391From Benjamin Franklin to Chaumont, 5 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 2d Instant. I have no farther Orders to give Capt. Jones: My best Wishes attend him & his little Fleet; and I hope soon to have the Pleasure of seeing you and my young Friend well at home. Being ever with the sincerest Esteem & Affection Dear Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant In WTF ’s hand....
392From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques-Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont, [on or after 3 July 1780] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Gallery of History, Inc. (Las Vegas, Nevada, 1993) Notre Intention en donnant l’Ordre de ne pas payer leurs Portions a ceux qui avoient signé le Mutinerie, n’etant qu’un Expedient temporaire pour les reclamer; il me semble qu’actuellement il sera mieux de rapeller cette Ordre; parceque il y a en Amerique des Loix pour les punir; & je crois qu’il sera bon de payer les portions de ces...
393From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques-Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont, 4 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Extrait d’une Lettre de Boston, datée le 28 Octobre 1778. Le General Heath de cette Ville a recu hier un Exprés de General Washington, portant que 17 Vaisseaux de Ligne, 20 Fregates, & 170 Vaiseaux de Transport, avoient partis de la Nouvelle York le 19 de ce Mois, & qu’il étoit soupçonné qu’ils étoient destinées pour attaquer Boston. — Il y a d’autres qui...
394From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Pierre de Chaumont, 29 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, Public Record Office I beg pardon that I have not sooner written to you on the subject of the Propositions you left with my Grandson. I have been indispos’d; and I imagin’d you might possibly call on me, as mentioned in your note. We are much obliged to the Prince for his Goodwill to our Cause and Country, and for his friendly offer. But as I do not find...
395From Benjamin Franklin to De Chezaulx, 21 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Mr. De Chaumont having had the whole Care of equipping and paying every thing relating to The little Squadron that sent the Prizes in to Bergen, I have constantly refered to him the Letters you have done me the honour of writing to me on that subject, and I believe he has answered them. I am nevertheless extreamly sinsible of the kind Care, zeal and Activity you have...
396From Benjamin Franklin to Edmund Clegg, 26 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Elisha K. Kane, Kane, Pennsylvania (1956) Your Letter dated April 4. came to my hands but a few Days since. I apprehend from some Passages in it, that there has been a Misunderstanding between Mr. Wyld and me, or that he has misrepresented what passed between us. I certainly never undertook to provide a Vessel to carry him and his Friends over, and therefore could have no occasion to...
397The Committee of Secret Correspondence to Stephen Cleveland, 30 July 1776: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society <Philadelphia, July 30, 1776: Bradford has informed us that he has outfitted the Dispatch and appointed you commander; “he gives you an extreme good Character.” You will receive this from John Philip Merkle, and you will be bound by the following instructions until they are superseded: You will give Bradford bills of lading for the cargo, which is consigned...
398From Benjamin Franklin to Clifford & Teysset, 8 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 31st. past, and I immediately apply’d to M. de Chaumont, representing to him the ill Consequences that must attend the Return of those Bills to America protested. He took the Matter into Consideration, and it is but this Instant that I have received his Answer, which I inclose. As I think with you...
399From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Cochran, 12 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Princeton University Library; copy: Library of Congress I received yours of Augt 16. a long time after the Date. I am happy that any little Notice I have been able to take of your Son is agreable to you. He is truely a fine Boy, ingenious, active, industrious, and capable of any Improvement you may think fit to bestow upon him in his Education.— From his good Dispositions of Mind, there...
400From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Coffyn, 28 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your several favours containing the Claims of Capt. Cunningham’s french Sailors, and The Memoirs relative to the Privileges of your Port. With regard to these Claims, I Shall Send them to Congress, but I observe that they are Simply the Declarations of the People themselves, that an Agreement was made with them for such high Wages with Shares of Prizes and...