4201The American Commissioners to [Vergennes], 19 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères <Passy, April 19, 1778: We hear from Bordeaux and Nantes that high insurance rates and British captures create almost an embargo on shipping to America, which defeats the aim of the treaty. We earnestly request you to provide convoys.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 42. In WTF ’s hand.
4202The American Commissioners to the South Carolina Legislature, 25 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Harvard University Library Miss Stevens being in this City, in a very [ torn : poor?] state of health and attended by a Physician; is un[der app]rehensions, from prevailing reports of an act hav[ing p]assed in South Carolina, to confiscate the Estates [of tho]se who are absent after a given time, that she [ torn: may incur?] the penalty of that act notwithstanding [her] most...
4203On Literary Style, 2 August 1733 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , August 2, 1733; also draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania. To the Printer of the Gazette . There are few Men, of Capacity for making any considerable Figure in Life, who have not frequent Occasion to communicate their Thoughts to others in Writing; if not sometimes publickly as Authors, yet continually in the Management of their private Affairs, both...
4204The American Commissioners to Horneca, Fizeaux & Cie., 6 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have never received from you, any Intelligence concerning the Progress, which you have made, in the Loan, which has been opened by you for the united States of America. We are anxious to be informed that We may be able to acquaint our Constituents, and regulate our own Conduct in other Things. We should therefore be...
4205The American Commissioners to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, 16 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : South Carolina Historical Society; transcript and two copies: National Archives We have now the Pleasure of sending you the Treaties of Amity and Alliance with France compleated after long Deliberation and signed the 6th. Instant. This is an Event that will give our States such an Appearance of Stability, as must strengthen our Credit, encourage other Powers in Europe to ally themselves...
4206Proposed Preamble to a Congressional Resolution, [1775?] (Franklin Papers)
AD (incomplete draft): American Philosophical Society The nature of this fragment is clear enough: it is to introduce a resolution, undoubtedly by Congress, authorizing some action against the crown. But what action is impossible to say. The preamble was not adopted and hence not recorded in the Journals , and its language is too general to identify the measure it was intended to justify. One...
4207Epitaph of Josiah and Abiah Franklin, [May 1757] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The New-England Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure , 1 (1758), 58. Franklin composed an epitaph for the stone which he erected on the brick monument over his parents’ grave in the Granary Burying Ground in Boston. Though the exact dates of composition and placement of the stone are unknown, it is probable that he attended to the matter shortly before his departure for England, since...
4208Sketch of Propositions for a Peace, [after 26 September 1776 and before 25 October 1776] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress This document, in an unidentified hand, was among the papers that Franklin left to his grandson and editor. When William Temple Franklin eventually published it, he gave two possible explanations of it. The first was that his grandfather thought it advisable to carry with him propositions for peace with Great Britain, and therefore drew up these and submitted them to...
4209William Hunter’s Stipulations in Regard to William Hewson, 23 August 1771 (Franklin Papers)
AD : extract from Franklin to William Hunter, October 30, 1772 , Royal College of Surgeons Dr. Hunter expects Mr. Hewson should go on with his Business as usual during the Remainder of the Term they are to continue together; and during that time should make Preparations, at Dr. Hunter’s Expence, such as the Dr. should direct to be made, and others, so that those directed are not neglected or...
4210The American Commissioners to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, 17 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society We have given Capt. Courter whom we have entrusted with our Dispatches one hundred Louis D’Ors: His Journey to Corogne will be very expensive. He will keep an Account of his Expences which he will give you and we recommend him to you for such further allowance, independant of the Actual expence of his Voyage, as you shall judge adequate to his Services. He...