31From Benjamin Franklin to Richard and Sarah Bache, 27 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society I have received lately several Letters from you, which gave me a great deal of Pleasure, as they inform’d me of your Welfare and that of the Children. Being inform’d that Benny had been ill of a Fever, and that he was dejected & pin’d at being so long absent from his Relations, I sent for him to come to me during...
32From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 27 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library; copy: Library of Congress In this letter, prompted by Banks’s overture of May 28, Franklin rejoices in the peace, muses on the folly of war, and reclaims his place in the British scientific community, as he had long wished to do. Erasing eight years of estrangement, he notes with pleasure the recent discoveries made by “our” Society. By way of reciprocation, he adds a...
33From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 27 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I have been honoured by your Letters in the Washington, of the 3d. 11th. 13th. 19th of January, and the 26th & 31st of May. Till that Ship arriv’d, we had been totally in the dark respecting American Affairs for near 6 Months. The Correspondence may henceforth be more regular, as 5 Pacquet Boats are now ordered here, to depart from LOrient for N. York the middle...
34From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 22[–26] July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS , press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives; AL (draft): Library of Congress You have complained sometimes with reason of not hearing often from your foreign Ministers; we have had cause to make the same Complaint, six full Months having intervened between the latest Date of your preceeding Letters, and the receipt of those per Capt. Barney. During all this Time we were ignorant...
35From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 24 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
L : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; L (draft): Library of Congress M. Franklin a l’honneur d’envoyer à Monsieur Le Comte de Vergennes un Exemplaire des Constitutions des Etats-Unis de l’Amerique qu’il le prie de vouloir bien accepter. M. Franklin prend la Liberté d’envoyer en même tems, ceux destinés pour le Roi et la Famille Royale; et il prie Monsieur le Comte de Vergennes, de...
36From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 23 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society; copy: Sächsisches Hauptstaatsarchiv This will be delivered to you by M. Thieriot, who goes to Philadelphia by order of his Court as Commissioner of the Commerce of Saxony, in order to establish a Correspondence between the two Countrys, that may, it is thought, be greatly advantageous to both. We have all along had many well-wishers in that Electorate, and I...
37From Benjamin Franklin to Schönfeld, [23 July 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Sächsisches Hauptstaatsarchiv Vous trouverés cy-joint les lettres que Vous m’avés fait l’honneur de me demander pour le Sr. Thieriot. Elles lui procureront, je n’en doute pas, cette reception et consideration qui sont dues à son Souverain ainsi qu’à son merite. Recevés, je Vous prie Mr., l’assurance du très parfait attachemt. avec lequel j’ai l’honneur d’etre Votre &a. Copie, de la...
38Recommendation for Pierre Sonnerat to the Royal Society, [22 July? 1783] (Franklin Papers)
DS : American Philosophical Society M. Pierre Sonnerat, Correspondent of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, Member of the Academy of Lyons, well known by his Voyages to New-Guinea and China, where he was employed by the King of France for the promotion of Natural History, being desirous of Admittance into the Royal Society; we whose names are subscribed do recommend him upon our personal...
39From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, [before 18 July 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress Mr. F. submits it to the Consideration of Mr. Jay, whether it may not be adviseable to forbear, at present, the Justification of ourselves, respecting the Signature of the Preliminaries; because That matter is, at present, quiet here; No Letter sent to the Congress is ever kept secret; The Justification contains some Charges of...
40The American Peace Commissioners to Robert R. Livingston, 18 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; press copy of LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, Yale University Library; transcript: National Archives We have had the honour of receiving by Capt. Barney your two Letters of the 25th. of March & 21st of April, with the Papers referred to in them. We are happy to find that the Provisional Articles have...
B. Franklin’s Observations on Mr Jay’s Draft of a Letter to Mr Livingston, which occasioned the foregoing Part to be left out.— M r . F. aubmits it to the Consideration of M r . Jay whether it may not be adviseable to forbear, at present, the Justification of ourselves, respecting the Signature of the Preliminaries, because That matter is, at present, quiet here; No Letter sent to the Congress...
42From Benjamin Franklin to the Farmers General: Memorandum, [before 17 July 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of AD and transcript: University of Pennsylvania Library Copy of [Note given] to the Farmers General Mr Robert Morris, Merchant, of Philadelphia, is Superintendant des Finances of the United States. It belongs to him to make Provision for the [Payment of the Debt due from the States to the Farmers General]. Mr Morris is a Man of S[kill] in Business, great Activity, great Exactness,...
