We have the honour to enclose an extract of a letter from the Commissioners of the United States of America to Your Excellency dated Aug st. 28 th. 1778. Copy of Your Excellency’s ans r dated 27. Sept r. 1778. & Copy of M. de Sartine’s letter to Your Excellency of the 21 st of Sept r. 1778 all relative to a proposed negotiation with the States of Barbary. Not having any particular authority or...
2From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 18 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I was much obliged by the Readiness with which your Excellency favour’d my Request of a Sauf Conduit for Mr Bondfield, and I beg you to accept my thankful Acknowledgements. Permit me to ask another Favour of the same kind for my Nephew Mr Williams, who I am confident will make Use of it for the Advantage of his Creditors. With great and...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 11 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I beg leave to lay before your Excellency the enclos’d Papers, complaining of the improper Proceedings of the Admiralty at Nantes, in deciding on a Cause between the Captain of an American Ship and one of his Sailors, which ought only to have been judg’d by our Consul; and moreover in arresting the said Ship just on the Point of Departing for...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 28 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress I communicated immediately to Mr Williams the Letter your Excellency did me the Honour of writing to me the 26th. Instant, with the Memorial of Mr Denevers which accompany’d it.— I inclose a Letter from him to your Excellency, by which it will appear that the Complaint is not well founded; and I am persuaded...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 3 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministere des affaires étrangères; transcript: National Archives I have the Honour to transmit to your Excellency by Order of Congress a Resolution of theirs, dated the 11th. of May last, which is in the Words following, Viz, “Resolved, That Doctor Franklin be instructed to express to the Court of France the constant Desire of Congress to meet their Wishes; That these States...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 31 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Gilder Lehrman Collection; copy: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Some Inconveniencies are said to have arisen from a want of Certainty in the Powers of our Consuls. The Articles respecting that Matter have been some time prepared and agreed to between Mr de Raynevall and me. If there is no Change of Sentiment respecting them, I beg leave to request your Excellency would...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 5 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I received the Letter which your Excellency did me the honor of writing to me, respecting the Necessity of producing legal Proof of the Arrangements made with the Creditors mention’d in Mr. Williams’s State of his Affairs. I am much obliged by the Attention you are so good as to afford this Business...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 26 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Mr. Williams desiring no farther Surseance against the Bulk of his Creditors with whom he has amicably arranged his Affairs, and to whom he proposes to do exact Justice, I the more willingly join my Request with his, that he may be secured against the small Number remaining, who aim at forcing him to...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 17 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; press copy of LS : Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 15th. Instant, inclosing one from a certain Schaffer, who calls himself Lieutenant Colonel of the Continental Militia, requesting that you would cause to be restored to him a Bill of Exchange for 60 Dollars, that has my Name on...
10From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 12 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress I duly received the Letters your Excellency did me the honor of writing to me the 24 of Octr., and the 3d of December past, respecting the Arrest of our Arms & Ammunition by the sieur Puchelberg, accompany’d by Copies of the Letters of M. Le Marquis de Castries and M. Chardon, and a Paper of the said...
11From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 15 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I understand that the Bishop or Spiritual Person who superintends or governs the Roman Catholic Clergy in the United States of America, resides in London, and is supposed to be under Obligations to that Court, and subject to be influenced by its Ministers. This gives me some uneasiness, and I cannot but wish that one should be appointed to...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 14 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Permit me to introduce to your Excellency the Bearer Mr Nesbitt a very respectable American Merchant settled at L’Orient. He will himself have the honor of communicating to you the Business he is come to Paris upon, and I request your Excellency will give him a favourable Audience & that support which the nature of his Case seems to merit. With great Respect...
13From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 6 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Being now disabled by the Stone, which in the easiest Carriage gives me Pain, wounds my Bladder & occasions me to make bloody Urine, I find I can no longer pay my Devoirs personally at Versailles, which I hope will be excused. I have yet received from Congress no Answer to my Request of being recalled. In the mean time I must beg your...
14From 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...
15From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 16 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have the honour to inform your Excellency, that the English Ministry do not agree to any of the Propositions that have been made either by us, or by their Minister here; and they have sent over a Plan for the definitive Treaty, which consists merely of the Preliminaries formerly signed, with a short Introductory Paragraph, & another at the...
