181To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 2 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: National Archives; partial copy: Marquess of Abergavenny, Eridge Castle, Sussex (1955) It was with the utmost surprise, that I learn’d yesterday, that Mr. Girard was to set out in the Evening for America, in a public Character; and that Mr. Deane was to accompany him, without either you or he having condescended to answer my letter of the...
182To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 29 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): National Archives I find that there remain scarce fifty pounds of the funds that were in my hands, & my inevitable expences in quitting this place & returning to my Country, will I apprehend amount to four or five hundred. If the state of the public funds in your disposal will permit you to furnish me with that Sum it will save me from very great difficulties & distress. I have the...
183To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 2 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Harvard University Library; two copies and transcript: National Archives Mr. Montieu was informd by us all, that it woud be necessary for him to shew the receits from the Agent Mr. Williams, of the Articles chargd in his Account, before it coud be finally settled. He went down to Nantes where Mr. Williams & his Burau were. Instead of receits specifying the number, colour & condition of...
184To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 27 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In consequence of what you mentiond to me relative to the german Courts, I consulted the Spanish Ambassador whether it coud be determind with any degree of certainty, how long it woud be before the business I am pledged for with his Court woud require my attendance. His answer was, that it was altogether uncertain. In this situation it appeard to me that...
185To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 8 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives I have just receivd a Letter from my Brother in Germany informing me of your having written to him, that— “When Capt. Lemaire came over last year & made known here the wants of Virginia, you found three different Merchants of ability, who offerd each of them separately to supply the whole”— I shall be very much obligd to you...
186To Benjamin Franklin from Ralph Izard and Arthur Lee, 6 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania We have been informed that the destination of the Alliance Frigate has been altered, & that she is not to sail immediately for America. We can not help expressing our great uneasiness at this measure, as we are of opinion that there is no service, in which she can be so usefully employed, as that of convoying the Vessels bound thither. Many of our...
187To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 1 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. A. Lee presents his Compts. to Dr. Franklin and begs to have the Papers he mentiond to Dr. Franklin, namely Count Vergennes’s Letter, the last Memoire to him, the last Letter to the Committee, and the list of Stores shipt from Marsailles. Mr. L. sends a Newspaper, which Mr. Izard borrowd and desird him to return. Addressed: The Honble / Benjamin Franklin...
188To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 28 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies and transcript: National Archives The post in and nothing from you. I therefore shall proceed to Morrow and hope to reach my destination in eight days. The chief purpose for giving Money in my memorial was to pay the Interest of our Loans and Support our funds. I added the paying the Ship we were obliged to build in Holland in lieu of those requested. To these purposes therefore...
189To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 14 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: National Archives A decent time having now elaps’d, since the declaration of his Catholic Majesty against the King of great Britain; it seems proper to apply to the spanish Court, to know whether they are inclind to enter into the Alliance, which Congress have agreed to. At the same time it appears to me, that to ask Count de...
190To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 5 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I have been desird to stop here which is half way to Madrid, in order to negotiate with more secrecy. There appears more timidity here than with you. What I shall be able to do, I cannot yet determine, but I am told that if I proceed to Madrid it will be likely to prevent the execution of those good intentions there may be towards us. I beg you will write me...
191To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 2 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; ALS (draft): National Archives; copy: Harvard University Library By letters this day from Nantes, I am informd that the Alliance Frigate is mann’d, & ready to sail. Adverse winds still detain the American fleet at Brest with its Convoy. As that Convoy is destind for the french Islands it will of course leave those Vessels which are intended for the United...
192To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 26 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library Mr. A Lee presents his Compliments to Dr Franklin, & has the honor of enclosing to him one of Mr Schweighauser’s Accounts, which he has found among his Papers. Addressed: The Honble. / Dr. B. Franklin / minister plenepotentiary / of the United States of / America / at / Passy Notation: A Lee 26. March 1779. On the same day Lee sent WTF a dinner...
193To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 16 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: University of Virginia Library; transcript: National Archives I had the honor of receiving yours of the 13th. touching my endorsement on your Nephew’s Accounts. When Mr. Bondfield’s Accounts were sent to the Commissioners I examind them with the Vouchers & endorsd upon them the observations which occurrd to me. I compard M. Schweighauser’s Accounts with the original Vouchers & Receits...
194To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 3 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. A. Lee’s respect to Dr. Franklin. As it is probable the Evening will be dark and bad, which together with the badness of the road at this season will render it very inconvenient for Dr. Franklin to go from Challiot in the Evening; Mr. Lee woud prefer postponing the meeting till to-morrow at Passi. Mr. L. begs the favor of Dr. F. to send him the...
195To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 18 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives I this moment had the honor of receiving yours of this days date; containing Copies of the Resolutions of Congress of Septr. 11th. & 14th. and October 22d. I shall do myself the honor of paying my Compliments to you on your appointment tomorrow about 12’O’Clock. Nothing can be more agreeable to me than your intention...
