211To Benjamin Franklin from the Baron d’Ogny, 25 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Vous aurés vu, Monsieur, par la remise qui vous a déja été faite de plusieurs lettres venant de Newyorck a votre destination que le Gouvernement S’est occupé des Moyens d’établir une Correspondance fixe et réglée entre les treize Etats unis et la France par la voye des Paquebots qu’il a établis à Lorient partant une fois par Mois de ce port pour Newyorck et...
212To Benjamin Franklin from the Comtesse de Beauharnais, 20 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Permettéz, Monsieur, que je vous envoie ce memoire en faveur d’un infortuné digne a tous egards de votre compassion? Vous y verrés qu’une chute qu’il a faite l’hiver dernier le met hors detat de continuér ses travaux; votre coeur genereux et sensible qui previent les besoins des malheureux qui les devine meme me repond que celui cy vous interessera, oui...
213To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, [19 October 1783?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society J’ai lhonneur de vous souhaiter le bon Jour mon Illustre Docteur et de vous demander votre Ultimatum et celui de Monsieur votre petit-Fils au sujet de Lexperience de M De Montgolfier. Le tems ne s’annonce pas d’une manière trop favorable mais comme Le Brouillard tombe il pourra faire beau vers les midy. Si Monsieur votre petit fils vous mene il faudra partir...
214From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, 1 March 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson’s compliments to Mr. Adams and Doctr. Franklin and sends them his notes on the treaty with Prussia. He prays Mr. Adams, when he shall have perused them to send them to Dr. Franklin and proposes to meet them on the subject at Passy on Thursday at 12. o’clock. He sends the Prussian propositions, Mr. Adams’s and Dr. Franklin’s notes, and the former project and observations which...
215To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 23 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg leave to congratulate you on the return of peace, and the conspicuous part You had in bringing it about: especially as the terms of it are So advantageous to the united States. Though the late contending powers appear disposed to peace, we greatly wish the confirmation of it by the completion of the definitive treaty: wch. notwithstanding reports,...
216To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 15 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Inclosed Your Excellency will find a Letter from a Canadian who Requests I would Recommend Him to You— While I was with Congress, I wrote a public Letter Stating the Case of the Citizens of that province who Had Assisted us and were not paid— I Hope a Committee was Appointed to Consider the Affair— So far as Respects Mr. Calvet, I need not See the Lady, But...
217From Benjamin Franklin to Anisson fils, 10 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Bibliothèque nationale I send you enclos’d the Characters you desire to see, cast in the new manner lately invented in England. They are first cast separately, and after being compos’d into Words or Parts of Words, those are united by a second Casting of additional Metal. This Operation doubles the Price of the Fount. I have directed my Grandson who is now in London, to visit the...
218From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 31 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I write this Line by the English Packet, just to inform you that Col. Harmar arriv’d here last Monday Evening with the Ratification, &c. and that Mr Jay & myself, (Messrs Adams & Laurens being absent) have written to Mr Hartley at London, that we are ready to exchange with him. I have not heard that the Delay is likely to occasion any Difficulty. I had before...
219From Benjamin Franklin to Frecon, 3 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Wyndham Robertson Library, Hollins University, Virginia; AL (draft): Library of Congress The following is the best Answer I can give to your Letter of the 29th. past. I am, Sir, your humble Servant. The real Money us’d in the United States is French, Spanish, Portuguese and English Coins, Gold & Silver. The most common is Spanish mill’d Dollars, worth 5 Livres 5 Sols tournois. The nominal...
220John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 2 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I duely received the Letter, you did me the Honour to write me, on the Subject of a Treaty with Prussia and have communicated it to the Baron de Thuelemeier. The King agrees to take the Treaty with Sweeden for a Model and if your Excellencies have any Alterations to propose I should be obliged to you for the Communication of them. The Baron waits the further Instructions of the King, before he...
221Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 15 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
M r Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to M r Adams, and enclosos a Paper left with him by the Secretary of the Portuguese Ambassador last Night, being an Extract of a Letter from the First Minister of that Court. No Notice is taken in it of the preceding Plan of a Treaty, and M r. F. mentions for Consideration, whether it would not be right to send a Copy of the new Plan immediately...
222To Benjamin Franklin from Matthew Ridley, 1 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society Mr Ridley fait à Monsr. Franklin Ses très humbles remerciements de l’envoy des 29. Vol. qui completent les 39. de L’encyclopedie dont le porteur lui comptera la valeur en 228 l.t. 12.— Au cas que Monsieur Franklin ait été muni du titre de la Souscription il obligera Mr. Ridley de vouloir bien le lui faire remettre à loccasion. This letter, in French,...
223To Benjamin Franklin from Rodolphe-Ferdinand Grand, [29 November 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Dans Lincertitude Si Monsieur Franklin a Connoissance d’un arrest du Conseil concernant La Caisse dEscompte Mr Grand a Lhonneur de lui en Envoyer un Exemplaire, Il y verra que les anciens actionaires ont le droit de participer pour ¼ dans les nouvelles actions & que par Consequent Monsieur franklin ayant 40 actions anciennes peut en demander 10 nouvelles...
224To Benjamin Franklin from John and Sarah Jay, 3 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. & Mrs. Jay request the honor of Dr. Franklin’s Company at Dinner at 3 o’Clock on Saturday the 7th. Inst.— Addressed: His Excellency Dr. Franklin / Passy— In the hand of Sarah Jay. The only year during the Jays’ stay in France that Feb. 7 fell on a Saturday. John Jay had only just returned from England; he rejoined his family at the end of January: Jay...
225To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquess of Lansdowne, 11 [December] 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I am sorry that your Grandson did not stay long enough for me to shew him all the civility I wish’d in consequence of your recommendation. If he should ever find it desireable to settle in this Country, I shall be glad to do him any service, which lyes in my power. I am oblig’d to you for your account of Mr. Mesmer— We have many such Gentry, but unhappily we have no...
226To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Chapel, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, 7 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Je me propose d’aller Incessemment a Londres pour L’avantage de mon commerce en Batistes, J’ose encore reclamer les bontés de Votre Excellence Sous L’appui de la Lettre que J’eus l’honneur de lui Remettre de la part de Monsieur le Marechal de Castries, pour la Supplier de Vouloir Bien m’en donner une de Recommandation pour Son excellence Monsieur Le Ministre...
227To Benjamin Franklin from Sir Edward Newenham, 14 December 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society There dwells an uneasiness in mine & Lady Newenham’s mind, which you ( only ) can relieve—we wish for a letter in answer to our many troublesome Epistles—but I most Earnestly request, that in answer to this, you or your amiable Grandson will acquaint us of Your Excellencys health—perhaps the Post office Villains may have Kept back our Letters— If they are...
228To Benjamin Franklin from Jérôme-Joseph Geoffroy de Limon, 6 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society M. de Limon a l’honneur de faire mille complimens a Monsieur le Docteur franklin et de lui envoyer un boete et un paquet qu’il a trouvé pour lui dans une caisse qu’il vient de recevoir de M. B. Vaughan. Si M de Limon ne partoit pas demain matin pour aller passer huit jours a la campagne il auroit eu l’honneur d’aller lui porter lui-même ces effets et de...
229From Benjamin Franklin to Mercy-Argenteau, 25 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
L : Haus-, Hof- und Staatsarchiv, Austria M. Franklin a reçu les deux Lettres à l’adresse de Mrs. Le Baron de Beelen et le professeur Marter que Monsieur l’Ambassadeur de l’Empereur lui a fait l’honneur de lui adresser pour faire passer en Amerique. C’est un vrai plaisir pour Mr. Franklin de trouver l’occasion de faire quelque chose qui puisse être agréable à Monsieur l’Ambassadeur et il aura...
