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...
3From John Jay to William Carmichael, 14 August 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have this moment rec d . a Letter from His Ex y . the Count de Montmorin, in w h . he mentions your having communicated to him my Letter to you of the Ult., and also favors me with his Sentiments on the Subject of it. As that Letter was written by me in a public Capacity, to you in a public Capacity, and on public Business, I endulged the Expectation of rec g an Answer to it from You. When...
4To John Jay from William Carmichael, 23 August 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have the honor to inform your Exc y . that I was presented yesterday to the King and this day to the Prince and Princess of the Asturias as Chargé’ d’affaires of the United States of America— I have every reason to be satisfied with my reception as also with the Conduct of his Exc y the C te de F. Blanca on this occasion If your Exc y . hath rec d . any recent instructions from Congress...
5To 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...
6From 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,...
7To 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...
8To 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...
9To 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...
10William Carmichael to the American Commissioners, 21 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library I have this day renderd an account to Mr. Deane of the Sums disbursd by me on the Public service; I would have given it in sooner, but that I wishd and hopd to have had it in my power to have reimbursd the Whole. I render it to Mr. Deane because the money was cheifly expended under his orders and directions. I offer to become accountable to the Honorable the...
11To 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...
12From 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...
13To 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...
14To 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...
15To 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...
16William Carmichael to the American Commissioners, 30 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library I arrivd at this place last night in forty four hours from Paris. The Vessels which it was intended I should stop saild eight days ago, and it is most probable that the court knew of that circumstance because it is confidently asserted a french Frigate convoyd them as far as Ushant. Mr. Williams immediately took the proper steps to profit by your advices had...
17To John Adams from William Carmichael, 26 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I did myself the honor of writing to you last Post in answer to yours of the 8th of April, at that time I had suspicions that a Sir John Dalrymple who has now been here near three weeks, was imployed by G. Britain to sound the Disposition of this Court and in the mean time to work under Ground for the interests of his own Country. I have been hitherto able to trace most of his motions, which...
18To 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...
19From John Jay to William Carmichael, 16–17 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
On coming to this Place last M ^ my Arrival here I unexpectedly ^ found that M rs . Jay had been and still was very much indisposed. The Col. had written for me, but neither his Letter, nor mine from Aranjues to M rs . Jay, had ever come to Hand. She is now ^ somewhat ^ better tho far from well, having more Spirits than Strength, and rather an Exemption from Constant pain, than Health. In this...
20From 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...
21To 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...
22To John Jay from William Carmichael, 1 December 1781 (Jay Papers)
Immediately on the receipt of your Excellencys last note I dispatched my Servt to the Chevalier de Bourgoyng requesting him to send me a copy of the Gazette containing the Capitulation of L d . Cornwallis. I have this moment his answer in which he informs me, that the only copy the Embassador reserved yesterday, was sent last night to the Consul at Cadiz— I am exceedingly sorry that any...
23To 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...
24To 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...
25To 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...
26From 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...
27To 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...
28To John Adams from William Carmichael, 22 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
I received a few days ago the Letter which you did me the honor to write me the 18 th Ult o. by Mr Barry— It will be a pleasure for me to show my respect for your Excellencys recommendation, by rendering every personal civility & service to that Gentleman, which the nature of my situation in this Country will permit— When the Ct. de Rechteren—Minister from Holland at this Court left Spain, I...
29From John Jay to William Carmichael, 29 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
Perhaps an opp y may offer of send g you this before you leave aranjues. I wish it may. I assure you it was far from my Intention to give you Pain or Uneasiness by my Letter of the 27 Inst. It w d have given me less Trouble and more pleasure to have talked the Matter over with you after your Return, but a Letter was necessary to suspend the Conference w h . I understood was to have been held...
30To 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...
31To 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...
32To 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...
33To 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...
34To 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...
