151To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 10 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society I have the Honour to advise your Excellency, that I have this day drawn Bills of Exchange upon you, in Favour of Messrs Fizeau Grand & Co for the amount of Seventy Seven Thousand Crowns of three Livres of which the following is a List 1000 2500 4400 1200 2600 4500 1220 3000 4600 1300 3500 4700 1380 4000 4900 1700 4100
152To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 2 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society Mr Adams having Something of Consequence to communicate to the American Ministers Plenipotentiary, for the Peace, requests the Honour of His Excellency Dr Franklin’s Attendance, with the other Ministers, at Mr Adams’s Lodgings, at Eleven O Clock Tomorrow Morning. The Points to be considered, are 1. Passports to be given to and...
153To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 6 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Mr: Adams’ Compliments wait on Dr: Franklin, in return to his polite Invitation for Sunday the 8th. inst:— Mr: Adams will do himself the honor of waiting on Dr: Franklin. Addressed: Monsieur / Monsr: Franklin. / Passy. Charles Storer, who penned this letter, received a similar invitation from BF . He wrote his own note on June 6 accepting on behalf of himself...
154To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 7 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr Adams presents his Compliments to Dr Franklin and prays him to let his servant take the Trunks left at Passy to Paris. Mr A. will do himself the Honour to pay his Respects to his Excellency, very soon. Addressed: a Monsieur / Monsieur Francklin Ministre / Plenip des Etats unis de lamerique / A Passy JA had been summoned to Paris by Vergennes to discuss...
155From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 1 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
Last night I had the honor of yours of the 23d. and 26th. Ulto. If it should be convenient for Mr. Barclay to come here and take the Care of the Goods, it would be happy for me. I am also very happy to learn from your Excellency, that our Troops are tolerably well cloathed, and will be in a short time completely so. This Information will make me less anxious about a little unavoidable delay,...
156To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 23 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I have the honour of your Letter of the 19th with its Inclosures, and I thank your Excellency for the pains You have taken to communicate the News from America, which I think can scarcely be called bad, tho’ General Green lost the Field. I had before recieved and published in the Amsterdam Gazette the same accounts. The Gazetteers are so earnest after...
157To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 26 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft) and copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have read over all the Papers in the Bundle left with me, numbered to thirty seven. I have also read the three Queries stated to me. These Queries I apprehend can legally be answered only by Congress or a Court Martial: and therefore it would be improper in me to give any answer to them, because the...
158From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 29 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a Copy of the letter of the Comte De Vergennes, to me, of the 21st. of this Month, and a Copy of my Answer to his Excellency of the 22d. This Correspondence is upon a subject, that has lain much out of the way of my particular pursuits, and therefore I may be inaccurate in somethings, but in the principles I am well persuaded I am right. I hope that things are...
159From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 25 January 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 11. with the Copy of that from M. Le Comte de Vergennes of 31. of Decr. I had the Honour to receive by the last post. By, your leaving it to me to judge how far it is proper for me to accept further Draughts on Mr Laurens, with any Expectation of your enabling me to pay them, I am Somewhat embarrassed. If I accept any Bill at all it must be in full Confidence of your paying...
160To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 19 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society Your obliging Letter of the 7th instant I had the honor to recieve on Saturday night by Mr Fox, to whom I shall be happy to shew every Civility in my Power, according to the Recommendations of your Excellency and Mr Franklin. I have recieved a Letter from Captain Jackson and another from my Boy at Bilbao, which...
161To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 28 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I do myself the Honour to introduce to your Excellency Mr William Cheever, a Citizen of Boston who proposes to Spend Sometime in France and will be very much obliged to you for your good Councils. Any Civilities you may shew him, will be so many obligations, conferred on, Sir your most obedient and respectfull humble Servant Notation: John Adams Decr. 28....
162From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 25 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a Copy of a Letter I yesterday recieved from Corunna. I communicate it to your Excellency in Confidence. The Writer is a particular Friend of your’s. He has so good an Heart, and is so amiable a Man, that I would not expose him to the Resentment of any of the Gentlemen, and therefore pray your Excellency to keep his Letter secret. Yet his Opinion deserves some...
