1To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 24 October 178[8] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Hopkinson has communicated to me a Letter of yours with a Proposal of a Mr. Pissot’s respecting his Editions of English Books. I am much oblig’d by your thinking of my Grandson on this Occasion; And if Mr. Pissot will send over a Dozen of each Work as a Trial, I will take Care that the Terms propos’d shall be punctually comply’d with. Our Disputes here about the new Constitution are...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 15 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Frazer , who will have the honour of delivering this Line to your Excellency, is a Gentleman of respectable Character here, and as such I beg leave to recommend him to your Civilities. He has in France a young Sister, who was left there some time since in a Convent for Improvement in her Education, and has it seems been seduc’d to resolve on remaining there; and on abandoning her Relations...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 14 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I take this Opportunity of sending you another Copy of the propos’d new federal Constitution, and of acquainting you that the Box containing the Encyclopedia for me and Mr. Hopkinson is just come to hand in good Order. With great Respect and Esteem I am, Your Excellency’s most obedient & most humble Servant, RC ( DLC ). Not recorded in SJL but entered in SJL Index and, therefore, probably...
4Constitutional Convention. Second of Benjamin Franklin’s Motion that Proposed Executive Serve Without Pay, 2 June 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, June 2, 1787. On this date Benjamin Franklin moved that the expenses of the proposed Executive should be paid but that he should receive “no salary, stipend fee or reward whatsoever” for his service. “The motion was seconded by Col. HAMILTON with the view he said merely of bringing so respectable a proposition before the Committee, and which was besides enforced by arguments that...
5To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 18 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I received by D r White the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 27th of January, together with two Copies of your Defence of the American Constitutions, one for myself for which I beg you would accept my Thanks, the other for the Philosophical Society, whose Secretary will of course officially acknowledge the Obligation. That Work is in such Request here, that it is already put...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 19 April 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have lately received your Favour of Dec. 23. The Diplomas I hope are got to hand before this time. I am much oblig’d by your taking care of my Encyclopedie. Mr. Hopkinson will account with you for it. I am glad to learn that every thing is quiet in Europe, and like to continue so. I hope the same will be the case here; tho’ Boutdefeus are not wanting among us, who by inflammatory Writings in...
7To George Washington from Benjamin Franklin, 3 April 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have often thought that the Number of People, who by Curiosity and the Admiration of your Character are drawn to call at Mt Vernon, must be very troublesome to you, and have therefore generally declin’d giving any introductory Letters. But my Nephew Mr Jonathan Williams, who was a faithful and active Agent of the United States during the whole War, in shipping Stores, Arms, Ammunition &c....
8To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 8 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I obey with Pleasure the Order of the Philosophical Society, in transmitting to you the enclos’d Proof of their Respect for you, and of the honour they have done themselves, in chusing you one of their Members. With this you will receive several Diplomas for foreign Gentlemen in different Parts of Europe, which I imagine you may convey to them thro’ the Ministers of different Courts residing...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 20 March 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your Favour of Oct. 5. by Messrs. Fitzhughs, with the Letters and Pacquets you were so kind as to forward to me by those Gentlemen, who have winter’d with us, and are but lately set out for Virginia. I will read du Plessis’s Papers as soon as I can find a little time; and say some thing of them in a future Letter. As to public Affairs, the Congress has not been able to assemble more...
10To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 26 October 1785 (Jay Papers)
This will be delivered to you by M r . Houdon, the Statuary of Paris who was agreed with by M r Jefferson and my self, at the Request of the Government of Virginia, to come over & take the Bust of General Washington, in order to make his Statue for that State. He has made the Bust, which is much admired by the Connoisseurs here, and will show it to you. He goes to New York, partly with a View...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 1 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you by a former Opportunity , to acquaint you with our safe Arrival. Mr. Houdon, who had been much perplex’d by the Accident of leaving his Things behind him, has found here the Tools and Materials he wanted, and set out last Wednesday for General Washington’s. My Grandson went the Day after to New York, where the Congress are still sitting, and likely to sit the Year out, having as...
I received your very kind Letter of the 16th, congratulating me on my safe Arrival with my Grandsons, an Event that indeed makes me very happy, being what I have long ardently wish’d, and considering the growing Infirmities of Age, began almost to despair of. I am now in the Bosom of my Family, and find four new little Prattlers, who cling about the Knees of their Grand Papa, and afford me...
13To George Washington from Benjamin Franklin, 20 September 1785 (Washington Papers)
I am just arrived from a Country, where the Reputation of General Washington runs very high, and where every body wishes to see him in Person, but being told that it is not likely he will ever favour them with a Visit, they hope at least for a Sight of his perfect Resemblance by means of their Principal Statuary Mr Houdon, whom Mr Jefferson and my self agreed with to come over for the purpose...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 21 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received your Favour of the 18th. I thank you for the Steps you took with the Duke of Dorset, and with Mr. Adams; and hope they will prove effectual. I arrived here extreamly well, not at all hurt or fatigued by the Carriage I us’d, which I found generally very gentle. I embark this Evening for Cowes with Mr. Houdon. I have seen that M. du Plessis twice. He appears a Man of some...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 11 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Mr. Jefferson, and requests he would be so good as to ask either of the Imperial and Sardinian Ambassadors the Favour of forwarding the enclos’d Letters, of which they will make no Difficulty. Mr. F. also recommends Dr. Ingenhauss to Mr. Jefferson, as a proper Correspondent in case he should have any thing to insinuate to that Court. Dr. F’s...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 11 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Dr. Franklin requests Mr. Jefferson to do what he thinks is proper on the subject of the Letter inclosed, and afterwards to make answer to the writer. RC ( DLC ); in William Temple Franklin’s hand. Enclosure not identified.
