1To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 28 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
I find that Mr. Lovell is the only Man in Boston capable of decyphering intricate papers. I have conversed with him upon the subject & shown him the method in which the figures are placed. He despairs of being able to find a Key to the papers, but will nevertheless wait upon your Excellency to see if there is a possibility of obtaining a Key by which he can decypher them. I am with great...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper: Two Letters, 19 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society Having wrote you at large by the America that has lately sailed from Portsmouth, you will give me Leave to write this merely as an Introduction to my Friend Benjn. Austin junr. Brother to Mr Austin who carried to France the News of Burgoigne’s Surrender. He is a worthy Branch of a respectable Family; a young Gentleman of much good Sense, highly...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 6 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): British Museum My State of Health, and Excursions upon that Account into the Country must be my Excuse for not taking an earlier Notice of your very obliging Packet of 8th June, for which I return you my particular Thanks. Your Letter and Replies to Mr. Strahan’s Questions gave me great Pleasure, tho the closing and prophetic Part coming from one so capable of discerning amidst...
4To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 1 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
After various Reports of the Capture of the Boston by a British Cruizer, and of her being struck with Lightning at Sea, it was with peculiar Pleasure I lately receiv’d an Assurance Of your Safe Arrival in France. Not long after you sail’d, Mrs. Adams wrote me a Letter upon a Report of Dr. Franklin’s having been assassinated, full of the tenderest Anxiety, and the most amiable Sentiments,...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 6 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Permit me to introduce my self to you as an Officer belonging to the Alliance Friggate & Nephew to Doctr. Cooper, who was pleased to give me a letter of recommendation to you when I came to France in the Friggate Alliance twelve months ago; I was prevented from making a tour to any part of france in consequence of the Ships short tarry— I have a Brother by...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 21 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have just wrote to you by Mr Duncan Ingraham Junr. upon some public Affairs— I beg Leave in this, lest he might be oblig’d to destroy that, should he meet with an Enemy just to mention him to you as my Friend, for whom I have a great Regard— He goes to France on a Plan of Business in his own Vessel: as he is a Stranger there he would be glad to be...
7To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 10 July 1777 (Adams Papers)
I have lately wrote you more than one Letter which I hope you have receiv’d. Howe has confess’d his Inferiority in the Field by retreating from the Jerseys, but I am sorry He has escap’d so whole. I have been in Hopes that our Army would have been strong enough to have taken some Station between Brunswick and Amboy, and to have cripled Him in his Retreat if not totally cut it off. I long for...
8To George Washington from Samuel Cooper, 9 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
Knowing how important it is that your Excellency should receive the latest and most authentic Advices from our Friends in Europe, particularly upon the great Point of Peace, I have taken the Liberty to send you a Transcript of a Letter I lately received from our Minister to States of Holland, Mr Adams, dated at the Hague July 2d 1782. His Words are. “When we shall have Peace I know not; I...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, [1782?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Before you left America, I believe I mention’d to you the great Losses I had sustain’d from the Enemy, in my Household Furniture, Books, Debts from Persons who took Refuge in Howe’s Army &c. so that take all together, I am perhaps, as large a Sufferer, in Proportion to what I possess’d, as any one in this Town; nor would two thousand Pounds Lawf: Money make...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 12 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My little Grandson Samuel Cooper Johonnot will have the Honour of presenting this to you. Mr Adams kindly indulges him with a Portion of that Care which he gives to his own Sons who are nearly of his Age. He goes to France with a View to acquire the Purity of the French Language in Speaking and Writing. Young as he is, he has learned long ago to repeat and...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 13 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library This will be delivered to you by Mr Jeremy Allen a Merchant in this Town of Good Reputation, and of a very ancient and respectable Family among us, and for whom I have a particular Regard. He goes to Europe chiefly upon a Plan of Business, and I take the Liberty to introduce him to your Excellency, not only as my own Friend, but as one who has the highest...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 20 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I never in all my Life wrote a Letter with half the Difficulty of this— Sick in my Chamber, attended by two Physicians &c. But I could not allow the Chevr. de Bonne leave without bringing to you my warmest Thanks for introducing to the Acqaintance of a Gentleman of such fine Talents & promising Abilities. You seem to speak of him as designed for the Service...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 17 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you not long since by the Rambler from Salem, and the Pallas from Newbury Port and have now too much Reason to fear that the Vessel in which Mr Austin sailed from hence the latter End of Jany, or the Beginning of Feby, is lost, as we have hitherto received no Account of it: By that Gentleman I wrote you largely. This will be delivered to you by Mr...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 21 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Henry E. Huntington Library I know not how to express my Obligations to you for introducing me to the Acquaintance & Friendship of Count Segurs. I have known him but a few days and yet he has induldged me wth an Intimacy. So many shining, so many amiable Qualities we seldom see united in one Man. He has inspired me with an Esteem, a Respect, and a Love coexistent with myself. Think, my...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 2 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I repeat the Honour I have already done myself of writing to your Excellency by this Opportunity, on Purpose to mention to you M. de Corney, a Gentleman of Distinction, and Member of several literary Societies in Europe, who came to America with the Marquiss la Fayette before the Arrival of the Brest Fleet, and on public Business preparatory to the...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 13 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am afraid, not having receiv’d a single Line from you since last May that my Letters to you have miscarried, and your’s to me. I wrote you the latter End of Octr. a long Letter giving as clear and particular an Account as I was able of the Northern Campaign, and it’s truly glorious Success. What has taken Place since will be related to you by Mr. Adams...
