31To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: Library of Congress Yours of 22d of february received. I have been as much discontented with the delay respecting the Exchange of prisoners as you can have been, and before the receipt of yours, I had made an heavy complaint and remonstrance upon the Subject. I have now the Satisfaction to tell you, that the first Cartel ship has actually left...
32To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 30 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: Library of Congress Yours of March 21st received. I have in my own private thoughts been very much displeased with the delays wch we have met with in the affair of the Exchange of prisoners. I had before the receipt of yours, made some strong remonstrances upon the Subject, and yesterday I went again to the Admiralty with my Complaints. Mr...
33To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 2 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: Library of Congress I writ you word in my last that the first hundred of the American prisoners were sailed, therefore I hope that business is in a fair way of getting forward— Peace you know is always my object. If any advice of mine may be influential I assure you it is not, nor ever will be wanting. I am just at this moment more anxious for...
34To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 10 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Library of Congress I have had some conferences respecting terms of peace wch. I have pressed in the strongest manner whether with effect or no will appear after the holidays. The grounds upon wch. I argued it were confidence & certainty and upon those grounds a friend of yours wd gladly offer his Services, but that friend of yours will never lend himself to transmitt or to...
35To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 20 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: Library of Congress I hope you have heard of your prisoners (viz the first cargo) before this time. I am impatient to receive your answer to some of my late letters to you. You know the Object wch constantly possesses my mind. I wish to bring some material points to issue, upon terms of certainty and Confidence . Parliament will probably sit...
36To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley: Two Letters, 22 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; transcript: Library of Congress; (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: Library of Congress The bearer of this, & of some other papers (Mr. D ) is a very sensible & worthy gentleman, with whom I have had the pleasure of contracting an acquaintance, since the commencement of the American troubles, originally upon the...
37To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 11 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society; transcript: Library of Congress Yours of May 4th. recd this moment. I cannot see the Commissioners of Sick & Hurt before tonights Mail, but I can equally give you an answr relating to the Prisoners because it was not longer ago than last night that one of the Commissioners calld upon me, in part to hear what was become of the Cartel Ship and anxious to...
38To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 25 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Library of Congress I was in hopes to have had something material to have communicated to you before this but I presume that matters of so much importance & difficulty require long & repeated consideration— In a very long conference of above two hours I enforced every argument for peace upon the terms wch I have explained to you, or nearly upon similar terms, but at all events for...
39To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 11 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Library of Congress Before you receive this you will probably have received my last, by a private Conveyance. You will find by that letter, that I have not been successfull in the negotiation in which I was so desirous to give assistance. Let me just ask you; if a truce of ten years be not practicable, what wd you think of a truce for one Year as a foundation for treating. My bias...
40To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley: Two Letters, 24 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) transcript: Library of Congress I shall hope soon to have an opportunity of writing to you by a private hand, & shall defer what I have to say till that opportunity. In the mean time let me only tell you that I am still of the same opinion that I have always held that there is not yet any alienation between the nations of GB & NA. I think likewise that what has passed in the way...