1Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 7 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Dunkirk, July 7, 1778: I refer you to my letter of the 5th. Mr. Amiel has given the people here time to carry out the plan they put before you, but they failed; he then gave me your letter of June 26. I might explain the conduct of those who tried to impose on you and wrong me, but the outcome vindicates me; I leave the explanation to Capt. Amiel. If any...
2Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 23 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library I take the liberty to enclose a Copy of the Memoire I made last year at the request of M. Carmichael on the advantages the port of Dunkirk offers to the American Trade. I Submit to your Superiour Judgement to decide weither my Ideas may contribute to extend the Commerce and navigation of the United States, and to take [ torn: such?] Steps as may answer that...
3Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 9 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Dunkirk, July 9, 1778: I refer you to my letter of yesterday. This is to enclose a certificate from the admiralty court, to counter to some degree Poreau’s insinuations against me. Tomorrow I send three other certificates and if they are insufficient will furnish whatever further proof you require; meanwhile Mr. Amiel will give you particulars.> Published...
4Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 13 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Dunkirk, April 13, 1778: I enclose a copy of my letter of yesterday to Mr. Deane, who I now learn from Mr. Nesbitt has left town. Please give me your opinion of the contents, confirm his order to provide for American prisoners and seamen, and let me know whether I may still draw on Mr. Grand. I congratulate Mr. Adams on his safe arrival.> Published in...
5Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 20 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honnor to address you my last the 15th. inst. advising you the arrival of Two wounded Seamen taken in the Lexington, and by a former I inform’d you on a Seperate slit [slip] of paper of the Taking of the Brigantine l’aimable Reine Capne. Paul Berthelot, bound from Martinico to this port, by the Swan Capn. Wm. Meadows, which carry’d her to New...
6Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 30 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Dunkirk, June 30, 1778: Six Russian ships of the line are reported to have arrived in England, with six more to follow; the officers are British and the crews Russian. Three are ordered to be docked and surveyed in Sheerness, three in Portsmouth.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 244.
7Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 23 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Referring to the letter I had the honnor of writing to you the 14th. instant whereas the Treaty you have gloriously concluded in the name of the united and Independant States of America with the Court of France, is no more a mistery Since it has been declared by his Christian Majesty’s ambassador to the British Ministry, I hope you’ll indulge the liberty I...
8Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 18 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Dunkirk, June 18, 1778: I received your letter of the 10th to all captains bound for America, and am communicating it to two such captains here; they will sail in late June and early July. You may wish to send further intelligence by them, and I will, if you approve, send any that I get from England. Forty-five sail westward bound, some large men of war,...
9Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 2 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honnor of writing to you the 14th. ultimo by Mr. Jonathan Nesbitt, to which I take the liberty to refer, being since deprived of your respected favours, this cheafly serves to inform you of the arrival at this place of Capn. Henry Johnson, late Commander of the Continental Brigantine Lexington, and Eliazad Johnson Capn. of the Brigantine Dolton...
10Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 10 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In the letter I had the honor of writing to you yesterday by Capn. Amiel, I inclosed a Certificate from the officers of the Admiralty. This serves to cover the three other Certifficates I promised in the Said letter, Vizt. one from the Bourgmaster and Magistrates, one from the President and Counsellors of the board of Commerce, and an other from the Judge...
11Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 19 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Dunkirk, June 19, 1778: A brig that arrived last night sighted a fleet off Portland on the 15th: twenty-one ships of the line and five or six frigates, westward bound. The news strengthens my impression that this was Admiral Keppel’s squadron. A report is current here today that Byron sailed from Plymouth on the 10th. I wait your approval before sending...
12Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 27 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The letter I had the honnor of writing to you the 20th. instant, was dictated with that Eagerness I feel myself prompted to communicate to you every occurence which comes to my knowledge, and which I imagine may be agreable to you; the report it contain’d of an action between Genl. Gates and Genl. Cornwallis was then currant here, and was confirm’d to me by...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 3 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received the honour of your Excellency’s letter of 28. ultmo. as the Equipment of Capn. Conningham’s vessell required the greatest circomspection at that time, the only person employed in Shipping the French Sailors, who coul’d have confirm’d their claims, was obliged to abscond himself on account of the perquisitions made after him, and he has never been...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 28 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the liberty for your Excellencys information to annex a Copy of a letter I receiv’d from Ostend mentioning the arrival there of the London Gazette which contains the King of Englands manifesto, against the Dutch, & his proclamation ordering Commissions to be issued to his subjets to take and bring in all Dutch ships, with orders to his Courts of...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 21 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai l’honneur de vous écrire la presente qui vous sera remise par les nommés Whipple Crow & Binjamin Hocum tous deux americains qui ont été pris sur le navire brign la Polly de Rhode Island et conduits a Bristol d’ou ils se Sont sauvés des prisons & sont arrivés ici manquant de tout, comme ils cherchent a retourner en Amerique, Je leurs ai fourni pour le...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 9 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai l’honneur de vous ecrire la presente laquelle vous Sera remise par le Sieur Thomas Connoly Americain Lequel a eu le malheur d’Etre pris dans le navire Le Blear Mc Clanaghan a Son Passage de L’orient a Philadelphie par un corsaire de Guernsey auquel endroit il a été conduit prisonnier. Il a trouvé le moyen de S’echaper & de Se rendre ici, & Comme il...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 18 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I duly received your Excellencys much respected favour of 8 inst, in answer to which I have the honnour to inform your Excellency that on a farther inquiry about the condemnation of the prizes brought into the ports of this kingdom by the American ships of war & privateers, I found that there has been a regulation made by the french Court, & publish’d on...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 21 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honour of writing to your Excellency on the 6 inst, whereunto please to be referred. Agreable to my promise, I here inclose the two Bonds respecting the privateers Black Prince Capn. Patrick Dowlin and the Black Princess Capn. Edwd Maccatter, Sign’d by Mr. Riviere l’ainé, of Gravelinnes, and Messr. John Francis and Charles Torris of this place,...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 16 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honnor to address your Excellency on the 6th. inst, whereunto I beg leave to refer. This cheafly Serves to enclose a Copy of a letter I Just now received from my friend M. Bodin at Lille, to whom I wrote to enquire about the price of Bells. If that which was offer’d me here at 30 s. per pound all charges included, as mentioned in my Said letter,...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 11 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since the letter I had the honnor to write your Excellency on the 9th. ultma. a great number of American prisonners arrived here from England, for whom I procured their passage, onboard of sundry vessells bound to different ports in America. Those mentioned in the enclosed receipts, which were in great distress & destitute of every thing, I have assisted...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 23 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai l’honneur de vous ecrire la presente, laquelle vous Sera remise par les Sieurs John Kemp & Alexr. findals tous deux americains; le premier Capitaine & l’autre pr. Lieutenant de la goelette le Greyhound sur laquelle ils ont été pris par la fregate le Rawley, et conduits en Angletterre, d’ou ils se sont sauvés des prisons, et sont arrivés ici manquant de...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 29 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honour to remit your Excellency per my letter of 17th. instant, three receipts for £309. 8. I paid to Sundry prisonners arrived here from England, & to advise your Excellency of my drafft for £.1257. 8. to the order of Messrs Vandenyver Freres & Cie. to which I beg leave to refer. Coll. Wm. Richardson having been obliged to go to Bruges, to...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 8 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg leave to refer to my last letter of 29. ultmo. covering Three receipts for £.696—[ l.t. ] I paid to Sundrys. Being since deprived of your Excellencys favours This cheafly serves to inform your Excellency That nine american Seamen having broke out of the prison at Deal, carry’d off a boat which was lying on the Beach, in which They got into Calais, &...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 5 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai l’honneur d’addresser la presente a votre Excellence Laquelle luÿ sera remise par le Capitain William Gibbons cydevant commandant le navire americain les quatre amis de Boston Lequel a eu le malheur d’Etre pris par les anglois allant d’amsterdam a Boston, il vient d’arriver ici d’Angletterre, et il se propose de se rendre aupres de votre Excellence...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 10 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d your Excellencys favour of 13th. inst. and am much obliged for what your Excellency is pleased to mention respecting M. Wharton. I have not yet received any letters from this Gentleman, nor from his Brothers at Philadelphia, tho’ I am informed that the greatest part of our Joint adventure, arrived there Safe; as it is now near three months Since...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 16 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I duly receiv’d the honnor of Mr. H. I. Franklin’s letter dated 14th. ultmo. covering a Commission, instructions, and other papers for the Cutter Black Prince, Stephen Merchant Commander, which I intended to carry to Dunkirk, to deliver the same to said Captain, and to get the bond Executed by Mr. John Torris, owner of said privateer; but first a Sudden...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 24 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honnor to address your Excellency by my last letter of 11th. inst, 13 receipts for monies disbursed for Sundry american prisonners, & to advise of my drafts on your Excellency of £. 894. 8.—., & at the Same time to communicate Capn Coreil’s request to obtain a passport for his brig General Washington to proceed to Philadelphia; being Since...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 21 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai l’honneur de vous ecrire la presente, laquelle vous sera remise par Mr. Samuel Mansfield, Capitaine au Service des Etats unis de L’amerique; Lequel a été pris dans le brigantin Rizing States et conduit a Pool en Angletterre, d’ou il s’est Sauvé des prisons, il est arrivé ici manquant d’argent, comme il désire Retourner en sa patrie, je lui ai fourni...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 11 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honnor of addressing your Excellency on the 15. ulta. an abstract of the general account of my disbursments for the relief of the american prisonners during the war, ballanced by £.361. 12. 8. [ i.e., l.t. ] in my favour and to inform your Excellency that I remitted a copy of the same to M. Barclay in order to convince him that Since the...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn: Two Letters, 9 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg leave to refer to the letter I had the honour to address your Excellency on the 3d. inst. being since deprived of your Excellencys favours, the purport of this is cheafly to inform your Excellency, that M. Stephen Merchant late Captain of the black prince has resign’d the command of Said privateer, and return’d me the Commission your...