661From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 25 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I am favour’d with yours of June 14 and 16. the latter containing some Copies of the spirited Resolves of the Committee upon the Letters. I see from your Account of the Transaction, that you could not well prevent what was done. As to the Rumour that other Copies were come from England, I know that could not be. It was an...
662From Benjamin Franklin to [Jonathan Williams], 26 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Inclos’d is a Receipt for some things of mine sent to your Care. I am thus far on my Journey to Boston, and hope now to have soon the Pleasure of seeing you. My Love to your Wife and Children. Tell my Cousin to have his Harpsichord in good Order, for I love Music and shall be pleas’d to hear him. My Daughter too, that comes with me, plays a little, and will be...
663To Benjamin Franklin from the Baronne d’Ahax, with Franklin’s Draft of a Reply, 12 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Monsieur apres avoir eu le bonheur de vous voir je desir de le renouveller et vous demande votre heurs la plus Comode ou je puis avoir la bonheur de vous revoir Seul car jai besoin dun Confidant et jesper de le trouver dans L’etre que je revere le plus au monde. Jai l’honneur d’etre avec la plus grand veneration monsieur votre tres humble et tres obeisante...
664From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Digges, 9 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I thank you for your favours of Oct. 8. and 12. and for the news Papers. I wrote fully to our friend Mr. B. about the Coppers. I hope you will soon be freed from the Trouble you have with the Prisoners by their Exchange, I can now only add that I am, with great Esteem Dear Sir, &c. XXX , 490–4, 490n, 525–7. Edward Bridgen had sent two samples of copper for possible...
665From Benjamin Franklin to ——— Garnier, 21 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received this Day the Letter you did me the Honour of writing to me on the 19th. Inst. and I lose no Time in Answering it in Order to save you the Trouble of coming out to me here. I must inform you then, Sir, that your Request of Commission in the Army of the United States, is totally impracticable: That Army being long since more than fully officered: Almost all...
666From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, 19 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress I lately received from America the enclosed Letters, and Resolutions of Congress. Such unexpected Drafts on me give me much Pain; as they oblige me either to give your Excellency the Trouble of fresh Applications, or to protest their Bills, which would be absolute Ruin. But your Excellency will see the pressing...
667From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes: Two Letters, 13 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress; (II) copy: Library of Congress I have communicated to Mr Lee the Letter your Excellency did me the honour to write to me of the 8th: Instant, relative to the Money placed in the Kings Treasury for Acct of Mr Stevenson; and also the Copy of the Letter to M. De Sartine which it enclosed: Mr Lee having no...
668From Benjamin Franklin to Nogaret, 10 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Library of Congress I received your friendly Note of the 6th. Inst. and am very sensible of your Kindness in not being angry with me, when my long Silence had given you so much apparent Reason. The Truth is, I intended calling on you from time to time, but something always happen’d to prevent it. At length I got my Grandson who writes the Language better than I do, to make a...
669From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 22 September 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society With this you will receive some Sheets of the Piece now printing, and which I am promis’d shall be finish’d in a few Days. I am afraid it is not so correct as it should be; But as I have been advis’d not to publish it till next Month, most of our Gentry being yet out of Town, there will be time for you to send me the Errata which may be printed at...
670From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bennett Lloyd, 18 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I duly recd. your favours of feb. 19 & Mar. 2 inclosing a Copy of the Letter to M. Hartley from the Board who have the Care of sick & wounded Seamen, relating to the Exchange of Prisoners. Accept my Thanks for the Pains you have taken in Behalf of those poor unfortunate People. M. Hartley writes me that he thinks they will now be soon exchanged. I hope your cold & the...
671From Benjamin Franklin to John Bondfield, 26 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have hitherto omitted sending you the Passport you desired because I would not find any Trace or Memory of such a Practice among our Proceedings since the Treaty; nor could I see the use of it. But as you repeat your Application for [ it ] in yours of the 15th. Instant, I send it inclos’d; acquainting you at the same time, that having no Instructions or Orders to...
672From Benjamin Franklin to [Vergennes], [after 14 February 1779] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress M. Franklin se trouve dans une Position aussy facheuse que penible, & a la quelle les Circonstançes du Comerçe ajoutent beaucoup; en ce que le peu d’Envoys qui echappent aux Ennemis, ne lui parviennent pas, ou ne lui sont d’aucun Secours: Si ils sont en Tabacs, Les Fermiers Genereaux les reclament avec raison; & si ce sont des ris, ou tout autre Denrée, M. De...
673From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 30 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Bearer Capitain Foligny commanded the Marquis De la Chalotais in her Voyage to America laden with Stores for our Armies in which Voyage he rendered considerable service on various occasions to the Americans with great Readiness Zeal, Activity and Intelligence and as a Mark of their Approbation and Confidance he received a Commission from the Congress Being...
674From Benjamin Franklin to [Bertin], 14 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library J’ai reçu, Monsieur, avec la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire le 11e. de ce Mois, le Passeport que j’avois donné dans l’Anné quatrevingt à M. Hutton. Vous trouverez cyjoint, Monsieur, un nouveau Passeport pour le meme charitable Objet, avec les Changemens que vous paroissez desirer. Je profite avec bien de l’Empressement, de cette occasion pour...
675From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 29 September 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society When I returned lately from France, I found among other Letters for me that had been here sometime, yours of June 13. It pleases me to hear you are at present relieved from the Weight, which lately lay so heavy on you that “all the Assistance of Reason and Religion were scarce sufficient to keep your Spirits up.” It is well you had such Aids. Our Reason...
