1William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 5 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the honor to inform You that the Count D’Estaing arrived here with the Fleet under his Command the Beginning of last Month. Admiral Byron, with 14 Ships of the Line, had been cruizing off Boston Harbor, watching the Motions of the French Fleet; but, the Day previous to its Departure, a violent Storm arose, which cast the Somerset ashore on Cape Cod,...
2William Bingham to the Commissioners, 16 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
It is a long time Since I have had the honor of receiving any of your Commands, and am the more surprized at it, as a Packet Boat has arrived with Dispatches for the General, informing him of a Treaty of Alliance and Commerce being concluded on betwixt the Court of Versailles and the United states of America. Should this Treaty cause any material Change in the political or commercial System of...
3To John Adams from William Bingham, 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Committee who were appointed to carry into Effect, the Views of the Legislature, relative to their appropriation of $5000, for the purchase of Books suitable for the executive and legislative departments of the Government, wish to avail themselves of your Superior Judgment, and enlightened Experience in making the proper Selection—& for this purpose, I have the Honor of addressing you. The...
4William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 29 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS and AL : American Philosophical Society <St. Pierre, Martinique, May 29, 1778: I have written Congress for permission to draw on you; if I do not hear I shall have to draw for 100,000 livres to honor my commitments. Congress owes me much more, but if I receive payment in goods I shall be hard put to it to dispose of them; the likelihood of war has virtually stopped trade here. I must...
5William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 28 November 1777[–4 December 1777] (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society I have herewith the honor to convey to you Copy of my last Respects. You have doubtless heard of the glorious Success of the Army under General Gates, upon which I sincerely congratulate you and all the Friends of America. Betwixt the Date of the Gazettes which I had the honor to enclose you, and the 15 October, there were four Engagements, by the last...
6Extract of a Letter from William Bingham, 15 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
Officers of the first Distinction have embarked at Havre De Grace for America, and a large supply of Field Pieces, military stores &c were sent by the Same Vessells. I have seen a confidential Letter, wrote by a Gentleman at Paris to a Person of Distinction here, wherein he mentions, that there is the greatest Appearance of a Treaty, being concluded betwixt France and America, by which our...
7William Bingham to the Commissioners, 29 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have done myself the Honor of writing Several Letters to Congress upon the Subject of Remittances, for Debts I have contracted in this place on public Account; in Some of which I requested Liberty to draw upon you Gentlemen for the Amount, as being the most Sure and eligible Plan of procuring Payment. I have not as yet received any Answers to my Letters, but expect them with great...
8William Bingham to John Adams, 19 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received your Favor of the 10th Ins t Mr Jay has recovered his Health in a great Measure by his Excursion to Bath, & has returned to Paris— I have not as yet heard of his Arrival there— We have recently received but little political News from America— The refractory States seem more favorably inclined towards the Appropreation of such Funds as Congress required for doing Justice to the...
9William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 5 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Not being favor’d with any of your Dispatches since the Arrival of Doctr. Franklin (except a few Lines under Date of the 7 June) I have become very apprehensive of the Fate of the many Letters that I have from Time to Time done myself the honor of writing, and which have generally been addressed under Cover to Messrs. Delaps at Bordeaux. Your not...
10William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 16 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <St. Pierre, Martinique, June 16, 1778: The General has been informed of the Franco-American treaty of alliance and commerce. If it changes the political or commercial system or relations with foreign powers, or binds the contracting parties to act in concert, I should know its terms so that in my small way I can co-operate as the American agent in the West...