1To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 3 April 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you the other day about an hundred pounds which the Constitutional Society here had orderd to be given for releif of the poor sufferers in Boston and now inclose you Mr. Olivers letter respecting that business. I presume you are fully informed from other hands of all the public transactions here since you left us. Therefore shall only beg you to...
2To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 11 June 1776 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook draft): Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation, Stratford Hall, Va. The Bill of Mess. W. & M. dated 12 Decr. 1775 on Mess. P. & J. Berthon value £300. which you remitted to my Brother, is this day accepted payable at 60 daies by Agreement, this I doubt not you will think prudent to accept. I wish you long life, health, Success and happyness, and with a tender of any service, in my...
3To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 13 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In my way to Town this evening I call’d on Mr. D. to request he wou’d write the Letter to Nantes that had been talked of, which he promised to do, at the same time he inform’d me he was going on Monday next into the Country for some weeks, and proposed that we shou’d together wait on you on Sunday Morning to settle what was best to be done. This proposition...
4To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 4 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The other day I made use of the Liberty you gave of leaving two paper percels and a letter for my Brother at your house and was sorry to be so unfortunate as not to find you at home. Very early in the morning I set out for Havre and expect to return in 8 or 10 daies at farthest, but if in the mean time my presence here Should be requisite, a line directed...
5To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 5 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I cou’d not set out so soon as I intended but expect to be in Rouen tomorrow night and shall be back by Saturday or Sunday at farthest unless some unforseen accident detains me a day or two longer. The inclosed letter is just recd. Be so good as to take care of it ’till I return, the writer is generally well inform’d and thoroughly to be depended on. By the...
6To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, [2 August 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Lee presents his Compliments to Doctor Franklin and informs him that he shall set off for Nantes tomorrow forenoon and will with pleasure take care of any thing he has to send there. Addressed: Honble. Benjamin Franklin / Esqr. Passi Notation: W Lee. to BF. no date. He must have changed his mind and taken off soon after writing this note. He left on the...
7William Lee to the American Commissioners, 18 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Princeton University Library; copy: Virginia Historical Society; two copies of extracts: University of Virginia Library Yesterday arrived here The Brig Liberty Capt. Herbert with 108 hogsheads of Tobacco on Account of the State of Virginia consign’d to J. Gruel & Co. She left Virginia July 10th runing the fire of 5 Men of War that guards the mouth of the Bay of Chesapeak. The Capt. is a...
8William Lee to the American Commissioners, 6 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Virginia Historical Society The 4th. two little boats arrivd here from Virginia (private property) which they left the 4th. of Augt. They bring the Papers with the Congress account of the evacuation of Ticonderoga, which is inclos’d, with some other Papers which the passenger Mr. King will bring with him as he sets out for Paris on Sunday or Monday next. Mr. K. who seems to be an...
9William Lee to the American Commissioners, 10 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Virginia Historical Society; copy: National Archives In consequence of the Instructions to me from the Honorable Congress of the United States of America I am to request that you will be pleased to furnish me with a copy of the Treaty, originally proposed by Congress to be entered into with France together with the subsequent alterations which have been proposed on either side. As my...
10To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, [13 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I presume you have seen the London Gazette Extraordinary of Friday last, saying that Mud Island and red Bank were evacuated. Howe says a forward movement against the Enemy would immediately take place which he hopes would be successful. From this we are to conclude that Howe himself conceives that all his movements before were retrograde . His last date...
11To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, [14 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Lee presents Compliments to Dr. Franklin. He received the Louis. The London paper is inclosed. That with the Boston papers were sent by Mr. Deane to Mr. A. Lee who carried them out with him yesterday as Mr. W. L. tho’t to leave them at Passi, but it seems he left them with Mr. Izard. They will be sent for today and return’d immediately. Mr. L. is just...
12William Lee to the American Commissioners, 20 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Virginia Historical Society As you have now furnish’d me with the copy of the Treaty, I do not know of any reason for remaining here any longer, therefore propose setting out for Vienna in two or 3 daies to execute my appointment at that Court, provided you will supply me with the necessary funds to bear the expence of my Commission. The money will not be immediately requisite, as a...
13To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 2 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Lee has the Honour of presenting his Compliments to Doctor Franklin and shall be obliged to him for the loan of the two last Boston papers he has, which shall be returned in an hour and also for the last English papers. Mr. Lee would be glad to know if any determination is come to, relative to supplying him with the necessary funds, for his appointment...
14To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 25 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Virginia Historical Society The trunk that is the subject of this letter was coming to resemble Pandora’s box. Thomas Morris had jumbled his papers as he had jumbled his two roles, as agent for the secret committee and for Willing & Morris. The commissioners were interested only in his public papers, but the official order that Lee took to Nantes was...
15To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 26 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society; copy: Virginia Historical Society Mr. Lee presents his respectful Compliments to Dr. Franklin and informs him that Mr. Deane is engaged this day and cannot come, but can attend tomorrow or next day. Mr. L. therefore wishs to know what day and hour will be most agreeable to Dr. Franklin that he may fix with Mr. Deane and if it is inconvenient to come here,...
