1From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 13 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I have never yet been able to settle my Account with M. de Chaumont. I got Mr. Grand to endeavour it, but he is on the Point of giving it up as impracticable. One is never sure of having finish’d any thing [ with ] Mr C. He is forever renewing old Demands or inventing new ones. He now refuses to allow me Interest on the 50,000 livres he kept so long...
2From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 23 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Jr. Copy: Library of Congress I have received yours of the 19th. Inst. with the Account of the Duties you have paid. I do not comprehend the Policy of burthening their own Manufactures; but the Laws of the Country we trade with must be observed. I have determin’d to rely on the Government entirely for the Transport of the Goods. I am instructed not to send them but under Convoy directly to...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 6 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Are there any American Vessels with you that want Freight, and would go under Convoy to Philadelphia or Chesapeak, and can render themselves at Brest by the Beginning of next Month to take in. If there are [please] to let me know what Quantity of Tons they Can carry, and on what Terms they will engage. I am. &c. BF expected the Alliance to sail from Brest in early...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 19 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Indiana University Library; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received yours of the 10th and have sent your Letter to the Farmer General, which I hope will have the Effect you desire. The Congress by one of their first Regulations exempted from Capture the Property even of British Subjects coming bonâ fide to settle in America, and of course that of their own Citizens to be drawn...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 8 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and draft: Library of Congress Your Letter of the 1st. instant is now before me. When I consented to take the officers Cloathing on Publick Acct. it was on Condition that the Value should be regarded as Payment in Part of what M. De Chaumont owed me; this he willingly complied with when I spoke to him about it this morning, & has promised me that he will not negociate your Draft on me in...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 19 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress I mentioned the other Day the Affair of your Man to M de Renneval at M de Vergennes’s who informed me that I should apply to M. de Castries. I did not meet with him, & Billy goes out to day expressly to obtain his Order for the Release of the poor Fellow, which M. de Renneval assur’d me would meet with no Difficulty. I hope you will receive it with this, as he...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 1 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete copy: Library of Congress I received yours of the 25th. past. Mr. Chaumont, who continued at Versailles during his Difficulties, now appears again at Paris, having as I hear received 500,000 Remittances from America, with which he has resumed his Course of Payments. I have not yet had an Opportunity of making the Proposal to him, which you mention, relative to the Cloth, but shall...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 22 January 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress I have just received yours of the 16th. Mr Grand had been with me a few Minutes before, & had shown me your Letter to him of the same Date, advising of the Bills you had drawn on me for 25000 l.t. , in order to face M. de Chaumont’s return’d Acceptances: I order’d the Payment of your Drafts, as I had before of all the...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 20 January 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress Since my last I made a Proposition to M. de Vergennes, that the Government should take the Bargain of the Vessel off our Hands with the Freight we had paid, transport in her our Effects, & fill her up with their own. He did not chuse to embarras himself with the Arrangement necessary to be made for this with different...
10From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 15 January 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress You gave me a great Pleasure in informing me of the safe Delivery of your good Wife. I congratulate you both most cordially.— As you make no Objection to M. de Segray’s Account, I suppose it right, & return it with my Approbation as you desire.— It is a vexatious thing to have Business to do which one does not understand. I...