61To John Jay from Silas Deane, 26 September 1781 (Jay Papers)
Our mutual Friend D r . Franklin told me last Night that he should write to you on Saturday, & offer’d to send my Letter inclosed in his Packet, I therefore embrace the opportunity to excuse my not having written to you for some time past, I rec d . yours of the 16 th . June ^ last ^ but a Day or two, before I set out on a Journey to Holland where I was absent for near six Weeks, & on my...
62[Silas Deane] to John Folger, 7 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Connecticut Historical Society; Harvard University Library This letter set in motion a train of events that culminated in a theft even more sensational than that of Arthur Lee’s papers in Berlin. Folger was one of two John Folgers of Nantucket who were Franklin’s distant relatives; which one is uncertain. He landed in England in May from a voyage to the Falkland Islands, he said, and...
63Franklin and Silas Deane to the President of Congress, 8 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : South Carolina Historical Society; transcript and two copies: National Archives; copies: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, Sheffield City Library We have now the great Satisfaction of acquainting you and the Congress, that the Treaties with France are at length compleated and signed. The first is a Treaty of Amity and Commerce, much on the Plan of that projected in Congress;...
64To Benjamin Franklin from Silas Deane, 13 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives The Letter which you did me the honor to write to me on the 19th. ultimo, did not come to hand untill last evening— I pray you to accept of my thanks for your attention to Mine of the 30th, of March, and I can but flatter myself that Congress will be induced by your Letters to take decisive measures, on the subject of my acco’ts. As I did not expect an answer to my long...
65To John Jay from Silas Deane, 16 November 1780 (Jay Papers)
I received your favors of the 26 th Ult o . & the 1 st Inst. this Day. I had begun to doubt whether my Reflections on Our political Situation, had not been a little too free, & which with the Total want of any News of Consequence for a Month past, has caused my Silence; for although I find the Settlement of Acc ts . a much more tedious & perplexing Affair than I imagined, & which has called...
66To John Jay from Silas Deane, 8 April 1781 (Jay Papers)
My last was of the 26 th . Ult o . & I this Day receiv’d yours of the 28 th . I assure you that I never had any suspicion of M r G[ouverneur] Morris’s acting with Duplicity towards me, & am surprized that any thing in my Letters should give you such an Idea.—be assured that if ever I bring the Charge publicly against any one, I shall produce incontestable Evidence; at present the same reasons...
67To George Washington from Silas Deane, 12 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving your polite & Freindly Letter of the 25th Ulto but Three days ago, and Col. Bannister informing me, he should set out in a Day, or Two, for the Army, prevented my instantly writing to tell you, how happy I am to find that my Conduct has met your Approbation, & how much I consider myself honored by it. next to the satisfaction which rises from a consciousness, of...
68To Benjamin Franklin from Silas Deane, 2 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote You by Capt. Cummins who sailed a few Days since, and I have been so particular to Docr. Bancroft who will communicate my Letter to You that I have very little to add. Genl. Sullivan by Accts. of the 25th Ulto. was endeavoring to make good his Retreat from Rhode Island, which it is thought he will hardly effect without some Loss. The Country and...
69To John Jay from Silas Deane, 18–20 September 1780 (Jay Papers)
I received yours of the 8 th . this Evening, and this being my fourth Letter to You, since my Arrival, You must be convinced that Your suspicions of Neglect on my part are groundless, nor is it possible for Me to be so taken up with any Affairs, or so resentful for any Treatment I have met with, as to be unmindful of the public Affairs of Our Country, or forgetful of my Friends, whither in...
70To John Jay from the American Commissioners (Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane), 2 June 1777 (Jay Papers)
We refer the Committee to ours to You of the 26 Ult o . of which we Sent Duplicates, should either arrive, but apprehensive of the Contrary we send You the Substance in this. The Brittish Commerce in Europe, especially in the North is unguarded, The Greenland Whale Fishery & the Hudsons Bay Shipps in particular. Cou’d two or three of our Frigates accompanied by lesser swift sailing Vessels...
71To John Jay from Silas Deane, 16 October 1780 (Jay Papers)
Yours of the 2 d . I received last Evening, am much surprized at the miscarriage of my Letter of the 28 th . of August nor can I account for it as it actually went under Cover by the Courier from Court, the Contents were not secret though important ^ to me, ^ & containing a Letter of Don Juans to the Minister at Madrid, its loss cannot be repaired, I trust you will yet receive it.— C t ....
72To Benjamin Franklin from Silas Deane, 15 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This is the first letter informing Franklin of his election as minister plenipotentiary to the court of France; the official notification was not sent for another six weeks. The dissolution of the American commission was not the result of its internal dissensions and inefficiency, but rather of the dictates of diplomatic protocol. This demanded that the...
73To John Jay from Silas Deane, 3 December 1776 (Jay Papers)
If my Letters arrive safe they will give you some Idea of my situation—without Intelligence, without Orders, and without remittances, yet boldly plunging into Contracts, Engagements, &. Negotiations, hourly hoping that something will arrive from America— By General Coudry I send 30.000 Fusils—200 ps. of Brass Cannon, Thirty Mortars 4000 Tents, &. Cloath g for 30.000 Men, with 200 Tons of Gun...
74To Benjamin Franklin from Silas Deane, 21 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society During the first half of September Deane was optimistic that congressional approval of his conduct as commissioner would permit his quick return to Europe. Between September 19 and October 15, however, that optimism was undermined. On those two dates Henry Laurens presented to Congress letters he had received from Ralph Izard criticizing the conduct of...