17To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 6 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I take the first Opportunity to acknowledg the Honor I receiv’d in a Letter sign’d by you as Chairman of a Committee of the Honorable Congress for obtaining a just and well authenticated account of the Hostilities committed by the Ministerial Troops and Navy &c., and desiring me to take some Part in this Business. You will be so good as to present my Compliments to the other Gentlemen of the...
18To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 16 October 1774 (Adams Papers)
Having just been informed that Mr. Tudor is going to Philadelphia, I take this opportunity to thank you for the obliging favor of your letter of 29th September. The struggle, as you justly observe, between fleets and armies and commercial regulations, must be very unequal: We hope, however, the congress will carry this mode of defence as far as it will go, and endeavor to render it as early...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 14 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I wrote you two Days ago; but hearing the Vessel is unexpectedly detain’d, I send you a plaintive poetic Piece just publish’d here, which I hope will reach her before she sails. You cannot conceive what Joy the Treaties with France have diffus’d among all true Americans, nor the chagrine they have given to the few interested and slavish Partizans of...
20To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 3 April 1777 (Adams Papers)
I scratch a Line in utmost Hast—Your kind Letter I receiv’d by Mr Jackson the Day after sending one to you. Your Tickets sell rapidly. Your Loan Office will fill apace. I wrote to you, or Mr Adams on the American Navy. Manly’s Character rises here. He has sail’d to Cape Ann for some Men there and has press’d thro great Difficulties to get out—something must be done to expedit Matters in that...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 15 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As it is uncertain when this Letter will be delivered to you, or whether it will ever reach you, and as I write you more directly by a Vessel just going to Bilboa, I shall now only mention, That the Desire of my Countrymen of good Families who go abroad is so ardent to have the Honour of an Introduction to you, that I often find it irresistable. Your...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 28 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Henry E. Huntington Library If this Line ever reaches you, it will be deliverd by Mr. Joseph Hixon, a Gentleman born in Montserrat, and whose Estate lies in that Island. Bound from thence on Business to London, by the Way of Corke, He was taken by an American Ship of War and brought to this Port in October last. I need not mention the Opinion I have entertain’d of his Probity and Worth,...
23Samuel Cooper to Abigail Adams, 2 March 1778 (Adams Papers)
Many besides my self partake with you in the Sollicitude you express respecting our dear Friend; for no Man could carry with him more of the ardent good Wishes of his Country than Mr. Adams did. His Merit is great in denying himself so much for the Service of his Country, and your’s not a little in giving up so much domestic Happiness for the Sake of this Service. Heaven, I trust, will protect...
24To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 14 November 1779 (Adams Papers)
The very kind Readiness which you express’d to me, to allow my Grandson to be a Companion to your Sons in the Voyage to France has laid me under an Obligation that I can never forget: Accordingly I now commit him to you happy in the Perswasion that he will pursue his Studies with them under your Eye, and Direction. His Father who accompanies him to the Ship will most gratefully acknowledge...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 15 August 1774 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): British Museum This letter brought Franklin his earliest first-hand news, as far as we know, that the crown was losing control of Massachusetts. The arrival on May 13 of the commander in chief and new governor, Thomas Gage, did not slow the process. The General Court that had just been elected clashed with him immediately on the choice of Council members, and on the transfer of the...
26To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 25 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have but a Moment to write by the Mars, a Vessel belonging to this State, the Voyage having been kept secret upon political Accounts. I congratulate you on the Arrival of the Fleet from Brest at Newport, commanded by the Chevalier de Ternay, after a Passage of about 10 Weeks: not a single Vessel of the whole Fleet missing. You will hear before this reaches you of the Loss of Charlestown, in...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 15 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I never was more pleased with the Spirit of my Country than upon a late general Apprehension that Sr. Guy Carleton had come from the Court of London with a Design to create Divisions in these States and sow Jealousies between us and our great and good Ally, by Propositions particularly for some separate Negotiations. The Indignity and Contempt with which...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 15 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): British Museum I wrote you the 6. Inst. acknowledging the Receit. of your very obliging Packet of June 8th. and mentioning the Use I have made of your Letter &c among some of the leading Men in our H. of Represent. in whom I could confide. They agreed with me that your Principles were incontestible, your reasoning clear and conclusive, and supported by History and Fact. The King...
29To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 8 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
Being Just inform’d of an opportunity of writing to you by the Way of Bilboa, I snatch my Pen, to give you a laconic Account of Things here. Last Monday all the Towns in this State assembled for Choice of a Governor, Lt. Governor, and Senators, according to the New Constitution, of the peaceable Establishment of which, I gave you some Account in my last. In this Town, for Governor Mr. S. Adams...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 15 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been confin’d to my House great Part of this Winter by my valetudinary State, and been little able to see and converse with my Friends, and less to write to them. A Line from you would have greatly refresh’d me in this Confinement, as your Letters have ever been one of the greatest Entertainments of my Life: but I do not mean to complain, having been...