241The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 19 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; three copies and transcript: National Archives <Passy, May 19, 1778: We have received your letter of May 15 with its enclosure, and have forwarded copies of both to Congress. Justice, we have no doubt, will be promptly done.> Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 103 and discussed...
242The American Commissioners: Petition to the Massachusetts Council and House of Representatives, 22 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : Clements Library, University of Michigan; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, May 22, 1778: Mr. Joseph Parker of London has asked us to write to you about his property in a vessel that has been in public hands since the spring of 1775. We have reason to think that he is a worthy man, a friend of America; further detention of his property will ruin...
243The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 23 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives A pilote being wanted to conduct an Advice Boat to America, if you have in your Ship a suitable Person that can be spared, the Commissioners request, that you would permit him to go on that Service. We have the Honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servants. Endorsed: from the American...
244The American Commissioners to John Bondfield, 25 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, May 25, 1778: We thank you for your intelligence reports. Your bills on us will be paid when we have received and examined your accounts; please present the latter monthly so that we do not acquire more debts than we can pay, of which there is considerable danger.> Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 116.
245The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 25 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: Library of Congress; AL (draft) and copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, May 25, 1778: We congratulate you on your success and safe return. Until we hear about an exchange of prisoners we advise you to keep yours securely confined. If we can get an equal number of American seamen to man the Drake she will add to your strength, whereas sending...
246The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 25 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, May 25, 1778: We enclose extracts of our letters today to Mr. Williams and Capt. Jones. Please give us advance notice of any large projected expenditure, so that we may decide whether we have the money for it; we are determined not to run into debt or make commitments we cannot honor.> Published in Butterfield, John...
247The American Commissioners to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 25 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society; four copies and two transcripts: National Archives <Passy, May 25, 1778: Your letter of the 18th informs us of a dispute with Mr. Schweighauser about the Ranger ’s prizes, with which you think you are charged until your orders are revoked. Congress authorized Mr. William Lee, and he in turn Mr. Schweighauser, to superintend...
248The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 3 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, June 3, 1778: We have had numerous letters from Lieut. Simpson, and certificates from officers and others about him; although we do not wish to judge him, the certificates are most favorable to his character. Confining him anywhere except on the Ranger seems to us unjustifiably severe. We desire you to release him on...
249The American Commissioners to Sartine, 3 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives de la Marine; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 3: We enclose a list of duties paid in Bordeaux on supplies for the Boston . Such payment is unusual for warships, and we ask you to regulate the practice in future. The captain of the Ranger has put his prizes into the hands of the intendant or commandant at Brest, and...
250The American Commissioners to Thomas Simpson, 3 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, June 3, 1778: We have had several letters from you and certificates from officers and others about the charge on which you have been confined. Our giving an opinion of it would be improper, but we have asked Capt. Jones to release you on parole, so that you may go to Nantes and take passage to America to stand trial...
251The American Commissioners to John Bondfield, 4 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, June 4, 1778: We have received your accounts for supplying the Boston ; some of the articles are dear, but we trust you to obtain everything as cheaply as possible. Your bills will be paid, and we hope the ship has left by now. You tell us of a plot against her, and we have forwarded the affidavit to the ministry;...
252The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 4 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, June 4, 1778: We enclose the copy of a letter from Capt. Whipple, which contains all the intelligence he brought.> Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 127. In Arthur Lee’s hand, signed by him and Adams. To BF above, May 31.
253The American Commissioners to Lord North, [6?] June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
L (draft with Franklin’s alterations): Library of Congress; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two) <Paris, June [6?], 1778: Because of a number of British seamen are now American prisoners, we renew our request for an immediate exchange in Europe. To send men three thousand miles to be exchanged would be an unnecessary addition to their calamities. We have authentic...
254The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 6 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 6, 1778: We have directed Captain Whipple to apply to you for himself and his prize; please furnish the Providence with whatever she needs, but exercise the frugality that our distressed circumstances require. You ask how you should act toward the customs. In general our warships must comply with the law;...
255The American Commissioners to Abraham Whipple, 6 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: National Archives (two), Yale University Library <Passy, June 6, 1778: We congratulate you on your gallant encounter with the enemy, and on your safe passage and arrival. Address yourself and your prize to Mr. Schweighauser at Nantes; he will help you repair and supply your ship, but you should exercise the frugality that our distressed...
