8101To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Jefferson, 13 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress The bearer hereof Mr. Thomas Shores is a native of Virginia and having lately, in conjunction with some others established a partnership for the purpose of carrying on a trade to Europe, he comes to France on behalf of his house to establish a proper mercantile correspondence. I am less acquainted with him than his partners...
8102To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 14 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I had the honor to address your Excellency some time ago by the Baron le Fort and to advise you that I should find myself under the necessity of calling on you for the advances made by our Bankers here for the Public— After having delayed as long as possible these payments, as well to comply with the request you made Mr Jay to give you all the time in his power at the...
8103To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Regnier: Dedicatory Epistle, [before 26 May 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS and AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Les Loix que j’ai rassemblées m’ont paru un des plus beaux monumens de la sagesse humaine: ces loix forment le Code le plus scavant de la Démocratie la plus pure qui ait encore existé; elles font déja le bonheur des Peuples qui s’y sont soumis; elles feront à jamais la gloire des Compagnies augustes qui les ont conçues. Vous avez longtems...
8104To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, [August? 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I send you Dr. Forster’s Observations made during a voyage round the World and I have marked the page wherein he explains the formation of Those Ilands I spoke to you of and That are hardly higher than high water mark. I have marked equally The page wherein he speaks of that curious observation They made aboard a ship at Tahity where they saw the fire...
8105To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Champion and Other People with Goods and Services to Offer, 24 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society During the months covered by this volume Franklin received only four offers to supply goods or to establish factories in America. The earliest, published below, comes from a supplier to the French army at the Hôtel royal des Invalides. That same day, July 24, the Parisian firm of Magniel Montauban & Cie., on the rue de Bourgogne, “Maison de M. Joly,” offers...
8106To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Condorcet, 2 December 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Voici, mon cher et illustre confrere, quelques questions que je prends la liberté de proposer à la Société philosophique de Philadelphie, et dont je vous supplie de vouloir bien me procurer la reponse. 1°. Si les pierres calcaires et les silex renfermant des productions marines, ou des empreintes de productions marines, ces productions soit coquilles soit...
8107To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 5 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have recvd. your obliging Favour of the 28 Inst. and am much rejoiced at Mr. Chaumonts success; I hope he will retain a Dedomagement for his Trouble and Kindness. If this Money is to be paid in America how am I to be reimbursed my Expences and paid Commissions? But I suppose the 50,000 Livres will be paid here; I beg Sir you will obtain this for me, for a...
8108To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 20 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society ’Twas only a day or two ago, that your Letter of the 25th Ultimo was delivered me. I have since been with the Commissioners of Sick & Hurt, who admit to have recd the Men whom your Certificates specify— Your Accot Stands as under America Dr. [Debtor] to Prisoners sent to Morlaix 119 Cr. [Creditor] by Prisoners and from L’Orient & Morlaix 67 due to England...
8109To Benjamin Franklin from William Shipley, 13 September 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I believe that you will be supprised to hear from one who am an entire Stranger and living at so great a distance; but as I have often heard so great a Character of your Ingenuity and extensive Publick-Spirited Benevolence I shall mention no more by way of Apology for troubling you on this occasion, than that your Plan for promoting of Useful knowledge...
8110To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library Capt Collas is now ready to sail in a little Brig which Mr Johnson has given him & in which I have a small Share.— At His request I gave him the Privateer Commission which was made out for his intended Cruize last Spring in the Mediterranean, and in order to put the matter on a regular Footing I inclose you a new Bond in...
8111To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Small, 13 April 1772 (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): American Philosophical Society Having soon dispatched all I could do in Jamaica, and having no Opportunity of returning soon to Britain from thence, I was tempted by a very ingenious Gentleman Mr. Shariff to accompany him hither. As he purposes being in England some time this Summer, I shall give him a Letter of introduction to you. As I gave you from Jamaica an Account of...
8112To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes: Three Letters, 22 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : American Philosophical Society; draft: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; (II) LS : Library of Congress; draft: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; (III) draft: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères J’ai l’honneur de vous envoÿer, Monsieur, Copie de la réponse que j’ai reçue de Mr. le Mis. [Marquis] de Castries relativemt. à la Saisie faite sur les...
8113To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 28 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I but just now receiv’d the Extreem favour you honor’d me with the 16th. Instant, by which I learn that you have apply’d to the french Minister of the Navy, to concilliate his advice & yours upon the conspirators, for the mode of trying them, the sooner the better, being a great burthen & guarded between decks where they suffer much for want of air. Your...
8114To Benjamin Franklin from Simon-Pierre Fournier le Jeune, 16 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This letter is the earliest known reference to the script type that was cut especially for Franklin by the premier typefounder of Paris. It is proof that Franklin and Fournier had designed the type—which was not used at Passy until 1782—far earlier than has been generally suspected. Simon-Pierre Fournier le jeune, eldest son of the famous Pierre-Simon...
8115To Benjamin Franklin from the Crew of the Alliance: Affidavit, 23 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Pierre Landais, Memorial, to Justify Peter Landai’s Conduct during the Late War (Boston, 1784) pp. 50–1. To bear the humble representation and petition of the Mariners and Marines on board the Continental ship Alliance. We have been surprised with the information that our honored commander, Peter Landais, Esq; has been impeached of cowardice to your Excellency, relative to his...
8116To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Duverger and Other People with Goods to Offer, with Franklin’s Notes for Replies, 3 March … (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Goodwill toward America and its representative kept flowing—sometimes at a price—from various sources. Some correspondents wanted to help the war effort, others to make known whatever interesting discoveries they had made. On March 3 came the offer, printed below, of the Liège arms manufacturer Duverger. Writing from Pennautier, near Carcassonne, on March...
