4151From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 7 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 21st. past, in which you acquaint me that the Money is almost expended. I have therefore this Day ordered 150 £ more into your hands thro’ Mr. Grand. I send you also enclosed a little Bill of Ten Guineas, for which I advanced the Money to a Mr. Wyld, who was recommended to me as an honest Man, by Mr. Clegg, on whom it is drawn. You will...
4152From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 9 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have long feared that by our continually worring the Ministry here with successive afterclap Demands for more and more money, we should at length tire out their Patience. Bills are still coming in Quantities drawn on Mr. Jay, Mr. Laurens & Mr. Adams. Spain & Holland have afforded little toward Paying them; & Recourse has therefore been had to me. You will see by the...
4153From Benjamin Franklin to the Chevalier de Vernier, 10 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 8th. Instant desiring Information relating to the Death of a French officer named Vernie, supposed to have been in the Service of the united States. I wish it were in my Power to comply with your Request. But no Account has ever been sent to me of the Foreign officers in our Service, and I seldom know...
4154From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 11 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress Your Excellency will see by the within the Situation I am in, & will thence judge how far it may be proper for you to accept farther Drafts on Mr Laurens, with any Expectation of my enabling you to pay them, when I have not only no Promise of more Money, but an absolute Promise that I shall have no more.— I shall use my...
4155From Benjamin Franklin to Martha Laurens, 12 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I [In] my last I acquainted you with the Steps I had taken for your good Father’s Relief and Discharge. I have the Pleasure of sending you the Transcript of a Passage from an English News-Paper just received, by which it appears that he is at Liberty, on which I most heartily congratulate you. With great Esteem I have the honour to be &c. Above, Dec. 29, 1781. A...
4156From Benjamin Franklin to Embser, 15 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress If you send for me to the Care of Mr. Grand Banquier àt Paris, the Volumes you have already printed of the Latin & Greek Classics, he will pay for the same, the Price mentioned in your too complaisant & too polite Letter of the 6th. Instant. If they appear to be well and correctly printed, I shall recommend your Edition in America. I wish Success to your Undertaking,...
4157From Benjamin Franklin to Ferdinand Grand: Two Letters, 15 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) Copy: Library of Congress Having written to M. Le Comte de Vergennes the 27. of last month, demanding a Million out of the Dutch Loan, & acquainting him that I was fully authorised to apply it for the Service of Congress, I make no Doubt but he has written for it Mr. Joly de Fleury according to his Promise and that you may receive it, when you call for it. I have the Honour to be,...
4158From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 15 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received a few Days since your Favour of the 2d. Instant, in which you tell me, that Mr. Alexander had informed you, “America was disposed to enter into a separate Treaty with great Britain.” I am persuaded that your strong Desire for Peace has misled you & occasioned your greatly misunderstanding Mr. Alexander, as I think it scarce possible he should have asserted...
4159From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 15 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library; copies: Henry E. Huntington Library, Columbia University Library, Library of Congress, National Archives Mr Grand tells me that he hears from Madrid, you are uneasy at my long Silence. I have had much Vexation and Perplexity lately with the Affair of our Goods in Holland: And I have so many urgent Correspondencies to keep up, that some of them at times...
4160From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Barclay, 18 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I duly received the Letters you did me the honour of writing to me the 24th. of last Month, and the 6th. of this. I send you in a separate Pacquet the Account render’d me by Messrs. Neufville of the Purchase in Holland; and I enclose the Invoice said to have been ordered by Col. Laurens, which was shown me by Capt. Jackson to justify the Purchase; and also the Invoice...
4161From Benjamin Franklin to Ferdinand Grand, 18 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I rec’d. your Letter of Yesterday acknowledging the Recipt of my 32 Dividend Bills; I now send you according to your Desire the Stocks of the Same, & request you to do the necessary. The List you Sent me of my Orders to Prisoners, will ansr. my Purpose provided it is exact for the time specified; but I imagine the Month of December is not so, finding by my Day Book...
4162From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 18 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives; transcript: National Archives I received the Letter your Excellency did me the Honour of writing to me this Day, inclosing a Memorial which relates to the Interests of some Subjects of the Emperor residing at Ostend, who alledge, that a Ship of theirs has been taken by an American Privateer and...
4163From Benjamin Franklin to Richard and Sarah Bache, 19 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: American Philosophical Society, Library of Congress, Historical Society of Princeton This will be deliver’d you by Mr John Vaughan, son of a worthy friend of mine & a very amiable good young man. He has been some years in France & Spain Studying the two languages & acquiring commercial knowledge. His Establishmt. in America has ever been the Intention of his parents as well as his...
