1To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, [before 23 January 1782] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You who know so well the public & private obligations we have to the Marquis de Yranda, would never pardon me, If I should suffer one of his family to pass thro’ Paris, without giving you an opportunity of convincing him of the sense you have of the obliging notice, it has taken of us here—But you would be Still more offended with me, After having been...
2To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, [4 June 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Inclosd is the Substence of Ld. Chathams motion. The court numbers show at once the hopes and intention of the Ministry. I am with much respect Your very humble Servant. Addressed: A Monsr. / Monsieur le Docteur Franklin / à Passy Notation: Carmicael On May 31 the Public Advertiser reported the defeat in the House of Lords the day before, by a vote of...
3To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 25 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress At the Embassadors Table I had the Pleasure of meeting Mr. Senrat the Bearer of this Letter. He hath just returned to Europe after a long Absence from his native Country France, which he quitted with a View of travelling at the kings Expence in Africa & the east Indies & returns loaded with the Spoils of these Countries in the Vegetable & animal World, He expressed a...
4From Benjamin Franklin to [William Carmichael], [2 June 1779] (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete copy: Library of Congress … Copies of the Letters, Votes &c relating to that Amiable and excellent young Man. He was mighty well received, at Court, and has a Regiment given him. Ever Since his arrival he has been industrious in moving or projecting Something or other for the Advantage of America. I am Sorry to hear of Dissensions in Congress, You are now one of that Body, and will,...
5To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 3 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Deane having promissd to explain my ideas of the Situation In which I could ever be inducd to revisit Berlin, and Mr. Lee knowing from me what I expected on that Subject, are the reasons which have prevented a personal explanation with you on my part. I do assure you I feel infinitely more pain in solliciting a mode of serving my country than in...
6To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 30 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress On my return home from Mr. Jay’s, I find that a Courier for France is expected to pass thro’ Madrid this Night, I profit of the Occasion to inform your Excellency that Mr. Jay has this Day drawn a Bill on Mr. Grand in favour of the Marquis D’Yranda for 487,320 livres Tournois to pay the Bills of Congress which will become due the ensuing Month— There is some...
7To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael: Two Letters, 25 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) Copy: Library of Congress The Duke De Crillon, and who hath not heard of the Name of Crillon? does me the honour of accepting of an Introduction to you, which give me an Occasion of boasting of any influence with you to him, and to you of the honor he has done me by his Acquaintance & Friendship here. This Must be Clear to you when I mentione his name, tho’ that to those who know...
8To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 29 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Count De Montmorin is so obliging as to offer me an Occasion of writing to you by a Courier which I am loth to refuse for fear of betraying a Want of Respect to you or give Reason to others to suspect that I have no Share in your Confidence. I have nothing material to communicate unless the uneasiness I feel in being left here ignorant of the Situation of our...
9From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 22 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress I received with great Pleasure yours of the 25. of January, and shall write to you fully by the first good Oportunity. I cannot recollect the Name of the Correspondent you mention but I have ordered a Credit of 24000 Livres Tournois to be lodged in Madrid for M. Jay and you, which I suppose you will divide in Proportion to your Appointments. Inclosed are the...
10To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 23 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Boyetet Consul General for France in this Country has been so obliging as to charge himself with the Works of the Conde de Campomanes & the memorials published by the Society of the Friends of their Country which I have long promised to send you; & which I should have done sooner if an oppertunity had offered— Permit me to Introduce this Gentleman to...
11To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael: Extract, 18 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, The Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D., F.R.S., &c … (2nd ed.; 2 vols., London, 1817), II , 461. I thought, until the receipt of your letter (of the 17th June) that Mr. Jay had sent you Sir John Dalrymple’s Memorial, and other papers while I was at Aranjuez. He sends them, however, by this courier, and I think you will be amused in...
12To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 6 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I sincerely grieve for the Cause that hath deprived me of the honour of hearing from you lately & I hope that this will find it removed & your Excellency restored to Health & Spirits. Mr. Cabarus charges himself with the Delivery of it. This Gentleman was among the first of my Friends here, & hath been uniformly such to our Country; He enjoys the Confidence of the...
13To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 23 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I seize the Opportunity of a Russian Courier on his return to Petersburg from Lisbon to transmit you the inclosed Letter from M. Vaughan & to thank you for the Pleasure your Introduction afforded me. He is a promising young Man & seems exceedingly desirous to improve himself, Mr. Jay having no Instructions to administer the oath of Allegiance, declined doing it until...
14From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 29 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives Yours of May 14. gave me great Pleasure, as it inform’d me of your safe Arrival and Welfare. And I hope that as soon as you have seen your Friends and settled your Affairs, You will return again to Europe, where your Abilities may be greatly useful to your Country. I continue in the same or rather in a more uncomfortable Situation than that in which you left me. If ever...
15To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 21 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am afraid you will think me a troublesome correspondent, because I have no Opportunities of amusing or of giving information that will be agreable to you.— Our Necessities & difficulties are the themes for my Letters & be assured that it is not less disagreable for me to write on these Subjects than for you to be obliged to read what I write— Premising this you will...
