1V. Naval Committee to Silas Deane, 7 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
You are desired to repair immediately to the City of New York, and there purchase a Ship suitable for carrying 20 nine pounders upon one deck, if such a Ship can there be found. Also a Sloop, suitable to carry ten guns, which we would choose should be Bermudian built if such a one can be had. If you succeed in purchasing both, or either of these Vessels, you will use all possible expedition to...
2Anthony Ameloo, Franco and Adrianus Dubbeldemuts, and Pieter Willemsen [to the American Commissioners], 30 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives This letter and the one that follows were the commissioners’ first word of an episode that bred controversy for years to come. The Chester , a sloop commanded by William Bray, sailed for the Netherlands the previous April from the Bay of Honduras, carrying produce of the Mosquito Coast. A British privateer stopped her, but let her go when Bray produced evidence that the...
3Ameloo, Willemsen and the Dubbeldemuts to the American Commissioners, 18 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society De jour en jour nous nous sommes flattés de recevoir reponce à la notre du 20 Novembre dernier, et nous ne savons à quoi attribuer ce Silence. Apres votre lettre satisfaisante nous n’avons pas hesités un seul moment de confier nos interets dans vos mains. Nous vous avons parlés sans le moindre deguisement, et nous vous repetons sur tout ce qu’il y a de plus...
4Edward Bancroft to the American Commissioners, 3 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Bancroft was beginning to find a spy’s life hard on the nerves. In July, worried because the British kept the originals of some letters he had stolen, he made new financial demands on them. By the beginning of August he was urging Wentworth to look after his interests, “which, till lately, he never shewed much anxiety about, and indeed seemed to be quite...
5Barbeu-Dubourg: Memorandum for the American Commissioners, [before 9 January? 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society This memorandum is the first account of the negotiations over tobacco that had been going on before Franklin’s arrival, and that were expected to play a crucial part in financing the war. No other American export was in such demand in France; if military supplies were to be traded for commodities, the only commodity available was tobacco. The committee of...
6Barbeu-Dubourg: Memorandum for the American Commissioners, [after 21 December 1776] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society M. D. propose a Messieurs F. D. et L. de leur faire des avances soit de draps, soit de fusils (du modele de 1763, controllés et tirés des propres magazins du Roy) pour la valeur de trois cent mille livres tournois, a condition que ces Messieurs lui fourniront en retour des tabacs de Virginie et de Mariland pour pareille somme, bien entendu que les achats...
7Barbeu-Dubourg to the American Commissioners, 1 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society MM. Dubourg, Debout et Compagnie, ayant pris des engagemens pour fournir a la ferme generale vingt mille boucauts de tabac des crus de la Virginie et du Mariland, se proposent de porter de france dans les ports des Etats unis de l’Amerique des marchandises de fabrique françoise, pour rapporter en retour non seulement des tabacs, mais diverses autres denrées...
8Barbeu-Dubourg to the American Commissioners, 23 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Dubourg a l’honneur de souhaiter le bonjour a Monsieur Franklin, Monsieur Deane et Monsieur Lee; et les supplie d’accorder une audience favorable a M. Bayard qui a des objets importans a leur communiquer, et sur l’honneteté et la solidité duquel ils peuvent compter avec la plus parfaite assurance. Notation: Notes of no Consequence Bayard & Cie. was a...
9Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais to the American Commissioners, [6 December 1777] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Je recois, Messieurs, une Lettre de Messieurs Bérard freres de Lorient qui me confirme que vous leur avez donné des ordres positifs et réitérés de vendre la cargaison de l’amphitrite et de n’en remettre les fonds qu’à vous seuls. Ma situation souffrante ne me permet pas d’entrer dans de grands détails, mais cette cargaison m’appartient et je...
10William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 14 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and AL : American Philosophical Society I have been prevented from having the honor of writing to you for some considerable time past, as an Embargo has been laid upon all Shipping bound to Europe, in Consequence of some Dispatches, which the General received from France. I vainly hoped that it would be a Forerunner to a Commencement of Hostilities, but it is now taken off; and there seems...
11William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 11 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society; AL : American Philosophical Society By a Sloop of War Sailing this Evening for Brest, I have only Time to communicate to you the important News that has been received to Day by a Vessel which Sailed from Salem the beginning of July and brings a Gazette of the 3d of that Month which mentions, that Gen. Howe after having made a Junction of Some of his Troops...
12William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 19 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society Above is Copy of my last Respects, since which have received none of your esteemed favors. The Subject which I alluded to in my last, is in regard to the Sale of our Produce, which the French Merchants at present absolutely refuse to purchase for the European Market; as many of their Vessels have been already visited, and American Produce which has been...
13William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 26 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society Herewith is Copy of my last Respects; Since which have received very little News from America. A Letter from Mr. Morris of March 1st mentions, “that on Sunday last, there was a smart Skirmish between a considerable Body of the Enemy, and a Party of our Troops near Brunswic; Our Loss was inconsiderable, but not so with them; they lost a great many Men, both...
14William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 28 November 1777[–4 December 1777] (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society I have herewith the honor to convey to you Copy of my last Respects. You have doubtless heard of the glorious Success of the Army under General Gates, upon which I sincerely congratulate you and all the Friends of America. Betwixt the Date of the Gazettes which I had the honor to enclose you, and the 15 October, there were four Engagements, by the last...
15William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 5 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Not being favor’d with any of your Dispatches since the Arrival of Doctr. Franklin (except a few Lines under Date of the 7 June) I have become very apprehensive of the Fate of the many Letters that I have from Time to Time done myself the honor of writing, and which have generally been addressed under Cover to Messrs. Delaps at Bordeaux. Your not...