256The American Commissioners to Any Captain Bound to America, 10 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two) <Passy, June 10, 1778: Advices from London on the 5th are that Byron’s squadron is still at Plymouth, and is ordered not to sail at present for America. > Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 135. In BF ’s hand. See the commissioners’ warning to state officers above, May 18. Byron,...
257The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 10 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) <Passy, June 10, 1778: Please send us a return of your prisoners, with ranks and names, for an exchange proposed by the British court. We have your account of the disagreement among your crew, and will shortly give you our opinion.> Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 135; for the...
258The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 10 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 10, 1778: We approve your refusal to pay William Morris 1,200 l.t. ; pay no one without our orders. Give the captains goods, for repairing their ships or feeding their men, and a suit of clothes for each to be charged against his pay. Dispose of Captain Whipple’s prize, if she arrives, as you and he think...
259The American Commissioners to Abraham Whipple, 13 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: National Archives (two), University of Virginia Library, Yale University Library <Passy, June 13, 1778: Mr. Hezekiah Ford, chaplain to North Carolina troops in the continental service, was captured and sent to Europe, and has now found his way to us in Paris. We recommend him to be chaplain on your frigate until he returns home.> Published...
260The American Commissioners to Ferdinand Grand, 15 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): University of Virginia Library Nous approuvons toutes les Dispositions que Monsr. Jona. Williams a fait sur vous jusqu’a ce Jour conformement a son Compte. Nous avons l’honneur d’etre vos trés humbles Serviteurs This order was probably not sent because Arthur Lee refused to sign it, and was eventually replaced by the more conditional instructions to Grand below, July 10; even those...
261The American Commissioners to Sartine, 15 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 15, 1778: We refused M. Bersolle’s previous draft until he had sent his accounts. He then billed us for a thousand louis advanced to Capt. Jones on his arrival. Again we refused, because we had not authorized the advance and, when the Captain wrote that he could not feed his...
262The American Commissioners to David Hartley, 16 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; copy and transcript: Library of Congress; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 16, 1778: I received yours of the 5th, informing us that the government has agreed to an exchange of prisoners, and we have written Captain Jones for the list; it contains, I understand, at least two hundred men. We expect ours to be...
263The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 16 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 16, 1778: You will return to America as soon as possible, meanwhile keeping your destination secret. Embrace any opportunity to take prizes or harass the enemy, even if it means going out of your way; the Newfoundland fisheries are one objective, and another is transports on the coast or returning to...
264The American Commissioners to Peter Amiel, 23 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library The foregoing is a true Copy of original Instructions from Congress to Commanders of private Ships or Vessels of War, having Commissions or Letters of Marque and Reprisal, which you are strictly enjoyned and required to observe. See the note on Arthur Lee to BF above, April 2. Amiel was now lodging in Passy, and was slated to command a privateer owned by a...
265The American Commissioners to Sartine, 23 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 23, 1778: Mr. Joy Castle of Philadelphia informs us that his bark Jane , William Castle master, and her cargo have been seized at Bordeaux on the King’s order as British property. He is an American citizen, abroad because of sickness in the family, and now wants to return home, where he has an estate. His...
266The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 23 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; National Archives <Passy, June 23, 1778: Thank you for your letter of the 18th and its information about freight. We have ordered Captains Whipple and Jones to return home, carrying as many arms and stores as possible. Enclosed are Congressional resolutions to govern you in distributing the prizes of the Providence and Ranger , the Drake belongs...
267The American Commissioners to Abraham Whipple, 23 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 23, 1778: We have a prospect of exchanging prisoners, and want from you a list of all those you have; we will let you know where to send them for exchange. Load as many arms and goods as you safely can; Mr. Schweighauser will provide them. If he has a ship ready for America,...
268The American Commissioners to S. and J. H. Delap, 24 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 24, 1778: Please send us an accounting of the prize money mentioned in the enclosed letter. > Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 142. That from John Paul Jones above, June 10. The commissioners’ request finally produced results. JW informed them on July 16, below, that he had received the...
269The 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...
270The American Commissioners to Francis Coffyn, 26 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 26, 1778: We have your letters of the 18th and 19th, referring to an earlier one about a surgeon’s bill. Give the surgeon what you think fair, after making the deduction mentioned. We thank you for your news, and approve sending intelligence to America by every opportunity. The seamen you speak of should...