151Stephen Sayre to the American Commissioners, 25 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library When I left Berlin, I meant to have come to Paris by the way of Hambourg, and from thence to Rouan by sea; but on my arrival at Hambourgh, I saw more propriety in coming here. I have reason to think I shall remain here the Winter, therefore beg it as a great favour, that you will send such Letters, as are now under your care, to the Danish Minister at Paris,...
152James Smith to the Commissioners, 15 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to enclose you the Testimony of Mr. Anthy. Payn concerning the detention of my Goods at Calis with the names of the Officer by whom they were taken and the Servant of Mr. Payn who was also eye witness to the transaction and lives at the Hotel Lyon d’Argent at Calais. It may be also proper to inform you that a Gentleman who I have been given to understand by Mr. Williams is...
153C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 2 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
Today I have the honor to send you the resolution of which I have already spoken. What delayed me a little was my recent trip to Amsterdam, a bothersome cold which I brought back with me, and the three copies which I had to make to send in successive letters to the congress. This piece fully deserves to be published in both French and English for the service of the United States because of the...
In the letter which you did me the honor to write to me the 28th. of last month, You recall the promise which the King has made in the 8th Article of the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce signed the 6th. February last, to employ his good offices with the Regencies of Barbary, to procure for the subjects of the United States, every security in the Meditteranean for their Commerce and...
155Dumas to the American Commissioners, 13 November 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief; copy: National Archives <[The Hague], November 13, 1778, in French: Next Wednesday a resolution on refusing convoy for naval stores will be decided by plurality vote [of the states of the Province of Holland]. Amsterdam has protested that the constitution requires unanimous consent in this case. Mr. van Berckel and the...
156John Ayres to the American Commissioners, 29 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Bordeaux, July 29, 1778: I arrived yesterday in 26 days from Boston with a packet for you which ill health prevents me from delivering personally. Mr. Texier, a friend of Mr. Bondfield, has agreed to deliver it. I trust I shall soon recover and will be glad to serve in my capacity as captain in the continental navy. If not, I will await your orders. P.S....
157Dumas to the American Commissioners, 13 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (incomplete draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief The intelligence reports that make up all but the conclusion of this letter are interesting enough to be printed in full, as a sample of the news that the commissioners received from their principal informant in the Netherlands. He is here supplying every possible tidbit of information because Europe was in...
158C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 1 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Upon returning here, Tuesday evening, I went to see our friend. He told me that nothing had been decided yet, but that, in spite of all that might still happen tomorrow, things would end well. I knew what he meant. He also told me that Sir Joseph Yorke’s excessive influence on an important person manifested itself more and more, and that there was no doubt that the latter had made secret...
159The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 2 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: American Philosophical Society, Library of Congress, National Archives (two) Since ours of Octr: 31st. the enemy have by repeated efforts at last overcome our defences on the Delaware below Philadelphia, and we hear they have got up some vessels to the city; but we incline to think they will be interrupted much in their opperations on the river by the Cheveaux de Frize and the cold...
160John Jay to the American Commissioners, 5 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Your favors of the 2d. 8th: and 10 June last have been recd. and Copies transmitted to the Committee. The subject of them certainly merits their Attention, and I hope your Advice will be litterally complied with. As I have not now the Honor of a Seat in Congress, having been called to an office which will confine me in this State, any Information I can...
161Dumas to the American Commissioners, 16[-18] January 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief <The Hague, January 16[-18], 1779, in French: The French ambassador has informed a number of high officials that Dutch shipping except for that of Amsterdam henceforth will be excluded from French trade privileges. These officials expressed their displeasure, claiming it was unprecedented that France should treat with only...
162The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 14 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society, Harvard University Library; copies: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, Library of Congress; copy and transcript: National Archives <York, May 14, 1778: All goes well with us, and we are preparing for either war or peace. Our enemies have fostered doubt about our perseverance, but the enclosed report of Congressional action in rejecting British...
163Ralph Izard to the American Commissioners, 21 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères <Paris, September 21, 1778: I have learned that the ship Nile , Captain Goldsmith, has been taken while bound from London to Leghorn and brought into Marseilles. She carried 20 packages of my baggage addressed to Monsieur Antoine Martinelli, merchant, to be delivered to the abbé Niccoli. My name doesn’t appear on them as this might have...
164John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 30 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By last Post I was honor’d by William Lee Esq. with his Deputation of Commercial Agent for the Secret Committee of Congress at the Ports of Bayonne Bordeaux Rotchfort and La Rotchell. Permit me in that Character to assure you of my steddy adherence to the instructions I have and may receive and to a due observance of any Orders you may please to command,...
165James Moylan to the American Commissioners, 23 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since I had the honor of writing you the 7th. Inst. I am deprived of the receipt of any of your favors. There are letters this day in Town from Morlaix advising the arrival there of a vessel from Baltimore, which place she left the 10th. of December last, and the Capes of Cheasapeake the 14th. Dec. the Captain of which (it is said) reports that New York and...