16William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 6 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society Herewith you will please to find Triplicate and Copy of my two last Letters to Mr. Deane; but as they are addressed to him in an official Capacity, I have thought proper to place them under your Notice, and shall in future do myself the honor of directing my Letters in the like manner, as I am informed by my last Dispatches from Congress, that you are...
17William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 9 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Above is Copy of what I had the honor of writing you the 11th Ulto. Want of Opportunities has been the Cause of my not forwarding to you some important News which I received some Time ago from St. Eustatia. You will please to find inclosed Copy of a Letter from a French Gentleman in that Place, with the Translation of some Extracts from American Gazettes,...
18William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 12 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society Above is Copy of my last Respects, and am still without any of your esteemed Favors. The last Accounts from America were of the 26 April, by which I find the Operations of the Army had not as yet commenced; but it was expected every Day that the Campaign would open. By an Extract of a Letter from Genl. Washington to the Congress, there is reason to believe...
19——— Boilau and Gilles de Lavallée to the American Commissioners, 12[–14] February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Boylau prie Messiers Dean franklin de faire remettre au porteur l’echantillon d’habit fusils sabre bonet &c, &c. qu’il a laissé chez eux. Il obligeront leurs tres humble Serviteur Donner au porteur si il vous plait toutte les choses apertenant a monseur Boileau. Addressed: A Messieurs / Messirs Dean & franklin / Equrs / a lhotel dHambourg / rue Jacob...
20John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 10 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having a small Sloop call’d the Mongomery Robt. Willis master, that I propose to send back to America Arm’d, not having a Commission for her which I apprehend lays in your power to grant, I take the Liberty to make application to you for One. I propose her to mount Six four pounders to carry thirty Men and otherways properly equipt. I am not determin’d if I...
21——— Boux to the American Commissioners, 24 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library Vous voudrés bien prendre en récommendation que J’ai quité Le service du roy auquel J’etois attaché pour entrer à celui des Etats de l’amerique septentrionale. Je me suis rendu en conséquance à vos ordres, et relativement au grade de lieutenent de Vaisseau dans la marine de Etats unis En Hollande pour y diriger la construction d’un Vaisseau que vous y faisiés...
22——— Boux to the American Commissioners, 26 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Vous avez appris par mon oncle les raisons qui me font rester a terre et l’imposibilité qu’il y à que je puisse partir sur le lion comme vous me l’avez ordonné par votre derniere. Vous avez aussi sçu les petites mortifications que j’ai eu avec le Capitaine Nikleson. Je ne vous cacherai pas que je suis aise qu’il ne se soit pas trouvé de place pour m’y...
23Boux to the American Commissioners, 7 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je vous est rendu conte Messieurs Du premier marché aresté pour la construction D’un Vaisseau, et c’et avec un plus grand plaisir que je vous ennonce la parole donnee pour un segond, qui ne coutera que 200 milles florins, c’est a Dire plus de 35 milles franc de france de moins que le 1er. J’espere que cette semaine les deux contrats seront passé pour...
24William Carmichael to the American Commissioners, 31 June [30? 1 July?] 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society Gustavus Conyngham, when last heard from, had been in prison with his crew in Dunkirk. On June 2 Deane asked Gérard that they be released and permitted to return to America, and on the 12th they were at large and working on their new ship, the cutter Revenge . On the 30th Carmichael arrived, as he says here, with instructions; they were ostensibly from the...
25William Carmichael to the American Commissioners, 12 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society In my last I transmitted you an account of the Extraordinary conduct of the Captain of one of the British Ships of war laying in this road. That Ship joind by two others block up the road so as to make it impossible for any vessel to quit this port without being taken by one or other of them. The detention of the vessel formerly belonging to Mr. Hodge...
26William Carmichael to the American Commissioners, 21 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library I have this day renderd an account to Mr. Deane of the Sums disbursd by me on the Public service; I would have given it in sooner, but that I wishd and hopd to have had it in my power to have reimbursd the Whole. I render it to Mr. Deane because the money was cheifly expended under his orders and directions. I offer to become accountable to the Honorable the...
27William Carmichael to the American Commissioners, 30 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library I arrivd at this place last night in forty four hours from Paris. The Vessels which it was intended I should stop saild eight days ago, and it is most probable that the court knew of that circumstance because it is confidently asserted a french Frigate convoyd them as far as Ushant. Mr. Williams immediately took the proper steps to profit by your advices had...
28William Carmichael to the American Commissioners, 10 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society I have had the honor of receiving your Letter of the 7th of July and am sorry that you have not had an opportunity of yet applying to the Minister on the subject of Mr. Hodges vessel. The bond required was to give security here that the vessel should not cruise against the English. The Expressions of the Ministers letters were so vague and General that the...
29Geoffroy Chalut de Verin to the American Commissioners, [before 6 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Chalut de Verin prie Messieurs Franklin, Monsieur Dean et Le Chevalier Lée de lui faire l’honneur de venir diner [mardi 6] janvier Jour des Roix. Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Benjamin Franklin / A Passy The farmer general: above, XXIV , 348 n. The “Jour des Roix” or Epiphany, Jan. 6, must have been in 1778: a year earlier BF was not in Passy, and a year...
30Chaumont to the American Commissioners, 9 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society M. de Chaumont a l’honneur d’informer Messieurs les deputés du Congrès qu’il peut leur procurer deux cents milliers de salpestres de l’inde pres a L’orient a soixante le quintal pareil a celuy qu’il a deja procuré a M. Dean payable en lettres de change acceptées sur Paris Londres Amsterdam Bordeaux ou Nantes. Il faut unne prompte décision parceque les...