111From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 13 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress I am honour’d by your Excellency’s Letter of the 4th Instant, relating to the Bills drawn on Mr Lawrens. I recommended their being presented to you, as I understood you supply’d his Place during his Absence, and I thought it more reputable to our Affairs, that they should be accepted by you for him, than that their Credit should...
112From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 3 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I received the Letter you did me the Honour of writing to me by Capt. Jones, and immediately answer’d it, acquainting you that my Packets contain’d no Commission, nor any Mention of one. I have just receiv’d another Letter from you, dated the 14th past, with a Number of Dispatches, but they are Duplicates only and as old as July; they contain nothing of...
113To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 5 June 1779 (Adams Papers)
The Chevalier de La Luzerne sat out Yesterday for L’Orient, and will be with you perhaps before this comes to hand. You will find him a very agreable sensible Man, and a hearty Friend to the Cause of America. As you may land in Boston and are not certain of going directly to Philada. I have put under his Care my Dispatches for Congress, and request yours for those to New England. Mr. Bondfield...
114To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 10 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 5 th. Instant by Comm o. Jones, with the Dispatches he brought. The Packet directed to me alone, contain’d only a Letter to the Magistrates of Hambourg, and a Diploma of Doctor of Divinity from the College at Princetown for the Reverend M r Wren: No Commission, nor any Mention of it; so that it seems to have been forgotten or...
115Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 16 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
We duly receiv’d (M r Jay & me) the Letters you did us the honour of writing to us the 27th of March & the 2 d Instant. We shall transmit, as you desire, the Recommendation of M r Browne to Congress; and enclos’d we send a Copy of the Treaty with Sweden. We expect M r Hartley here very soon, to exchange the Ratifications of the Definitive Treaty; when we shall endeavour to obtain an...
116To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 2 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
By all our late Advices from America the Hopes you expressed that our Countrymen, instead of amusing themselves any longer with delusive Dreams of Peace, would bend the whole force of their Minds to find out their own Strength and Resources, and to depend upon themselves, are actually accomplished. All the Accounts I have seen, agree, that the Spirit of our People was never higher than at...
117To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 3 April 1779 (Adams Papers)
I received the Letter you did me the honour to write to me of the 24th past. I am glad you have been at Brest, as your Presence there has contributed to expedite the Operations of Capt. Landais in Refitting his Ship. I think with you, that more has been made of the Conspiracy than was necessary; but that it would have been well if some of the most guilty could have received a proper...
118From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 14 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I duly received your Excellency’s favour of the 1st. and 6th Instant. I wrote to you by Mr Barclay, who went from hence some Days since, & I hope is with you by this time, and that he will with your Assistance be able to settle every thing relating to the Goods. I have receiv’d a long Letter from Messrs Neufville, the Purport of which is, “that they...
119To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 19 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I received the Honour of yours, with an Account of the Bills you have to pay. I have accepted your Drafts for 77,000 Crowns, at 15 Days Date. The Shortness of the Term is inconvenient; and as our Money comes to hand by Degrees, and these unexpected Demands from Holland and Spain oblige me to anticipate our Funds, for which Anticipation I pay an Interest of five Per Cent, I wish you would for...
120From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 15 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Massachusetts Historical Society Mr Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Mr Adams, and encloses a Paper left with him by the Secretary of the Portuguese Ambassador last Night, being an Extract of a Letter from the First Minister of that Court. No Notice is taken in it of the preceding Plan of a Treaty, and Mr. F. mentions for Consideration, whether it would not be right to send...
121From 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...
122To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 21 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
Agreable to my Faith I have obtain’d a Promise of Money sufficient to pay the Bills you have accepted, and shall accordingly accept those you draw on me for that purpose. I request only that you would send me immediately a List of the Bills, and of the Times of their becoming due, that I may be always provided, and that as the Money will come gradually into my hands, you would not draw upon me...
123Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 27 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed I have the Honour of sending to your Excellency Copies of Papers contain’d in a Dispatch just receiv’d from Congress. The Affair of the Free-Ports recommended to us, has been someTime settled: They are Dunkirk, L’Orient, Bayonne & Marseilles.— I wonder much that we hear nothing from Congress of their foreign Arrangements. This short Line from the President is the only one I have...