43The American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley, 17 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Public Record Office; AL (drafts): American Philosophical Society, Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives We have the honour to inform you that we have just received from Congress their Ratification in due Form of the Provisional Articles of the 30th. of November 1782, and we are ready...
44Draft Letter from the American Peace Commissioners to Bariatinskii and Arkadii Markov, [before 15 July 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Around July 13, the American commissioners had been given to understand that mediation by the imperial courts was “a mere formality—a mere Compliment, consisting wholly in the Imperial Ministers putting their names & Seals to the parchment, & can have no ill effect.” On that basis, and believing that Vergennes was in favor of it, Adams drafted the...
45The American Peace Commissioners to Vergennes, 10 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Messieurs Adams, Franklin & Jay, Ministers of the United States for treating of Peace, present their Respects to Mr le Comte de Vergennes, & request he would be pleased to favour them with a Copy of the Offer made by the two Imperial Courts of their Mediation. Notations: juillet 10 / rep. le 31 Juillet 1783. Written by BF . At Versailles on...
46From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Laurens, 6 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania We have been honoured with several of your Letters, and we have talk’d of writing to you, but it has been delayed. I will therefore write a few Lines in my private Capacity. Our Negociations go on slowly, every Proposition being sent to England, & Answers not returning very speedily. Capt. Barney arrived here last Wednesday, & brought Dispatches for us...
47From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 4 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives I have the honour to communicate to your Excellency, by Order of Congress, their Resolution of the 2d of May. It will explain itself; and I can add no Arguments to enforce the Request it contains, which I have not already urged with an Importunity that nothing but...
48The American Peace Commissioners to Prince Bariatinskii, [2 July 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Retranslation: reprinted from Nina N. Bashkina et al. , eds., The United States and Russia: the Beginning of Relations, 1765–1815 ([Washington, D.C., 1980]), p. 199. On Tuesday, July 1, at the weekly gathering of ministers at Versailles, Vergennes informed the American peace commissioners that the Anglo-French treaty had been settled, pending British approval, and the time had come for them to...
49From Benjamin Franklin to Le Couteulx & Cie., 2 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have the honour of sending you enclos’d a Letter I have just receiv’d for you from Mr Morris.— I find that from a Mistake in his Expectations of the Funds I should be able to furnish, he has drawn on Mr Grand to a larger Amount than I can possibly supply. Mr Grand will therefore be obliged to protest some of those Bills unless Means can be found...
50From Benjamin Franklin to [the Duc de Deux-Ponts], [on or after 14 June 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Reponse Without Information what are the Productions & Manufactures of the Palatinate & of Bavaria and their Prices, of which Mr Franklin is totally ignorant, it is impossible for him to say what of them will be proper for a Commerce with the United States of America. He can only answer in general, that America purchases from Europe all kinds of...
51The American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley: Answers to Propositions, [29 June 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society (two), National Archives (two), Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; transcript: National Archives Answers to Mr Hartleys six Propositions for the definitive Treaty— To the 1st This matter has been already regulated in the 5th & 6th Articles of the Provisional Treaty to the utmost extent of our...
52The American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley: Proposals, [29 June 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: William L. Clements Library, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives, Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; press copy of copy and transcript: National Archives Propositions made to Mr Hartley for the definitive Treaty— 1st To omit in the Definitive Treaty the Exception at the End of the 2d Article of the Provisional Treaty: Viz: these Words “Excepting such Islands...
53From Benjamin Franklin and John Jay to Vergennes, 28 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives Mr Grand, Banker to the Congress, having laid before us the annexed State of their Affairs in his Hands, we conceive ourselves indispensably obliged to communicate the same to your Excellency, as some important Interests of both Countries are concerned. Before...
54Benjamin Franklin and John Jay to Vergennes, 28 June 1783 (Jay Papers)
M r Grand, Banker to the Congress, having laid before us the annexed State of their Affairs in his Hands, we conceive ourselves indispensably obliged to communicate the same to your Excellency, as some important Interests of both Countries are concerned. Before the Peace was known in America, and while M r . Morris had hopes of obtaining the Five per Cent Duty, and a larger Loan from his...
55From Benjamin Franklin to the Chevalier de Cambray-Digny, [before 27 June 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Valentine Giamatti, “Le Chevalier de Cambray in America, 1778–1783” (unpublished doctoral dissertation, Harvard University, 1940), p. 149. Dr. Franklin requests the honour of Mr. Cambray’s Company at dinner on Sunday the 29th inst. Passy, June 1783 The favour of an Answer is desired A military engineer who served with distinction in the American army and spent two years as a...
