4801From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 25 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Nothing very material has happen’d since you left us. The D. [Duke] of Dorset call’d yesterday, and enquir’d if I had heard from you, supposing you had been gone a Week. Mr Adams & Family, Made D’andelot and other Friends have visited me, & Made Saurin who is return’d from England. We din’d with her yesterday. She says Made. D’hauteville will be glad to see...
4802From Benjamin Franklin to the Earl of Shelburne, 25 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Reproduced in Christie’s auction catalogue, “Important Autograph Letters from the Historical Archives at Bowood House” (London, Oct. 12, 1994), p. 39. I have had the Pleasure of seeing Lord Fitzmaurice several Times. I congratulate your Lp. sincerely on your having so promising a Son. He will I am persuaded make a valuable Man, and be a Comfort and Honour to you in your Old Age. The...
4803From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 26 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have received your kind Letter of the 11th. Inst. with one from the Cte. de Campomanes enclos’d, wch. I shall answer in a few Days. Your Namesake is gone to England; but I think he wrote to you before he went. I expect him back in 4 or 5 Weeks.— I suppose he acquainted you that Mr. Jefferson is arrived. He has brought Commissions joining him with Mr...
4804From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 29 August] 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Seth Kaller, Inc., White Plains, New York (2006) I received last Night your Letter from Calais, and was glad to hear you were so far safe.— When I liv’d in London, there was a Letter-founder of the Name of Moore who liv’d somewhere near Moorfields. He made Printing-Presses of a new Construction, which I lik’d much, and bought one for Lord le Despencer. I have undertaken to procure one...
4805From Benjamin Franklin to Ernst Frederik von Walterstorff, 2 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of AL : Library of Congress On August 30 the three ministers newly commissioned by Congress to negotiate treaties of amity and commerce with foreign powers held their first formal meeting at Franklin’s residence in Passy. Thomas Jefferson, recently arrived from America, was by that time settled in Paris. John Adams, now joined by his family, had rented a mansion in Auteuil, just one...
4806From Benjamin Franklin to John Dickinson, 3 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Mr Charles Helsted, whom his Majesty the King of Sueden has appointed Consul of that Nation, will have the Honour of presenting this Line to your Excellency. He is recommended to me by the Suedish Ambassador at this Court, as a Gentleman of great Merit: As such I beg leave to recommend him to your Civilities and Countenance. With sincere Esteem, I have...
4807From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 3 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministere des affaires étrangères; transcript: National Archives I have the Honour to transmit to your Excellency by Order of Congress a Resolution of theirs, dated the 11th. of May last, which is in the Words following, Viz, “Resolved, That Doctor Franklin be instructed to express to the Court of France the constant Desire of Congress to meet their Wishes; That these States...
4808From 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,...
4809From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, 7 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Library of Congress This will be delivered to you by Count Mirabeau Son of the Marquis of that Name; Author of LAmi des Hommes. This Gentleman is esteemed here, and I recommend him to your Civilities and Counsels, particularly with respect to the Printing of a Piece he has written on the subject of hereditary Nobility, on occasion of the Order of Cincinnati lately attempted to be...
4810From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 8 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have receiv’d no Line from you since that from Dover. I continue as well as when you left me. M. le Veillard is much better but still weak and cannot yet go abroad.— The rest of our Friends are well, and often enquire after you. I intended to have sent you some more Letters; but my Time has been all devour’d by Business and Visitors. The inclos’d Pacquet...
4811The American Commissioners to the Baron von Thulemeier, 9 September 1784 (Adams Papers)
The United States of America in Congress Assembled judging that an intercourse between the Subjects of His Prussian Majesty and the Citizens of the said States founded on the principles of equality reciprocity and friendship, may be of mutual advantage to both nations, on the twelfth day of May last, issued their Commission under the Seal of the said States to the Subscribers as their...
4812From Benjamin Franklin to [Jacques-Louis?] Besnard, 12 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 30 du Mois dernier. Les Personnes qui vous ont dit que Je desirois trouver quelqu’un en état de decouvrir et d’exploiter des Mines de Fer se sont trompées et vous ont mal informé. On connoit partout en Amerique des Mines de ce precieux Metal; et les Habitans de ce Pays...
4813From 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...
4814From Benjamin Franklin to Guiard, 12 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS : Library of Congress J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 8 de ce Mois. Je suis bien sensible à l’Intérêt que vous voulez bien prendre à ma Santé, et Je vous suis infiniment obligé, ainsi qu’à M. Dubourg, de la Communication de votre Reméde contre la Pierre et la Gravelle. Ma Maladie ayant été [assez?] supportable jusqu’à ce Jour, Je ne...
4815From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-François Proth, 12 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 30 du Mois dernier, par la quelle vous me faitez part du Desir que vous avez de passer en Amérique, et me priez en consequence de m’interesser en votre faveur. Dans le Cas même où le Traité qui subsiste entre la France et les Etats Unis me permettroit de favoriser les...