75To Benjamin Franklin from Silas Deane, 1 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Soon after my hearing of the Arrival of Mr Barclay in the Character of Vice Consul from Congress I received the inclosed Resolution and Order. I was at the Time setting out for Ostend, or I should have returned immediately to Paris, confident that every Obstacle to a Settlement was at last removed— At Ostend I met Mr Barclay who to my surprize informed...
76The American Commissioners to Thomas Morris, 26 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress We have expected some Remittances from you to our credit, in consequence of the sales which have been made at Nantes. You must be sensible how very unbecoming it is of the situation we are in, to be dependent on the credit of others. We therefore desire that you will remit with all possible expedition the Sum allotted by the Congress for our expences. Notation: Mr. T....
77The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 18 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Archivo Historico Nacional On March 14 the commissioners received their first dispatches from America. Among them was the letter above of December 30 from the committee of secret correspondence, enclosing the Congressional authorization to offer Versailles territorial inducements to enter the war. Deane promptly informed Vergennes that...
78The American Commissioners to Thomas Thompson, 13 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society We recd. from Messrs. Gourlad &c. an acct. of your arrival and were informed that you had a Private Letter for us which we have not yet recd. Conclude it must Come to hand in the Course of this week. Mean time we desire you would inform us in a Letter under Cover of Messrs. Gourlade &c. what is the situation of your Vessels and what their destination, as...
79Agreement between the American Commissioners and Louis-Guillaume-Servais des Hayes de La Radière, 17 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft) : American Philosophical Society Whereas le Sr. Laradiere Major du Corps Royal du genie, in the Service of his most Christian Majesty, not having obtain’d his Leave of Absence when the Agreement between us and Messieurs le Chevalier du Portal, de Laumoy, and Gouvion, was concluded, viz. on the 13th of this Instant, could not become a Party by signing the said Agreement, but having...
80The American Commissioners to Henry Johnson, 25 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office Your Letter of the 18th: We received, as We gave Our Orders generally to Com: Wickes, we omitted writing in particular to You. We are sensible of Your Spirit, and gallant Behavior as an Officer, and of Your Attachment to your Country as an Americain, and shall with pleasure do justice to your Character in Our Letters to the Congress, who we doubt not will pay due...
81The American Commissioners to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 15 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Connecticut Historical Society, University of Virginia Library Yours by Capt. Nicholson are before us. Mr. Deanes Lettres of yesterday proposed passing a Sale of the Lyon and sending her out as french Property, that is that she go down the River as commanded by the french Captain, and that Captain Nicholson instead returning to Nantes go directly to meet her at the mouth of the River...
82The American Commissioners to Boux, 3 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society We have wrote Capt. Nicholson who will procure you a Passage to America and we hope it may be such a one as will be agreable. Inclosed you have a Letter for the Hon’ble the Marine Board which you will send to them and attend their future Orders. Capt. Nicholson will give you notice where to meet him, or the Ship in which you can have a passage. We are...
83The American Commissioners to John Ross, 11 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society Yours of the 6th. came to hand in Course; as Mr. W. Lee will be with you before the receipt of this we refer you to him for what has been done as to the Late Mr. Morris’s Papers &c. In regard to the Ship purchased by you, Commanded by Capt. J. Green which you Offer to assign over to the Public account we are content that you do it and Charge the amount to...
84The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 17 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress We received your several Letters from Nantes and Portsmouth. We shall be glad to see you here, as soon as is consistent with your Affairs, in order to consult with you on the Matters mention’d in your Instructions from the Congress, &c. We are, with Esteem Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servants Addressed: To / John Paul Jones Esqr / Nantes Endorsed: Paris...
85The American Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 23 December 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères We beg Leave to acquaint your Excellency, that we are appointed and fully impowered by the Congress of the United States of America, to propose and negotiate a Treaty of Amity and Commerce between France and the said States. The just and generous Treatment their Trading Ships have received, by a free Admission into the Ports of this Kingdom,...
86The American Commissioners: Contract with Jean-Joseph Carié de Montieu, [6 June 1777] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: British Library In February, 1777, Congress sent a large order for military supplies, including 40,000 uniforms and cloth for as many more, which the commissioners acknowledged in late April. They then moved rapidly. Although they signed no contract before this one, they placed orders many weeks earlier. On April 27 they agreed with Chaumont and Jean Holker, one of the inspectors general...
87The American Commissioners: Proposed Memorial to Lord George Germain, 7 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Library of Congress; ADS (draft): Library of Congress Whereas the Snow Dickenson with her Cargoe, which was the property of the Congress of the United States of America, was by an Act of Piracy, in some of her Crew, carried into the port of Bristol in England, and there as we are informed, was converted to the use of the Government of Great Britain; and the perpetrators of so base and...
88The American Commissioners to Lord Stormont, 2 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : the Johns Hopkins University Library; AL (draft): Library of Congress; copy: Public Record Office. We did ourselves the Honour of writing some time since to your Lordship on the Subject of Exchanging Prisoners. You did not condescend to give us any Answer, and therefore we expect none to this. We however take the Liberty of sending you Copies of certain Depositions, which we shall...
89The American Commissioners to Vergennes, [26 June 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères To his Excellency the Count de Vergennes, Minister for Foreign Affairs We the underwritten, Commissioners from the Congress of the United States of N. America, beg leave to represent to your Excellency, that Captain Burnel, Commander of an armed Vessel commissioned by the said States, did lately take Refuge in the Port of Cherburgh with his...
90The American Commissioners to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 8 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: National Archives Since Our last We have received the inclosed Intelligence from London, which we take the earliest Opportunity of forwarding, in hopes it may be received with Our other Letters by Nantes. A Vessel from So: Carolina, loaded by that state, which sailed the 20th December, is arrived at L’Orient with Rice and Indigo. As We were particular in Our last which was sent...