151Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 23 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have received none of your favours by the two last posts. Things remain in the same Situation here as When I wrote you last. We are Suffered to go on and refit, but very Slowly the Tradesmen of this port Work but very slow and we Cannot hurey them Much for fear of being Stop’d. I think we Can be ready to Sail by the first of Next Month if not Stop’t here....
152Thomas Morris to the American Commissioners, 24 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society I wrote Mr. Deane a short letter the 15th. Instant, and have since received yours of the 19th. If you desire an entire copy of the letter I have had the honour to receive from the Secret Committee of Congress dated at Philadelphia the 25th. of October, you shall have it, but as I have already communicated that part of it to Mr. Deane by which I am...
153Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 24 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Yale University Library I have bought the Duc de Chartres for 70,000 l.t. payable at 4, 5 and 6 months but I was obliged to Submit to a Conditional Sale that if before the day of my purchase she should be ready sold in Paris the bargain is Void but if Accounts of Such a previous purchase do not Arrive by next Tuesday the bargain with me to be good and as the time betwen this...
154Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 26 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library; letterbook copy: Yale University Library My last inform’d you that I had purchased the Duc de Chartres. I have sent a french officer on board to take charge of her and make every preparation for heaving down which I shall order to be done immediately after the post on Tuesday. Mr. Nickels a Townsman of mine has been taken and has escaped hither. He has...
155Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 27 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your esteemed favor of the 22d by Mr. Beaugear, and shall pay due Attention to the Contents, part of which is already answered as I have inclosed the prices of Canvis, Cordage &c. also an Inventory of the Prince of Conte, her rigging, Sails, Stores &c. with my opinion of her Value according to the best information I could Obtain of the Value of...
156Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 29 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library; letterbook copy: Yale University Library I yesterday drew on you two Drafts at one Days Date the first in favour of Messrs. Montaudouins for 1000 l.t. the second in favor of the Chevalier de la motte d’aubigné for 3000 l.t. 4000 l.t. which please to Honour. My Last informed you of the order I had given for 8 large anchors, as to the price these will cost I...
157Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 31 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will be handed you by Monsr. Le Baron De Cadignun, whom I beg leave to introduce to your Acquaintance and hope you will render him all the service in your power, as he has been very kind and ready to render me every Service in his power for which I am much obliged, as he has been very Buissy in preventing the Paris orders from being rigorously executed...
158Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 1 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Yours of the 25th. July Came safe to hand. As to French Seaman who are Now in Goal, they do not Deserve Pitty as they were sent out of the Way preveous to the Officers Comeing on board to look for them and they went the Next day and delivered themselves up to the Judge of the Admiralty who put them all in Prison. I am very glad to find you approve of my...
159[Ferdinand Grand]: Draft Contract for the American Commissioners, 1 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Nous soussignés en vertu de nos pouvoirs donnons ordre et pouvoir á Mr. [ blank in MS ] de nous procurer au mioeux possible et le plus promptement que faire se pourra quatre flutes de Guerre Comme Celle qui se construit en hollande. Nous nous engageons en Consequence de fournir les fonds et les avances necessaires à sa requisition; nous en rapportant á tout...
160Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 2 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library; letterbook copy: Yale University Library I have just received your favour of the 28th Ultimo and shall take care to observe all your Directions with the greatest Exactness, but I must first inform you of a most vexatious turn our Affairs relative to the Duc de Chartres are about to take unless we can sufficiently oppose the Design. When I bought this Ship...
161Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 3 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will be delivered by Monsr. Becard a Very Worthy and respectable Merchant of this place and is disposed to enter into the American Trade. As he will Confer with you personally on this Subject, I shall refer you to him for the particulars of his Intentions on this head. As this Gentleman has been very Kind in rendering me every Service in his power at...
162Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners: Two Letters of Introduction, 6 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will be presented you by Monsr. De Foligné Commander of a french Frigatte belonging to Mr. Montieu. He is lately arrived, after a successfull Voyage, from South Carolina, and comes to Paris on Business. I beg leave to introduce him to you as a Gentleman of exceeding good abilities in his profession and much attached to the american Interest, which he...
163The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 7 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS and two copies: American Philosophical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) Inclosed are duplicates of Commissions and Instructions for William Lee and Ralph Izard Esqrs and Triplicates of Letters No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Since our last No. 6 a Variety of Circumstances in the military Department have happened, many of which are so intricate and unfinished as not to...
164Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 7 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As Mr. DeSeGray has informed me of his sending an Account of the Seize and quantity of Cordage Sufficient for a Ship of 64 or 74 Guns I think it Needless to add any thing on that head. We are now all ready and Clear for Sailing, only wait your Orders, Our powder is Stop’d in the Magazine and will not be deliver’d without a positive Order from the Minester...
165Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 7 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library The Day my last was written I purchased the Ship in question for 55500 Livres and by her excellence and fitness for our purpose, I hope she will sufficiently make up for the Loss of the Duc de Chartres. I have this Day drawn on Mr. Grand in 6 different Drafts for 15000 Livres and have advised him accordingly, which please to desire him to honour; this makes...
166John 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...
167William 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...
168Samuel Nicholson to the American Commissioners, 11 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am just Setting off for St. Mallo where Mr. Williams thinks I had better spend about 3 Weeks, in order to be out of the way and give time for our new ship to be built. I Shall have Capt. Tanner here to overlook as much as is needfull, or we dare appear in. He is an Experienced man in Ship building and A Compleat Draughts man. I shall send you the draught...
169Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 11 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In my last I omitted mentioning that the Vessell from North Carolina was from Edington and the Capt. said he saw the account of the affair at Brunswick in a Newspaper which he unfortunately did not bring with him. This news we afterwards began to doubt, because the News from England which confess’d to have recvd. Accounts so late as the 23 June, did not...
170Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 12 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will inform you of my present unhappy Situation. The Judge of the Admiralty have receiv’d orders of the 6th. Instant from the Minester at Paris, ordering them not to Suffer me to take any Cannon Powder or other Millatary Stores on board or to depart from the port on any Consideration whatever without further Orders from Paris. In consequence of those...
171Samuel Nicholson to the American Commissioners, 15 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This serves to informe You of my Arrival at this Place the Day before Yesterday from Nantes, which Place I left the 11th. Inst., at which time I wrote informeing You of the Same. Capt. Wickes has recomended Mr. Elliot, his Lieut. of Marines, to go out with me as Capt. of Marines, if this shou’d meet with your Approbation You will be pleased to send me A...
172Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 15 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will be delivered by my very good Friend Mr. Beaugear, who has been very kind in rendering me every Service in his power since his Arrival, as I have recommended his House here in a former letter have but little to add on that Subject, they Continue to do every thing in their power to Assist me and makes my detention as Agreeable as possible. As their...
173Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 15 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society With the inclosed I recvd two large Packets, one for Congress the other for Gen. Washington, which cost 10 livres Postage. I shall send them forward by next opportunity unless you forbid it, but I think proper to inform you of it. I am with the greatest Respect Gentlemen Your obedient Servant Addressed: To / The Honble Silas Deane Esqr / Paris Notation: Mr....
174William 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...
175Henry Johnson to the American Commissioners, [after] [19] August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Public Record Office Should have wrote you e’er this! I had no subject to write upon, knowing you have enough else to do besides reading a Scrawl, which signified nothing. Yours of the 19th Inst. came safe to hand, have to say I have done tolerable well with the French Sailors, many of them finding I would pay them no money have decamped; others (some few) have gone on board....
176Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 22 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I should be very glad to know my future destination and how I am to Act in regard to the proceedings of the Admiralty Officers at this port. If I am not dispatched Soon think it Will be Necessary to hawl the Ship on Shore again and Clean her as She is very Dirty and will not Sail without being Clean. I am informed Capt. Green of Philadelphia is Now at...
177Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners: Two Letters, 23 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library I have drawn on you in favour of Monsr. L’Escuyer 22d Augt. at one Usance for 6192. 17. 8 which please to honour; this Draft is for a quantity of tricot and Lining on which I have deducted 11 months Discount having bought it at a years Credit. A Bill was presented to me the 20th Inst. drawn by S. Smith at Plymouth for £12 Sterling; I know nothing of this...
178Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 24 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your favour of the 19th. Instant which in some Measure has given me releaf in respect to Complying with orders from the Minester at Paris, which will be Strictly attended to, on my part, but am very Sorry our Necessities obliges us to Submit to our present hard Fate. However hope you will Contrive to get me away as soon as possible, as I Can...
179Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 28 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have this day drawn on you two drafts the first in favor of L Escuyer at one usance for 3801.15. the second in favor of Peltier Du Doyer at four Usances 2764.7: 6566.2. The first of these drafts is in payment for some Lining for the Soldiers Cloaths, and the last in payment for some Sail Cloth for the Lions Sails. I have recvd. part of the Soldiers...
180John Paul Jones to the American Commissioners, 30 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honor of writing to you from hence the 3d day of June last Copy whereof is here inclosed. Congress have thought fit to put the new Sloop of War therein mentioned, now called the Ranger under my command, and have authorized Genl. Whipple, Colo. Langdon and myself to appoint the Officers. When I took this command, the middle of last month, I found...