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...
4831From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 16 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: National Archives It was intended by the Commissioners to write a joint Letter to Congress, but I am afraid the Opportunity may be missed. This may serve to inform that Propositions of treating have been made by us to all the Powers of Europe, according to our Instructions, and we are waiting for their Answers. There are Apprehensions here of a War between the Emperor and Holland:...
4832From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 18 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received yours of the 5th (just after I had sent away mine of the 2d). It inclosed one from the good Bishop to you. I have since receiv’d yours of the 12th. I am glad to hear that Mrs Hewson resolves to come. My Love to her and her Children. I consent to your Staying till the End of the Month, on Condition however of your making a Visit to Chilbolton and...
4833From Benjamin Franklin to ——— Pilloust, 18 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and press copy of LS in French: American Philosophical Society I have this Day received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the eighth Instant, respecting the Claims of twenty Volunteers against Captain Cunningham. Some or other of these People have been continually applying to me personally or by Letter for near seven Years past; and, I have as constantly told them, that I...
4834From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 18 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I was much obliged by the Readiness with which your Excellency favour’d my Request of a Sauf Conduit for Mr Bondfield, and I beg you to accept my thankful Acknowledgements. Permit me to ask another Favour of the same kind for my Nephew Mr Williams, who I am confident will make Use of it for the Advantage of his Creditors. With great and...
4835Entry in Maria Theresia Paradis’ Autograph Book, 27 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Wienbibliothek Wherever you go, may Health and Happiness attend you. In this quarto volume bound in red morocco, Paradis collected inscriptions as well as drawings dating from 1774 to 1821: Marion Fürst, Maria Theresia Paradis: Mozarts berühmte Zeitgenossin (Cologne, 2005), pp. 8–11, 110. For more on Germanic autograph books, or Stammbücher, see XXXIV , 316n.
4836The American Commissioners to the Conde de Aranda, 28 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
We have received the Letter you did us the honour to write us on the 27 th day of Sept r last, and we thank you for your care in transmitting to your Court, the information of our appointment to treat with it. You desire to be informed if one or more of us can repair to Madrid for the purpose of conducting & concluding the negotiation, because that it is the system of your Court in matters...
4837The American Commissioners to the Duke of Dorset, 28 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
The United States of america in Congress assembled judging that an intercourse between the Subjects of his Britannic Majesty & the Citizens of the Said States founded on the Principles of equality, reciprocity & friendship may be of mutual advantage to both nations, on the 12 th. day of may last, issued their Commission under the Seal of the Said States to the Subscribers as their Ministers...
4838The American Commissioners to the Duke of Dorset, 28 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
While M. hartley was here as Minister from the Court of Great Britain, we had the honour of mentioning to him that we were instructed by the Congress to treat on Some points distinct from any regulations of Commerce He Communicated this to his Court & the very Satisfactory answer which he received & made to us of its good disposition & willingness to receive & consider any propositions that...
4839How to Warm a Room in Winter and Cool It in Summer, Communicated by Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., [1 November … (Franklin Papers)
D : The Lilly Library Note the Back of the Kitchen Chimney being of Iron will warm the Room behind it, the folding doors being open allows the heat to pass into the Room & the air Pipe being shut prevents its going away: this is for Winter.— In summer the Doors being shut the heat cannot get into the Room & the slides being drawn out the heat will escape throw the air pipe. The hole at the...
4840The Levée, [before 6 November 1784] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), 111, 307–8. In the first chapter of Job we have an account of a transaction said to have arisen in the court, or at the levée, of the best of all possible princes, or of governments by a single person, viz. that of God himself. At this levée, in which the sons...
4841I. The American Commissioners to the Baron von Thulemeier, 10 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
We received the Letter your Excellency did us the honour of writing to us the 8 th Ult o. together with the copy of your full powers to treat with us. M r Adams had as you suppose, preserved a copy of the project of a Treaty that had been concerted between your Excellency & him; but having by instruction from the Congress our Sovereign certain new articles to propose in all our Treaties with...
4842Proposal for a Prussian-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce: Articles 13, 23, and 24, [before 10 November 1784] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives The twenty-seven-article treaty proposal that the American commissioners sent to Thulemeier on November 10 was copied, with the appropriate adjustments, from the one they had prepared for use with Denmark; see the headnote and documents immediately above. Jefferson’s final draft of the proposal for Denmark is published in The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, with all...
4843From Benjamin Franklin to Anisson fils, 10 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Bibliothèque nationale I send you enclos’d the Characters you desire to see, cast in the new manner lately invented in England. They are first cast separately, and after being compos’d into Words or Parts of Words, those are united by a second Casting of additional Metal. This Operation doubles the Price of the Fount. I have directed my Grandson who is now in London, to visit the...
4844From Benjamin Franklin to C. F. d’Inarre, 10 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 22d of last Month, requesting my Advice as to your Removal to America. The enclos’d Pamphlet will answer most of your Questions. Understanding Agriculture there is no doubt of your being able to live comfortably in Pensylvania, where there are many wealthy German...
4845The American Commissioners to the President of Congress, 11 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
Having assembled together at this place about the latter end of August we proceeded in obedience to the commands of Congress to notify our appointment and its objects to such Powers as we thought it adviseable at that time to address. We wrote a circular letter in the form N o. 1. to the Ambassadors or other Ministers residing here from the courts of Saxony; the two Sicilies, Sardinia, Venice,...
4846Outline of an Unsent Letter to Charles Thomson, [before 11 November 1784] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): American Philosophical Society These notes for a letter that was never written display a sense of bitterness and disappointment rarely seen in Franklin’s papers. That he even contemplated sending such a letter, albeit a private one—admitting to Thomson that he felt unappreciated and was “sorry and asham’d” for having asked a personal favor of Congress (a favor not granted)—betrays...
4847From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 11 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library I received your Letters of the 28th. of August, and 10th of September, with the Newspapers by M. Sailly, but they were very incompleat and broken Sets, many being omitted perhaps the most material, which is disagreable to me who wish to be well inform’d of what is doing among you. I was glad to receive the good Account B & S have given of their good Treatment of those...
4848From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 11 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: National Archives I received your kind Letter of August 13th: with the Papers annexed, relative to the Affair of Longchamps. I hope Satisfaction will be given to Mr: Marbois. The Commissioners have written a joint Letter to Congress. This serves to cover a few Papers relative to Matters with which I was particularly charged in the Instructions. I shall write to you fully by the...
4849Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 15 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
M r Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to M r Adams, and enclosos a Paper left with him by the Secretary of the Portuguese Ambassador last Night, being an Extract of a Letter from the First Minister of that Court. No Notice is taken in it of the preceding Plan of a Treaty, and M r. F. mentions for Consideration, whether it would not be right to send a Copy of the new Plan immediately...
4850From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 15 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Massachusetts Historical Society Mr Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Mr Adams, and encloses a Paper left with him by the Secretary of the Portuguese Ambassador last Night, being an Extract of a Letter from the First Minister of that Court. No Notice is taken in it of the preceding Plan of a Treaty, and Mr. F. mentions for Consideration, whether it would not be right to send...