701From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, 15 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; press copy of ALS , and copy: Library of Congress; transcripts: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives On Sunday, April 14, Shelburne’s representative Richard Oswald, accompanied by Franklin’s old friend Caleb Whitefoord, arrived in Paris bearing Shelburne’s April 6 letter. That evening Whitefoord traveled to Passy on his own...
702From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 14 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library; copy: William L. Clements Library The Bearer having been detain’d here, I add this Line to suggest, that if the new Ministry are dispos’d to enter into a General Treaty of Peace, Mr Laurens being set intirely at Liberty may receive such Propositions as they shall think fit to make relative to Time, Place, or any other Particulars, and come hither with them. He is...
703To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 13 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed with this I send to your Excellency the Pacquet of Correspondence between Mr Hartley and me which I promised in my last. You will see we have held nearly the same Language which gives me Pleasure. While Mr Hartley was making Propositions to me, with the Approbation or Privity of Lord North, to treat separately from France, that Minister had an Emissary here, a Mr Forth, formerly a...
704From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 13 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress Inclosed with this I send to your Excellency the Pacquet of Correspondence between Mr Hartley and me which I promised in my last. You will see that we have held nearly the same Language which gives me Pleasure. While Mr Hartley was making Propositions to me, with the Approbation or Privity of Lord North, to treat separately from...
705From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 13 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, William L. Clements Library Since mine of the 5th. I have thought farther of the Subject of our late Letters. You were of Opinion that the late Ministry desired sincerily a Reconciliation with America, and with that View a separate Peace with us was proposed. It happened that at the same time Lord North had an Emissary here, employ’d to sound the French Ministers...
706From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 13 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Stan V. Henkels, Catalogue No. 1262 (July 1, 1920), item 31; and American Art Association, Sale Catalogue (April 22–4, 1924), item 295. I received your kind Letter of the 23d of December. I rejoice always to hear of your & your good Mother’s Welfare, tho’ I can write but Seldom, Safe Opportunities are Scarce. Looking over some old Papers I find the rough Draft of a Letter which...
707From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 13 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete copy: Sheffield Central Library On looking over the Letters you have favored me with, I see several particulars, that have been hitherto unanswered, thro the Multiplicity of Affairs which devour my Time & distract my attention; You hinted your Willingness to come over hither, in case the Journey cou’d be made usefull to the publick; I did not at that Time see any Probability of it—...
708From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Laurens, 12 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : South Carolina Historical Society; copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress I should sooner have paid my Respects to you by Letter if I had not till lately expected you here, as I understood it to be your Intention. Your Enlargement gave me great Pleasure; and I hope that the Terms exacted by the late Ministry will now be relax’d; especially when they are informed that you...
709From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 12 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives; copy: Library of Congress Being at Court on Tuesday, I learnt from the Dutch Minister, that the new English Ministry have offer’d thro’ the Ministers of Russia, a Cessation of Arms to Holland, and a renewal of the Treaty of 1674. M. de Berkenrood seem’d to be of Opinion, that the Offer was intended to gain Time, to obstruct the Concert of...
710From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache: Three Letters, 8 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
(I), (II), and (III) Copy: Library of Congress This will be delivered to you by M. le Prince de Broglie, who goes to America to join the Army of General Rochambeau. He is a zealous Friend of our Cause and Country, and much esteem’d by all that know him. I recommend him earnestly to your Civilities, and request you would render him all the Services in your Power. I am ever. Your Affectionate...
711From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 8 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Prince de Broglie, Son of the Marechal Duc de Broglie has desired of me a few Letters of Introduction. With regard to Boston I cannot do better than to present him to you, who have a Pleasure in showing Civilities to Strangers of Merit, & who can introduce him to the principal Persons civil & military of your State. You already love with reason the French Nation;...
712From Benjamin Franklin to William Greene, 8 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress If M. le Prince de Broglie in passing thro’ your State should happen to be near you, I request you would show him all the Civilities that are due to Strangers of Merit & Character. His good Will to our Country and Zeal for its Cause, join’d to his amiable personal Qualities, will make it a Pleasure to you to render him any Services he may stand in need of.— You will...
713From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston: Two Letters, 8 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS , press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives; copy: Library of Congress; (II) LS : New-York Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress Since my last an extraordinary Revolution has taken place in the Court of England. All the old Ministers are out and the Chiefs of the Opposition are in their Places. The News Papers that I send will give you the Names as correctly as we yet...
714From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 8 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress; copy and transcript: National Archives The Bills accepted by Mr. Jay, and afterwards protested for Nonpayment, are come & coming back to France & Holland, and I have ordered them to be taken up and discharged by our Banker, I hope none will be return’d to America. There is a Convoy just going, and another, it is said, will follow in about 3 Weeks. By these two I hope...
715From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 8 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: Library of Congress I did myself the honour of writing to you a few Days since by the Comte de Segur. This Line is chiefly to present the Prince de Broglie to your Excellency, who goes over to join the Army of M. de Rochambeau. He bears an excellent Character here, is a hearty Friend to our Cause, and I am persuaded you will have a Pleasure in his Conversation. I take leave...