35To John Jay from William Carmichael, 15 February 1780 (Jay Papers)
I arrived in this city late in the Evening of the 11 th after a tedious and Disagreable Journey. We had heavy rains for more than two thirds of the time, which render’d the roads so very bad that neither persuasion, threats or money could induce our Muleteers to proceed faster. My own State of health and the situation in which I left Cadiz would have prevented me from quitting the company [ of...
36To John Jay from William Carmichael, 25 May 1780 (Jay Papers)
I did myself the honor of writing to you the 18 th and 23 d . instant inclosing in my first letter one from the C t de Florida Blanca and also a summary of news from America which the French Ambassador received via Cadiz; In the last I gave you an acc t of the sailing of the Ferrol Squadron, and of Fleet under Monsr Ternay having doubled Cape Finister, with news of the departure of an...
37To 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...
38To 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...
Notes on a Conference between his Excellency the Count de Florida Blanca and M r . Jay in the Office of the former at Aranjues 2 d . June 1780. Reduced to writing immediately after the Conference ended by M r . Carmichael who was present at it. In consequence of a Card received by M r . Jay yesterday from his Excellency the Count de Florida Blanca, appointing him a Meeting at nine this...
40From 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...
41William Carmichael to the American Commissioners, 31 June [30? 1 July?] 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society Gustavus Conyngham, when last heard from, had been in prison with his crew in Dunkirk. On June 2 Deane asked Gérard that they be released and permitted to return to America, and on the 12th they were at large and working on their new ship, the cutter Revenge . On the 30th Carmichael arrived, as he says here, with instructions; they were ostensibly from the...
42To John Jay from William Carmichael, 26 February 1780 (Jay Papers)
I wait[ed] on his excellency the Conde de Florida Blanca yesterday agreable to the appointm t . of which I had the honor to give you notice the 18 th instant. he in a very polite and gracious manner told me that your letter
43To John Jay from William Carmichael, 18–19 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
Near 12 this night St Jean brought me your favors of the 16 th and 17 th with their inclosures. As it was too late to carry your letter to the C t . de Florida Blanca, I defer doing it until tomorrow morning. The Letters you sent me were from M r Lecouteux at Cadiz containing others for M r . Harrison & two newspapers, the latter ^ of ^ which I now send you, Two letters ^ also ^ from London,...
44To 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...
45To John Jay from William Carmichael, 8 June 1782 (Jay Papers)
On the 28 th Ult o . I did myself the honor of addressing Y r . Ex y at Bourdeaux under cover to M r Delap. On the 5 th Ins t . I left Aranjues in a poor State of health, having been attacked by my usual disorder the Bile, from which I still suffer greatly. The Court was already preparing to quit the Sitio before I left it & the French Embassador had returned to Madrid. On these Occasions you...
46From 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...
47From John Jay to William Carmichael, 27 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
It is with great Reluctance that I can ^ ever ^ prevail upon myself to tell you that what ^ any thing ^ you do is not right ^ in my Opinion im ^ proper, and especially when my tell g
48To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 20 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I begin this as I have done several of my former Letters with Advising your Excy that I have drawn on You a bill in favor of Messrs. Estevan Drouilhet & Co. for 2400 Livres Tournois at 90 days after Date, this Sum being the ballance of the Quarters Salary for which you permitted me to draw— The Cte. de Montmorin informs me that the King has been pleased to...
49To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 15 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the pleasure of receiving your obliging favor of the 24th Ulto. a few days ago— I am happy that the Persons whom I took the Liberty of Introducing to your Notice, have not been thought unworthy of it. Mr Giusti in a Letter from Paris to me, expressed himself in terms of great sensibility for the pleasure I had procured him by my Introduction of him at...
50From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 17 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Your favour of the 22 past came duly to Hand. Sir J.D. has been here some time, but I hear nothing of his political Operations. The Learned talk of the Discovery he has made in the Escurial Library, of 40 Epistles of Brutus, a missing Part of Tacitus and a Piece of Seneca, that have never yet been printed which excite much Curiosity. He has not been with me and I am...