1To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 28 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the Honnor to Inform you, that I am Security for, & have a Procuration from Capt. Stephen Merchant of the Black Prince Cutter, fitted out here; & from all his Crew, to act for them all, as also for the owners & Concerns, & represent the former as their Sole agent in the sale of all the Prises they Shod. make, & to do all Transactions whatsoever...
2To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 8 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have had the Honnor of Informing your Excellency the 28th. of last month, that Capt. Stephen Merchant of the Black Prince Cutter Privateer, was to sail in a few days, and in consequence of the Tenor of his Commission and Instructions, he had an Intention to Cruise on the Packet from Dover to Calais & from thence to Dover. I Persuaded him to differ sailing...
3To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 30 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the honnour to address your Excellency a Copy of the Particulars of the Cruise of the Black Prince Cutter Capt. Stephen Marchant, per Letter from him dated Morlaix 23d. Inst., received yesterday— The 21 Prisonners He put on shoare at the disposal of your Excellency in Morlaix, you’ll be Please to order Immediatly what you are pleased to do with them....
4To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 2 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Letter I did myself the honnour to write your Excellency the 30th. ulto. Conveyd the Particulars of the Cruise of the Black Prince Cutter. Her Cap. Mr. Stephen marchant, Sends me, recd. per yesterday mail, The List of his Prisonners deliverd in Morlaix, & also, a List of 21, equal number, of his men on Board of the 6 Prises, which, he has all reason to...
5To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 9 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: American Philosophical Society I am Informed that Mr. John Diot our Chargé of Procuration, we sent to Morlaix to Transact the affairs of our Black Prince Privateer, has wrote your Excellency the Particulars relative to her second Cruise. I do myself the honnour to write you the great uneasiness I crave under, for the fate of the Poor 21. men of her Crew, Taken the 22d. June, off...
6To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 12 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have Received with all gratitude the Letter your Excellency did me the honnour to write me the 8th. Instant. The expressions of your Excellency are the expressions of Humanity; they will give all Comfort & quietude to the Prisonners & to the Crew of the Black Prince Privateer; they will encourrage the People already Listed for my New fine Vessell the...
7To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 23 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I have received with due respect & gratitude your Excellency’s most Esteemed favour 19th Inst. We apprehend that your Excellency’s Judgement there in Joined, for the Brig Dublin Thomas Griffitths, & for the 11. Ransoms taken by the Black Prince, will Suffice, & the request there in made to the admiralty, will, I hope, determine them without hesitation to...
8To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 8 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have recd. with gratitude the Two Letters your Excellency did me the Honnour to write me the 28th. ulto. & 2d. Inst. I shou’d have had the honnour to Answer the first Immediatly, had I not been in daily expectation to receive the Commission for the Black Princess, which your Excellency has been pleased to Promise to send in a few days & we want it very...
9To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 7 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have seen with Mr. Coffyn the Petition, addressed to your Excellency by one Wam. Power a Prisonner of the Black Prince Taken on Board of the Good Will, who promised to Serve the Privateer for his Freedom the remainder of the Cruise. This Petition, I am told, is signed by many more such Prisonners— Their Leader Wam. Power has appeared yesterday before Mr....
10To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 27 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I This Moment receive the Petition to Your Excellency from Our Surgeon Boutey. Was this restless man a Good Subject, he certainly wou’d not have troubled Your Excellency on a Matter which he well knew, was not in my power to perform untill I had received from Morlaix the Accounts of the Sales of the prises, the amount of Same, & the remainder of the...