16To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 2 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; draft and letterbook copy: Virginia Historical Society We print the letter as sent. It shows a self-restraint quite lacking in the original draft, in which Lee answered in heat what he must have considered the gratuitous censure in Franklin’s letter of the same day, and defended his conduct in Nantes: he was not authorized to deliver Thomas Morris’ private...
17William Lee to the American Commissioners, 6 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Autograph copy: Virginia Historical Society; two transcripts: National Archives In conformity to the general instructions of the secret committee that you should be consulted and advised within all important cases relative to their commercial affairs, and Mr. Thos. Morris joint commercial Agent with me being now dead and as I am just on the point of setting out for Germany, I think it...
18To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 6 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; autograph copy: Virginia Historical Society I send you the keys of the Trunk containing the late Mr. Thos. Morris’s papers, which were forgot the other day. Please acknowledge the receipt that I may know they are safe. I wish very much to have an answer tonight, if it is convenient, to my Letter to the Commissioners relative to the Commercial Agents, as I...
19To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 11 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copies: Harvard University Library, Virginia Historical Society In your favour dated the 6th instant which you did me the honour of delivering in person last night, you are pleased to tell me that my proposition about appointing Agents in the Ports shall be layed before the Commissioners when they meet. ‘Tis now five days since I wrote to the Commissioners...
20To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 13 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft:) Virginia Historical Society Before I quitted this place it was my wish to put the public commercial business, as far as I was empowerd, into such a train that it might be conducted with harmony and effect. I had experienced in myself that the partiality you and Mr. Deane manifested for Mr. Williams and the powers with which you thought proper to invest him had greatly impeded me in...
21William Lee to the American Commissioners, 19 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; autograph copy: Virginia Historical Society I shall be obliged to you for furnishing me with a Copy of the Treaties you have enter’d into with the Court of France, that I may not propose any thing inconsistent therewith to the Courts of Vienna and Berlin for which places I intend to set out on Saturday next. Any information or advice that you may be...
22To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 23 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Lee presents his most respectful Compliments to Dr. Fraklin and will have the pleasure of waiting on him tomorrow forenoon to take leave and hopes the Copy of the Treatys will be ready for him. Addressed: Honble / Benjamen Franklin Esqr. Notation: W. Lee 23 March 1778 to BF. He had requested these copies on the 19th. BF , answering on the 24th, pointed...
23To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 9 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By intelligence receiv’d here I find that the presence of any one on our part at Berlin will not be of any use, in the present moment and that we must wait a little longer before any favourable operations can be carried on there, so that the Vienna scheme will be prosecuted and if you can aid the operations there by any information or advice I trust you...
24William Lee to the American Commissioners, 8 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Worthington C. Ford, ed., Letters of William Lee . . . 1766–1783 (3 vols., Brooklyn, N.Y., 1891), II , 429–30. I have been detained here longer than was intended by a personal application from one of the King of Prussia’s ministers. I have now received an answer from Berlin, which informs me that his Majesty chooses for the present to decline acknowledging the Independency of...
25To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 5 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have received a letter from Robert Morris Esqr. informing me that he has impower’d Mr. Ross to settle the affairs of his late Brother Thomas Morris Esqr. and I presume he has also authorized Mr. Ross to receive and take into his possession the papers of the late Mr. Thos. Morris. Therefore if Mr. Ross shou’d apply to you on this Subject and you think the...
26William Lee to the Commissioners, 17 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I wish to have a conference with you on a Subject that very materially concerns our Country which at present is a profound Secret to our Enemies or their Agents and must remain so ’till compleated, or the success will be interrupted; any hour therefore tomorrow (at 12 oClock or afterwards) when you are alone, that you may please to appoint, I will do myself the honour of waiting on you, and in...
27William Lee to the American Commissioners, 17 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Paris, September 17, 1778: I wish to confer with you on an important and profoundly secret subject; I will wait on you at any hour tomorrow at noon or afterwards when you are alone.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VII . Lee had been in Paris several days and planned to remain there no longer than three weeks: Ford, Letters of William Lee , II , 472,...
28William Lee to the Commissioners, 9 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
Conformable to the resolution of Congress, of which a Copy is inclosed, I have drawn on you the 4th instant for Twenty four Thousand Livres at One Months date payable to Mr. Grand, which you will please to pay due honor to, by acceptance and payment when at maturity, and place the same to the Account of Congress. ’Tis generally beleived that a Congress will be held in the course of the Winter,...
29William Lee to the American Commissioners, 9 December 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Frankfurt-on-Main, December 9, 1778: Conformable to the enclosed Congressional resolution, I have drawn on you for 24,000 l.t. payable to Mr. Grand. Please accept it when it comes due and place it to the account of Congress. It is generally believed a congress will be held this winter by the French and Russian ministers to attempt a reconciliation between...
30William Lee to the Commissioners, 15 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
I had the Honour of writing to you the 9th instant and then mention’d the Congress that it is generally beleived will take place this Winter between Ministers from the Courts of Versailles and Petersburg to accommodate the difference between the Emperor and King of Prussia; and that I was inform’d G. Britain had prevail’d on the Court of Petersburg to endeavour at the same time to mediate a...