716To Benjamin Franklin from Ferdinand Grand, with a Draft of Franklin’s Reply, [8 April 1782] (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I just hear from Amsterdam that Bills accepted by Mr. J. Jay at Madrid are come back unpaid & protested to the Amount of 20000 Ducats. If you are desirous they should be paid you will be so Kind as to send me your Orders for that purpose & I shall pursuant thereto write by tomorrow’s Mail to the above friends to give notice to the holders of the Bills that...
717To George Washington from Benjamin Franklin, 8 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the honour of writing to you a few Days since by the Comte de Segur. This Line is chiefly to present the Prince de Broglie to your Excellency, who goes over to join the Army of M. de Rochambeau. He bears an excellent Character here, is a hearty Friend to our Cause, and I am persuaded you will have a Pleasure in his Conversation. I take leave therefore to recommend him to those...
718From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 7 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress This will be delivered to you by Mr. le Comte de Segur, (Son of the Marquis de Segur Ministre de la Guerre) a Young Nobleman whose amiable Qualities and sensible Conversation will I am sure give you Pleasure. I therefore make no Apology for the Liberty I take of introducing him to you, recommending him to your Civilities and Friendship, and requesting you would do the...
719From Benjamin Franklin to Cuming & Macarty, 7 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress I have just received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 3d Instant relating to some accepted Bills, amounting to 1671 Dollars that have been protested for Nonpayment at Madrid. I am sorry for the Uneasiness this Accident has occasioned to you, and shall immediately give Orders to have them taken up and the...
720From Benjamin Franklin to Rodolphe-Ferdinand Grand, 7 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress This is to request you would immediately discharge and take up sundry Bills of Exchange, amounting to One Thousand Six hundred and seventy one Dollars, which were accepted by Mr Jay at Madrid, & afterwards protested for Nonpayment, and are now in the hands of Messrs. Pache, freres & Co at Paris. I am, Sir Your most obedt...
721From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Greene, 7 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress If the Comte de Segur, Son of the Minister of War should happen to be in your Neighbourhood, I recommend him warmly to your Civilities & Friendship, and to those of the good Governor. You will find him as amiable and deserving as any of the French Officers whose good Conduct you so much applauded last Year. I continue as hearty and well as when you first knew me,...
722From Benjamin Franklin to the Chevalier de Chastellux, 6 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : private collection (1985); copy: Library of Congress It gave me great Pleasure to hear by the Officers returned last Winter from your Army, that you continued in good Health. You will see by the Public Papers, that the English begin to be weary of the War, and they have reason; having suffered many Losses, having four Nations of Enemies upon their Hands, few Men to spare, little Money...
723Franklin: Account of Living Toads Found Enclosed in Limestone, [6 April 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Académie royale des sciences; copy: Library of Congress In submitting the following report to the Académie des sciences, Franklin joined a long tradition of people who had marveled over the improbable discovery of toads living in niches in solid rock or in the middle of tree trunks. The Annual Register for 1761 published a survey of some of this literature, including translations of two...
724From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 5 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I wrote a few Lines to you the 31st. past, and promised to write more fully. On pursuing again your Letters of the 11th. 12th. & 21st. I do not find any Notice taken of one from me dated Feby. 16. I therefore now send you a Copy made from it in the Press. The uncertainty of safe Transmission discourages a free Communication of Sentiments on these important Affairs;...
725From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Castries, 2 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : William L. Clements Library; copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 31st of March, relating to Messrs. Agnew Father & Son , and Capt Parker , Englishmen taken Prisoners in America & brought to France. I know nothing of those Persons or of the Circumstances that might induce the Delegates of Virginia to desire their Detention,...
726From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 2 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS and two copies: Library of Congress I received duly the Honour of your Letter accompanying the Capitulation of Gen. Cornwallis. All the World agree that no Expedition was ever better plann’d or better executed. It has made a great Addition to the military Reputation you had already acquired, and brightens the Glory that surrounds your Name and that must accompany it to our latest Posterity....
727To George Washington from Benjamin Franklin, 2 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I received duly the Honour of your Letter accompanying the Capitulation of Gen. Cornwallis. All the World agree that no Expedition was ever better plann’d or better executed. It has made a great Addition to the military—Reputation you had already acquired, and brightens the Glory that surrounds your Name and that must accompany it to our latest Posterity. No News could possibly make me more...
728Intelligence from London, [after 8 March 1782] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in William Duane, ed., The Works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin … (6 vols., Philadelphia, 1808–18) V , 325–6. No. III. 1. The nation has spent in this war, since 1775 an hundred millions of sterling money. 2. The nation has lost by this war fourteen colonies on the continent of America, several Islands in the West Indies, and Minorca. 3. The nation is at war with three powerful states in...
729To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 31 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I received yours of the 10th Instant, and am of Opinion with you, that the English will evacuate New York and Charlestown, as the Troops there, after the late Resolutions of Parliament, must be useless, and are necessary to defend their remaining Islands where they have not at present more than 3000 Men. The Prudence of this Operation is so obvious, that I think they can hardly miss it:...
730From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 31 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I received yours of the 10th Instant, and am of Opinion with you, that the English will evacuate New York & Charlestown, as the Troops there, after the late Resolutions of Parliament, must be useless, and are necessary to defend their Remaining Islands where they have not at present more than 3000 Men. The Prudence of this Operation is so obvious, that I...