: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : New York Public Library <Philadelphia, September 27, 1776: Several vessels bringing clothing have been captured. Please purchase on the best possible terms 10,000 striped blankets, 30,000 yards of blue and brown broadcloth at 3 s. to 6 s. the yard, 3,000 yards of different colors for facings at about 4 s. , and 1,000 pieces of Duffields or the equivalent at about 90 s. Use either funds on...
10The American Commissioners to John Ross, 18 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We Recd: yours giving an Acct. of the Arrival of the Goods on which we had not made any Insurance. From the Situation of your Affairs when you wrote Us last, we presume that Your Ship, Capt. Green is ready for sailing. Capt. Nicholson will also be ready in a few Days, We have therefore to propose to you that They go in Company as Capt. Nicholson will be...
11The American Commissioners to John Ross, 11 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society Yours of the 6th. came to hand in Course; as Mr. W. Lee will be with you before the receipt of this we refer you to him for what has been done as to the Late Mr. Morris’s Papers &c. In regard to the Ship purchased by you, Commanded by Capt. J. Green which you Offer to assign over to the Public account we are content that you do it and Charge the amount to...
12The American Commissioners to John Ross, 13 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two) <Passy, April 13, 1778: We are unable to comply with your request because the papers are Mr. William Lee’s; he is in Frankfurt, where you may be able to reach him by letter. Neither can we make further advances. We wish you to account for the goods bought with the funds we provided, but we cannot make a complete settlement; the...
13The American Commissioners to John Ross, 22 April–23 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two); incomplete drafts: Library of Congress <Passy, April 22–May 3, 1778: You wrote us that you would, if desired, send the invoices of goods shipped for the public. We asked for them, to account for the money advanced you. Your reason for refusing, in yours of the 18th, is inadequate; send us all the accounts, and a copy of our...
14From Benjamin Franklin to John Ross, 26 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Library of Congress The Multiplicity of Affairs we have lately been engag’d in, together with Mr. Deane’s Departure who used to correspond with you, occasioned a Deficiency in answering your Letters. On looking them over I find some Reflections on the Commissioners as having acted an injurious Part relative to the Papers left by Mr. Thomas Morris. It appears that you have not been...
15The American Commissioners to [John Ross], 9 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society <Passy, September 9, 1778: We acknowledge yours of August 29. We are authorized to discharge neither your private nor your public debts. If you purchased goods with money sent you by the commissioners and had given us an account, we could have given you orders. As it is, any goods you have belonging to the United States should be delivered to Mr....
16The American Commissioners to John Ross, 30 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Detroit Public Library; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: National Archives (four); transcript: National Archives <Passy, September 30, 1778: We received yours of September 22. We have no authority to give you orders or advice beyond what concerns the large sum of money advanced you by the commissioners some time ago for which you refuse to account. We have nothing to...
17The American Commissioners to John Ross, 3 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Justin G. Turner, Los Angeles (1959); AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have received yours of the twenty seventh of October, inclosing a Copy of a Resolution of Congress of the 11th August 1778. We shall pay the strictest Attention and Obedience to this Resolution of Congress and to all others, as far as shall be in our Power; and Shall be...
18From Benjamin Franklin to [John Ross], 5 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I received yours of the 27th past, enclosing the Resolve of Congress relative to Mr T. Morris’s Papers. The Trunk said to contain them was deposited with me by W Lee Esqr. on Acct of his going to Germany. One of the Seals you mention was broken in bringing it to my House, and I got him to put on his own Seal instead of it. In this State it remains,...
19The American Commissioners to John Ross, 29 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have received your Letters of the fifteenth and Twenty-fourth of December, with their Enclosures, and once more assure you, that We have no Authority, to do any Thing in your Affairs, untill you have Settled your Accounts.— Whenever you Shall be ready to lay your Accounts before Us, We shall be ready to receive them...
20From Benjamin Franklin to [John Ross], 1 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Wisconsin Historical Society I received your Favour of the 24th. past, with the Order of Congress respecting your Accounts which I communicated to the other Commissioners, & I suppose you have receiv’d the Answer. I should imagine it would be best for you to come up with your Accounts in order to their more speedy Settlement. As to the Tobacco arrived, it is all long since engaged to the...
21From Benjamin Franklin to John Ross, 19 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am contented that as many of the Public Woollens go in the Alliance as Comme. Jones shall be willing to take on board, he being the best judge of the Quantity that may be carried, consistent with allowance of sufficient Room for the People, Provisions Water, &c. and shall write to him this Day accordingly; I shall also write to him to permit your taking your passage...
22From Benjamin Franklin to John Ross, 19 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours (without Date) in which you mention a Desire that the alliance could come off Nourmautier to take in the Cloth. I have written to Captain Jones to do it if practicable. Perhaps the Mary fearon or Govr. Livingston or both may be taken up for the Publick service. I shall know to morrow, and if so shall write to you to ship the other Things in those...
23From Benjamin Franklin to John Ross, 22 April[–3 June 1780] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I duly received your favours of the 14th. & 17th. Instant. I am sorry to understand from you that the wollens are in such a situation as to endanger their being lost to the states: But do not see why it should be expected of me to point out a Vessel for them to be shipt in, or to approve or accept of any Contract you may make for the freight of them. The affair is...
24From Benjamin Franklin to John Ross, 15 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have received your favour of the 9. July. I should be very glad to have it in my Power to satisfy every body, and send all the Supplies immediately to America, which the late Disturbance on board the Alliance has in a great measure prevented. I understand that the Alliance would carry a considerable Part of the Stores, and the Ariel the Remainder, but this first...
25From Benjamin Franklin to John Ross, 28 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yesterday your favour of the 23d. proposing a Ship to be freighted for our Goods. I some time since put that Business into the Hands of M. Williams, who has agreed for a Ship accordingly, that is large enough to take all we have to send. He will inform you of the Particulars. I am nevertheless thankful to you for your Obliging Attention to this important...
26From Benjamin Franklin to John Ross, 18 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your favour of the 11th. with the Accounts, Bill of Lading &c. of the Goods you have Shipped. If you remember right I promis’d only to assist you in the freight, but you have drawn upon for almost an equal Sum over and above, on Account of Charges, Commissions &c. These kind of Encroachements are disagreable, as well as inconvenient. I have however accepted...