163From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 16 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday had the honour of your’s of the seventh. The letter inclosed is a bitter satire on the nation which produced it. Is it possible that Arnold should shew his Face among Men after such a Letter? If it is not a bribe it is robbery committed in the American Service: for it is well known, that Arnold had no such Sum when the War began. He is now employed in stealing Tobacco and Negroes—...
164From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 30 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I was duly honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the eighth of October by Mr. Searle. I thank You, Sir, for inclosing the Resolution of Congress respecting my Salary and Mr. Dana’s. I wish I could see a prospect of relieving You from this Burthen, as well as that of the Bills of Exchange drawn upon Mr. Laurens, but at present there is not a prospect of obtaining a Shilling. What Turn...
165To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 8 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have the Honour to inform your Excellency, that Congress, having judged it proper to appoint me to a new Mission in Europe I embarked on the thirteenth of November, at the Instance of The Chevalier de La Luzerne and Mr. Gerard, on Board the same Frigate that carried me to America. Soon after We got to Sea a...
166To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 7 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society Inclosed are three Bills of Exchange for the Use of S. C. Johonnot, One for twelve Dollars, another for sixty Dollars, and another for one hundred and twenty Dollars, which I must ask the Favour of your Excellency to take the Charge of for the Use of the young Gentleman, and to pay his Expences. I have the Honour to be...
167To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 26 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society I duely received your Excellencys Letter of August 6th, but have been prevented by Sickness and a variety of accidents from answering it Sooner. My Accounts have never been mixed, with Mr Dana’s, any farther than this. Mr Dana was here last December, I believe, and was going to Paris. In order to avoid opening...
168From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 17 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
The Day before Yesterday, were brought to my House, Fifty one Bills of Exchange, amounting to 40958 B.f. all drawn on the 22 June 1781 at Six months Sight, on the Honble. Henry Laurens Esqr. in favour of Mr. John Ross. This is a Phaenomenon which none but you Philosophers can explain, at least I can think of but one Hypothesis, which might account for it. It is, that they had Settled it in...
169To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 27 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society I had last night the honour of your Letter of the 22d and I most heartily congratulate the French Court and Nation, on the Acquisition of a Dauphin. The Ships which the South Carolina, was to have taken under her Convoy, are still here. I am told, that the Ships are the best that are to be had: that they are to...
170To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 24 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the Honour of a Letter from, your Excellency at Nantes, but as I was setting off for this Place could not then acknowledge it. I Staid, no longer at Nantes, than just to look about me, before I determined to see Captain Landais, that I might know, the state and Prospects of his Frigate. As you was so good as to desire Mr schweighauser, to consult with...
171To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 23 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society The two inclosed Accounts have been compared with my List of Acceptations and found right. I am ashamed that they have not been sooner returned: but I have waited for my Clerk who keeps the Account of those Affairs to get well in order to assist me in the business, he having been long confined and disabled with the Fever of this Country, but is now well....
172From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 4 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
Since the 25th of August, when I had the honor to write You, this is the first Time that I have taken a Pen in hand to write to any body having been confined and reduced too low to do any kind of business by a nervous Fever. The new Commission for Peace has been a great Consolation to me, because it removed from the Public all danger of suffering any Inconvenience, at a Time when for many days...
173To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams: Two Letters, 30 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; (II) copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I was duly honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the eighth of October by Mr. Searle. I thank You, Sir, for inclosing the Resolution of Congress respecting my Salary and Mr Dana’s. I wish I could see a prospect of relieving You from this Burthen, as well as that of...
174To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 2 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress; transcripts: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives I am honoured with your Favour of the 20 of April, and Mr Lawrens’s Son proposes to carry the Letter to his father forthwith. The Instructions by the Courier from Versailles came Safe, as all other Dispatches by that Channell, no doubt will do.— The...
175To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 26 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society I presume You have a Copy from Congress of their Instructions to me of the 16th of August: but as it is possible it may be otherwise, I have inclosed one. I have communicated them to the Duke de la Vauguion, who says they are très bien vues, très bien combinées. I shall do nothing in the business, without...
176To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 14 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Day before Yesterday, We arrived here, in two Days from Nantes, all well: There is a Frigate now turning into this Port, which is said to be Le Sensible, & if this is true, I hope, it will not be a long Time before We get to sea. The Chevalier de La Luzerne I hope is sensible of the Value of every Moment in the last half of the Month of May towards a...