4164From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 19 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS and incomplete copy: Columbia University Library; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives, Henry E. Huntington Library In mine of the 15th. I mention’d my Intention of writing fully to you by this Days Post. But understanding since that a Courier will soon go from Versailles, I rather chuse that Conveyance. I received duly your Letter of Novr. 21. but it found me in a very perplexed...
4165From Benjamin Franklin to Desegray & Cie., 21 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have just received the Letter you did me the Honour of writing to me the 9th. Instant. I am much obliged to you for the kind assistance you afford to my poor Country-men. Please to accept my thankful Acknowledgements, and I will upon Sight pay your Drafts on me for the Account of your Disbursements. With great Regard I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, &c— A St....
4166From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Nesbitt, 21 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Honour of yours relating to the Exchange of Capt. Kinnear for Capt. Bell. If Capt. Kinnear is not confin’d as a Ransomer, I do hereby give my Consent to the exchange. But not knowing in whose Care he’s confined, I know not to whom my Consent for his Discharge should be directed. You may therefore make Use of this Letter, & leave it with the Commissary...
4167From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 23[–25] January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress It is a long time since I have written to you; but I am not the less sensible of your obliging Attention in writing frequently to me. I have now before me your several Favours of Sept. 15, Oct. 23, Nov. 8, & Jan 11. Your Communications are always agreable, and I beg you would continue them, and continue also to excuse the Want of Punctuality in Correspondence of an...
4168From Benjamin Franklin to John Barry, 24 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copies: Library of Congress, New-York Historical Society I received your Letter of the 17th. with Pleasure; as it inform’d me of your safe Arrival at Fort Louis. I shall see the Marquis de la Fayette to day, & we will try what can be done towards getting you some French Sailors; but I doubt they are too much wanted to be spared to us. You will find however...
4169From Benjamin Franklin to Gabriel Johonnot, 24 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Being much in Want of the Money I lent you, and supposing the Bills you expected were arrived, I wrote to you lately requesting Payment. But it is not my Intention or Desire to press or importune you, if you have it not in your Power. I should be glad however to hear from you which I have not since I propos’d your giving me Bills on America. I have the honour to be,...
4170From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Franklin Bache, 25 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Kenneth W. Rendell, Inc., Catalog 54 (December, 1970), p. 14. I received your Letter of Nov. 20. & another written on Occasion of the New Year, together with the Drawings, which please me, and I have desired your Master to advance a Guinea in Books for you, as a Present from me in Return for those Drawings: But I expect you will improve; and...
4171From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper Johonnot, 25 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Boston Public Library; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Inclosed are two Letters for you which came under my Cover from Boston. I am glad to hear a good Account of you from Mr. de Marignac. A Gentleman of Lyons has repeatedly wrote to my [me], proposing to remove you to a School in his Neighbourhood, and tells me that you desire it. I hope he is mistaken in that. You are plac’d...
4172From Benjamin Franklin to John Bondfield, 26 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have hitherto omitted sending you the Passport you desired because I would not find any Trace or Memory of such a Practice among our Proceedings since the Treaty; nor could I see the use of it. But as you repeat your Application for [ it ] in yours of the 15th. Instant, I send it inclos’d; acquainting you at the same time, that having no Instructions or Orders to...
4173To Benjamin Franklin from Maurice-Augustin Montgolfier, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, [before 28 January 1782] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society D’après L’honneur de La votre du 29. Passé, j’ay adressé à un ami à Lyon Pour vous faire Parvenir par quelque occasion ou par la Messagerie, un Pacquet contenant deux feuilles de Chacque Grandeur des plus usités de mes Papiers avec Le Poids de chacque Rame Et le Prix. J’En ai mis 2. feuilles de Chaque Espèce dans L’Espérance que vous voudrez Bien me faire...
4174From Benjamin Franklin to Castries, 28 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Mr. Franklin a l’honneur de remercier Monsieur le Marquis de Castries de l’Avis qu’il a bien voulu lui donner du Depart prochain d’un Batiment pour les Etats-Unis de l’Amerique. L’officier pour qui Mr. Franklin avoit demandé un Passage est parti pour son Pays: M. Franklin n’est pas moins reconnoissant de l’Offre que vient de lui faire Monsieur le Marquis de Castries à...
4175From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston: Two Letters, 28 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two); press copy of LS and of copy: National Archives; (II) LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two); press copy of copy: National Archives I received at the same time your several Letters of Oct. 20, 24 & Novr 26. which I purpose to answer fully by the return of the Alliance. Having...
