4901Benjamin Franklin and John Jay to John Adams, 28 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
We had the honor of receiving your Favour of the 20 th: Inst, and are persuaded that the Communication of the Friendly Disposition of his Prussian Majesty made to you by the Baron de Thuilemeyer will give great Pleasure to Congress. The Respect with which the Reputation of that great Prince has impress’d the United States, early induced them to consider his Friendship as a desirable Object;...
4902Franklin and John Jay to Thomas Mifflin, 16 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: National Archives; press copy of ALS : Library of Congress We duly received the Letters your Excellency did us the honour of writing to us the 14th of January by Colonel Harmar & Lieut. Col. David Franks, with the Ratification of the Definitive Treaty, the Proclamation, & the Recommendatory Resolves of Congress. On the Arrival of Col. Harmar, we immediately wrote to Mr Hartley,...
4903From Benjamin Franklin and John Jay to Vergennes, 28 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives Mr Grand, Banker to the Congress, having laid before us the annexed State of their Affairs in his Hands, we conceive ourselves indispensably obliged to communicate the same to your Excellency, as some important Interests of both Countries are concerned. Before...
4904Franklin and John Jay to John Adams, 28 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society We had the honor of receiving your Favour of the 20th. Inst, and are persuaded that the Communication of the Friendly Disposition of his Prussian Majesty made to you by the Baron de Thuilemeyer will give great Pleasure to Congress. The Respect with which the Reputation of that great Prince has impress’d the United States, early induced them to consider his...
4905The Petition to the House of Lords against the Boston Port Bill, [26 March 1774]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Summary of DS : House of Lords Library In late March three petitions against the bill, from Americans in London and a few Englishmen with American connections, were presented to the three branches of the legislature. All were the handiwork of Arthur Lee, and Franklin was a signer. The first was delivered to the House of Commons on the 25th, the second to the Lords on the 28th, and the third to...
4906Proposed Alterations in William Smith’s Oration on General Montgomery, [before 6 March 1776] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Historical Society of Pennsylvania On February 19, 1776, William Smith, Provost of the College of Philadelphia and Franklin’s old antagonist, delivered in one of the city churches an oration that Congress had requested on General Montgomery and the other Americans killed in the attack on Quebec. Smith was anything but a revolutionary, and still longed to see the quarrel peacefully...
4907The Loge des Neuf Sœurs and Franklin: Announcement of a Fête Académique, [before 10 May 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Printed announcement: National Heritage Museum, Massachusetts Though the peace was publically celebrated all over Paris in the spring of 1783, this was the only celebration in which Franklin had a hand—or at least, to which he lent his name. Initially, the Nine Sisters planned to hold this fête académique on May 5 at its quarters on the rue Coquéron. They sent printed invitations to the...
4908Agreement between Benjamin Franklin and Joseph Massie, 18 December 1771: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ADS : American Philosophical Society <December 18, 1771, in Massie’s hand. On December 22, 1770, Franklin had received from him a collection of manuscripts, papers, and printed books on certain conditions, and had paid him sixty guineas therefor on certain conditions, enumerated in the receipts that were then exchanged. The present agreement is to extend the time for either or both parties to...
4909To Benjamin Franklin from Mercy-Argenteau, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, 22 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society L’Ambassadeur de l’Empereur ayant été chargé par sa Cour de recourir à la complaisance de Monsieur Franklin relativement à l’Envoi des deux Lettres ci-jointes à l’adresse de MMrs. le Baron de Beelen et le Professeur Märter, il a l’honneur de Le prier de vouloir bien les faire passer à leur destination par la premiere occasion qui se présentera, L’Ambassadeur...
4910Preliminary Articles of Peace: First Draft Treaty, [5–7 October 1782] (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete copy and copy: National Archives; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society (three), Public Record Office ; four transcripts: National Archives Articles agreed upon, by & between Richard Oswald Esqr. the Commissioner of his Britannic Majesty for treating of Peace with the Commissioners of the United States of America, on the behalf of his said Majesty on the one part, and Benjn....