56To Benjamin Franklin from the Baron de Borde Duchatelet, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, and Other Applicants for … (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The cessation of hostilities and Franklin’s reputation as a philanthropist continue to inspire the hopes of prospective emigrants. During the five months covered by this volume, letters come from France, Italy, the Austrian Netherlands, Germany, and England. Petitioners appeal either to American national interest by detailing the essential skills they...
57From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Franklin Bache, 23 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I received your late Letter, and am pleas’d to see that you improve in your Writing. I have also receiv’d the little Drawing of a Country-house, which seems to be prettily done, and shows that you advance also in that Art. I write by this Post to Mr. Marignac, requesting that he would permit you to come and see me and stay with me during the Vacation of...
58From Benjamin Franklin to Nathaniel Falconer, 18 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your kind Letters of May 15. and June 7. and was glad to hear of your Welfare and safe Arrival in England.— I wish you much Success in entring again upon your old Occupation, and should be happy if I could be ready to return in a Ship under your Care. But I have not yet receiv’d the Permission I requested from Congress, nor do I know...
59From Benjamin Franklin to Staël von Holstein, 16 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu la Lettre que votre Excellence m’a fait l’honneur de m’ecrire le 13 de ce Mois, pour me faire Part que vous avez reçu de votre Cour la Ratification du Traité conclu entre nos deux Nations: J’attens de Jour en Jour la Ratification du Congrès, & dès que je l’aurai reçue je m’empresserai de vous en faire Part, afin que nous puissions faire les Echanges...
60From Benjamin Franklin to [Gaspard-Bonaventure-Timothée Ferry], 14 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received some time since the Letter you honour’d me with, containing your Hypothesis for explaining the Shock given by the electric Bottle, on which you seem to desire my Opinion. It is many Years since I was engag’d in those pleasing Studies, and my Mind is at present too much occupied with other and more important Affairs to permit my returning to...
61From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 12 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and transcript: National Archives I write to you fully by a Vessel from Nantes, which I hope will reach you before this. If not, this may inform you, That the Ratification of the Treaty with Sweden is come, & ready to be exchang’d when I shall receive that from Congress; That the Treaty with Denmark is going on, and will probably be ready before the Commission for signing it arrives from...
62From Benjamin Franklin to Pierres, 11 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I received the Exemplaire of the Constitutions. I intended to have waited on M. le Garde des Sceaux yesterday at Versailles, but was prevented.—I shall write to him today.— The Ratification of the Swedish Treaty is arrived, so that there is no farther Obstruction to the Publication. I desire to have 50 of the 8vos [octavos] bound in Calf, & Letter’d,...
63From Benjamin Franklin to [the Conde de Sousa Coutinho], 7 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS and transcript: Library of Congress I have perused carefully the Plan of a Treaty which your Excellency did me the honour to leave with me on Wednesday. I shall transmit it to my Sovereign as it is, to avoid delay; but in the meantime would make a few Remarks for your Consideration. 1. I apprehend the Words at the End of the first Article [ que celles dèja établies avec les Puissances les...
64Portuguese Counterproposal for a Treaty of Amity and Commerce, [c. 7 June 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copy and transcript: National Archives The initial negotiations for a commercial treaty between the United States and Portugal, conducted between Franklin and the conde de Sousa Coutinho, took place without the knowledge of the other American commissioners and have left no written trace. Whether Sousa Coutinho had pressed for secrecy is not known; neither do we know when discussions began in...
65From Benjamin Franklin to John Vaughan, 3 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received a Pacquet you were so good as to bring for me from Philadelphia; but it contains no Letters later than the 13th. of January. As the Ministry here received Letters at the same time, & I believe brought also by you, that are as late as the 4th of April, I cannot but be surpriz’d that we have no fresh Letters by the same Ship that you came in.— Can...
66From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 3 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Having long known Mr Williams to be a very just Man in all his Transactions, I hope the Favour he requests of a Surséance may be granted to him, being confident that it will be employed to the compleat Satisfaction of his Creditors. I therefore earnestly pray your Excellency to obtain it for him....
67From Benjamin Franklin to [Edward Bancroft], [after 15 May 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Princeton University Library Be so good as to answer to our Friend that it is impossible Mr. Hartley could have said what is represented above, no such Thing having ever been intimated to him; nor has the least Idea of the kind ever been in the Minds of the Commissioners, particularly Dr. F. who does not Care how many Spies are plac’d about him by the Court of France having nothing to...