16To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 12 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Since writing a Letter which you will receive by the same Courier which brings this I am informed from good authority that Mr. Cumberland will shortly leave this & take Paris in his way to England— I shall inform you of the time he sets out or any other particular I may hear further with your Notice— He received an express yesterday morning from Lisbon which it seems...
17To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 20 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Charles Traverse having been so obliging as to offer to charge himself with my pacquets for your Excellency, I have seized the opportunity of sending you a Discourse of Mr. Iove Llanos, which I mentioned in a former Letter & the Poem of Mr Ths. Iriarte on Musick. I am on an Intimate Footing with the Authors & If their Works give you any pleasure in the...
18To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 6 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress Altho Mr Jays acquaintance with Mr Gardoqui, who will have the honor to deliver this to your Excy. Might excuse me from taking the present Liberty, yet I cannot refuse this Gentlemans request to be the bearer of a Line from myself to your Excy; His friendly conduct to me intitles him to every mark of Consideration in my power to shew him & I hope to the many proofs of...
19From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 8 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives I received your Favour of the 1st Instant. My Sentiments of Esteem for you have been always uniform, ever since I had the pleasure of knowing you. I never had the least doubt of your Integrity, and Zeal for our Cause, in which I know you have been HIGHLY serviceable. My intrusting the enclos’d important Letter to your Care, is an additional Proof of the Confidence I...
20To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 16 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Jays acquaintance with the Ct. de Rechteren who does me the honor to ask an Introduction to your Excy might preclude the necessity of the present Address, If I had not a strong desire of convincing the Count of my sense of his Civilities and of my connection with you— I might from your Long Silence conclude that he will owe much more to his own merit...
21To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 14 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Some time ago I made you a volontary promise to contribute to your pleasure by introducing to your Acquaintance Mr. Giuste late chargé d’Affairs of Vienna & Tuscany at this Court— He now to the great regret of all his Friends here puts it in my Power to fulfill my Engagements & to add to the Number of these few of the Many who have desired your Acquaintance, that have...
22To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 22 May 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have defered writing to you since my last of the 27th. Ultio. in Hopes of profiting by the Ct. De Montmorin’s Courier, but as it is not certain when one will be dispatched I venture to inform you by the ordinary post that Sir J.D. presented a memorial to the Ct. De FloridaBlanca, containing certain propositions tending to an Accomodation of the present differences...
23To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 22 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received with very great Satisfaction your Letter of the 23d Ulto. I am sorry that you should think it necessary to make any apology for your Silence, for I make this Sacrifice which is not a small one to the Public Service as I have been constrained to make others. I feel all the force of what you say with respect to our pecuniary Situation, but present...
24To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 3 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I seize the opportunity of writing you by a French Courier who is sent with the news of Mr Guichens arrival at Cadix with five sail of the Line 2 frigates and a Cutter the 26th Ulto., & I once more sollicit your friendly attention to our distressed situation here. The Bills for this month become due now every Day & must be refused payment in the End, unless...
25To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 25 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have the Honor of informing you of our arrival at this Place this Day in the frigate l’Aurore from Martinico to which Iland the officers of the Confederacy thought proper to proceed in Consequence of the loss of all our Masts & the Damage our rudder received on the Edge of the Bank of New-foundland. We Left Martinico the 28th. of December & have a most agreable...
26To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 30 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The return of the Marquis de la Fayette gives me an opportunity which I seize with pleasure of renewing my assurances of respect and Gratitude to you. I have thro the course of the Summer taken the liberty of transmitting you such accounts of our internal Situation as might contribute to your information, tho’ by no means to your satisfaction. The Marquis...
27To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 22[–27] April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have at length the pleasure of being relieved from much Anxiety by the Receipit of your Letter of the 31st. of March and 7th. of April. I endeavoured to recollect every Circumstance of my Conduct since I left france, and altho’ I found in this Scrutiny that I had left many things undone which I ought to have done, I brought myself in not guilty biased perhaps by...
28From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 27 January 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress I have before me your Favours of Oct. 25. Nov. 5. & Dec. 21.— I do not know whether the Duke de Crillon whom you recommend, is come to Paris. That Letter came while I was ill, & I have not since heard any thing of him. But I will enquire for him of the Prince, to whom it was not till yesterday that I was able to pay my Respects & to thank the...
29To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 14 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library The return of the Nymph frigate in which Captain Coulter [Courter] came passenger gives me the honor of informing you that the Deane arrivd at Portsmouth the first of May much about which time the Two ships loaded by Mr. Ross on account of Congress got in to this Port. Mr. Simeon Deane landed a fortnight before us so that we were happy to find the whole...
30From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 12 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour by M. Cabarrus, & should have been glad if I could have rendred him any Service here. He appears an amiable Man, and expert in Affairs.— I have also your obliging Letters of the 28th of February and the 12th & 30th of March. I thank you much for your friendly Hints of the Operations of my Enemies, and of the means I might use to...