31Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 6 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library I am just returned from Painbeuf where I have been with Capt. Nicholson to quiet a Discord between the french and americain Sailors, which we have in a great measure effected; and I hope the Steps agreed on between the Commissary at Pain beuf, the Commander of a french Vessell of War, and ourselves, will soon put an end to it. We have offered free Liberty...
32Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 31 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library I arrived here late last Evening. The Mere Bobie has not taken in the Bales I ordered, on account of a difficulty which the Custom House Officers have made relative to the Duties, but on application to the Directeur des Fermes I have so succeeded, that I am in hopes to have them aboard this evening, and wind permitting, she...
33Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 24 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library M. Boux has been on board the Lion for a passage. Capt. Nicholson wished to accomodate him as well as he could, but on account of the many am[erica]n Passengers who have escaped hither from England he has not been able to make such provision as he desired and as M. Boux expected. He therefore returns to Nantes, and seemed rather disgusted with his...
34Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 8 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library Having carried to your Credit all the drafts I drew on Mr. Dean payable at M. Grands, and the Letter of Credit I gave, for the first purchase of the Lion, in favour of Peltier Du Doyer; I have desired M. Grand to observe the same Regularity, that our accounts may agree, and Since your Letter of Credit of the 18th Sept. I have drawn directly on M. Grand, and...
35Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 10 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Intention of this is to ask your Interest in favour of a poor american Sailor who I am afraid will otherwise be executed for Murder. The Fact as it was related to me by his Captain is this. The deceased and the prisoner were going asshore in the Boat with only one oar which the Deceased was sculling with, and being a little in Liquour he fell overboard...
36Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 6 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library The principal occasion for troubling you at present is to inform you that on account of the great Demand for Government every large anchor in this place is engaged. We shall find the other sizes easy enough, but unless you can obtain from the minister 2 Anchors of 2400 wt. and 2 of 2200 wt. our purchase I fear will be by so much incompleat. By advice from...
37Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 4 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library I have at present to inform you of the arrival of the Frigate Ranger Capt. Jones with the Duplicates of the Dispatches I sent you by Mr. Austin. This Ship left portsmouth the 1st of November but brings not a syllable in addition to what we have had, and as Capt. Jones tells me that his Dispatches were on board before Mr. Austin sailed, I conclude that the...
38Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 12 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Yale University Library I am in impatient Expectations of the Models of the Suit of Cloaths that I may sett the Taylors at work. I met with a Manufacturer from Vire who shew me half a dozen pieces of brown and blue Cloth at 7.10 and 8 Livers. I thought them Little inferrior to what you pay 8 and 8.10 for at Paris. I have therefore made a bargain with him for 60 pieces of the...
39Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 3 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Yale University Library I am sorry to find that poor adams is realy taken I hope the mere Bobie will be more Successfull. I sent the Capt. away yesterday morning she must be therefore now at sea. Capt. Wilson in a Large ship Loaded with 1260 Casks of Rice and a quantity of Indigo on Account of the massachusetts States is Safe arrived from Carolina she has brought nothing Fresh...
40Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 22 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Yale University Library I am favourd with yours of the 19th Inst. and in Consequence have told Capt. Thompson that I should Take his paper. As to the Duc de Chartres She is not yet bought because the persons who are to Sell her have not Received their answer from Paris and till they have power to Sell it is needless to make any more offers. Capt. Nicholson is here and with...
41Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, [19 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
Extract: American Philosophical Society On my arrival at Brest I went to the Commandant of marine to ask permission for the Ship to go to St. nazare to which I received a refusal for want of orders. I represented to the Commodore (at Quiberon) the inefficacy of the Convoy if we had not liberty to go to St. Nazare. That he said he could not help as the Commander at Painbeuf was not under him...
42Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 26 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library All the Vessells have now I imagine joined the Fleet. The wind therefore will only prevent its immediate Departure which I expect every Day to hear of. I cannot find another Vessell on any terms here. I would give as high as 150 Livres, but none are to be had. I have to day heard of a Ship which is at L’orient. I have written about her. If I can get her on...
43Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 12 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library; letterbook copy: Yale University Library When I wrote last the Cutter was arrived tho’ I did not know it. As soon as I received your orders I lodged the necessary ones at painbeuf for the Capt. when he should arrive. He had then come up to town and of course did not receive these orders ’till he returned to his Vessell. This little accident has been...
44Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 23 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the pleasure to inform you that the last Lighter went to the Ship yesterday afternoon on board of which are all the provisions &c. except live Stock, which will be bought at Painbeuf. She is cleared at the Custom house and I hope will have all ready to heave up her anchor by monday. I shall go to her on sunday morning to give a last look and hope to...
45Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 4 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since I last had the pleasure of writing to you I have been employed in collecting information relative to shipping, and am sorry that I cant give you any expectation of procuring a Vessell ready built and fitted that will answer for a packet Boat. I have already mentioned two that are here but I apprehend you will think them too large. I have since seen a...
46Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 28 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library The present serves to inform you that Mr. de Sartine has written to the Commissary here relative to the Lion in which he forbids that any munitions of war of any kind be embark’d or that any pretended Clearances be made. I have not nor can I appear in this Business, but I have desired Mr. Peltier to assure the Commissary that no munitions of War shall be...
47Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 15 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society With the inclosed I recvd two large Packets, one for Congress the other for Gen. Washington, which cost 10 livres Postage. I shall send them forward by next opportunity unless you forbid it, but I think proper to inform you of it. I am with the greatest Respect Gentlemen Your obedient Servant Addressed: To / The Honble Silas Deane Esqr / Paris Notation: Mr....
48Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 24 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library; letterbook copy: Yale University Library The absolute prohibition against taking passengers on board the annonyme containd in Mr. Deans Letter of the 29th of May, obliged me to insist that two passengers who came round in the Ship should go on shore, since which orders have arrived from Mr. Beaumarchais and Mr. Montieu that these two officers and Mr. De...
49Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 7 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Duchesse of Grammont is still waiting your permission to proceed to sea. I have been trying several people to get a Ship to carry out what Goods remain, without success. The Ship at L’orient I mentioned in my last does not turn out to my Satisfaction. M. Gruel has a Ship here which is a good Sailor. I know her to be such because she lately came from...
50Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 25 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am just informed that the amphitrite is at last gone, she sail’d yesterday morning at 7 oClock. I have recd. Letters from Monsieur Du Coudray of the 22d and 23d Instant, by which I find he has sent me 7 officers and their Baggage; He names 4 for the 3 I agreed to take, and afterward 3 more, two of which he says are more necessary than even the Fusils and...
51Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 28 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Yale University Library The Thérese sailed as I wrote last and was at St. Nazare the 26th, the Wind continuing fair she has no doubt continued her route. You may date the Departure of Capt. Hammond at nearly the same time as the Therése overtook him at St. Nazare. I have a Letter from Mr. Rumsey which says he expected to sail the next day....
52Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 12 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library; letterbook copy: Yale University Library Mr. Morriss returned from Painbeuf yesterday morning, I immediately went to him to repeat in person what I had before written to him. He told me that no person in Europe had power to controul him, that therefore the orders I had, were without sufficient Authority, and ’till he could see powers from Congress superiour to...
53Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 3 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been for several Days down to the Ship and left her at St. Nazare. I have done with both the French Ships. I beg you will please to apply for an order to wait in Quiberon ’till all the Ships join else I am afraid the Brune will be left. Poor Mr. Morris has finished his affairs in this world. I am much concerned at being absent, but every care was...
54Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 8 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I don’t hear farther relative to the purchase of Mr. Montieu’s Fusils I conclude that you do not intend to put any on board the Count de Vergennes, so propose to put in her as much salt as will answer for Ballast. I have lately been looking over some Memoires about Mr. Montieu’s process and find that these Fuzils cost him at the rate of 25 sous each for...
55Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 6 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have kept the Duplicates of the Dispatches to this Time in Expectation of a private Hand, that failing I am now obliged to send a Man on purpose, but in the least expensive way. If you have no further commands for him please to discharge him directly; he is not to return Post unless you order him so to do. The minister lately sent orders to stop the Lion,...
56Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 11 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have to inform you that Capt. Jenkins is just arrived from Nantucket. His last Accounts from Boston were the 25 Decr., at which time nothing material had happened. He left nantucket 6 Jan. He reports that Gen. Lee was exchanged for Gen. Prescot, the army were in high Spirits, and in want of nothing. Gen. Washington had no Intention of going into Winter...
57Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 27 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I was astonished on saturday Evening to find that Mr. DuCoudray had returned to Nantes. As we were late for the Tide (the loss of which would have been the loss of a day) I came away without seeing him: Mr. Peltier tells me he has positive orders from Mr. Demontieu (which are given with your approbation) that if Mr. Du Coudray should come to Nantes to...
58Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 14 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Yale University Library Soon after my last was seal’d I heard of the arrival of the Annonyme and yesterday morning went to painboeuf with Capt. Hynson to examine her. He will write you particularly on this Subject and by his Letter you will be better able to form a judgment, but so far as I am capable of giving an opinion I must say this...
59Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, [3 March 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since my last of the 28 Ultimo I have recvd. advice that the Duchesse of Grammont still remains at St. Nazarre. I hear that two Ships of War which were designed to join the Fleet are returned to Rochfort, we have therefore judged proper to detain the Grammont ’till further orders, in hopes that you will be able to obtain these Ships for a new Convoy: Mr....
60Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners: Two Letters, 23 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library I have drawn on you in favour of Monsr. L’Escuyer 22d Augt. at one Usance for 6192. 17. 8 which please to honour; this Draft is for a quantity of tricot and Lining on which I have deducted 11 months Discount having bought it at a years Credit. A Bill was presented to me the 20th Inst. drawn by S. Smith at Plymouth for £12 Sterling; I know nothing of this...