61To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 28 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library I have received your Favour 23 Inst and perfectly agree in Opinion with you. I thank you very much for your kind Expressions of Friendship which I will always study to deserve. The Seeds you will before this have received, I hope in good Order. I beg leave to introduce to your Notice my Friend Mr William Vernon of Boston. You...
62To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 26 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copies: American Philosophical Society, Yale University Library I beg leave to trouble you with the present, which has for its subject the distresses of our Countrymen who escape hither from Prison. I am an Enemy to extravagant supplies, because extravagant People would take the advantage of the public Generisity & indulge themselves in dependant Idleness;...
63To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 25 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I embrace the Opportunity the departure of Mr Meyers gives me to send you two Bottles of Cramberrys: I will send you more by the first messagerie. I beg leave at the same time to introduce Mr Meyers to your kind Notice and Friendship. I am as ever your dutifull & affect Kinsman Addressed: His Excellency / Doctor Franklin &c &c. Notation: J. Williams, Nantes...
64To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 19 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library I inclose you an Accot of what I have paid to the Custom House for Duty, on Public Goods amounting to £5271.. 13.10.[ l.t. ] I send a Voucher for the principal sum, the two small ones are included in other payments for different Concerns; if it is neccessary I will have other Receipts taken & sent to you.— I have had a deal of...
65To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 12 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have this day sent to the Marquis of Castries a Plan of An Enterprise which if undertaken cannot fail of being very distressing to England, and of high Importance to France & America,— what this Plan is I cannot at present tell you because I have left the Communication entirely to him, & in all probability he will lay it before you; When he does please to...
66To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 9 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library I have in Company with a Friend just bought an exceeding fine new Brig, calculated for a remarkable good Sailor, never yet at Sea. I have called her the Spry and given the Command to Capt Robeson. My Intention is to send her immediately to Boston, and I hope to get her away under the Convoy of the Alliance, for this Purpose I...
67To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 8 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The present serves to introduce to your Acquaintance Doctor Mason Weems and his Companion Mr Manifold; these Gentlemen mean both to go to Britain, the former to pursue the study of his Profession in Edinburgh, and the latter for some affairs which will make his stay but short. I request you to honour these Gentlemen with your kind Notice, and to favour them...
68To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 27(?) February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The inclosed Letter was given me open by Capt Jno Foster Williams who is lately arrived here from Prison. As you may have the Receipt mentioned or an authentic Copy of it I think it my duty to forward this Letter and I hope in consequence 53 of our poor Countrymen will be liberated. I am as ever Yours most dutifully & affecty Notation: Williams Feby. 2....
69To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 24 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the Opportunity by a private Hand to return you Capt Folgers Bond & Oath, in order to save the postage. I will write by the Post. I am in haste yours most dutifully and affectionately Notation: J. Williams 24. Fevr. 1782. See JW to BF , Nov. 10, and BF ’s reply of Nov. 19.
70To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 9 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library I recd your Favour of the 6 Inst. desiring to know if there are any American Vessells here that want freight to go to Brest to take in. There are in this Port two American Vessells only, the Favourite Capt Buchannan, & the betsey Capt Gallagher, the former a new ship of twenty Guns armed by Mr. Johnson, the latter an armed Brig...
71To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 8 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Friend Mr Grubb will have the pleasure to present this & I beg Leave to recommend him to your Notice & Civility. This Gentleman proposes a settlement in France in the Commercial Line in Company with Mr Hazlehurst, & I doubt not will ever merit the Attention you may think proper to honour him with, which will particularly oblige Dear & hond sir Your...
72To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 2 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: E. Marie Lorimer (Melrose, Pa., 1957) I remitted to Mr Grand a few posts since about 50,000 Livres in Bills on you, & I find by a note at the bottom of his Letter that the payment is not certain. Near the whole of these Bills are on my own Accot and the disappointment would affect me very much; besides this, some part were remitted me by Mr Bache for...
73To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 19 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have only time before the departure of the Post to inform you of the Arrival of the Brig Betsey from Philadelphia & to forward the inclosed for you.— I am as ever most dutifully & affectionately Notation: Jona. Williams Nantes. 19. Janr. 1782. Commanded by Bernard Gallagher (b. c. 1751), the ship had eight guns and twenty-seven men. Gallagher had received...
74To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 1 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Permit me to express my sincere Wishes for your Health & Happiness with every other possible Blessing for this and many succeeding Years, and at the same time to renew my gratefull Thanks for the Friendship & assistance you have so long & so often honoured me with, which I assure you it shall always by [be] my utmost Endeavour to merit by a steady...
75To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 18 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received last Post a letter from Mr Moylan of L’orient in which are these Words. “If you wish to be deputy Consul of your district I have good Reason to imagine Mr Barclay would willingly authorize you to the Office, let me know your mind privately.” I have answered thus. “I conceive myself highly obliged to Mr Barclay for his Intention & much indebted to...
