31To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, [16 July 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I send inclosed the News paper, and am informed by some Friends in London, That two Transports are arrived from New York in short Passages, & bring such Accounts as incline People in general to think, That General Provost has been beaten near Charles Town, with the Loss of his Artillery &c. They don’t mention any other Particulars. I am respectfully, and...
32To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, [19 July 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I send the News Paper, and a short Note from a Friend.— The packet, which was bringing the Mail of the 6th Instant, was taken by an American Privateer, and carried into Dunkirk. The News from South Carolina, in the News Paper, of the Success of General Lincoln, I think, bears strong Marks of Authenticity upon the Face of it. I am with great Respect Dear Sir...
33To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, [23 July? 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have several Letters but no News from London. Sir Charles Hardy’s Fleet was at Anchor in Plymouth Road on the 17th Instant. I am with the sincerest Respect your Excellency’s affectionate & most obt. Servt Notation: S. Wharton Paris— An extract of a letter from Plymouth dated July 17 reporting the anchorage of the grand fleet was published in The Public...
34To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 25 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I send your Excellency the within Letter, and parts of the Leidger, which may, perhaps, contain some News, That you have not received. The Letter is from a Gentleman of good Connexions & Information in London, and Therefore I would ask the Favor of its not being shewn. I am with great Regard your Exellency’s most affectionate & obt. Servant Addressed: A’...
35To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 8 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Messrs. Neave desire me to acquaint your Excellency, That They return to Diepe on Tuesday Morning early, and That They intend to wait upon you To Morrow Morning, In Order to take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States. They would be particularly obliged to Mr. William Franklin, if He would be so kind, as to prepare two sets of the usual Deposition. I...
36To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 9 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Craig (of Philadelphia) left London about the 2d. of this Month, and writes as follows.— A Vessel was arrived from North Carolina at Amsterdam; left it the 4th of June, and the Captain says, That just as He sailed, It was currently reported,— General Provost was totaly defeated near Charles Town. On what Day this happened, Is not mentioned. A Vessel was...
37To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 23 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I inclose three News papers just received by way of Amsterdam. The postage cost Fourteen Livres.— All Papers are intercepted, which come by Way of Ostend; And I could wish your Direction, as to my Friend’s continuing to Send Them, Via Amsterdam. I am with the utmost Respect & Esteem Dear Sir Your Excellency’s most obt. & most humble Servant Addressed: A’...
38To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 29 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Wharton presents his Compliments to Dr. Franklin, and returns the Journals of Congress, and News papers with Thanks. He does not find any Paper upon the Subject of back Lands. Upon Enquiry, and looking over his Invoice Book, He finds, That Copper in Sheets, was in the year 1770, from 87/6 to 90/ Sterling per hundred;— of 112 pds. to the hundred. Mr....
39To Benjamin Franklin from Franklin and Samuel Wharton: Memorial to Congress, 26 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
DS : National Archives This memorial from Franklin and his long-time partner in western land ventures Samuel Wharton recapitulates the history of their efforts to establish a legitimate title to lands they had purchased in the unsettled area south of the Ohio River. Their enterprise originated in 1768 as an attempt by a group of Pennsylvania merchants, the “suffering traders,” to obtain land...
40To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 15 May 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As a News paper of the 8th of April was received by Captain Montgomery, after He left Philadelphia, in which is published a curious, confidential Letter, dated the 30th of January, from General Clinton to Lord George Germaine, and as it gives a very agreable State of Facts, and Arguments, I send your Excellency a Copy of it, taken in a hurry by Captain...
41To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 14 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: American Philosophical Society I Am sorry to have Occasion to write you on the Subject of all the Letters, which are addressed to you by this Courier. Captain Jones, Messrs. Moylan and Nesbit will inform you of the particulars of the outrageous Behaviour of Captain Launday, and the (original) Officers, and Crew of the Alliance, in taking Possession of Her. I will take the Liberty...
42To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton et al., 26 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives We understand some Persons in the Town have written to the Ministers of France, That the Americans, who are here approved Captain Landais’ Conduct in Possessing Himself of the Frigate Alliance, which you had committed to the Charge of the Honorable Commodore Jones. For the sake of Truth, and undeceiving those,—Whom such Misrepresentations may have deceived,— We think it...
43To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 5 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have at last the Prospect of leaving this Country, as Commodore Jones has every Thing on Board, and a favorable Wind is springing up. The Brigantine Duke of Leinster, Capt. Souder, & the Brigantine Luke, Capt. Clark for Philadelphia, and a french Lougre for Maryland sail under Convoy of the Ariel. If at any Time I can be any ways useful to you in america,...
44To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 14 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Little did I expect to address you again from any part of this Kingdom, But you will hear from your other Correspondents, The Cause of Commodore Jones returning to L’orient. I will not attempt to describe the Horrors of the dreadful, or as the Seamen express it,— unequalled Tempest, We have been in, nor the miraculous Delivery from Death, We have had.— We...
45To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 20 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In some of the late Vessels, arrived from Maryland, and Pennsylvania came passengers the following Gentlemen.— Messrs. Cheston, and Captain Smith of the former; and Mr. West, and Dr. Wilson of the latter State, and They were preparing to go in a Dutch Vessel to Ostend, and from Thence to England, But Commodore Jones, upon the Advice of several American...
46To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 2 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer hereof is Mr. Robert Mease of Alexandria in Virginia, Who proposes to visit several Places in France on a mercantile Plan, and to pass some Time in paris. You are so well acquainted with the Devotion of his Family to the great Cause of our Country, That it is unnecessary for me to say,— Mr. Mease has zealously exerted Himself, during the present...
47To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 13 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Referring you to my private Letter, written to you by this Vessel, I beg leave to introduce the Bearer Mr. Cornelius Ray to your Notice, and protection. He is the son of a Gentleman of amiable Character, who formerly resided in the City of New York. Any Civilities which your Excellency may be pleased to show Mr Ray,— will be esteemed, as immediately...