4801From Benjamin Franklin to Lorenzo Manini, 19 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Biblioteca Statale di Cremona You did me a very great Pleasure when you sent me the American Letters, and gave me an Opportunity of reading that excellent Work, not less replete with sound Judgement and good Sense than with variety of Learning & Science; and I beg you to accept my thankful Acknowledgements. I am also extremely sensible of the honour of your Dedication. I sometime since...
4802From Benjamin Franklin to Paolo Frisi, 20 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library I received with great Pleasure the Line you were pleased to write to me by the Chevalier Castiglioni, and am oblig’d to you for making me acquainted with a Gentleman so intelligent and so amiable.— If in his American Travels I can be of any Service to him, he may command me, on his own Account as well as in respect to your Recommendation.— The Present you propose to make...
4803From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 28 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress I communicated immediately to Mr Williams the Letter your Excellency did me the Honour of writing to me the 26th. Instant, with the Memorial of Mr Denevers which accompany’d it.— I inclose a Letter from him to your Excellency, by which it will appear that the Complaint is not well founded; and I am persuaded...
4804From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 2 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have not receiv’d a Line from you since that of Sept. 7. now near a Month. I have waited with impatience the Arrival of every Post.— But not a Word.— All your Acquaintance are continually enquiring what News from you.— I have none. Judge what I must feel, what they must think, and tell me what I am to think of such Neglect. I must suppose it Neglect: for...
4805From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 11[–15] October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS and copy: American Philosophical Society I have just received the honour of yours of the 25th past, and shall communicate it as you desire to my Colleagues, tomorrow. I think you did right in mentioning to the Minister the Nature of our Commission, &c. In my last I sent you a Copy of our Letter to the Count d’Aranda. Herein I inclose his Answer, in order to keep you fully...
4806From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 11 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I beg leave to lay before your Excellency the enclos’d Papers, complaining of the improper Proceedings of the Admiralty at Nantes, in deciding on a Cause between the Captain of an American Ship and one of his Sailors, which ought only to have been judg’d by our Consul; and moreover in arresting the said Ship just on the Point of Departing for...
4807From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 14 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Haverford College The Chevr. Castiglioni, who will deliver you this Line, is an Italian Gentleman of Character and Family, from Milan. He proposes a Tour thro’ all our States. I beg leave to recommend him to your Civilities, and that you would introduce him to the Acquaintance of such of our Society as have a Tincture of Natural History & Botany in which he is particularly curious. With...
4808From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 16 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: National Archives It was intended by the Commissioners to write a joint Letter to Congress, but I am afraid the Opportunity may be missed. This may serve to inform that Propositions of treating have been made by us to all the Powers of Europe, according to our Instructions, and we are waiting for their Answers. There are Apprehensions here of a War between the Emperor and Holland:...
4809From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 18 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received yours of the 5th (just after I had sent away mine of the 2d). It inclosed one from the good Bishop to you. I have since receiv’d yours of the 12th. I am glad to hear that Mrs Hewson resolves to come. My Love to her and her Children. I consent to your Staying till the End of the Month, on Condition however of your making a Visit to Chilbolton and...
4810From Benjamin Franklin to ——— Pilloust, 18 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and press copy of LS in French: American Philosophical Society I have this Day received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the eighth Instant, respecting the Claims of twenty Volunteers against Captain Cunningham. Some or other of these People have been continually applying to me personally or by Letter for near seven Years past; and, I have as constantly told them, that I...
4811From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 18 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I was much obliged by the Readiness with which your Excellency favour’d my Request of a Sauf Conduit for Mr Bondfield, and I beg you to accept my thankful Acknowledgements. Permit me to ask another Favour of the same kind for my Nephew Mr Williams, who I am confident will make Use of it for the Advantage of his Creditors. With great and...
4812Entry in Maria Theresia Paradis’ Autograph Book, 27 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Wienbibliothek Wherever you go, may Health and Happiness attend you. In this quarto volume bound in red morocco, Paradis collected inscriptions as well as drawings dating from 1774 to 1821: Marion Fürst, Maria Theresia Paradis: Mozarts berühmte Zeitgenossin (Cologne, 2005), pp. 8–11, 110. For more on Germanic autograph books, or Stammbücher, see XXXIV , 316n.
4813How to Warm a Room in Winter and Cool It in Summer, Communicated by Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., [1 November … (Franklin Papers)
D : The Lilly Library Note the Back of the Kitchen Chimney being of Iron will warm the Room behind it, the folding doors being open allows the heat to pass into the Room & the air Pipe being shut prevents its going away: this is for Winter.— In summer the Doors being shut the heat cannot get into the Room & the slides being drawn out the heat will escape throw the air pipe. The hole at the...