16From Benjamin Franklin to [Vergennes], [on or after 28 July 1783] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; ALS (draft): Library of Congress When the Ship Alliance belonging to the Congress was at l’Orient, under the Command of Capt. Jones, Moylan & Co Merchants there, were appointed to supply the Ship with what was necessary during her Stay. Capt. Landais taking Possession of the Ship surreptitiously in the Absence of Capt. Jones, apply’d to one...
17From 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...
18The 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...
19From 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...
20From 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...
21Benjamin 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...
22From 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....
23From 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,...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 5 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have the honour to communicate to your Excellency herewith three Articles proposed between Mr. Hartley and the American Commissioners, respecting Commerce. He has sent them to his Court for their Approbation. I doubt their Obtaining it; But we shall see. I am with Respect, Sir, Your Excellency’s Most obedient & most humble Servant In the...
25From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 5 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society It was my Intention to pay my Devoirs at Versailles to-morrow. I thank your Excellency nevertheless for your kind Admonition. I omitted two of the last three Days from a mistaken Apprehension that being Holidays there would be no Court. Mr Laurens & Mr Jay are both Invalids; and...
26From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 4 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have considered the Proposal of M. le Mis. de Segur, to cede to the Congress the military Stores left by M. de Rochambeau at Baltimore; and I am of Opinion that it is probable a Part of them may be acceptable, if not the whole; and that possibly some of the different States may be enclined to purchase what the Congress should not want. But...
27From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 24 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; draft: American Philosophical Society Je desirerois, Monsieur le Comte, faire imprimer la Traduction du Livre des Constitutions des Etats-Unis de l’Amerique publié en 1781 à Philadephie par Ordre du Congrès Général; plusieurs de ces Constitutions ont dèja paru dans le Journal des Affaires de l’Angleterre et de l’Amerique, d’autres ont déja...
28From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 16 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me respecting the Means of promoting the Commerce between France and America. Not being myself well acquainted with the State of that Commerce, I have endeavoured by Conversation with some of our Merchants to obtain Information. They complain in general of the Embarrassments...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 9 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Mr. Barclay, our Consul general, waits upon your Excellency with a Complaint of a gross affront and Injury offered to the Congress of the United States at L’Orient, by some English Merchants residing at Bourdeaux, to which I beg your Excellency’s Attention, and that you would order such Measures to...
30From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, 25 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 31st. of the last Month, relative to the fresh pecuniary Aid which the King was dispos’d to grant to the Congress.— I received also a second Letter on the same Subject, dated the 16th Instant. I am extremely sensible of his Majesty’s Goodness in according a new Loan to the...
31From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 18 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society Agreable to the Notice just receiv’d from your Excellency, I shall acquaint Mr Adams with your Desire to see us on Monday before 10 aClock, at Versailles; and we shall endeavour to be punctual. My other Colleagues are absent: Mr Laurens being gone to Bath in England to...
32From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 30 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress Mr Franklin will have the Honour of Waiting upon M. le Comte de Vergennes, tomorrow Morning at 9 oClock, agreable to the Notice just received. He begs leave to assure M. le Comte of his most sincere Respect Written on the bottom of Vergennes’ letter, the preceding document.
33From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 17 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I received the Letter your Excellency did me the Honour of writing to me the 15th. Instant. The Proposal of having a Passport from England was agreed to by me the more willingly, as I at that time had Hopes of obtaining some Money to send in the Washington, and the Passport would have made its Transportation safer, with that of our...
34From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 15 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have the honour to acquaint your Excellency, that our Courier is to set out to-morrow at Ten aClock, with the Dispatches we send to Congress by the Washington, Capt. Barney, for which Ship we have got a Passport from the King of England. If you would make any Use of this Conveyance, the Courier shall wait upon you to-morrow at Versailles,...
35From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 6 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have the honour of returning herewith the Map your Excellency sent me Yesterday. I have marked with a strong Red Line, according to your desire, the Limits of the thirteen United States, as settled in the Preliminaries between the British & American Plenipotentiarys. With great Respect, I am Sir, Your Excellency’s most obedt & most humble...