4816From Benjamin Franklin to Roussille, 12 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, votre Memoire concernant les Parts qui peuvent vous étre dues sur le Produit des Prises faites par le Corsaire le Boston. Le Payement des Gages et la Repartition du Produit des Prises se faisant toujours dans le Pays ou l’Armement du Vaisseau de Guerre a eu lieu, la Réclamation que vous en faites en France me paroit...
4817From Benjamin Franklin to [Charbonnier de la Robole], [13 September 1784] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress; press copy of L (French translation): American Philosophical Society Mr Franklin sends the Recommendatory Letters desired, but cannot advise Mr. Mouret to go to North America in Expectation of Employment in a Country of which he does not understand the Language, and thinks that if he will leave France he had better go to the French Islands St. Domingo,...
4818From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 13 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received last Night yours of the 7th. & am glad to hear you are quit of your Fever. You are well advis’d to continue taking the Bark. There is an English Proverb that says, An Ounce of Prevention is worth a Pound of Cure. It is particularly true with regard to the Bark and an Intermittent.— I consent to your going with your Father, and to your Stay in...
4819From Benjamin Franklin to Hall & Sellers, 13 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer M. Prosper Mouret is recommended to me by Persons of Consideration here as a good Workman in the Printing Business and of honest Character. He goes to America with Views of living there by his Profession. If you can conveniently give him Employment in your Printing House, or put him in a way to obtain it in some other, you will...
4820From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Price, 13 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Glasgow You have a kind of Right to receive from me every thing that appears here on the Subject of Finance. I therefore send you herewith the late Edict for establishing a new Sinking Fund, which seems to give great Satisfaction to the Public Creditors here.— No one is better if so well qualified as your self to make a sound Judgment of it, and at some leisure Moment I...
4821From Benjamin Franklin to Spinola, 13 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 9th inst. respecting the appointment of a Consul to reside at Boston on the part of your State, to protect the interests of your commerce & people in America. On consideration I thought it right to communicate the same to my Colleagues now here, Mr Adams & Mr Jefferson, they being with me commissioned to...
4822From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 15 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society I have just seen in the English Newspapers that you and your Family are safe arrived in New York, which gives me great Pleasure. I send you herewith some of our latest News Papers. Mr Hartley is at length recall’d, having remain’d here Six Months without doing or proposing any thing towards the Commercial Treaty....
4823To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 15 September 1784 (Jay Papers)
I have just seen in the English Newspapers that you and your Family are safe arrived in New York, which gives me great Pleasure. I send you herewith some of our latest News Papers. M r Hartley is at length recalled, having remained here Six Months without doing or proposing any thing towards the Commercial Treaty. Mess rs . Adams & Jefferson are here, and we go on together very well. Permit me...
4824From Benjamin Franklin to Lorenzo Manini, 19 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Biblioteca Statale di Cremona You did me a very great Pleasure when you sent me the American Letters, and gave me an Opportunity of reading that excellent Work, not less replete with sound Judgement and good Sense than with variety of Learning & Science; and I beg you to accept my thankful Acknowledgements. I am also extremely sensible of the honour of your Dedication. I sometime since...
4825From Benjamin Franklin to Paolo Frisi, 20 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library I received with great Pleasure the Line you were pleased to write to me by the Chevalier Castiglioni, and am oblig’d to you for making me acquainted with a Gentleman so intelligent and so amiable.— If in his American Travels I can be of any Service to him, he may command me, on his own Account as well as in respect to your Recommendation.— The Present you propose to make...
4826From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 28 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress I communicated immediately to Mr Williams the Letter your Excellency did me the Honour of writing to me the 26th. Instant, with the Memorial of Mr Denevers which accompany’d it.— I inclose a Letter from him to your Excellency, by which it will appear that the Complaint is not well founded; and I am persuaded...
4827From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 2 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have not receiv’d a Line from you since that of Sept. 7. now near a Month. I have waited with impatience the Arrival of every Post.— But not a Word.— All your Acquaintance are continually enquiring what News from you.— I have none. Judge what I must feel, what they must think, and tell me what I am to think of such Neglect. I must suppose it Neglect: for...
4828From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 11[–15] October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS and copy: American Philosophical Society I have just received the honour of yours of the 25th past, and shall communicate it as you desire to my Colleagues, tomorrow. I think you did right in mentioning to the Minister the Nature of our Commission, &c. In my last I sent you a Copy of our Letter to the Count d’Aranda. Herein I inclose his Answer, in order to keep you fully...
4829From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 11 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I beg leave to lay before your Excellency the enclos’d Papers, complaining of the improper Proceedings of the Admiralty at Nantes, in deciding on a Cause between the Captain of an American Ship and one of his Sailors, which ought only to have been judg’d by our Consul; and moreover in arresting the said Ship just on the Point of Departing for...
4830From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 14 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Haverford College The Chevr. Castiglioni, who will deliver you this Line, is an Italian Gentleman of Character and Family, from Milan. He proposes a Tour thro’ all our States. I beg leave to recommend him to your Civilities, and that you would introduce him to the Acquaintance of such of our Society as have a Tincture of Natural History & Botany in which he is particularly curious. With...