31To 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...
32To 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...
33To 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...
34To 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...
35To 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...
36To 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...
37To 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...
38To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 16 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library J’ai l’honneur de vous ecrire la presente laquelle vous sera remise par les nommés William Stevenson Et George Cabot tous deux matelots Americains pris sur differens navires et conduits en Angletterre d’ou ils se sont sauvés des prisons, et sont arrivés ici manquant de tout, comme ils cherchent a retourner en leur patrie, je leurs ai fourni pour le...
39To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 6 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Both your Excellencys much respected favours of 15th. Octor. and 22. ultma, are now before me; The former covering Two Commissions instructions &c for the Black Prince & Princess privateers, the armements of which having been retarded by differences arising between the concerned, and the Situation of Mr. Torris affairs having obliged me to take some other...
40To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 15 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Excellency has given me too many proofs of his goodness towards me, to allow me to hesitate troubling him on a matter which occasions me Some uneasiness, and on which I now take the liberty to ask his candid oppinion. Your Excellencys kindness towards M. Saml Wharton of which I was a wittness during my last stay at Paris, inspired me with So much...
41To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 29 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honnor to address your Excellency on the 27. ultmo. and to remit two receipts together £432.—.—. paid to sundry american prisonners, to which I beg leave to refer; being since deprived of your Excellencys favours, This cheafly serves to inclose a receipt for £144.—.— I paid to one Mr. Macnamara Lieutenant of the artillery in the Service of the...
42To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 3 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society La presente Sera remise à Votre Excellence par Monsieur Thos. Wynns, qui avec Son Jeune frere qui l’accompagne ont eu le malheur d’etre pris par les Ennemis, au mois de Septembre dernier en se rendant de l’amerique à Bordeaux Sur un navire dans lequel ils etoient interessés. Ils ont eu l’addresse de Se Sauver des prisons d’angleterre, et ils Se proposent de...
43To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 29 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Agreable to The unfortunate Captain Conynghams request, I have The honour to enclose a Copy of a letter I received from him dated Mill prison the 10th. inst, The general protection your Excellency chearfully grants to those who suffer by the calamities of The warr, and the particular attachment, you have allways profess’d, for The man who now claims your...
44To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 16 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I beg leave to refer to the letter I had the honour of addressing your Excellency the 24th. Sepber. last, per which I Sent two receipts for £.672.—.— paid to Sundry american prisoners, and advised your Excellency of my draft for £.1530. 3. 9. in favour of Vandenyver freres & Cie. A Severe attack of the gout which has kept me confined to my room for near...
45To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 12 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honour of writing to your Excellency on the 2d. inst, Since which I have been favour’d with your Excellency’s letter of the 4th. As nothing can aford me greater pleasure then to be instrumental in helping your Excellencys charitable & humane vews in favour of the French Sailors who belonged to Capn. Cunningham & who have been Exchanged by the last...
46To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 2 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the honour and Satisfaction to inform your Excellency that the Serapis, the Palas, & Countess of Scarborough frigates with the Brigantine Vengeance, arrived Safe this evening in our road. Mr. Ricot who commands the Countess of Scarborough, has wrote a few lines to Mr. Cailliéz, and agreable to his request, we have immediately Sent them pilots and...
47To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 16 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai l’honneur de vous ecrire la presente qui vous sera remise par les nommés Joseph Gole & Moses howes tous deux matelots americains qui ont été pris sur Differents navires & conduits en Angletterre, d’ou ils se sont sauvés des prisons, et sont arrivés ici manquant de tout, comme ils cherchent a retourner en Amerique Je leurs ai fourni Pour le compte de...
48To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 27 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer of this Thomas Kearl, of Norfolk in Virginia being desirous of returning to his natif Country, apply’d to me to know how he could proceed, I advised him to go to Paris, and from thence to Nantes or Lorient, and tol’d him that he might call on your Excellency to know wether there are any vessells at the above ports bound to America, being well...