68From Benjamin Franklin to Ingenhousz, 1 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will be delivered to you by an ingenious young Friend of mine, Mr. S. Vaughan, who travels with a View of improving himself in Mineralogy. He will be much oblig’d by the Informations & Counsels that you can give him; and as I have a great Regard for him, and for his Family, I earnestly recommend him to those Civilities which you are accustomed to show...
69From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 23 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du ministère des affaires étrangères I beg leave to recommend earnestly to your Excellency’s Attention the enclos’d Petition and Papers from Mr. Price, an honest worthy American, who was to my Knowledge very serviceable to our Army in Canada, and much esteemed by the Congress. I shall be very thankful if you can procure for him the Order he desires. With great Respect, I am,...
70Proposal by the American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley (Adams Papers)
Paris, 22 May 1783. PRINTED: JA , D&A , 3:125–127 . LbC-Tr ( Adams Papers ); APM Reel 103. With this offer the commissioners sought to counter Hartley’s proposal of the previous day (above) as well as the 14 May Order in Council. They proposed an agreement whereby both parties would appoint ministers to negotiate a permanent commercial treaty. Until such time as an agreement was concluded,...
71The American Peace Commissioners to Rodolphe-Ferdinand Grand, 22 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society We have received the Letter you did us the honour to write us on the 10th. Day of this Month, containing a brief State of the affairs of the United States in your hands. We see the Difficulties you are in, and are sorry to say that it is not in our Power to afford you any Relief....
72The American Peace Commissioners to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 22 … (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society Mr. Grand, has laid before us, a State of the affairs of the United States under his Care, and the Demands upon him for money to discharge the Bills drawn upon him, are such as to require some assistance from you, if the Demands upon you will admit of it. If therefore, the State of...
73Letter in Support of Pierre-André Gargaz, 22 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society The Bearer Pierre André Gargaz is Author of a very humane Project for establishing a perpetual Peace. This has interested me much in his Behalf: He appears to me a very honest sensible Man, & worthy of better Fortune: For tho’ his Project may appear in some respects chimerical, there is Merit in so good an Intention. He has serv’d faithfully 20 Years...
74From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 20 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Henry E. Huntington Library The Bearer, M. de Bannes is exceedingly well recommended to me by Persons of the first Distinction in this Country. He goes over to America with a View of seeing the Country, & of being serviceable to the Government here, who may here after probably confer on him one of the Counsulships. He appears to be a sensible Young Man, and will I doubt not, make himself...
75From Benjamin Franklin to Jan Ingenhousz, 16 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS and incomplete AL (draft): Library of Congress I have before me your three Favours of Feby. 26, April 4. & 29. the last delivered to me yesterday by Mr. Robertson to whom I shall show the Respect due to your Recommendation. I am asham’d of being so long in Arrear in my Correspondence with you, but I have too much Business. I will now endeavour to answer your Letters, & hope I may be able to...
76To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte de Maillebois, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, 15 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Il y a bien longtemps, mon cher confrere, que je me reproche de n’avoir pas pu aller vous faire Moy mesme mes remerciments de la medaille que vous aves eu la bonté de m’envoyer. Vous scaves que j’ay toujours eu dans le cœur la gloire du Congres, et les succes de mon respectable confrere et amy. J’aurais desiré d’y contribuer plus essentiellement. M. de...
77Franklin: Certificate for the Capricieuse, [14 May 1783] (Franklin Papers)
D (draft): American Philosophical Society The Imperial Ship the Capricieuse, burthen about 350 Tons , Commanded by Capt. Simpson being bound from Trieste to Philadelphia, or some other Part of the United States , with Merchandize, but being uncertain what Port she may make; I hereby request that you would on his Arrival , favour the said Capt. Simpson with your Protection & Advice, for the...
78To 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...
79The Loge des Neuf Sœurs and Franklin: Announcement of a Fête Académique, [before 10 May 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Printed announcement: National Heritage Museum, Massachusetts Though the peace was publically celebrated all over Paris in the spring of 1783, this was the only celebration in which Franklin had a hand—or at least, to which he lent his name. Initially, the Nine Sisters planned to hold this fête académique on May 5 at its quarters on the rue Coquéron. They sent printed invitations to the...
80From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 10 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : New-York Historical Society Permit me to introduce to you the Bearer Mr. Hogendorff, of an illustrious Family, and Lieutenant in the Dutch Guards. He is strongly recommended to me by Persons of Distinction, as a Gentleman of excellent Character: His principal Design in going to America is to make himself acquainted with the Country, & its Inhabitants: I beg you will favour him with your...