177From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 31 March 1779 (Adams Papers)
When I arrived at this place I found nothing done. Mr. Costentin, it is said waited for orders. And the officers of the Port, expected orders. But Since my Arrival, as Mr. Schweighauser wrote to Mr. Costentin to take my Advice, he readily engaged in the Business, and the officers of the Port have afforded Us every facility, consistent with the Kings service. Mr. Costentin and Captain Landais,...
178From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 10 June 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inform you, that I have this day drawn upon you, in favour of Messrs Fizeau Grand & Co for the Amount of Six hundred and twenty five Pounds sterling being for my Salary, for one Quarter of a Year, which you will please to charge to the United states, according to the Resolutions of Congress. I hope I shall not have occasion to draw upon your Excellency for any further Sums...
179To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 10 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society I have the Honour to inform you, that I have this day drawn upon you, in favour of Messrs Fizeau Grand & Co for the Amount of Six hundred and twenty five Pounds sterling being for my Salary, for one Quarter of a Year, which you will please to charge to the United States, according to the Resolutions of Congress. I hope I shall not have occasion to...
180From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 10 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Should the British Forces now in New York and Charlestown evacuate those Places and go to the West India Islands, they might give a good deal of Trouble to the French and Spanish Possessions there. It would cost those Powers many Men and Ships and a great deal of Money and Time perhaps to manage them: whereas a Fleet and a Sum of Money now well directed would infallibly make Prisoners of the...
181To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 27 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have received your Excellencys Letter of the 21. and will Send you the List of the Bills, and of the times of their becoming due according to your desire as soon as I can make it out. I will examine Mr De Neufvilles Bill, and if it is good, accept it. From the time I received from Congress, their orders to borrow Money here, I have constantly, in my...
182From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 8 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
This morning were brought me four Bills of Exchange drawn on Mr. Laurens on the 6th. of July 1780 for 550 Guilders each. I have desired time to write to your Excellency, and obtained it. But as there is a large Number of these Bills not yet arrived, and as they come in sometimes by single Bills, and generally in small Numbers at a time, it will be giving your Excellency much Trouble as well...
183From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 13 June 1782 (Adams Papers)
I had Yesterday, at Amsterdam, the Honour of receiving your Excellencys Letter of June 2. The Discovery that Mr Grenvilles Power, was only to treat with France does not Surprize me, at all. The British Ministry, are too much divided among themselves, and have too formidable an opposition against them, in the King and the old Ministers, and are possessed of too little of the Confidence of the...
184From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 2 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Adams’s respectfull Compliments to Dr. Franklin, informs him that Monsieur the Comte De Vergennes has appointed him next Tuesday to be at Versailles in order to be presented to the King and Royal Family. Mr. Adams will have the Honour to breakfast at Passy with Dr. Franklin, at an hour early enough to go to Versailles, which he supposes will be 8 oClock. RC ( PPAmP : Franklin Papers;)...
185From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 24 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment the Honour of your Letter of the twentyeth of this Month and it is, as cold Water to a thirsty Soul. I have been busily employed in making Enquiries, in forming Acquaintances and in taking Advice. In hopes of Mr. Laurens’s Arrival, and wishing him to judge for himself, I have not decided, upon some Questions that necessarily arise. I am not able to promise any Thing but I am...
186To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 23 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I am desired to inclose, the within Copies, to your Excellency: although I doubt not you have received the original, and although I know not what may be in your Power to do, for the Relief of Messrs Cursen and Governeur. Their pretended Offence is Sending warlike Stores to America, although the London Papers Say, it was corresponding with me. I never...
187To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 6 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I have delivered your Excellency’s Letter to Mr. de Neufville, and have written to him myself, making the proposals contained in your Letter to me. He answers me, that he thinks the proposals reasonable: but insists upon it, that he has not the commanding Interest in the Concern, and that nothing can be done but by the Owners at large, or by Mr. Van Harp as...
188From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 15 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
This Morning, the House of Botereau & Co. of this City, presented to me, Sixty Six Bills of Exchange drawn by Congress on the 26th. day of October last, in favour of Nathaniel Tracy, of Newbury Port, amounting to the Sum of Ten Thousand Pounds sterling, payable at Ninety days Sight. I was obliged to ask the favour of the House, to wait untill I could write to your Excellency, to see if you can...
