1To Benjamin Franklin from John Ross, [November 1765] (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): American Philosophical Society In the Midst of our Confusions, You will permit me to trouble You with the reading a line from me also, but to give You a Regular Course of Intelligence Concerning our affairs, is What I will not Attempt, as I hate Writing Very much, and leave that to Mr. Hughes our Welsh Squire, who upon Honour has fought the Battle Manfully, and I think there...
2To Benjamin Franklin from John Ross, 7 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Ross Respects wait on his Excelly. the Minister plenipoty of the United American States—and send some American papers received today via Holland, by a Vessel arrived from Philada. Mr: Ross has got several letters from America, but none later then 24 March, and not a single Sylable of News from any of his friends— Ross was apparently more conscientious in...
3To Benjamin Franklin from John Ross: Extract, 24 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from “Memoir of John Ross, Merchant, of Philadelphia,” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography , XXIII (1899), 78. That unless your Excellency affords him speedy relief, agreeable to the express order of that Honble Body (Congress) he must plainly tell your Excellency, that his ruin is immediate and unavoidable, as he has bills running upon him, which he has accepted in...
4To Benjamin Franklin from John Ross, 19 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the honour of your Excellencey’s much Respected favour 15th. Inst:— The disturbance on board the Alliance must be attended with delay’s & difficultys in geting forward the Stores. Therefore, it being evident Your Excellencey’s plan have been deranged by the measure’s of that faction, much to the dishonour & prejudice of the United States & foreseeing...
5To Benjamin Franklin from John Ross, 28 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did myself the honor to address Your Excellencey about two weeks since, without the pleasure of any in return. The Sole intent of this trouble serves merely to give Mr. Jno. B. Paschen of Hamburgh, a Particulare friend to America, the Opportunity of handing this as a pretence and introduction to pay his respects to You at Paris. He is a good kind of Man...
6To Benjamin Franklin from John Ross, 20 December 1764 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Duty as well as Inclination ingage me to write you, tho’ nothing very material occurs worth communicating since your leaving us; as I am certain Numbers of your Friends have given you Intelligence of all the Minutiae passing among us (for indeed there is nothing more.) I venture these few lines only for the pleasure arising, that I may not be accounted...
7To Benjamin Franklin from John Ross, 20 May 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By this time I presume You Can pretty nearly Judge what is to be the issue of our Application to His Majesty for protection, and shou’d more Ingredients be Wanting, We are daily furnished with them, to prove, What is lamentably too true, that we have only the form without the powers of Government. We seem at present to have two kinds of Governments on the...
8To Benjamin Franklin from John Ross, 7 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Altho’ I have not hitherto assumed the liberty of troubleing you in the Epistlary way, I think you may be assured it did not Proceed in the least from a want of that respect due to you from me, in Your Public Character nor Private life. And I hope you will Dear Sir, believe me sincere, (unsuspected of flattery) that I am so perfectly satisfyed of Your...
9John Ross to the American Commissioners, 8 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library; copies: National Archives (two); transcript: National Archives <Nantes, October 8, 1778: I have yours of September 30 indicating that I am to be deprived of the commissioners’ advice beyond that concerning the money extended me. It has been my position all along that I am responsible only to Congress but I fail to see why you have charged me with...
10John Ross to the American Commissioners, 3 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society I had the honour to address you on the 24th Ultimo. Since without the pleasure of any of your favours. The Scarsity of many necessarys in America, and the practibility of adopting plans less inconvenient and expensive to the Country then have been pursued for some time past to the manifest prejudice of the United States in numberless respects, I shoud be...