4176From Benjamin Franklin to Louis XVI, [c. 28 January 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AL and AL (draft): Library of Congress Franklin was not in the habit of writing letters to the King. This is the only known example and, as he states in the first sentence, it was drafted by order of Congress. That order was imbedded in a Congressional letter of gratitude to Louis, the core of which read, “We have charged our minister plenipotentiary at your court to render to your Majesty...
4177From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris: Two Letters, 28 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) Copy: Library of Congress I received a few Days since by the Marquis de la Fayette, your several Letters of Nov. 27. Dec. 3 et Dec. 4. with the Papers referr’d to, the reading of which gave me great Satisfaction, as they show the Steps you are taking with so much Zeal, Judgment & Activity for putting into good Order our Finances, & restoring the Public Credit. My Notice of this...
4178From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 30 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, Virginia Historical Society On perusing again your late Letters, I find that you imagine the whole 5. Millions of Florins borrowed in Holland, are free to be Disposed of by your Orders. Here it is understood that there are to be great Deductions, and that little of it remains. I shall obtain in a few Days, a State of the Account which I will send you by various...
4179From Benjamin Franklin to Carié le jeune, 1 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 24th. past, desiring to be inform’d whether Mortgages of Lands in America executed in France before a Notary, will be held good in that Country? In my Opinion such Mortgages, duly certified under some public Seal in France will be deemed good in America. But as there are Laws in most of the United States...
4180From Benjamin Franklin to Sarsfield, 1 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress It truly gives me Pain that any thing should seem to be desired of me by you which is absolutely out of my Power. I have not only no Authority to encourage the Passing of Officers to America with Expectations of Employment in our Troops, but I have positive Orders to the contrary. Our Armies are fully officer’d. Our Country indeed is not fully inhabited. If the...
4181From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 1 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress By certain Resolutions of Congress, dated Nov. 27. & Dec. 3. 1781, Mr. Morris, Superintendant of Finances, is authorised and directed to take under his Care, apply and dispose of all Monies which have been or may be obtained in Europe by Subsidy, Loan or otherwise. And by his Letters to me of the same Dates supposing...
4182From Benjamin Franklin to Gérard de Rayneval, 2 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress I now send for M. le Comte de Vergennes, the Letter you were so kind as to advise relating to the Dutch Loan. and I beg you would procure a Note from his Excellency to M. de Fleury, for the Payment of 500,000 £s to M. Grand, where it is immediately wanted, he being already near 300,000 l.t. in Advance for us. With...
4183From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 2 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress Major General du Portail, & Colonel du Gouvion, Engineers, lately returned to France, have been for five Years past employed in the Armies of the United States, and have, by their military Skill, Bravery & good Conduct done honour to their own Country and great Service to ours. Mr. Livingston, Secretary for Foreign...
4184From Benjamin Franklin to Matthew Parke, 3 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the Honour of writing to me the 25th. past. Mr. de Chaumont having been the General Attorney appointed by all the Captains before the Cruize you mention commenced, and impower’d to receive and dispose of the Prizes &c. I apply’d to him to know the State of that affair. His Answer is, that it is now wholly in the Hands of the Marquis de...
4185From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 4 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress I have received yours of the 25th. past, in which you acquaint me with the Reasons you have for being fully of Opinion that no Loan is possible to be Procured by you, till there is a Treaty. Our only Dependance then appears to be on this Court; and I am happy to find that it still continues dispos’d to assist us. Since mine of...
4186From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Barclay, 4 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Loss of the Transports that accompany’d the Fleet of Mr. de Guichen has made it necessary for this Government to take up others; and I have been desired to provide if possible Ships to take the Stores assembled at Brest for the use of our States which will amount to 1000 Tons. I purpose writing by Wednesday’s Post to Nantes & L’Orient, to learn if any Vessels are...
4187From Benjamin Franklin to Maurice-Augustin Montgolfier, 4 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la Lettre que vous m’avez adressée en dernier Lieu, ainsi que les divers Echantillons de vos Papiers. J’enverrai une Feuille de Chaque Espece à M. Williams, suivant votre Desir.— La Lettre pour M. votre Oncle, partira avec mes premieres Depêches pour les Etats unis de l’Amerique. J’ai l’honneur d’être &c— Published above, [before Jan. 28].
4188From Benjamin Franklin to Jean de Neufville & fils, 4 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have received lately the Honour of Sundry Letters from you, acquainting me that our Goods which had been detained by the owners of the Ships, in Order to extort from us an exorbitant Demand of 60000 florins were delivering to Mr. Barclay; and by yours of the [21]st. past you acquaint me that the last Part of them are delivered, which I am glad to hear. in return you...