8117To Benjamin Franklin from the Trustees of the Burlington Free School, 5 January 1773 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society To a person of Doctor Franklins well known character, for humanity and benevolence, we think it scarcely necessary to enter into an apology for the freedom we have taken in enclosing the within Petition to the King, in presenting which we request thy friendly assistance. Notwithstanding the application made by Lord Rochford for a Grant of the Islands in...
8118To Benjamin Franklin from John Jay, 14 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress On the 26th. Jany. last at Cadiz, I did myself the Honor of wrinting to your Excellency a Letter, by M. Gerard, enclosing one for the honorable Arthur Lee Esqe. and Copies of others I had written to the spanish and french ministers, and among other things informing you, that several Letters or rather large Pacquets directed to you were in my Possession, with which I...
8119To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Montgomery, 24 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honour of writing Your Eccelly. from Madrid advising that I had by the Malicious asertation of a wretch in this place been ordered to return 20 Leagues inland and that I expected to have an Interview next day with the Minester of State, in which I succeeded so well on account of a letter you ware already pleased to write in my favour that he...
8120To Benjamin Franklin from the Chevalier de Kermorvan, [12 August 1776?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçû l’honneur de votre Lettre. J’ai lû avec le plus grand plaisir votre judicieuse dissertation sur mon plan de défense. J’ai parfaitement senti les raisons qui feront qu’on ne l’executera que quand l’ennemi seroit descendu. Vos peuples ne veulent pas travailler et ne voyent de danger que quand l’ennemi est sur eux. Le travail d’un camp rétranché...
8121To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Jefferson, 1 December 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Knowing little of Mr. Chevallié’s claim as detached from that of Monsr. de Beaumarchais, & supposing it must stand on the same bottom being originally a part of it, I shall give you what information I can on the general subject. The contract for the supplies was made by Mr. de Francy, agent for Beaumarchais, with mr. Henry then governor of Virginia. He...
8122To Benjamin Franklin from [David Hartley], 14 November 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office; copy: Clements Library Hartley’s cast of mind was similar to that of the peace negotiators with whom Franklin dealt during his last months in England. All of them regarded reconciliation as a problem to be analyzed, ordered, and reduced to rational terms from which a rational solution might emerge. Barclay and Fothergill pinned their hopes on negotiating by...
8123To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, December 1744 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society The season of the year advancing in which our Correspondence from this place with New York becomes more uncertain and my eldest son going now to New York where he proposes to stay 8 or 10 days I hope you’l excuse my interrupting you in your Business which I know allows you little time for trifles or amusements. In your last you gave me hopes that you would...
8124To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 11 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress Major Ross Having Called Upon me this Morning, and Having said that in the Mean while You Give His Lordship’s Conditional Disharge it was Your Opinion I should Give that of the Aids de Camp at the Bottom of which you will Express Your Approbation of the Measure, I Request You will please to Have the Piece drawn up in the Way that Appears to You the Most properly...
8125To Benjamin Franklin from Besse, 5 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Je n’ai reçu l’honneur de votre Lettre que le 21 d’août & si je ny pas répondu plutôt, c’est que je n’ai pu trouver de traducteur qu’à Strasbourg. Je ne Suis pas le Seul dans cette manufacture qui se plaigne du retardement des Lettres; nous en cherchons infructueusement les causes, c’est pourquoi, Monsieur, si jamais vous voulez bien me procurer...
8126To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Montgomery, 20 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Beg Lave to Refer your Eccellency to My Respects of the 2d Currt. Which Inclosed Copy of the Count de Floridablanca’s Letter to this Governour in My favour. And Since ’am Honourd by your Truly Esteemd of the 28th: Ulto. And ’am to Return you My Sincerest Thanks for the Attention you ware Pleased to Shew to my former Requests in your Interceeding with the...
8127To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 6 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Day before yesterday there were a number of Letters in Town announcing a Peace. The News came from the secretary of the Duc d’orleans who ’tis said informed that the King had announced it to the Duc. Such respectable Information prevented every Doubt and I among the Rest believed it. I immediately set myself to work to get a little fast sailing Brig...
8128To Benjamin Franklin from Humphry Marshall, 28 May 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Recieved thy favour of the 18th. of the 3d mo. Last In Which thou informs me that “The Nation Seems Besotted With the Fancy that We Cannot Possily Do Without them, and must of Course Comply at Last.” I am almost ready to Doubt that our merchants Will not hold out Long Enough tho’ there Seems Spirit and Resolution Enough in Some of them to Do it. But there...
8129To Benjamin Franklin from Destouches, 2 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu la réponse dont vous avez honoré ma lettre du 20 de ce mois. Je suis bien sensible à ce que vous voulez bien faire pour procurer au Sieur Salomés l’a. [l’aîné] le Cape. [Capitaine] Courter et Son equipage pour le corsaire qu’il leur avoit destiné. Au cas ou il se trouveroit engagé ailleurs il ne sera pas moins reconnoissant ainsi que moi de ce que...
8130To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 13 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Il y a longtems que je n’ai eu l’honneur de vous ecrire j’en suis honteux. Lors du depart de M[essieu]rs Magellan et Priestley, j’avois une lettre prete à fermer lorsqu’on m’annonça pour le jour meme de la part de M. Le Roy que son parent m’apporteroit les 8 Louis qu’il vous doit. Je l’attendis vainement et je passay chez M Magellan 2 heures apres son...