2581William Stevenson and the American Commissioners: An Exchange of Three Letters, 4 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
(I) AL , (II) L , (III) AL : Harvard University Library We print the letters together because they are an entity: the first elicited the second, the second the third, all on the same day. The first was to the commissioners; the second was from, and the third to, Franklin and Deane alone. This was the second quarrel between Lee and his colleagues over who should carry copies of the...
2582From Benjamin Franklin to Rolandeau, 4 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I can no otherwise give an Order for your Passage gratis, than by giving an Order to our Correspondent to pay the Money for you on my Account, which seems too much to be reasonably expected of me. And as you left the Service of the States in America without Leave, to come home upon your own private Affairs, it seems right that you should be at the whole...
2583From Benjamin Franklin to de Tavarez, 4 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Notes and Queries: a Medium of Intercommunication for Literary Men, General Readers, Etc. , 6th series, X (July–December, 1884), 153. The account given in the Newspapers of my having furnished the Physicians with a receipt against the Dropsy is a Mistake. I know nothing of it, nor did I ever hear before that Tobacco Ashes had any such virtue. I thank you for your kind...
2584The American Commissioners’ Interview on January 8 with Gérard: Four Documents, 1778 (Franklin Papers)
This meeting, in Deane’s quarters in Paris at six in the evening of January 8, was the commissioners’ reward for all the frustrations of the previous year. Vergennes had announced to them on December 12 that France was ready to negotiate, but three weeks of silence followed while the court attempted to secure Spanish participation. Then, when Madrid made clear that it had no intention of...
2585The American Commissioners to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 10 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress We desire you would advance to Capt. Paul Jones, of the Ranger, five hundred Louidores, for which your draught upon us will be paid. We are Sir Your most Obedient Servants (Signed) Notation: From the American Commissioners Letter of Credit Passy January 10th 1778 recd. Passy January 10th. 1778 To cover wages and equipment for the Ranger: Morison, Jones , p. 124. Jones...
2586The American Commissioners to Gourlade, Bérard frères, & Monplaisir, 12 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society Mr. Beaumarchais shewed us your Letter of the 7th Inst. by which we find that you had not so much Confidence in the Commissioners as to deliver the Cargo of the Amphitrite to their Order untill your Disbursements on the two Frigates should be paid you. On our part tho’ we were greatly surprised at the Amount of those Disbursements as well as the prices of...
2587Franklin and Silas Deane to [Ferdinand Grand], 13 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society We desire you would continue to honor Mr. Williams Draughts to the Amount of two hundred thousand Livres in Addition to the Five hundred thousand for which a Credit was before given him. We have the Honor to Remain with much Esteem Sir Your most Obedient &c. &c. This note was BF ’s and Deane’s reaction to Lee’s letter above, Jan. 10. Their colleague, they...
2588From Benjamin Franklin to La Rochefoucauld, 14 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Bibliothèque municipale, Mantes Mr. Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to M. the Duke of Rochefoucauld; with Thanks for his Care of the Pacquet. The English Gazette which came yesterday gives a particular Account of the taking of those petty Forts about the Time you mention. ’Tis a wonder they held out so long. After sustaining a Days continual Battery from the Cannon of the...
2589The American Commissioners to [John Paul Jones], 15 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives Whereas we understand that Capt. Jones has in View to strike a Stroke upon the Enemy that may be greatly to their Damage, but in its nature not probably profitable to his Ship’s Company, unless some Reward be received from the Congress adequate to the Service done, And we being of Opinion that Rewards in such Cases are not only necessary for Encouragement, but are...
2590Franklin and Silas Deane to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, 16 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : South Carolina Historical Society This will be delivered to you by Mr. Carmichael to whom we have committed our dispatches for Congress, and who becoming Acquainted with Mr. Deane soon after his arrival at Paris, travelled to Berlin through Holland and Hambourgh at the desire and Appointment of Mr. Deane and on his Journey rendered very Considerable Services to the United States by...
2591The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, with Arthur Lee’s Dissent and Their Rejoinder: Three Documents, 16[–18] … (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library; (II) ALS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library; (III) ALS : National Archives; ALS (draft): Library of Congress; copy: Harvard University Library As it is not in our Power to procure you such a Ship as you expected, we advise you after equipping the Ranger in the best...
2592The American Commissioners to Gourlade, Bérard frères & Monplaisir, 21 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society We wrote you the 12 inst. on the Subject of the Letter returned to Mr. Beaumarchais since which we are without any of your favours, except of the 12 inst. which relates to the Sales of the Cargo of the Amphitrite, the acct. of which sales you will please to favour us with a Copy of for our Settlement with that Gentleman. It is a little surprizing that Capt....
2593From Benjamin Franklin to La Rochefoucauld, 21 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Bibliothèque municipale, Mantes Mr. Franklin presents his Compliments respectfully to M. le Duc de Rochefoucauld. He will read and return as soon as possible the Papers mentioned. News is received this Morning from England, that a Vessel arrived from New York, which Place she left the 16th of December, brings Advice, that General Howe march’d out of Philadelphia the 5th, drove in G....
2594A Proposed Article for the Treaty of Alliance with France, [on or before 27 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
D : Library of Congress The commissioners met with Gérard on January 8 and agreed to negotiate two treaties, one of amity and commerce and the other for an eventual alliance. On the 18th Gérard presented them with drafts of both, which he asked them to return. They consequently spent the next days in making copies and translations of the drafts, a chore that they dared not entrust to a...
2595The American Commissioners to [Gerard], 30 January 1778 [i.e. 27] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; ALS (draft) or copy: University of Virginia Library We have concluded to make no farther Propositons for the present Treaty. We only wish the Word Sovereignty may be inserted in the two Places propos’d, if not thought absolutely improper. We have the Honour to be with the greatest Esteem, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servants We print the...