124From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 24 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress By the enclosed Letter from M. De Sartine expressing his Majestys Desire that the Alliance should be retained here a little longer, you will see that I am under a kind of Necessity of disappointing you in your Intentions of making your Passage immediately in that Vessel; which would be more unpleasing to me but for these...
125From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 12[–16] October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 4th. Instant. I have never known a Peace made, even the most advantageous, that was not censured as inadequate, and the Makers condemn’d as injudicious or corrupt. Blessed are the Peacemakers , is I suppose to be understood in the other World: for in this they are more frequently...
126Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to John Paul Jones, 10 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
As your Separation from the Ranger, and the Appointment of Lieutenant Simpson to the Command of her, will be liable to Misinterpretations and Misrepresentations by Persons who are unacquainted with the real Causes of those Facts. We hereby certify, that your leaving the Ranger was by our Consent, at the express Request of his Excellency Monsieur De Sartine, who informed Us that he had occasion...
127From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 30 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress This is to request that you will accept no more Bills with an Expectation of my Paying them, till you have farther Advice from me: For I find that Mr. Laurens, who went away without informing me what he had done, has made so full a Disposition of the Six Millions granted at my Request before his Arrival, that...
128Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 5 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received the Letter you did me the Honour of writing to me the 24th past. You have had a terrible Passage indeed, taking it all together from London to Amsterdam. The Season has been, and continues, uncommonly severe, and you must have suffered much. It is a Pity that the good Purpose of your Voyage, to save if possible the Credit of M r Morris’s Bills could not be accomplished, by your...
129From 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...
130To 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...
131From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 10 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress I received the honour of yours of the 29th past from Nantes. I hope you are before this time safely arrived at L’Orient. M. De la Luzerne is making diligent Preparation for his Departure, and you will soon see him. He and the Secretary of the Embassy are both very agreable and sensible Men, in whose Conversation you will have a...
132To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 14 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I duly received your Excellency’s Favour of the 1st. and 6th Instant. I wrote to you by Mr Barclay, who went from hence some Days since, and I hope is with you by this time, and that he will with your Assistance be able to settle every thing relating to the Goods. I have receiv’d a long Letter from Messrs. Neufville, the Purport of which is, that they are willing for their Parts to deliver the...
133From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 3 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour to write to me of the 24th past. I am glad you have been at Brest, as your Presence there has contributed to expedite the Operations of Capt. Landais in Refitting his Ship. I think with you, that more has been made of the Conspiracy than was necessary; but that it would have been well...
134From 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...
135To 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:...
136Benjamin Franklin and John Jay to John Adams, 28 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
We had the honor of receiving your Favour of the 20 th: Inst, and are persuaded that the Communication of the Friendly Disposition of his Prussian Majesty made to you by the Baron de Thuilemeyer will give great Pleasure to Congress. The Respect with which the Reputation of that great Prince has impress’d the United States, early induced them to consider his Friendship as a desirable Object;...
137Franklin and John Jay to John Adams, 28 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society We had the honor of receiving your Favour of the 20th. Inst, and are persuaded that the Communication of the Friendly Disposition of his Prussian Majesty made to you by the Baron de Thuilemeyer will give great Pleasure to Congress. The Respect with which the Reputation of that great Prince has impress’d the United States, early induced them to consider his...
138To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 21 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me Yesterday, gives me the first Information of the Resolution mentioned as taken by the State of Maryland relating to their Money in England. If there is no Mistake in the Intelligence, (which I apprehend there may be) and such a Power as is supposed should come to my Hands, I shall then take your Excellency’s Recommendation, (which...
139From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 12 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Since my last of the 6th. Inst. there have been several Arrivals in France from America. I have Letters from Philda. of the 20th. June, tho’ none from Congress. The Advices are, that General Green has taken all the Enemy’s Out Posts in So. Carolina & Georgia, and that their Possession in those Provinces is reduc’d...
140Franklin and John Jay to John Adams, 29 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society We received the Letter you did us the honour of writing to us the 10th. Inst, with the project of a Treaty that had been transmitted to you by the Baron de Thulemeier, which we have examined, & return herewith, having made a few small Additions or Changes of Words to be proposed, such as Citoyens for Sujets and the like, and intimated some Explanations as...