676From Benjamin Franklin to Antonio Francesco Salucci et fils, 18 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am honor’d with your Letter of the 5th. ult. and am glad to learn that you have ventured on an Expedition of Goods to America. I must heartily wish they may arrive safe and that the Returns may afford you an encouraging Profit. You may rely upon it that your Ship will meet with a most friendly Reception in any one of the U.S.; with all the facilities for your...
677From Benjamin Franklin to Leonard Lafitte, 20 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received The Letter you did me the honour of writing to me on the 11th. Instant. The loan office Bills of which you send me a List, have not as yet been presented for acceptation, when they appear, I Shall give particular attention to the Indorsements in order to prevent their being paid if they should not have come through the proper Channel. My Grandson is very...
678Benjamin Franklin and John Jay to David Hartley, 31 March 1784 (Jay Papers)
We have now the Pleasure of acquainting you, that the Ratification of the Definitive Treaty is arrived here by an Express from Congress. You have already been informed that the Severity of the Winter in America, which hindered Travelling had occasioned a delay in the assembling of the States. As soon as a sufficient Number were got together, the Treaty was taken into Consideration, and the...
679From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 18 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received yours of the 5th (just after I had sent away mine of the 2d). It inclosed one from the good Bishop to you. I have since receiv’d yours of the 12th. I am glad to hear that Mrs Hewson resolves to come. My Love to her and her Children. I consent to your Staying till the End of the Month, on Condition however of your making a Visit to Chilbolton and...
680From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Digges, 30 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours of the 29th. past, and of Inst. but that you mention as sent by Barnet never came to Hand, and he has already play’d so many cheating Tricks in France that I do not expect to see him here again. It is an Irishman who having been once employed in one of our Privaters, and taken, has ever since he escaped from England rambled about Europe pretending to...
681From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes: Two Letters, 24 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Mr: Carnes, an American Merchant settled at Nantes, who has already presented your Excellency with a Petition requesting un Arrêt de Sur-seance , informs me that it cannot be complied with unless he first obtains the Consentment of a third of his Creditors; that in order to do this, his Presence is necessary at Nantes; but that...
682To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 16 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to inform your Excellency that I yesterday received Dispatches from Congress, refusing for the present, the Dismission I had requested, and ordering me upon an Additional Service, that of being join’d with yourself and Messrs. Jay, H. Lawrence and T. Jefferson, in Negociations for Peace. I would send you a Copy of the Commission, and of another which authorizes us to accept...
683From Benjamin Franklin to James Logan, 1737 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) Having read the Chapter on Moral Good or Virtue, with all the Attention I am Capable of, amidst the many little Cares that Continually infest me, I shall, as the Author Condescends to desire, give my Opinion of it, and that with all Sincerity and Freedom, neither apprehending the Imputation of Flattery on the one hand, nor that of Ill Manners on the...
684From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Wharton, 20 February 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D., F.R.S., &c. (quarto edition, 3 vols., London, 1817–18), II , 155–6. I received your favours of November 17, and 18, with another dozen of excellent wine the manufacture of our friend Lievezy. I thank you for the care you have taken in forwarding them, and for your kind good wishes that...
685From Benjamin Franklin to [La Rochefoucauld], [18 December? 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Bibliothèque municipale de Mantes I return the Letters, having in one mark’d with Crayon the Parts I think of most Importance; and in the other with Ink the Parts that ought not to be translated. Perhaps Abridgements would be better than Translations. I leave them to your Judgement. I am with the greatest Respect your Grace’s most obedient humble Servant See the first note on the...
686From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 15 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library; ALS (draft): University of Pennsylvania Library You have probably had enough of my Correspondence on the Subject of the Balloons, yet I cannot forbear sending you Mr Charles’s Account of his Voyage, wch contains some Circumstances that are curious & interesting. And perhaps you may, for a Conclusion, have one more Letter from me by him, if he makes the Flight, said to be...
687From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine: Two Letters, 22 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) copy: Library of Congress They have written to me from England, that they propose to Send two Cartel Vessels with American Prisoners to Morlaix, one from Portsmouth, the other from Plymouth, in order to clear both Prisons at once. For this purpose they desire another Passport; which if your Excellency has no Objection to it, I Should be glad to send by the first Opportunity. I am,...
688From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 15 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library; copies: Henry E. Huntington Library, Columbia University Library, Library of Congress, National Archives Mr Grand tells me that he hears from Madrid, you are uneasy at my long Silence. I have had much Vexation and Perplexity lately with the Affair of our Goods in Holland: And I have so many urgent Correspondencies to keep up, that some of them at times...
689Benjamin Franklin and Arthur Lee to Vergennes, 10 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour to acquaint your Excellency, that Mr. Adams, appointed by the Congress to replace Mr. Deane in the Commission here, is safely arrived, and purposes to wait upon you as soon as recovered a little from the Fatigue of his Voyage. The Ship in which he came is a Frigate of 30 Guns, belonging to the Congress. In her Passage she took a large Ship from London to New York, with a...
690From Benjamin Franklin to Pierres, 3 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Je vous renvoïe cy inclus les Essais que vous avez bien voulu me montrer. Je vous en remercie. J’ai vû avec plaisir le Progrès que vous avez fait, dans une maniere qui differe de la mienne, quoique peut être meilleure. Je serai bien aise de vous voir, quand vous en aurez le Loisir, afin de finir notre Compte Je suis avec...