In answer to the letter you did us the honor to write on the 4 th. ins t. we beg leave to repeat what we often said in Conversation, viz. that the Restoration of such of the Estates of Refugees, as have been confiscated, is impracticable; because they were confiscated by Laws of particular States, &, in many instances, have passed by legal titles through several hands— Besides, Sir, as this a...
Articles to be proposed in the definitive Treaty. MS ( Adams Papers ); endorsed: “Minutes of Articles to be / proposed in the definitive / Treaty.” Filmed at [ Dec. 1782 – June 1783 ]. These dates are derived from JA ’s Diary entries for 10, 12, and 13 Dec. ( JA, D&A Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 3:94–96 ). In the first, JA...
3The American Peace Commissioners to Richard Oswald, 7 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS and three copies: Public Record Office; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress (three), Massachusetts Historical Society (three), National Archives, North Carolina State Division of Archives and History; press copy of copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives In answer to the letter you did us the honor to write...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Oswald: Unsent Draft, 26 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress In the Note that you show’d me it is said, that “Mr Oswald may be vested with any Character or Commission that he and Dr F. shall think proper;” or to that purpose: and you desire my Sentiments.— We should be willing to treat with such Persons as the King may think fit to appoint.— I am however very sensible of the Kindness that appears in Lord Shelburne’s...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Oswald, 14 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : William L. Clements Library; copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society, Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society I am much oblig’d by your Information of your intended Trip to England. I heartily wish you a good Journey, and a Speedy Return; & request your kind Care of a Pacquet for Mr Hodgson. I enclose two Papers that were read at different times by me...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Oswald, 26 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : William L. Clements Library; copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society (two), National Archives, New-York Historical Society, William L. Clements Library, Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society; transcript: National Archives You may well remember that in the Beginning of our Conferences, before the other Commissioners arriv’d, on your mentioning to me a...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Oswald, 11 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : William L. Clements Library; copy: Library of Congress, transcript: National Archives I did intend to have waited on you this Morning, to enquire after your Health, and deliver the enclos’d Paper relating to the Parole of Lord Cornwallis; but being oblig’d to go to Versailles I must postpone my Visit till tomorow. I do not conceive that I have any Authority in Virtue of my office here to...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Oswald, 12 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Public Record Office; AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: Public Record Office (two), Library of Congress, William L. Clements Library I inclose a Letter for Lord Shelburne, to go by your Courier, with some others of which I request his Care. They may be put into the Penny Post. I have received a Note informing me, that, “some Opposition given by his Lordship to Mr Fox’s decided Plan...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Oswald, 8 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Public Record Office (three), William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress I have receivd the honour of yours dated the 5th. Instant, inclosing an Extract of a Letter to you from the Rt. Hon: Thos. Townshend, one of his Majesty’s principal Secretaries of State, wherein your Conduct in communicating to us the 4th Article of your Instructions appears to have been approved of by his...
10From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Oswald, 28 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies, press copy of copy, and transcript: National Archives I have but this Minute had an Opportunity by the Departure of my Company of perusing the Letters you put into my Hands this afternoon; and I return them directly without waiting till our Interview to morrow morning, because I would not give a Moment’s Delay to the Delivery of those directed to other Persons. The Situation of...