49To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 24 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg leave to refer your Excellency to my last letter of 18 inst, and have now the pleasure to inform your Excellency That the Cutter Black prince Capt. Merchant arrived this afternoon in this road: one of his officers is comed on shore, who told me that Since their last departure from Brest, they have had but indifferent success, they took only two prizes...
50To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 30 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since the last letter I had the honour to write Your Excellency, on the 12th. inst, I am deprived of your Excellency’s favours. In the instructions delivered to Capn. Marchant of the black Prince privateer (for which your Excellency was pleased to grant a Commission,) is mentioned arte. 3d.—that the trial of the prizes made on the Ennemy by the American...
51To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Coffyn, 17 August 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
In answer to your Excellencys letter of 8 inst. I have the honnor to inform him that Allexander Cross [Gross] hostage for the ransom of the sloop Charlotte of Southampton McGriger master taken by the privateer Countess Davaux in february 1782, is still confined in the prison of this Town. Agreable to your Excellencys request I have made all possible inquiry respecting the cause of the hostages...
52To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Coffyn, 7 January 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Dunkerque, 7 Jan. 1788 . Acknowledges TJ’s [circular] letter of 31 Dec. and its enclosure; has communicated information therein to merchants concerned with American trade and has taken precautions to prevent its being published. RC ( DLC ); 2 p.; endorsed.
53[To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Coffyn, 5 June 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Dunkirk, 5 June 1786. Entered in SJL as received 10 June 1786, “By Louis de Bauque.” Not found.]
54To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Coffyn, 23 March 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Dunkirk, 23 Mch. 1788 . Informs TJ of the arrival of the ship Portsmouth , “on board of which Coll. Banister of James River near Petersburg, ship’d four Cases young Trees,” which were assigned to Limozin at Le Havre but could not be unloaded there because of the short time the ship stayed in that port; will take the trees to his house to await TJ’s orders; fears it would be dangerous to ship...
55To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Coffyn, 6 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Dunkerque, 6 Jan. 1786 . Received TJ’s invitation to dine just before he left Paris and sent a note by a servant explaining that he could not postpone his departure because his mother-in-law was ill; arrived home the day before her death. Had called on TJ, with Mr. Barclay, to express his gratitude for the civilities shown him; will strive to merit TJ’s protection by his zeal in attending to...
56To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Coffyn, 2 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Dunquerque, 2 May 1788 . Acknowledges TJ’s letter of 28 Apr. 1788. No ships being available for Le Havre, has sent the four boxes of plants overland “by the way of St. omer to the care of my friends Messrs. Broucq freres of that place,” recommending that they forward them immediately. Hopes they arrive safe; expenses too trifling to notice. RC ( MHi ); endorsed; in SJL Index TJ incorrectly...
57To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Coffyn, 4 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your Excellencys most respected favour of 31st. Ultme. inclosing a copy of a regulation made by this Gouvernment on the Subject of Tobacco, which agreeable to your Excellencys orders I have communicated to the native and American Merchants at this place concerned in the Commerce of that article. In consequence of this regulation I imagine proposals from these Merchants will be made...
58To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Coffyn, 9 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Dunkerque, 9 Oct. 1787 . In accordance with TJ’s letter of 5 Oct. , has ascertained that, in addition to the 12 hhds. listed in the enclosed statement as sold by Mr. A. Tresca in Sep. 1786, 1,000 hhds. of Virginia tobacco were sold by Debacque Frères, in the same month, the latter being sent by French coasting vessels to Dieppe and should be checked with the Dieppe returns to see if the amount...
59[To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Coffyn, 24 December 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Dunkirk, 24 Dec. 1786. Recorded in SJL as received 27 Dec. 1786. Not found, but it must have related to the report that Coffyn made to Crèvecoeur about the accessibility of the port of Honfleur to American trading vessels; see Brissot to TJ, 27 Dec. 1786 ; Ducrest to TJ, 27 Dec. 1786. ]