1From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 10 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
L : Massachusetts Historical Society Since Mr. Adams’s Departure Dr Franklin recd a Letter from Mr. Lawrens; the inclosed is a Copy of the Post-script, & which appears to be that mentioned to Mr. Adams in his Letter from Mr. Lawrens— Addressed: A son Excellence / Monsieur Adams / &ca &ca / Hotel du Roi / au Carouselle Notations: Dr. Franklin. inclosing an Extract of a Letter from Mr. Laurens....
2From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 19 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress Late last Night I received a Note from M. de Vergennes, acquainting me that it is very essential he should have a Conference with us, and requesting I would inform my Colleagues. He desires that we may be with him before Ten on Monday Morning. If it will suit you to call here, we may go together in my Carriage. With...
3Receipt for John Adams, 22 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Massachusetts Historical Society Reçu le Pacquet que m’a envoyé son Exe. M. Adams addressée a M. Livingston Notation: Receipt Dr. Franklin. for a Packet addressed to Mr. Livingston 22. Decr. 1782. WTF drafted the basic statement; BF added “addressée a M. Livingston” and “22 Decembre”. This packet contained JA ’s journal of the peace negotiations as well as several letters for Livingston....
4From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 3 November [i.e., December] 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I am perfectly of your Opinion respecting the Copy to be sent to Mr Dana, and shall have one prepared directly for that purpose. Is it not also a proper time for you to propose the Quadruple Alliance offensive and defensive, or at least defensive, which I think you once mentioned to me? For I apprehend this Peace may be so humiliating to England, that on...
5To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 15 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
A long and painful Illness has prevented my corresponding with your Excellency regularly, but I paid the Bill you drew upon me and advised me of in your last Letter. Mr Jay has I believe acquainted you with the Obstructions our Peace Negociations have met with, and that they are at length removed. By the next Courier expected from London, we may be able perhaps to form some Judgment of the...
6From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 15 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society A long and painful Illness has prevented my corresponding with your Excellency regularly, but I paid the Bill you drew upon me and advised me of in your last Letter. Mr Jay has I believe acquainted you with the Obstructions our Peace Negociations have met with, and that they are at length removed. By the next Courier expected from London, we may be able...
7To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 2 June 1782 (Adams Papers)
Since mine of May 8th I have not had any thing material to communicate to your Excellency. Mr Grenville indeed arriv’d just after I had dispatch’d that Letter, and I introduc’d him to M. De Vergennes; but as his Mission seem’d only a Repetition of that by Mr Oswald, the same Declarations of the King of Englands sincere Desire of Peace, and willingness to treat of a General Pacification with...
8From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 2 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress; transcripts: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives Since mine of May 8th I have not had any thing material to communicate to your Excellency. Mr Grenville indeed arriv’d just after I had dispatch’d that Letter, and I introduc’d him to M. De Vergennes; but as his Mission seem’d only a Repetition of that by Mr...
9To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 8 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
Mr Oswald, whom I mention’d in a former letter which I find you have received, is returned and brought me another Letter from Lord Shelburne of which the above is a Copy. It says Mr Oswald is instructed to communicate to me his Lordships Thoughts. He is however very sparing of such Communication. All I have got from him, is that “the Ministry have in Contemplation, the allowing Independence to...
10From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 8 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress; transcripts: National Archives, Massachusetts Historical Society Mr Oswald, whom I mention’d in a former letter which I find you have received, is returned and brought me another Letter from Lord Shelburne of which the above is a Copy. It says Mr Oswald is instructed to communicate to me his Lordships Thoughts. He is however...
11To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 22 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Messrs. Fizeaux and Grand have lately sent me two Accounts of which they desire my Approbation. As they relate to Payments made by those Gentlemen of your acceptances of Bills of Exchange, your approbation must be of more Importance than mine, you having more certain Knowledge of the affair. I therefore send them enclos’d to you, and request you would be pleas’d to compare them with your List...
12From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 22 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society Messrs. Fizeaux and Grand have lately sent me two Accounts of which they desire my Approbation. As they relate to Payments made by those Gentlemen of your acceptances of Bills of Exchange, your Approbation must be of more Importance than mine, you having more certain Knowledge of the affair. I therefore send them enclos’d to you, and request you would be...
13To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 21 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have just received the Honour of yours dated the 16th. Instant, acquainting me with the Interview between your Excellency and Mr Lawrens. I am glad to learn that his political Sentiments coincide with ours; and that there is a Disposition in England to give us up Canada and Nova Scotia. I like your Idea of seeing no more Messengers that are not Plenipotentiaries; But I cannot refuse seeing...
14From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 21 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS and transcript: Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I have just received the Honour of yours dated the 16th. Instant, acquainting me with the Interview between your Excellency and Mr Lawrens. I am glad to learn that his political Sentiments coincide with ours; and that there is a Disposition in England to give us up Canada and Nova...
