9001To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 31 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library With this you will receive a Letter from Capt Alexander Heguye(?) inclosing a Memoire to the Marquis de Castries.— The Favour requested is highly merited and is in itself such as ministers have frequently granted on Slight pretentions— It is only to have Lettres de Capitaine which in this Country is necessary to have, before a man (however he may be...
9002To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, [13 January 1773?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (badly mutilated): American Philosophical Society Je n’ai encore reçu ni votre paq[uet ni votre lettre?] du 8e. Je vous prie de me marquer [ torn ] ferez l’honneur de m’ecrire par la [ torn ] vous etiez servi pour les deux [ torn ] voyageans, je pourrois pour peu que [ torn ] decouvrir icy dans les hôtels garnis ou [ torn ] et si ce sont des françois domiciliés a Paris cela seroit encore...
9003To 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,...
9004To Benjamin Franklin from Forster frères, 8 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The inclosed letter We receiv’d under cover from our R: F by Ship from Dublin with directions to forward it to your Excellency, & to request an answer through our hands which We shall take care to send by the same conveyance— We shou’d esteem ourselves happy to have it in our power to render your Excellency any service in this place: as We buy annually of...
9005To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges: Two Letters, 17 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Dr. J. Harvey Pierce, and Mr. William Sprague will hand you this. They are two professional & good men who mean to quit this Country for a better, & will I make no doubt carry over knowlege & political opinions which will be beneficial to any part of our Country where they may fix for life. Their particular intentions will be best explaind...
9006To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 28 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Musee national de la Cooperation franco-américaine du Château de Blérancourt Your favor of 17 June last, is now before me, and having just heard of a Vessel for L’Orient which goes in a few hours; I take up my pen to let you know, in the first place that the family is well—they are yet in the Country, but I purpose bringing them to Town in a few days— We are sorry to hear of the Malady...
9007To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte de Rochambeau, 26 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Le Cte. de Rochambeau prie Monsieur Le Docteur francklin de vouloir bien faire passer la lettre ci-jointe à Mr. le chr. de La Luzerne par la premiere occasion The only extant letter to BF from the victor at Yorktown.
9008To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 30 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since the last letter I had the honour to write Your Excellency, on the 12th. inst, I am deprived of your Excellency’s favours. In the instructions delivered to Capn. Marchant of the black Prince privateer (for which your Excellency was pleased to grant a Commission,) is mentioned arte. 3d.—that the trial of the prizes made on the Ennemy by the American...
9009To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr.: Two Letters, 9 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Yale University Library; (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society, copy: Yale University Library Inclosed is a Memorial from my Friends Messrs V & P French & nephew of Bordeaux to the Director of the Finnances, relative to a Seizure of some Tobacco to their address in consequence of an erroneus Declaration, which is the sole Effect of...
9010To Benjamin Franklin from George Washington, 18 August 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been honourd with your favour of the 16th., and the several Inclosures contained therein, which are now return’d with my thanks for the oppertunity of perusing them. I also Inclose you a Letter from Lord Howe, sent out (with others) by a Flag in the Afternoon of yesterday. With it comes a Letter for Lieutt. Barrington, who if not among those who...
9011To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 3 December 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I was so uneasy least Mariamne Should lay in, that I could not return again to Passy yesterday, I might however have done so for she Still keeps up.— I called at a Coachmakers to enquire about a proper Carriage for you, & I found one ready made belonging to the Marquis du Duc; one like it I think would fully answer your Purpose.— It is ingeniously contrived...
9012To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collas, 25 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is with honour, pleasure and Satisfaction I here by Imform you of my going to take my Departure from this place to boston On board of Captn. Barnes where I hope if fortune favour to meet with your worthy Sister and her Amaible Darther; Same time geaving you thanks for the Numberless favours Showed to the familly of whom I have the honor (by Mareage) to...
9013To Benjamin Franklin from Johann Rodolph Valltravers, 2 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society None of the five Letters, which I had the Honor to write to Your Excellency in the Year 1778, from Switzerland, having been so happy, to meet with the Favor of a Reply: I could not know, how to account for My Misfortune.— Having since that Time left my native Country, to sollicit in person in Germany, several Sums due to me, from several Courts, as well as...
9014To Benjamin Franklin from Augustin-François-Hugue Macé de Vaudoré and Other Commission Seekers, 8 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Between May 1 and October 31, 1781, nine people write to apply for commissions in America or Europe, or to recommend someone else. Of these, two have already served in America and we print the letter from one of them, dated September 8, immediately below. L’Ecluze de Vieux Chatellet writes on May 28 from Quimper, where he is known simply as “L’ecluze de...
9015To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Goudar, 1 January 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Aubenas, January 1, 1778, in French: A select company in the Vivarais has instructed me to express its admiration for the virtues of the incomparable Washington, which combine so well with your own talents. If anything made in Languedoc is of use to you or your countrymen, we will carry out your orders without charge. Please send me a print of the great...
9016To Benjamin Franklin from Edmund Burke, 10 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I flatterd myself that by this time we might have shaken hands as publick friends as I hope we always should have done as private. In the Latter Case States have no power, though in other respects they may & do put us in odd & awkard Situations. Two friends of mine are going to Paris one of whom I know for a long time & have valued just in proportion as I...