166Gentlemen at Nantes to the American Commissioners, 7 January 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Nantes, January 7, 1779: We believed, in consequence of the “Treaty of Alliance, Friendship and Commerce,” that our commercial engagements would be encouraged and protected by this kingdom. We requested of M. de Sartine and yourselves to solicit protection for a number of vessels destined with valuable cargo for several American states. The Minister...
We have received the letter that you did us the honor to send the 31st of last month, but which did not arrive until the 15th. In our letter of the 7th, we acknowledged the receipt, from Mr. Whitall, of the book containing 205 promissory notes of the United States of America, each for 1,000 florins current payable on 1 January 1788 and accompanied by 10 of 50 florins for the interest of 5...
168Richard Grinnell to the American Commissioners, 15 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Guernsey, September 15, 1778: Captain Peter Collas and I sailed with Captain [Corbin] Barnes from Paimboeuf August 29. We were captured September 1 by Captain Abraham Bushall who treated us like brothers. We fell in with Captain Niles whose schooner Spy had been taken by a Jersey privateer. Niles and Barnes succeeded in throwing all papers overboard....
169John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 2 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
Captain Jason Laurence belonging to the Schooner General Arnold Arrived here Yesterday by a dutch Ship being put on board by a Jersey Privateer that took the Schooner the 1 Decr. fifteen Leagues from Belle Isle. He informs me the Vessel belonged to Genl. Arnold that she was the first that had been Launcht at Phila. since the recovery. He left that City the 4 Novr. had on board Packets from...
170John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 3 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
We are yet without any Arrivals from any part of America, from Carolina as an embargo is in force for the exporting of Rice, it is not extraordinary, but from all the other Provinces some Vessels may be expected as there are many french Vessels in Virginia Maryland and No. Carolina, should vessels belonging to the States be wanting, which I apprehend is rather the Case, some of the other ought...
171William 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...
172Sartine to the American Commissioners, 15 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society <Versailles, July 15, 1778, in French: Among the English prisoners on Belle Isle, taken from ships in French ports, are two who say they are Americans, James Niggins of Charleston, and John Selby of Baltimore. They want to be freed and sent home. They were on the Hancock , they say, en route to Charleston from Nantes when an...
173Puchelberg & Cie. to the American Commissioners, 24 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Lorient, August 24, 1778: We are herewith forwarding a letter given us yesterday by Mr. Lee, living at Schweighauser’s. Please acknowledge its receipt. As associates of Schweighauser in this town, we offer our services and would appreciate your patronage.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 388. Thomas Lee, identified in Berubé de Costentin’s letter...
174John Paul Jones: Memorandum for the American Commissioners, [3 July 1778]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Harvard University Library <[July 3, 1778: ] I came to Paris when I learned on good authority that the minister wanted to speak with me on a matter of great utility to the United States. Permission to sell the prizes, or an exchange of prisoners, was not in immediate prospect; and something had to be done to assuage the Ranger’s crew. The minister pledged me to reveal his plan to no one,...
175The Eastern Navy Board to the American Commissioners, 8 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress <Boston, June 8, 1778: At the direction of the marine committee we have provided the schooner Dispatch , Capt. Barnes, in order to bring you packets of great importance forwarded by the Council of this state. We hope they arrive safely, and ask that you furnish the captain the necessary supplies, expenses while in port, a month’s...
176Isaac-Jean-Georges-Jonas Grand to the American Commissioners, [6 April? 1778] (Franklin Papers)
Translation: American Philosophical Society Mr. Grand is the more sorry for not having had the honour of seeing yesterday the honourable Mr. Franklin as he was desirous to speak to him of two interesting subjects, the one Mr. Boux nephew who does nothing at Nantes altho’ in the States’ Service. He would be more usefull at Amsterdam as well to forward the Construction of the Indian as to bring...
177Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 3 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Passy, July 3, 1778: On your verbal instructions I have ordered the repair of arms at Nantes to be stopped and the workmen paid off according to the agreement. Please let me know whether this is satisfactory. > Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 258. With Mercier more than a year before: XXIV , 100–1. Only a fifth of the old fusils had been repaired:...
178Thomas Simpson to the American Commissioners, 8 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy : American Philosophical Society <Brest, May 8, 1778: After the capture of the English warship Drake , Capt. Jones appointed me to take her to Brest. I enclose a copy of his instructions. On May 5, while she was in tow, he ordered me to cast her loose and—so we all understood—make my own way to port. We were chased by a brig, tried to rejoin the Ranger , and did so early in the...
179Alexander Fowler to the American Commissioners, 6 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society That your Petitioner served His Brittannick Majesty Eighteen Years with Honor and Reputation as will be seen by the Annexed Testimonials of His Conduct and Character. That in the year 1773, your Petitioner being then quartered in the City of Philadelphia, when it was no longer doubtfull that the British Legislature had formed a Plan to entail Slavery on the...
180Meinert & Cie. to the American Commissioners, 9 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Nous avons l’honneur de vous accompagner ci Joint une requete, qui nous a etée envoyée par un malheureux Prisonnier à Brest, pour lequel ou bien sa liberté nous nous interressons, raport à sa nombreuse famille. Daignés Messieurs nous faire part de vos intentions dans la correspondence que vous tiendrés avec Monsieur J.D. Schweighauser. Nous sommes avec...