15To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 20 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I hope your Excellency received the Copy of our Instructions which I sent by the Courier from Versailles some Weeks since. I wrote to you on the 13th. to go by Capt. Smedly and sent a Pacquet of Correspondence with Mr. Hartley. Smedly did not leave Paris so soon as I expected; but you should have it by this time. With this I send a fresh Correspondence which I have been drawn into, viz: 1. A...
16From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 20 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I hope your Excellency received the Copy of our Instructions which I sent by the Courier from Versailles some Weeks since. I wrote to you on the 13th. to go by Capt. Smedly and sent a Pacquet of Correspondence with Mr. Hartley. Smedly did not leave Paris so soon as I expected: but you should have it...
17To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 13 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed with this I send to your Excellency the Pacquet of Correspondence between Mr Hartley and me which I promised in my last. You will see we have held nearly the same Language which gives me Pleasure. While Mr Hartley was making Propositions to me, with the Approbation or Privity of Lord North, to treat separately from France, that Minister had an Emissary here, a Mr Forth, formerly a...
18From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 13 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress Inclosed with this I send to your Excellency the Pacquet of Correspondence between Mr Hartley and me which I promised in my last. You will see that we have held nearly the same Language which gives me Pleasure. While Mr Hartley was making Propositions to me, with the Approbation or Privity of Lord North, to treat separately from...
19To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 31 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I received yours of the 10th Instant, and am of Opinion with you, that the English will evacuate New York and Charlestown, as the Troops there, after the late Resolutions of Parliament, must be useless, and are necessary to defend their remaining Islands where they have not at present more than 3000 Men. The Prudence of this Operation is so obvious, that I think they can hardly miss it:...
20From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 31 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I received yours of the 10th Instant, and am of Opinion with you, that the English will evacuate New York & Charlestown, as the Troops there, after the late Resolutions of Parliament, must be useless, and are necessary to defend their Remaining Islands where they have not at present more than 3000 Men. The Prudence of this Operation is so obvious, that I...
21From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 12 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress Having concluded to provide for the Payment of the Bills drawn on Mr. Laurens in favour of Mr Ross, which were presented to you last Year, this is to request that you would examine and accept the said Bills, and keep an Account of them. I have ordered Money into the Hands of Messrs Fizeaux and Grand for the Payment of those that...
22From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 11 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have just received a Number of Packets from America. In opening them I did not perceive that the enclosed was directed for you, till I began to read the Letter it contain’d. I beg you will excuse this Inadvertence. I congratulate you on the Change of Disposition in the English Nation with regard to America. Misfortunes make People wise, and at present they seem to...
23To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 12 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
I received the honour of yours dated the 7th. Inst. acquainting me with the Presentation of several more Bills drawn on Mr Laurens. I think you will do well to accept them, and I shall endeavour to enable you to pay them. I should be glad to see a compleat List of those you have already accepted. Perhaps from the Series of Numbers, and the Deficiencies, one may be able to divine the Sum that...
24From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 12 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; Copy: Library of Congress I received the honour of yours dated the 7th. Inst. acquainting me with the Presentation of several more Bills drawn on Mr. Laurens. I think you will do well to accept them, and I shall endeavour to enable you to pay them. I should be glad to see a compleat List of those you have already accepted. Perhaps from the Series of...
25To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 4 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have received yours of the 25th. past, in which you acquaint me with the Reasons you have for being fully of Opinion that no Loan is possible to be procured by you, till there is a Treaty. Our only Dependance then appears to be on this Court; and I am happy to find that it still continues dispos’d to assist us. Since mine of the 11th. past, tho’ I have obtain’d no positive assurances of...
26From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 4 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress I have received yours of the 25th. past, in which you acquaint me with the Reasons you have for being fully of Opinion that no Loan is possible to be Procured by you, till there is a Treaty. Our only Dependance then appears to be on this Court; and I am happy to find that it still continues dispos’d to assist us. Since mine of...
27To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 11 January 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your Excellency will see by the within the Situation I am in, and will thence judge how far it may be proper for you to accept farther Drafts on Mr Laurens, with any Expectation of my enabling you to pay them, when I have not only no Promise of more Money, but an absolute Promise that I shall have no more. I shall use my Endeavours however, but am not sure of Succeeding, as we seem to have...
28From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 11 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress Your Excellency will see by the within the Situation I am in, & will thence judge how far it may be proper for you to accept farther Drafts on Mr Laurens, with any Expectation of my enabling you to pay them, when I have not only no Promise of more Money, but an absolute Promise that I shall have no more.— I shall use my...
29To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 17 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Packet, containing the Correspondence relating to the Goods. I suppose that Mr Barclay is there before this time, and the Affair in a way of Accomodation. Young Mr Neufville is here, but I have thought it best not to give him as yet any Hopes of my Paying the Bills unless the Goods are delivered. I shall write fully by next Post. This serves chiefly to acquaint you that I...
30From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 17 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress I have received the Packet, containing the Correspondence relating to the Goods. I suppose that Mr Barclay is there before this time, and the Affair in a way of Accommodation. Young Mr Neufville is here; but I have thought it best not to give him as yet any Hopes of my Paying the Bills unless the Goods are delivered. I shall...