17To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson with a Draft Anglo-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce, 8 … (Adams Papers)
We duly received your letter of the 20 th of June, and now in consequence thereof send you a draught of a treaty which we should be willing to have proposed to the court of London. We have taken for our groundwork the original draught proposed to Denmark, making such alterations & additions only as had occurred in the course of our negociations with Prussia & Tûscany and which we thought were...
18Franklin and Jefferson to Adams, with Proposed Treaty with Great Britain, 8 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
We duly received your letter of the 20th. of June and now in consequence thereof send you a draught of a treaty which we should be willing to have proposed to the court of London. We have taken for our ground work the original draught proposed to Denmark, making such alterations and additions only as had occurred in the course of our negociations with Prussia and Tuscany and which we thought...
Among the instructions given to the Ministers of the United states for treating with foreign powers, was one of the 11 th. of May 1784. relative to an individual of the name of John Baptist Pecquet. it contains an acknowlegement on the part of Congress of his merits and sufferings by friendly services rendered to great numbers of American seamen carried prisoners into Lisbon, and refers to us...
20Franklin and Jefferson to John Adams, 15 June 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Among the instructions given to the Ministers of the United States for treating with foreign powers, was one of the 11th. of May 1784. relative to an individual of the name of John Baptist Pecquet. It contains an acknowlegement on the part of Congress of his merits and sufferings by friendly services rendered to great numbers of American seamen carried prisoners into Lisbon, and refers to us...
21To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 2 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
M r Franklin presents his Respects to M r Adams, & acquaints him, that a New York Gentleman, Paul Randal Esq r. is just arriv’d at Paris, and has Letters for M r Adams. He lodges at the Hotel d’Orleans, Rue S t. Anne. He has been with M r Franklin, but not knowing that M r Adams liv’d so near, did not bring his Letters out with him. He intends waiting on M r Adams, but perhaps the Letters may...
22The American Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 28 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
We have the honour to enclose an extract of a letter from the Commissioners of the United States of America to Your Excellency dated Aug st. 28 th. 1778. Copy of Your Excellency’s ans r dated 27. Sept r. 1778. & Copy of M. de Sartine’s letter to Your Excellency of the 21 st of Sept r. 1778 all relative to a proposed negotiation with the States of Barbary. Not having any particular authority or...
23The American Commissioners to John Jay, 18 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
We received by the last Packet the favor of your letter of Jan ry. 14. in which we have the agreeable information of your having accepted the appointment of Secretary for foreign Affairs. Besides the general interest we feel in this event as members of the Union which is to availed of your services, we are particularly happy that a channel of communication is opened for us with Congress in...
We had the honour of receiving your Letter of Jan ry: 24. covering a translation into French of the Draught of a treaty proposed between His Majesty the King of Prussia & the United States of America, together with answers to the several articles. We have considered them with attention, & with all those dispositions to accomodate them to the wishes of His Majesty which a respect for his...
25From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, 14 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft), press copy of L , and transcript: Library of Congress Among the Pamphlets you lately sent me, was one intitled Thoughts on Executive Justice. In return for that I send you a French one on the same Subject, Observations concernant l’Execution de l’Article II de la Declaration sur le Vol. They are both address’d to the Judges, but written as you will see in a very different Spirit....
26From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 5 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library I received your kind Letter by my Grandson. I thank you for the Civilities you show’d him when in London. I hope to get home this ensuing Summer. I shall have an old Acct. to settle there with the Family of our Friend Hall. There is a particular Article of some Importance, about which we were not agreed, but were to be determined by your Opinion. It was the Value...
27From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, 5 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received yesterday your kind Letter of the 23d past, with a Pacquet of Books and Pamphlets. I am much oblig’d by your friendly Attention in sending them. I have as yet only had time to run over the Thoughts on Executive Justice. They have given Rise to some Thoughts in my Mind on the same Subject, which perhaps I may communicate to you in my next. I am...
28From Benjamin Franklin to James Partridge, 2 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Reprinted from Christie’s, Fine printed books and manuscripts including Americana (December 16, 2004), lot 384. Mr Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr Partridge, & begs his Care of the enclos’d Letter to Govr Pownall now at Marseilles, it relating to the Affairs of Mrs Barry. Mr F. takes the Liberty Mr Partridge was so good as to allow him of sending a Packet to his Care for Mrs...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Pownall, 1 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS : Library of Congress The above is Extract of a Letter I wrote you in Septr. 1782. I had been misinformed as to the Receipt of the Box at Ostend. It had it seems been put on board a London Ship which was to touch at Ostend for Imperial Papers; but was not landed there, The Ship being bound to the West Indies, carried it thither, where it has lain till lately that a...
30From Benjamin Franklin to Chevallié, 26 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I duly receiv’d in its time, the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 21st. of October last, with the Papers that accompany’d it, relating to your Demands against the State of Virginia, the Congress, & sundry private Persons in America. Mr Jefferson, a principal Person and late Governor of that State, being in Paris, I thought I could not do better with...