9017To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 8 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress However Certain it Appears that Peace is Near at Hand, I Have thought that Personal Considerations ought to Give Way to Motives of Public Utility— I am therefore sailing With the fleet, and Untill Peace is Ascertained, Will Continue in Promoting the Views Which You Have Decided to Be the Most Advantageous to America— in this Affair, it is Useless to observe that My...
9018To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 29 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I beg leave to introduce to your Notice Monsieur Nordingh Danish Consul for several Ports in France, residing at st Quentin, & partner in the House of Brisac Paulet & Nordingh. He has a great desire to pay his Respects to you in his Passage through Paris, and being a Gentleman for whom I have a high Esteem I take the Liberty of presenting him to you and...
9019To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Pigott, [between 22 April 1784 and 18 May 1784?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had proposed myself the honor of dining to day at Passy, but Business of the day has prevented me of having that Pleasure As I propose going to England early on Sunday morning, I shall be proud to receive your commands and of executing any of your orders As I am with the greatest Respect & Regard dear Sir Your most faithful & obed Sert. Addressed: A Son...
9020To Benjamin Franklin from Juliana Ritchie, 18 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The 7th. instant, I was favored with the letter that you did me the honor to write to me the 5th. I beg leave to offer you my sincere thanks—for that proof of your politeness & good nature. Tho’ you have not been able to give me any intellegence respecting my husband, yet you have taken a weight from off my spirits, that I am not able to express—as, from...
9021To Benjamin Franklin from [Jonathan Williams, Jr.], 23 November 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Public Record Office Since writing the Inclosed, I have had some Conversation with a Gentleman relative to the proposed Bill, which he assures me is to look Back to all the Seizures made by the Kings Ships in America, and make them as well as all future ones legal Prises. The Bills proposed to be repealed are only the two fis[hing?] ones, and they intend to have as large a F[leet?] in...
9022To Benjamin Franklin from John Hughes, 8–17 September 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Extracts: Public Record Office; also printed in The Pennsylvania Journal , September 4, 1766, Supplement. Prospective stamp distributors came under attack in several colonies during August 1765, and by the beginning of September several had already resigned; see above, pp. 256–7. The turn of John Hughes, distributor for Pennsylvania and the Three Lower Counties, came a little later than some...
9023To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Priestley, 2 June 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I inclose a few copies of my Proposals , with the catalogues much inlarged. I therefore beg you would destroy the former, and dispose of these as you shall think most conducive to the design. I shall send a greater number soon to Mr. Johnson, from whom you may have whatever you want. In the mean time, I am obliged to take the liberty to inclose a small...
9024To Benjamin Franklin from La Rochefoucauld, 26 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, votre billet du 17. et j’ai appris avec plaisir le retour de l’Amphitrite, les bonnes nouvelles qu’elle a apportées de vos prises sur les Anglois, et la certitude que la bataille annoncée du 11. 7bre. n’est pas vraie, puisque’elle auroit été sue à Charlestown le 21. J’ai vu une lettre de Bordeaux trop belle pour être crue, et j’ai...
9025To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 26 September 1768: phonetic spelling and transcription (Franklin Papers)
Transcribed from ALS (draft with all but the final sentence in phonetic spelling): American Philosophical Society Yi i have transkr yi ib’d iur Alfabet &c. huit sh yi i th ink m yi it bi a v s yi rvis tu dh
9026To Benjamin Franklin from Emmanuel de Pliarne, 22 August 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ay quitté Philadelphie pour passer quelque temps à La Campagne où La chaleur Est un peu plus supportable. Je ne comptais y Rester qu’une ou Deux semaines; Mais étant Voisin De L’endroit où se Doivent passer Les Grands Evenements de votre Continent, J’ay Crû Devoir payer une Visite à tous Les ouvrages qu’on a elevé pour La Défense De La liberté. J’ay été à...
9027From George Washington to Benjamin Franklin, 9 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was very much obliged by the letter which you did me the honor to write me by our amiable young friend the Marquis De La Fayette, whose exertions to serve this Country in his own are additional proofs of his zealous attachment to our cause, and has endeared him to us still more. He came out flushed with expectations of a decisive campaign and fired with hopes of acquiring fresh laurels, but...
9028To Benjamin Franklin from the Comtesse de Ponteney, 3 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Jait Eü lhonneur il Lia quatre ans de diner avec vous la veille de mon depart pour Litaillie rue du Bacq chez Mr. de la faye. Je suis de retourd depuis plusiers semaines. Le 12 du Mois passé jeü lhoneur de remettre a la Reine une lettre que la Reine de Naple luy a Ecrit an ma faveurs. Je suis obligee dailler demain Vendredy a la muette et Comme jignore le...
9029To Benjamin Franklin from E. Thornton, 1 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Received a Letter yesterday from Mr. Thornton with the inclosed. Be so Obligen [as to] lett me know if it Comes Savef to Hand. I am Sir your Obegant Humble Servant Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur fankelin / a passy Notation: Thornton Mrs Doubtless the sister or wife of John Thornton; he was sending by her some document, now missing, that presumably...
9030To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Moffatt, 12 May 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Three days ago on my return from an excursion of pleasure I was favourd with Yours of Aprill 7th. Some years are past since I kept a register of the Barometer, Thermometer &c. and from it I find that on Decr. 31st 1751 Fahreenheits thermometer fell two lines below Cypher and next day or Janr. 1st in the morning the mercury was at the same station but before...