230To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Chase, 19 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society On Fryday last I had the Honour to receive your letter of the 6th. Inst., for which be pleased to accept my thanks. The temporary loss of the Papers gives Me no other Concern, that what arises from the Remembrance that your Illness was the Cause of the Accident. I am glad to hear of your Recovery, & sincerely wish You may never again be afflicted with the...
231From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 8 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS and transcript: Library of Congress; copy: William L. Clements Library I received your favour of the 24th past, and rejoice that you have a reasonable Prospect of the Recovery of your dear Sister in time. I join with you most cordially in “Wishes to forward, not only the Continuance of Peace between the two Countries, but the Improvement of Reconciliation”; and I “presume” as...
232To Benjamin Franklin from John Shuttleworth, 24 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Excellency will do me a very essential Service if you will be pleased to inform His Excellency William Paca Esqr. our Governor that when I had the honor of a conversation with you at Plassy in June 1782 relative to my own affairs and those of Mr Harford I told you it was my intention to serve in the army of the united states in the line of my...
233From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 13 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress Mr Livingston having resigned, I am obliged to trouble you with some Notes of Enquiry, and other Papers that have been put into my Hands from time to time. If you can procure any of the Informations desired, you will much oblige me and some of my Friends.— With great Esteem, I am ever, Yours most affectionately Endorsed: Letter from Doct Franklin Sept 13. 1783.— After...
234From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Mercy-Argenteau, 30 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; transcript: National Archives I have the honour to communicate to your Excellency an Extract from the Instructions of Congress to their late Commissioners for treating of Peace, expressing their Desire to cultivate the Friendship of his Imperial Majesty and to enter into a Treaty of Commerce for the mutual Advantage of his...
235From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 18 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I was much obliged by the Readiness with which your Excellency favour’d my Request of a Sauf Conduit for Mr Bondfield, and I beg you to accept my thankful Acknowledgements. Permit me to ask another Favour of the same kind for my Nephew Mr Williams, who I am confident will make Use of it for the Advantage of his Creditors. With great and...
236To Benjamin Franklin from the Chevalier de Laumoy, 13 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Messieurs du Portail Gouvion et moi avons regu dernierement des lettres de Mr. de Marbois Consul Genal. de france à Philadelphie, par lesquelles il nous mande que Mr. Millegan lui a dit vous avoir envoyé les nouveaux certificats des Sommes qui nous Sont dues par le Congrès, et dont l’Interest doit être d’orênavant payé à paris par Mr. Grand.— Oserois-je...
237To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Beyer, 1 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Une indisposition m’ayant empeché de vaquer a mes affaires depuis 8 a 10 jours Je n’ai pas pû m’occuper du portefeuil ni de mon instrument etant obligé de garder la chambre mais jespere que les premiers Jours de la Semaine le tous poura âitre fini j’aurai lhonneur de vous en faire part aussitot que Sa Sera pret. J’ai l’honneur d’etre avec un profond respet...
238From Benjamin Franklin to Crocco, 15 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS : National Archives I have just received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 25th. past. I did indeed receive your former Letter of July, but being totally a Stranger to the mentioned Proceedings of Mr. Montgomery and having no Orders from Congress on the Subject, I knew not how to give you any satisfactory answer, till I should receive farther Information;...
239From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Franklin, 27 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of writing to you on the 5th. of Oct. and since that have received yours of the 1st. of the same month. We were highly pleased here with the health you enjoyed on your voiage, and with the reception you met with at home. This was no more than I expected. Had I had a vote for the Presidentship, however, I doubt whether I should not have witheld it from you that you might have...
240From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, 25 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society Enclosed I send you a Letter and sundry Papers I lately recd from Mr. Eckhardt of Utrecht, a most ingenious Mechanician whom I first knew in London. You will see what he desires, and what Answer I have made him. If you can do him any Service, I need not pray you to do it, because you have a Pleasure in assisting Genius: Show if you please what he says of...