1From Benjamin Franklin to Lafayette, 22 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress I admire much the Activity of your Genius, and the strong Desire you have of being continually employ’d against our Common Enemy. It is certain that the Coasts of England & Scotland are extreamly open & defenceless. There are also many rich Towns near the Sea, which 4 or 5000 Men, landing unexpectedly, might easily surprize...
2From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Lafayette, 3 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received two Letters you did me the honour of writing to me from Havre but have never Since had any News worth communicating to you.— Here is indeed a little Vessel arriv’d at Brest, which brings me a great many old Letters and newspapers, but no Dispatches of Importance.— I have the Pleasure however of seeing by the address of Congress which I send you inclos’d...
3From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Lafayette, 17 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received duly your much esteemed favours of july 12. and Aug. 3.— You have found out by this time that I am a very bad Correspondent. As I grow old I perceive my aversion to writing increases, and is become almost insurmountable. The Expedition of the Enemy into Virginia has done us some harm, but not considerable, and it has done them no good. They have only more...
4From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Lafayette, 19 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I have just now received your Favour of the 17th. I wrote to you a Day or two ago, and have little to add. You ask my Opinion what Conduct the English will probably hold on this Occasion, & whether they will not rather propose a Negotiation for a Peace: I have but one Rule to go by in devining of those People, which is, that whatever is prudent for...
5From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Lafayette, 24 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copies: National Archives, Library of Congress (three); transcript: National Archives The Congress sensible of your Merit towards the United States, but unable adequately to reward it, determined to present you with a Sword, as a small Mark of their grateful Acknowledgement.— They directed it to be ornamented with suitable Devices. Some of the...
6From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Lafayette, 1 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress It is a long time since I did myself the honour of writing to you: But I have frequently had the Pleasure of hearing of your Welfare. Your kindness to my Grandson in offering to take him under your Wing in the Expedition is exceedingly obliging to me. Had the Expedition gone on it would have been an infinite advantage to him to have been present with you so early in...
7From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Lafayette, 19 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Nothing of the Proposals you mention has been communicated to me, and I therefore question their Existance. But should Such a thing be, there is certainly no one whom I should more wish to see concern’d in the management than the Person you mention, as he is Throughly acquainted with the Subject, and a hearty friend to Those concerned. Accordingly I should immediatly...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Lafayette, 10 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress My Answer to the Questions, contain’d in the Letter You have honour’d me with, must be very short. I can only Say, that I know nothing before [ about ] the Order you mention, and I now know nothing of the Reasons.— I can therefore give no Opinion having no Materials on which to form it. A Vessel from North America arrived at Cadiz reports that Count d’Estaing’s fleet...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Lafayette, 8 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Biblioteka Czartoryskich, Cracow I am much oblig’d by what you have said at Vs. Enclos’d is the Speech. We just now hear, that a Vessel is arriv’d at Nantes which left Philade. the 26th. Octr.— The Frigate Confederacy sail’d with her, but parted the first Night, M. Gerard was on board the Confederacy, and Mr Jay with his Family appointed for Spain as Minister.— Count D’Estaing was at...
10From Benjamin Franklin to Lafayette, 18 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress Being unavoidably detained from going to Versailles to Day as I intended, I must beg of you when you present those Officers to M. De Vergennes, to say for me what I should have said if I could have been present, that I have been made well acquainted with their great Merit and the high Reputation they have acquired in...