76To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 27 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have received your Favour of the Inst per Mr Witherspoon. I gave it to your good Friend Capt All, who had heard with Pain what I before wrote to you, & who now rejoices at the Opportunity of confounding malicious Tongues. I send you inclosed a Newspaper in order to shew you the inhumane Conduct of Lord Rawdon, now a prisoner in Paris. I do not expect to...
77To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr.: Two Letters, 22 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society To recommend Mr Barclay to your Civility & friendship would be superfluous because his public & private Character are both known to you & both entitle him to your Notice. I however think it my duty to congratulate you on the late Glorious News & to assure you that I am as always Your dutifull & affectionate...
78To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 10 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Farmers General notwithstanding they had exempted the Cloths employed in the Cloathing from the Duties of Consumtion, have now demanded of me the payment of the whole Duties, which if paid will amount I suppose to 30 or 40,000. In the first Place these Duties are not due because the Goods have been exported; it is only the Form of the Business that can...
79To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 29 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I beg leave to introduce to your Notice Monsieur Nordingh Danish Consul for several Ports in France, residing at st Quentin, & partner in the House of Brisac Paulet & Nordingh. He has a great desire to pay his Respects to you in his Passage through Paris, and being a Gentleman for whom I have a high Esteem I take the Liberty of presenting him to you and...
80To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 10 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library This will be presented to you by Mr Foster March Penny the son of one of my Friends in Boston. His Fathers Estate lies in the Island of Jamaica and He desires me to send this young Gentleman to London whence he is to embark for that Island. I take the Liberty of reccommending Mr Penny to your friendly notice while in Paris, and I request you to assist...
81To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 13 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library The Bearer of this Mr Wanton Casey is the son of Mr Silas Casey of Rhode Island, he came hither about 2 Years ago warmly recommended to me by Aunt Mecom & has been ever since in my Counting House. I beg leave to introduce him to you as a very worthy Young man & request you will honour him with your Notice & Civility. I am as ever most dutifully &...
82To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 1 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I hope you will not think me troublesome by requesting you to forward the Inclosed to Mr de Fleury with a short Letter informing him who I am and your Opinion of my Capacity & Probity.— I have the maintenance of my Family to think off and I wish by my own Labours to rise in the World. It is not therefore extraordinary that I should seize every Occasion...
83To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 17 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I inclose you a Proposition which appears to me more advantageous than any thing that has yet been done in that Way. If you choose to engage for the supply of Arms I trust you will give me the Order; if the Goverment is to supply us, as I am sure they cannot have a better Offer, I doubt not they will give me the Commission if you will give in the...
84To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 4 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Pennsylvania Library The Brig Sally Capn. Worth arrived Yesterday from Rhodisland to my address and brings the inclosed Letters for Your Excy. which I take the earliest oppertunity of forwarding. She brings advise that the French Ship Segitaire with 10 Transports had arrived with troops who join’d the Count of Rochambeau’s Army— & no other Newse of consequence. I am ever...
85Jonathan Williams, Jr., to William Temple Franklin, 24 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I send you inclosed a Specimen of an Improvement I have made in copying. When you write for more english Papers pray order an equal quantity for me. I forgot to pay for my hat when I came away, please to pay the Man when he calls. I also forgot to give you Mr Austins Draft for what he owed the Doctor, please to tell me how much it is & send me down Austins...
86To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 21 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I have not written to you since my Arrival because I had nothing to communicate worth troubling you with a Letter.— As a great number of our unhappy Countrymen are in the English Prisons without any prospect of an Exchange for want of Prisoners to give in return, it is proposed by the american Houses in France to build & arm a stout Privateer of 28 Guns...
87To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 18 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: E. Marie Lorimer (Philadelphia, 1957) It is found absolutely necessary for Mrs Williams to take a Journey & reside some time in a high Country in order to reestablish her Health. In consequence of this and in order to produce to you all my Accounts & Vouchers I have determined to go to Passy, first leaving Mrs Williams at St Germain, she...
88To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 15 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Yale University Library A mon retour de L’Orient j’ai trouve une Notte de votre part, (sans datte) que me demande des Renseignements a sujet de la Pacotile que notre Ami feu Monsr. Dubourg avait confié a mon Frere—. En reponse a cette Demande J’ai l’honneur de vous remettre les Copies de 3 Lettres que J’ai ecrit—Scavoir A Monsr. Breton le 4 Août 1779 A Monsr. Dubourg le 10. 7bre. 1779 A...
89To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 2 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I informed you in my last that the Marquis de la Fayette would sail the next day, accordingly on thursday the 29 of March I saw her & the Alliance under Sail and the Wind has since continued exceeding fair, so that I imagine they are now 150 Leagues of. I have the pleasure to assure you that the great ship sails remarkably well & I realy believe the...
90To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 28 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I arrived here last Evening & agreeable to my Expectation found every thing that I had to do relative to the Marquis de la Fayette very well executed by my Clerk & the ship in the Stream all ready for Sea, as she has been some Days. I have no Instructions relative to the final Departure of this ship & I should suppose your Dispatches necessary, it is for...