189From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 27 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Excellencys Letter of the 21. and will Send you the List of the Bills, and of the times of their becoming due according to your desire, as soon as I can make it out. I will examine Mr. De Neufvilles Bill, and if it is good, accept it. From the time I received from Congress, their orders to borrow Money here, I have constantly, in my Letters, requested that no draughts...
190From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 25 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
Last Evening I recieved your Excellency’s Letter of the 16th. of this month, accompanied with a Letter from the President of Congress containing the Commissions You mention. You desire to know what Steps have already been taken in this business. There has been no Step taken by me, in pursuance of my former Commission, until my late Journey to Paris at the Invitation of the Comte de Vergennes,...
191To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 20 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society Yesterday I had the Honour of yours of the 12th. and will take an early oppertunity to send you all the Lights I can obtain, by Inferences from the Numbers of the Bills.— Those already presented I shall accept according to your Advice. Your office is certainly a disagreable one in many respects, and mine grows every day more and more disgusting to...
192From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 27 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
As I am informed that next Wednesday is appointed for the Signature of the definitive Treaties of Peace, I Suppose it will be thought proper to think of Some Conveyance of the Ratification of the Provisional Treaty, and of the Original of our definitive Treaty as Soon as it Shall be Signed To Congress. By what Vessell it will be proper to Send it, deserves to be considered as soon as possible,...
193From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 26 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have read over all the Papers in the Bundle left with me, numbered to thirty seven. I have also read the three Queries stated to me. These Queries I apprehend can legally be answered only by Con gress or a Court Martial; and therefore it would be improper in me to give any answer to them because the Papers will appear before Congress or a Court Martial; who can judge of them better than I....
194To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 15 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society This Morning, the House of Botereau & Co. of this City, presented to me, Sixty Six Bills of Exchange drawn by Congress on the 26th day of October last, in favour of Nathaniel Tracy, of Newbury Port, amounting to the Sum of Ten Thousand Pounds sterling, payable at Ninety days Sight.— I was obliged to ask the favour of the House, to wait untill I...
195From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 13 April 1779 (Adams Papers)
This Morning I had the Honour of yours of the 8th, and thank you for the order inclosed to Captain Landais, and for those you mention to M. Schweighausser. The true Springs of the Discontents on board appear to me to be, the Depreciation of Paper Pay, and the Extraction of the Captain. The Purser, may have increased them a little by too much of the Appearance of being a favourite of the...
196To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 10 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society Your Favour of October 5. is just now brought to me, and I beg your Excellency to accept of my Thanks for your Congratulations on my Recovery, which is however, as yet but imperfect. I am much Surprized to find, So many appearances, which Seem to Shew that certain neutral Powers of whose Sagacity and great Spirit, the World had formed an high...
197To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 1 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society On the 31 Ult, I drew upon your Excellency, in favour of the House of Fizeaux Grand & Co, three setts of Exchange, of two in a sett, for f. 2200 } together f. 7000, 2300 2500 at two Usances, to enable them to discharge the Bills drawn by Congress, on Mr Laurens, accepted by me, and now become payable. I have the Honour to be
198From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 26 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
I presume You have a Copy from Congress of their Instructions to me of the 16th. of August: but as it is possible it may be otherwise, I have inclosed one. I have communicated them to the Duke de la Vauguion, who says they are très bien vues, très bien combinées. I shall do nothing in the business, without communicating it beforehand to him, with the most entire Confidence, and recieving his...
199To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams and Francis Dana, [on or after 11 February 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Adams & Mr. Dana present their most respectful Complaments to his Excellency Dr. Franklin and wou’d acquaint him that as Mr. Adams had invited Company to dine with him on Sunday next, previous to his Excellency’s invitation, to dine with him on that Day, they cannot do themselves the honor of waiting upon him. Addressed: His Excellency Dr: Franklin /...
200To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 13 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society I had Yesterday, at Amsterdam, the Honour of receiving your Excellencys Letter of June 2d. The Discovery that Mr Grenvilles Power, was only to treat with France does not Surprize me, at all. The British Ministry, are too much divided among themselves, and have too formidable an opposition against them, in the King and the old Ministers, and are...