761The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 11 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) : Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have this Moment received the Letter, which you did Us the Honour to write to Us, on the Seventh of the present Month, and We hold ourselves obliged to you for giving Us an opportunity of uniting our Endeavours with yours, to obtain a Sufficient Convoy for the Vessells bound to America for the whole Voyage. It...
762From Benjamin Franklin to the Gentlemen at Nantes, 29 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your Report. I am much obliged to you for the Great Pains and Care which you have taken in examining and adjusting the Accounts of Mr. Williams and beg you to accept my thankful acknowledgments. I shal not fail to acquaint the Congress, with your services being with much Esteem and respect Gentlemen That report, now missing, must have accompanied JW ’s...
763The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 9 February 1778 [i.e., 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) We have the Honour to inclose, you, a Letter just received from his Excellency the Comte De Vergennes, containing as We Suppose the final Answer of his Exellency, the Minister of Marine, to the applications, for a Convoy. We wish you may be able to derive Advantage from it: & are with great...
764The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 27 [i.e., 28] November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We are desired by the Ministry to inform ourselves as precisely as possible, at what Time the Vessells bound to America will be ready to Sail.—it is Said that upon a former Occasion the Convoy was obliged to wait a long Time, an Inconvenience that it is wished may be avoided upon this occasion. We beg your earliest...
765From Benjamin Franklin to Conrad-Alexandre Gérard, 17 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I enclose the Letters for M. Beyerlé. But as by the Note concerning him it seems he has Expectations of being employ’d in our Army, I cannot but be sorry that he should undertake so expensive & hazardous a Voyage with those Views, being persuaded that he will not find such Employment. I am expressly charged not to encourage officers to go over, and therefore can give...
766The American Commissioners to Conrad-Alexandre Gérard, 4 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Harvard University Library Being desirous of a conference with you on a subject, that appears to us of importance; we shall be glad to meet you here, or at Versailles, as soon as may be convenient to you. We have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, Sir, Your most Obedient and most Humble Servants Notation: 1778. Mars 4. Both...
767The American Commissioners to [Gérard], 22 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Harvard University Library The News you have receiv’d from England cannot be true. No Treaty would be entred into with Howe by Washington, when the Congress was at hand: And Howe could have no Propositions to make but such as were authoris’d by the Act of Parliament, and had been long since rejected, (viz.) Pardon upon Submission ....
768From Benjamin Franklin to Conrad-Alexandre Gérard, 15 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I congratulate you most Sincerely on your safe arrival after so many fatigues and Perils and on your happy Meeting with your family and friends. I long to embrace and Welcome you in Person but have been prevented, partly by an unwillingness to intrude on Those first hours, which you might wish to Spend with your nearer Connections, and Partly by Accidental Business....
769The American Commissioners to [Gérard], 20 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères The Persons going out with the dispatches are Mr. Simeon Deane and Mr. Anthony Knap both of New England. They will set out this Evening for Bordeaux, and will follow Your Orders, which You shall send; inclosed You have a Letter of Credit for the Captn. of Your Ship. We have the honor to be with the utmost respect Sir Your most Obedient and...
770From Benjamin Franklin to Gérard, 25 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I received last night the enclos’d Letter from a Member of Parliament, and the two frivolous Bills which the Ministry in their present Consternation have thought fit to propose, with a View to support their publick Credit a little longer at home, and to amuse and divide if possible our People in America. You will see that they have dispatch’d...