4814The Levée, [before 6 November 1784] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), 111, 307–8. In the first chapter of Job we have an account of a transaction said to have arisen in the court, or at the levée, of the best of all possible princes, or of governments by a single person, viz. that of God himself. At this levée, in which the sons...
4815Proposal for a Prussian-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce: Articles 13, 23, and 24, [before 10 November 1784] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives The twenty-seven-article treaty proposal that the American commissioners sent to Thulemeier on November 10 was copied, with the appropriate adjustments, from the one they had prepared for use with Denmark; see the headnote and documents immediately above. Jefferson’s final draft of the proposal for Denmark is published in The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, with all...
4816From Benjamin Franklin to Anisson fils, 10 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Bibliothèque nationale I send you enclos’d the Characters you desire to see, cast in the new manner lately invented in England. They are first cast separately, and after being compos’d into Words or Parts of Words, those are united by a second Casting of additional Metal. This Operation doubles the Price of the Fount. I have directed my Grandson who is now in London, to visit the...
4817From Benjamin Franklin to C. F. d’Inarre, 10 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 22d of last Month, requesting my Advice as to your Removal to America. The enclos’d Pamphlet will answer most of your Questions. Understanding Agriculture there is no doubt of your being able to live comfortably in Pensylvania, where there are many wealthy German...
4818Outline of an Unsent Letter to Charles Thomson, [before 11 November 1784] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): American Philosophical Society These notes for a letter that was never written display a sense of bitterness and disappointment rarely seen in Franklin’s papers. That he even contemplated sending such a letter, albeit a private one—admitting to Thomson that he felt unappreciated and was “sorry and asham’d” for having asked a personal favor of Congress (a favor not granted)—betrays...
4819From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 11 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library I received your Letters of the 28th. of August, and 10th of September, with the Newspapers by M. Sailly, but they were very incompleat and broken Sets, many being omitted perhaps the most material, which is disagreable to me who wish to be well inform’d of what is doing among you. I was glad to receive the good Account B & S have given of their good Treatment of those...
4820From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 11 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: National Archives I received your kind Letter of August 13th: with the Papers annexed, relative to the Affair of Longchamps. I hope Satisfaction will be given to Mr: Marbois. The Commissioners have written a joint Letter to Congress. This serves to cover a few Papers relative to Matters with which I was particularly charged in the Instructions. I shall write to you fully by the...
4821From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 15 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Massachusetts Historical Society Mr Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Mr Adams, and encloses a Paper left with him by the Secretary of the Portuguese Ambassador last Night, being an Extract of a Letter from the First Minister of that Court. No Notice is taken in it of the preceding Plan of a Treaty, and Mr. F. mentions for Consideration, whether it would not be right to send...
4822From Benjamin Franklin to Witel & Fauche, 15 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS , AL (draft), and incomplete press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society I have attentively considered your Project communicated to me in yours of the 24th. past, & of which you desire my Opinion. I have some Doubts whether you will find your Bookselling and Printing Business sufficiently profitable at first for the Support of three Families; because the French Language, in which I...
4823From Benjamin Franklin to Bra[iez?], 22 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society Je suis trop étranger, Monsieur, à toute Dispute sur le Mesmerisme, pour consentir que mon nom paroisse ni directement ni indirectement ailleurs que dans le Rapport des Commissaires au Nombre desquels Sa Majesté m’avoit nommé. J’ai l’honneur d’être, Monsieur, Votre trés humble & trés obeissant Serviteur In response to his letter of the...
4824From Benjamin Franklin to ——— Desfours, 23 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society Je n’ai point reçu, Monsieur, le Projet dont vous faitez mention dans la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 15 du mois dernier; et Je serois bien aise de le voir. Quant à la Commn que vous desirez, Je n’ai aucune autorité pour l’accorder ou la refuser; tout ce que Je puis faire c’est d’envoyer votre Requete au Congrès, et de...
4825From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Jefferson, 23 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society These People are so accustomed to see every thing done by Sollicitation of Interest, or what they call Protection, and nothing without it, that they hardly conceive it possible to obtain the Payment even of a just Debt but by means of Persons whom they suppose to have Influence enough to support and enforce their Pretensions. We should...
4826From Benjamin Franklin to J.-B. Marioge, 23 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la Lettre dont vous m’avez honoré le 16 du mois dernier. Je n’ai Jamais été chargé de faire passer personne en Amérique pour y établir des manufactures. Le Pays est ouvert a tout le monde et le Congres ne cherche point à y attirer les Etrangers par des avantages particuliers. Chargé d’une Famille et à l’âge où vous étez,...