4189From Benjamin Franklin to Tolozan, 4 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress J’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer cy joint un Memoire imprimé du Sr. Andrews, en reponse à celui de ses parties adverses. J’ose esperer qu’il dissipera les nuages que l’on s’est efforcé de repandre sur sa Neutralité, celle de son Navire et de sa Cargaison. Le Sr. Andrews m’est particulierement connu, Je puis donc, Monsieur, vous attester sa Neutralité et sa bonne foi,...
4190From Benjamin Franklin to Gustavus Conyngham, 6 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am to acknowledge the Receipt of two Letters from you, since you were at Nantes. In the first you desired a Copy of your Original Commission. I have caused [ a ] Search to be made, but can find no Trace of it, as at the Time it was given to you, the Commissioners were not yet in the Way of keeping Minutes of their Proceedings: and it is but a few Days since I have...
4191From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 6 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Are there any American Vessels with you that want Freight, and would go under Convoy to Philadelphia or Chesapeak, and can render themselves at Brest by the Beginning of next Month to take in. If there are [please] to let me know what Quantity of Tons they Can carry, and on what Terms they will engage. I am. &c. BF expected the Alliance to sail from Brest in early...
4192From Benjamin Franklin to David Salisbury Franks, 7 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have just received your Letter dated the 26th. past at L’Orient, acquainting me that you were at Nantes on the Sunday following in your Way to Madrid, and that you would wait there my Orders; for which I am sorry, as I have none to give you; having imagin’d from your former Letters that you were gone long since for America. I think you cannot do amiss in following...
4193From Benjamin Franklin to John Barry, 10 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, New-York Historical Society I have been honour’d by yours of the 31st. past, and am glad to find you are willing to take over some of the public Goods. I should not desire it of you, if certain Circumstances unforeseen had not rendered it necessary. The Goods are for the use of our Troops & Marine, and were collected at Brest, with an Intention of sending them in...
4194From Benjamin Franklin to Watson & Cossoul, 10 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour to write to me the 2d. Inst. Inclosed is the Pass-port you request for your Brig Emelia. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen Your &c— P.S. For what relates to Sailors you should apply to the Consul. Messrs. Watson & Cossoul. Barclay.
4195From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 12 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; Copy: Library of Congress I received the honour of yours dated the 7th. Inst. acquainting me with the Presentation of several more Bills drawn on Mr. Laurens. I think you will do well to accept them, and I shall endeavour to enable you to pay them. I should be glad to see a compleat List of those you have already accepted. Perhaps from the Series of...
4196From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Barclay, 12 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received duly yours of the 3d. Inst. and I am enrag’d to find that after I had been inform’d the Goods were delivered to you, and had in Consequence paid Punctuably all the Bills, Messrs. de Neufville should attempt to stop these bought of Gillon. These new Demands have been artfully kept out of Sight till now. There is more Roguery it seems in that Country than I...
4197From Benjamin Franklin to Lafayette, 12 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Accept my hearty Thanks for the Pains you have taken, and for your fully informing Letter of this Day. I will endeavour to see M. de Veimerange to Morrow, and will acquaint you with what I learn from him. I pray God to bless & prosper you being ever, Dear Sir, with the greatest Esteem, Your Affectionate &c.
4198From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Nesbitt, 12 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I recd. duly the Letter you honoured me with dated the 4th. Inst. The Bills in question, No. 368 for 60 Dollars & No. 398 for 120. Dollars, in favr. of Mr. William Tent [Trent], dated the 9th. March 79. were both accepted by me on the 21. Jany. 1780. being presented by Mr. P. Dacosta. If you desire any further Information relative to the indorsments &ca. I can procure...
4199From Benjamin Franklin to [John Jay], [after 14 February 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Your Comparison of the Keystone of an Arch is very pretty, tending to make me content with my Situation. But I suspect you have heard our Story of the Harrow. If not, here it is. A Farmer in our Country sent two of his Servants to borrow one, of a Neighbour, ordering them to bring it between them on their Shoulders. When they came to look at it, one of...
4200From Benjamin Franklin to Gabriel Johonnot, 15 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you honoured me with dated the 4 Inst. & inclosing 4 Setts of Exchange on Boston for the Sum of one hundred and forty six Pounds Sterling, being the Amount of Advances on your Account. Herewith I return your Recet. for the 100. Louis I lent you that Sum being included in your Draft. As you kindly offer to take Charge of any Letters I may wish to...