381From Benjamin Franklin to Champigny, 24 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I have received your Letter of the 9th Instant, wherein you reproach me with breaking my Engagements to you, in not having paid you twenty one Ducats which you say I owe you, reminding me that while I charge Breach of Faith on the King respecting my Constituents I ought not to break mine to you, as private Engagements are more sacred than those of...
382From Benjamin Franklin to Daniel-Marc-Antoine Chardon, 19 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress J’ai lû avec Admiration votre requisitoire sur le Proces du Capitaine Mc Neill. Heureux sont les Rois qui ont des Magistrats aussi scavants et aussi habiles que vous, Monsieur, pour eclairer leur justice. J’en sens tout le Bonheur pour la Nation Americaine que j ai l’honneur de representer en cette Cour: elle sçaura Monsieur qu’elle y est traittée en Frere, et que...
383From Benjamin Franklin to [“Charles de Weissenstein”], 1 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I received your Letter dated at Brussels the 16th past. My Vanity might possibly be flatter’d by your Expressions of Compliment to my Understanding, if your Proposals did not more clearly manifest a mean Opinion of it. You conjure me in the Name of the omniscient and just God, before whom I must appear, and by my Hopes of future Fame, to...
384From Benjamin Franklin to the Chevalier de Chastellux, 6 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : private collection (1985); copy: Library of Congress It gave me great Pleasure to hear by the Officers returned last Winter from your Army, that you continued in good Health. You will see by the Public Papers, that the English begin to be weary of the War, and they have reason; having suffered many Losses, having four Nations of Enemies upon their Hands, few Men to spare, little Money...
385From Benjamin Franklin to Chaumont, 19 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; incomplete copy: Library of Congress I am sorry and very much ashamed of the Quarrel on Board the Alliance: But I beg you would not form an Opinion of the Americans in general from this Accident. Where a Number of Men of whatever Nation are together with little or nothing to do they are apt to be mutinous and quarrelsome. I hope when they are fully employ’d they...
386From Benjamin Franklin to Chaumont, 18 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Le Contrat pour le fret a été fait, entre vous, Monsieur, et Mr. Williams. Par ce Contrat, c’est lui qui doit tirer les Lettres de Change sur moi, quand le Vaisseau sera prêt a partir de l’Orient; Je n’ai rien a faire dans toute cette Operation que d’accepter ces traittes qui suivant le Contract doivent être tirées à trois usances et de les payer lors qu’elles seront...
387From Benjamin Franklin to Chaumont, 2 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library You stay long from us, and every body wishes your Return. The Paving in the Court is finished, and the Passage thro’ the Terras nearly so. Your Garden is in great Beauty, with Plenty of Green Peas & Cherries: Will you stay till they are all eaten? Since my last, I received the following Paragraph in a letter from Holland; it is quoted from a Letter written at...
388From Benjamin Franklin to Chaumont: Letter and Memoir, 11 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : Yale University Library; copy: Library of Congress; (II) AD (draft) and copy: American Philosophical Society It was because I know myself to be perfectly ignorant of Mercantile Affairs, that I left it totally to Mr. Williams to freight the Vessel wanted to transport our Merchandize, and to make the Agreement necessary for that purpose. It is for the same reason that I cannot take upon...
389From Benjamin Franklin to Chaumont, 10 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Franklin D. Roosevelt Library; copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour to write to me the 1st. inst. That inclosed for the Marquis de la Fayette was sent to him directly. The other for M. de Sartine, was carry’d to Marly by my Son; but he being at Paris, it was brought back and delivered to him there the next Morning. His Answer has been ever since expected,...
390From Benjamin Franklin to Chaumont, 21 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Mr. Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Mr. de Chaumont; and requests earnestly to have his Account with the Congress, as it stands in his Books, the Credits as well as the Debits, that it may be settled now Mr. Deane is here, who is at present employed in adjusting our Congress Accounts, which cannot be closed without that of M. de Chaumont. Chaumont...