196To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 6 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Deane in his public Letter has declared, that he receivd a resolution of Congress recalling him & appointing another Commissioner in his place, on the 4th of March. As I woud not wish to charge him with having conceald this from both his Colleagues, and by that means imposd himself upon them & the Court of France, as still a Representative of the United...
197Arthur Lee to [William Temple Franklin], 9 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): National Archives Mr. L. thanks Mr. Franklin for the Pacquets he was so good as to forward to him. They contain only the Journals of Congress & old Newspapers without any Letter. Mr. L. will be obligd to Mr. F. for letting him know if he can have it, by what vessel they came, to what Port & when She saild.
198The American Commissioners to William Temple Franklin, 27 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: University of Virginia Library As an acknowledgement for your services as Secretary to us, we desire you will accept one hundred Louis-dores which Mr. Grand will be so good as to pay you on receipt of this. We are, Sir, Your most Obedient Servants In Arthur Lee’s hand. 2,400 l.t. Designating WTF as the commissioners’ secretary, it should be noted, did not secure him the position; the...
199Franklin or Arthur Lee (?) to Genet, [c. 26 October 1778] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Affaires de l’Angleterre et de l’Amérique XII , part II , cahier LVIII , pp. ccxxv–ccxl On October 24 Genet wrote each of the commissioners asking a response to a number of articles in a New York loyalist newspaper. The Affaires in its cahier dated October 26 (but probably published somewhat later) printed three such responses. The third of these (pp. ccxl–ccxlvii) was a translation...
200The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 1 February 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives <Passy, February 1, 1779: We received yours of January 28. We are unhappy that we cannot give you effectual relief. The power to appoint consuls rests wholly with Congress; we can only appoint agents to execute our orders. Congress, a few days before it received news of the Treaty, empowered us to...
201The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 13 January 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress, National Archives (two) <Passy, January 13, 1779: We received yesterday your letter of the seventh and one from the comte de Vergennes, a copy of which is enclosed. We wrote his Excellency today requesting the convoy be sent to Nantes. We regret the convoy will not be able to go all the way to America, and hope it will continue...
202The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 11 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress, National Archives We embrace this first Opportunity, to enclose you a Copy of a Letter, We have just had the honor of receiving from his Excellency Mr. De Sartine. We wish you may find Advantage in the Convoy and have the honor to be with very great Esteem & Respect, Gentlemen, &c Of the same date, below.
203The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 5 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have, the Mortification to be informed, that our Answer to your Letter, requesting Us to join, in your Request to the Ministry for a Convoy has never reached you. We have the Honour to Send you a duplicate of that which We wrote you on the Eleventh Ulto. and send forth with. We also inclose Copy of our other Letter...
204The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 26 January 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) <Passy, January 26, 1779: We received your letter of January 21 yesterday. You ask which ports are free pursuant to the treaty. As yet none have been specifically designated. All French ports are open to all American vessels, and it would not be politic to apply for any further distinctions,...
205The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 11 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) : Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have this Moment received the Letter, which you did Us the Honour to write to Us, on the Seventh of the present Month, and We hold ourselves obliged to you for giving Us an opportunity of uniting our Endeavours with yours, to obtain a Sufficient Convoy for the Vessells bound to America for the whole Voyage. It...
206The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 9 February 1778 [i.e., 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) We have the Honour to inclose, you, a Letter just received from his Excellency the Comte De Vergennes, containing as We Suppose the final Answer of his Exellency, the Minister of Marine, to the applications, for a Convoy. We wish you may be able to derive Advantage from it: & are with great...
207The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 27 [i.e., 28] November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We are desired by the Ministry to inform ourselves as precisely as possible, at what Time the Vessells bound to America will be ready to Sail.—it is Said that upon a former Occasion the Convoy was obliged to wait a long Time, an Inconvenience that it is wished may be avoided upon this occasion. We beg your earliest...
208The American Commissioners to Conrad-Alexandre Gérard, 4 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Harvard University Library Being desirous of a conference with you on a subject, that appears to us of importance; we shall be glad to meet you here, or at Versailles, as soon as may be convenient to you. We have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, Sir, Your most Obedient and most Humble Servants Notation: 1778. Mars 4. Both...
209The American Commissioners to [Gérard], 22 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Harvard University Library The News you have receiv’d from England cannot be true. No Treaty would be entred into with Howe by Washington, when the Congress was at hand: And Howe could have no Propositions to make but such as were authoris’d by the Act of Parliament, and had been long since rejected, (viz.) Pardon upon Submission ....
210The American Commissioners to [Gérard], 20 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères The Persons going out with the dispatches are Mr. Simeon Deane and Mr. Anthony Knap both of New England. They will set out this Evening for Bordeaux, and will follow Your Orders, which You shall send; inclosed You have a Letter of Credit for the Captn. of Your Ship. We have the honor to be with the utmost respect Sir Your most Obedient and...