4827From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Anne Lafont, 24 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la Lettre sans datte que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire. Votre Situation est embarrassante et J’en suis touché; mais, outre que Je ne puis donner de Recommandation à quelqu’un qui m’est absolument inconnu, il seroit mal’avisé de vous conseiller d’entreprendre un Voyage long est dispendieux pour aller vous établir...
4828From Benjamin Franklin to Anne-Louise Boivin d’Hardancourt Brillon de Jouy, 29 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University; press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society Je vous felicite trés cordialement, ma trés chere amie, de l’heureux Accouchement de notre Fille. Puisse l’Enfante être aussi bonne & aussi aimable que sa mere, sa grandemere, sa grandegrandemere, &c. Je me souviens d’avoir un jour rencontré chez vous quatre de vos Generations, quand vos Enfans etoient tres jeunes; & que...
4829From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 2 December 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : New York Public Library Mr Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Mr Adams, with Thanks for his obliging Invitation, which he should accept with Pleasure, but that he finds himself oblig’d to renounce dining abroad, his Malady rendring it on many accounts extreamly inconvenient to him. Mr F. has receiv’d a Letter & some Papers from Mr Grand, on which he wishes to confer with Mr...
4830Certificate for Captain Beaulieu, [17 December 1784] (Franklin Papers)
DS : Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, Florence I do hereby certify whom it may concern, that Capt. Lewis Joseph de Beaulieu, late of General Count Pulaski’s Corps, is still living, being with me here at Passy, while this Certificate is writing, December 17. 1784. This certificat de vie was prepared in anticipation of the application of Louis Joseph (Joseph-Louis) d’Escudier de Beaulieu ( XXXII ,...
4831Drawing and Description of a Boat for Fishing Parties on the Delaware River, [1784?] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society The person who inspired Franklin to think about the design of small craft for use on rivers was, it seems, Julien-David Le Roy. By the early 1780s, when the architect began discussing his ideas with Franklin—including improvements to hot-air balloons—he was deeply absorbed in trying to design boats with sails, masts, and hulls that would allow for more...
4832From Benjamin Franklin to Bedtinger, 2 January 1785 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS , American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire pour solliciter la Place de Vice Consul des E.U. de l’Amerique au Havre, pour le sr. Dupuis.— Il m’auroit èté infiniment agréable de remplir vos Vues à cet égard s’il avoit dependu de Moi; mais Je n’y puis rien. M. Barclay notre Consul Général est seul autorisé a faire...
4833From Benjamin Franklin to Glier, 2 January 1785 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Galerie Frédéric Castaing, Paris (2016); L (draft): Library of Congress J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire au sujet d’un nommé Thomas Dunlop, se disant Americain:— Et Je vous dois des Remerciements pour le soin que vous en avez pris le supposant tel.— Mais par le Compte qu’il a rendu de lui meme, Je soupçonne très fort, qu’il est ou Anglois, ou...
4834From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 3 January 1785 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., The Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin … (2nd ed., 2 vols., London, 1817), II , 455–7. I received your kind letter of December 1, from Bath. I am glad to hear that your good sister is in a fair way towards recovery; my respects and best wishes attend her. I communicated your letter to Mr. Jefferson, to remind him of his promise to...
4835From Benjamin Franklin to Mayer, 3 January 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Biblioteche Civiche e Raccolte Storiche, Turin I have just receiv’d the Piece, entitled, Asgill, &c. which you have been so good as to send me. Please to accept my Thanks, together with the Book of our Constitutions, which I send herewith. I am, Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Servant Mayer was one of the several writers producing fictional renditions of the Charles Asgill story...
4836From Benjamin Franklin to Ferdinand Grand, 9 January 1785 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS and AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives I received your Letter of the 29th. past with the State of the Interest Money claimed by the Department of Finance as due the 1st. Inst, the Account of your Advances for the United States, and a Copy of the Letter of Messrs. Willink & Staphorst offering you by Order of Mr. Morris 400,000 Livres the Sum due...
4837From Benjamin Franklin to Georgiana Hare, 25 January 1785 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress Your Letter of the 12th Inst. came duly to hand. I congratulate you & Mr Hare on your Marriage, & wish you every Felicity. I will answer your Enquiries as well as I can. The Cultivators of Land are a respectable Part of our People in Pensilvania, being generally Proprietors of the Land they cultivate, out of whom are chosen the Majority of our Magistrates,...
4838From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Price, 1 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received duly your kind Letter of Oct. 21. and another before with some of your excellent Pamphlets of Advice to the United States. My last Letters from America inform me that every thing goes on well there; that the new elected Congress is met, and consists of very respectable Characters with excellent Dispositions; and the People in general very happy under...