2596From Benjamin Franklin to Courtney Melmoth, [on or after 28 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I should have been flatter’d exceedingly by Mrs. Melmoth’s showing the least Inclination for one of those Portraits, when Mrs. Izard accepted the other, and should have presented it to her with the greatest Pleasure. She did not appear to desire it and I did not presume it of Value enough to be offer’d. Her Quarrel with me on that Account is pleasing: The...
2597From Benjamin Franklin to Ralph Izard, 29 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; two copies: National Archives; copy: South Carolina Historical Society I received yours late last Evening. Present Circumstances which I will explain to you when I have the Honor of seeing you prevent my giving it a full Answer now. The Reasons you offer had before been all under Consideration; but I must submit to remain some days under the Opinion...
2598From Benjamin Franklin to La Rochefoucauld, [29 January? 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Bibliothèque municipale, Mantes Mr. Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to M. le Duc de Rochefoucauld. He would with Pleasure send the Copies desired by Made. la Duchesse, if he had them; but he has none. He sends however to M. le Duc an English Copy, and a manuscript French Translation which one of his Friends began to correct but did not finish. If it is thought worth printing...
2599Franklin and Silas Deane to Gerard, 1 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; two AL (drafts): American Philosophical Society; copy: Harvard University Library; two copies: National Archives Mr. Lee having signified to us, that on farther Consideration he has changed his Sentiments relating to the 12th Article; and that he cannot join in Signing the Treaty if that Article remains in it: And as Unanimity is of some...
2600Franklin’s Notes for Replying to Two Letters from Ralph Izard, [on or after 1 February 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society This is a rare example of Franklin’s thinking on paper for his eye alone. Some of the notes are now beyond understanding and the meaning of others can only be conjectured; but what he is thinking about is clear: how to answer Izard’s letters above of January 28 and 30. All of his few identifiable references, down to the word “Personals,” are to the first...
2601Franklin and Silas Deane to Arthur Lee, 1 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: Harvard University Library; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copies: National Archives (four), University of Virginia Library (two), South Carolina Historical Society We have maturely considered your Letter of the 30th past. And tho’ we cannot see the mischievous Consequences of the 12th. Article which you apprehend, yet conceiving that Unanimity on this Occasion is of...
2602From Benjamin Franklin to James Hutton, 1 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy and transcript: Library of Congress You desired that if I had no Propositions to make, I would at least give my Advice. I think it is Ariosto who says, that all Things lost on Earth are to be found in the Moon; On which somebody remark’d that there must then be a great deal of Good Advice in the Moon. If so, there is among it a good...
2603The American Commissioners to Franco and Adrianus Dubbeldemuts, 3 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society Mr. Dorsius of Charlestown South Carolina is a Gentleman we would recommend to you as one much employed, and of Confidence, and one very proper to act for you in your Affair at that Place. Should Mr. Dorsius be engaged in other Business, or should he or his Friends be so interested in that Privateer which made Prize of your Vessel (which is possible) that...
2604The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 3 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: National Archives We have just receivd information that Mr. Thomas Morris, at Nantes, one of the commercial Agents of Congress, is at the point of death; and that his Papers, on that event, will be taken possession of by the Officers of the Crown. As some of these Papers may very materially concern the public business, we beg an Order...
2605From Benjamin Franklin to “Prince” Mostowski, 3 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society M. Franklin sera chez lui Jeudi prochain vers midi, quand il recevra avec beaucoup de Plaisir l’Honneur du Vis. M. Franklin will be at home on Thursday at Noon, ready to wait on Prince Mostowski, if he should then do him the Honour of calling on him as proposed. Paul Michael (Pawel Michal) Mostowski (1721–81) was a self-styled prince. In Poland he had...
2606From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 5 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Library of Congress I am exceedingly obliged by your interesting yourself so warmly in behalf of those unhappy people. I understand you advanc’d money: Your bills on that account will be punctually paid. As yet I have heard of none. Understanding that a certain Person promised to make proposals for healing a certain Breach, I postpon’d and delayed a material Operation till I should...
2607The Franco-American Treaty of Alliance, 6 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
DS : National Archives; copies in French and English: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two), University of Virginia Library; copy in French: Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid The hope of concluding this treaty and the one that follows had been the commission’s mainstay for fourteen months, but negotiating them took less than three weeks. Gérard began the discussions on...
2608The Franco-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce, 6 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
DS : National Archives; copies in French and English: Massachusetts Historical Society, Harvard University Library, National Archives; copies in French: Archives du ministère des affaires étrangères (draft), Harvard University Library, Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid Treaty of Amity and Commerce. Traité d’Amitié et de Commerce The most Christian King, and the thirteen United States of North...
2609The American Commissioners to Ferdinand Grand, 6 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress We hereby request That you would pay Such Bills as shall be drawn on you upon Our Acct. by the Honl. Wm. Lee Esqr. or the honl. Ralph Izard Esqr. for any sums they may have Occasion for To the Amount of Two Thousand Louis D’orrs to each of them. We are sir Your most Obedient Humble Servants (Signed) Notation by Franklin: Letter of Credit written to M. Grand for Messrs...
2610From Benjamin Franklin to La Rochefoucauld, 6 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Bibliothèque municipale, Mantes Mr. Franklin presents his Respects to M. le Duc de Rochefoucauld, with many Thanks for the Pains he has taken, and the Improvements he has made in the Translation. Mr. F. has only one Doubt, which is of the Word habilité in the 2d Article, put for the English Industry: He perceives that Industrie in French has not precisely the same Meaning. And If habilité...