36From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 29 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have the honour to acquaint your Excellency, that the Commissioners of the United States, have agreed with Mr Oswald on the Preliminary Articles of the Peace between those States & Great Britain. To-morrow I hope we shall be able to communicate to your Excellency a Copy of them. With great Respect I have the honour to be, Sir, Your...
37From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 15 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 13th. Inst, and I loose no time in forwarding to your Excellency the Orders you desire for the 4 English Vessels destined to pass between Dover and Calais; tho’ I am persuaded the Passports they are furnished with from his most Christian majesty; would have been sufficient...
38From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 10 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have examined the Captain if it might not be possible that he had left your Excellys. Letters in his Ship. He says that he certainly had no others for you than the Pacquets he delivered: But that there came with him as a Passenger, a Mr Forest, who was a Commis he thinks in the Office of the Secretary of the French Minister, and who left...
39From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 8 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress The Congress disregarding the Proposals made by Sir Guy Carleton, and determined to continue the War with Vigour, ‘till a Peace can be obtained, satisfactory as well to the King as to themselves; (as will appear by their Resolves hereto annex’d) but being disabled by the great Deficiency in their Taxes arising from...
40From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 6 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress I wonder much that your Excellency has received no Letters by our Packet Boat. There were some for M. De Castries & M. de Segur. I enclose what News I have which is not in the News papers. Those will have informed you of the Unhappy Loss of the Eagle, and saving of the Money &ca. I am with great Respect Sir,...
41From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 8 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Mr Barclay who will have the honour of delivering you this, will have that of laying before your Excellency his Commission from the Congress of the United States of America, appointing him their Consul General in France. Mr. Barclay being about to enter on his Consular Functions, I request your Excellency would in the usual manner,...
42From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 24 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
L : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Mr Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Monsieur le Comte de Vergennes. He has search’d for the Boston Paper, in which mention is made of 4000 Troops being embarked at New-York, but cannot now find it. Thinks it may be in the Hands of M. le Marquis de la Fayette, and that it was dated about the Beginning of July. He sends inclosed a...
43From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 9 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangeres The American Commerce in general, and that between France and America in particular having suffered greatly of late, from the Number of Frigates employed by the Enemy to cruise on our Coasts, I am directed to communicate to your Excellency the Paper on that Subject which I have the honour now to enclose, wherein the Means of protecting that...
44From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 8 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Yesterday Mr Oswald communicated to Mr. Jay and me a Paper he had just received from his Court being a Copy of the King’s Order to the Attorney or Sollicitor General to prepare a Commission to pass the great Seal, appointing him to treat with us &ca. and he shew’d me a Letter from Mr Secretary Townshend, which expresses his Concern that the...
45From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 24 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères The two extracts inclosed in this letter were brought to Passy as part of a conciliatory mission that backfired. On July 11, Franklin wrote Benjamin Vaughan to express doubts about Shelburne’s intentions. Vaughan immediately showed that letter to Shelburne, who denied any grounds for suspicion. Vaughan volunteered to visit Franklin and...
46From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 6 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères The State of Maryland being the last that acceded to the Confederation, & therefore esteemed by some the least hearty in the Cause, your Excellency may judge, by the Sentiments of the General Assembly of that State, as express’d in their Resolutions which I have the honour to send you enclos’d, what Reception any Propositions made by General...
47From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 8 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
L : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Mr Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Count De Vergennes & has the honour of acquainting him with the Arrival of Mr Grenville; who is desirous of knowing when his Excellency will be pleased to admit him to the honour of a Conference. Endorsed: Rec. le meme jour In WTF ’s hand.
48From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 4 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress; transcripts: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives I have the honour to acquaint your Excellency, that Mr Oswald is just returned from London and now with me. He has deliver’d me a Letter from Lord Shelburne, which I enclose for your Perusal, together with a Copy of my Letter to which it is an Answer....
49From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, 15 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; press copy of ALS , and copy: Library of Congress; transcripts: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives On Sunday, April 14, Shelburne’s representative Richard Oswald, accompanied by Franklin’s old friend Caleb Whitefoord, arrived in Paris bearing Shelburne’s April 6 letter. That evening Whitefoord traveled to Passy on his own...
50From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 3 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; press copy of LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 26th. past, enclosing an Official Paper on the Part of the Danish Court, relating to the Burning of some English Vessels on the Coast of Norway, by three American Ships....