4839From Benjamin Franklin to John Walter, 1 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from John Walter, An Address to the Public, by J. Walter, Shewing the Great Improvement He Has Made in the Art of Printing, by Logographic Arrangements … (London, 1789), p. 14. I received by my grandson, the copy of your mode of arranging the first letter in the alphabet, which is very curious, and I am much obliged to you for it;—please to accept my hearty thanks.— I have since...
4840From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Childs, 8 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives I received your Letter of Nov. 13. with the preceding one therein mentioned. I had some Discourse with Mr Jay respecting you, and I express’d a Willingness to assist you in Setting up your Business, on the same Terms as I had formerly done other young Printers of good Character, viz. Whitemash & Timothy in Carolina, Smith and afterwards Mecom at Antigua, Parker at New...
4841From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 8 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I received by the Marquis de la Fayette your kind Letter of the 13th of December. It gave me great Pleasure on two Accounts, as it inform’d me of the Public Welfare and that of your, I may almost say our, dear little Family; for since I had the Pleasure of their being with me in the same House, I have ever felt a tender Affection for them, equal I believe to that of...
4842From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Henry Lee, 8 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: National Archives I received by the Marquis de la Fayette the two Letters you did me the Honour of writing to me the 11th & 14th of December; the one enclosing a Letter from Congress to the King; the other a Resolve of Congress respecting the Convention for establishing Consuls. The Letter was immediately deliver’d, and well...
4843From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Brillon de Jouy, 16 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of copy: American Philosophical Society Mr. Franklin fait mille Compliments à Monsieur Brillon. Il lui envoie selon sa Promesse l’Extrait de la Lettre que M. Bache lui a écrite, au quel il a joint une Traduction, et le prie de vouloir bien les remettre à M. Thomas. Who served as an intermediary between the abbe Thomas (who had grievances against JW and the firm of Bache & Shee) and...
4844From Benjamin Franklin to Michel, 19 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress The Humanity you have shown to that miserable young Female, Elizabeth Tingis, is very laudable, notwithstanding the Depravity of her Character. If it be true that she is of a respectable Family in America, there can be no doubt but they will repay the Expence with Thanks; but I never knew there any Family of that Name, and I question her being an American; I...
4845From Benjamin Franklin to Vernier, 19 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 10 de ce Mois, relativement à 3 Contrats du Bureau d’Emprunt des Etats Unis dont vous étez Porteur [ Text deleted by Franklin: Le Congrès s’occupe maintenant des moyens de rembourser ces Effets, et a pris de mésures éfficaces pour assurer le Payement des Interéts, qui a...
4846From Benjamin Franklin to Windisch-Grätz, 22 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Státní oblastní archiv v Plzni, pracoviště Klášter; L (draft): American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la Lettre infiniment honnête dont vous m’avez honoré le 9 de ce Mois, et Je ne puis qu’approuver l’Ecrit qui y etoit joint: il ne pourra manquer d’être utile. Je m’empresserai de faire passer en Amérique suivant votre Desir les Exemplaires que vous m’annoncez dès qu’ils me...
4847From Benjamin Franklin to Deumié Groc, 25 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
Copy of translation: American Philosophical Society Jay recu la Lettre que Vous m’aviez fait l’honneur de mécrire le 26me. 9bre. dernier Touchant L’aimable Elizabeth Vau. [Vaisseau] françois destiné pour philadelphie, mais dèserté En mer par son Capitaine et Equipage et Ensuitte Conduit à terre neuve. Jay immediatement Ecrit à Monsieur Barclay notre Consul pourlors á Lorient requerant de lui á...
4848From Benjamin Franklin to Chevallié, 26 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I duly receiv’d in its time, the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 21st. of October last, with the Papers that accompany’d it, relating to your Demands against the State of Virginia, the Congress, & sundry private Persons in America. Mr Jefferson, a principal Person and late Governor of that State, being in Paris, I thought I could not do better with...
4849From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Pownall, 1 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS : Library of Congress The above is Extract of a Letter I wrote you in Septr. 1782. I had been misinformed as to the Receipt of the Box at Ostend. It had it seems been put on board a London Ship which was to touch at Ostend for Imperial Papers; but was not landed there, The Ship being bound to the West Indies, carried it thither, where it has lain till lately that a...
4850From Benjamin Franklin to James Partridge, 2 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Reprinted from Christie’s, Fine printed books and manuscripts including Americana (December 16, 2004), lot 384. Mr Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr Partridge, & begs his Care of the enclos’d Letter to Govr Pownall now at Marseilles, it relating to the Affairs of Mrs Barry. Mr F. takes the Liberty Mr Partridge was so good as to allow him of sending a Packet to his Care for Mrs...