31From James Madison to Benjamin Franklin, 20 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose herewith a letter from Mr. Limozin of Havre de Grace. The external address to me, was made on a supposition of my being an attending member of Congress; and as I find from a note within the letter, in order to make me acquainted with the circumstances which were to be laid before Congress. With the highest respect and esteem I have the honor to be Sir, Your most...
32To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Canier, 9 December 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Major Canier (of Dublin) presents his Respects to his Excellency B: Franklin; he is just arrived from Dublin and is bearer of a Letter from Sir Edwd Newinham to his Excellency; he requests to know on what Day and at what hour he can have the honor of Delivering the Letter to his Excellency.— Notation: Canier Dec. 9. 1784. Nov. 6, above.
33From Benjamin Franklin to Montgolfier, 11 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace Mr. Franklin remercie monsieur de Montgolfier de son attention et se rendra a l’heure prescripte pour voir l’experience a laquelle il veut bien l’inviter. See the preceding document.
34To Benjamin Franklin from Luigi Pio, 12 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. de Pio a l’honneur de presenter ses hommages à Monsieur Franklin, et de lui envoyer le IV. volume de l’Ouvrage de Mr. filangieri de Naples avec sa lettre aussi. Filangieri’s letter is above, Oct. 27.
35To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Webb, 18 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I received the Favour of your Letter of 22d. past last Saturday Afternoon only. By some Accident the superiour pleasure I had on Its arrival was defer’d so much longer than your Goodness intended It should. I am indeed more obliged to you than I can express. The material Services It renders Me are exceedingly enchanced by your ingenious & generous Condition. It suits...
36To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Lucet, 30 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress Lucet Sre. des commandements de Mgr. Le Pce. de Soubise a L’honneur d’assurer Monsieur Francklin de ses devoirs, et de luy envoier un Paquet Pour luy qui est Venu Sous l’envelope du Prince, et qu’il a Prefferé d’envoier a Passy a la demeure connüe de Monsieur Francklin, qu’a L’hôtel de M. Le Rai de Chaumont qu’il ne connait Pas. The secretary of the royal hunting...
37To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 21 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I will not affront your grandson by supposing that I can inform you of any thing passing here at this moment more perfectly & fully than he himself can explain it to you. The same thing has been true during his whole stay here. I may say indeed of himself, what he will not be forward to tell you; that he has been relished & respected here; and has always...
38From George Washington to Benjamin Franklin, 1 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
Major Jackson has just informed me of his intention to embark next Week for Europe—Tho’ he has already had the honor to be introduced to you I could not let him depart without expressing my esteem for his character and my wish that he may experience any civilities it may be in your power to shew him. With the most respectful attachment I have the honor to be Yr Excellys Most Obt & Most Hble...
39To Benjamin Franklin from Cadet de Vaux, 14 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Ce 14 Janvier 1784 Mr Cadet De Vaux a l’honneur de presenter son respect à Monsieur Frankelin, et il le previent que la farine de Maïs est actuellement a Paris; il se propose sous le bon plaisir de Monsieur Frankelin de lui faire parvenir cette Farine a Passy par la voiture de l’homme qui apporte les eaux. Notation: Cadet de vaux 14 Janvr. 1784.
40To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 11 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Dr. Franklin requests Mr. Jefferson to do what he thinks is proper on the subject of the Letter inclosed, and afterwards to make answer to the writer. RC ( DLC ); in William Temple Franklin’s hand. Enclosure not identified.
41From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Franklin, 28 January 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson’s compliments to Doctr. Franklin and sends him some newspapers received from America, which when he shall have perused he will beg the favor of him to send to Mr. Adams. RC ( PPAP ); addressed: “A Monsr. Monsr. Franklin Ministre plenip. des etats unis d’Amerique à Passy.” Not recorded in SJL . The papers sent have not been identified.
42To Benjamin Franklin from Geneviève-Elisabeth Belamy Le Veillard, 22 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Me. Le Veillard souhaite le bonjour a monsieur franklin et le prie de venir ce soir prendre le Thé avéc elle. In her husband’s hand.
43From George Washington to Benjamin Franklin, 1 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
Mr Platt who will have the honor of presenting you this letter, & his Lady are going to England, & probably to France: Should the latter happen, I would beg leave to recommend them to your kind notice & civilities, as respectable citizens of this place. I am, &ca DLC : Papers of George Washington.
44From George Washington to Benjamin Franklin, 9 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
Doct: Witherspoon I believe is known to you, consequently it is unnecessary for me to inform you that he is among the most respectable Citizens we have in the United States. Business carries him to Gt Britain, & business or inclination may possibly lead him to France—in which case I persuade myself he will partake of those Civilities and attentions, which you bestow so liberally upon every...
45From Benjamin Franklin to Hall & Sellers, 13 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer M. Prosper Mouret is recommended to me by Persons of Consideration here as a good Workman in the Printing Business and of honest Character. He goes to America with Views of living there by his Profession. If you can conveniently give him Employment in your Printing House, or put him in a way to obtain it in some other, you will...
46To Benjamin Franklin from Graf von Schönfeld, 13 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Le Baron de Schönfeld a l’honneur d’assurer de ses hommages Monsieur Franklin et de Le prier de vouloir bien faire passer par son Paquet à Philadelphie, la lettre ci jointe pour le Sr. Thieriot. Il Le prie d’agréer ses excuses et ses remercimens. The Saxon minister, who roughly a month earlier had sent BF an undated invitation to dinner on Thursday, Sept. 18...
47To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Jefferson, 28 January 1785 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Jefferson’s compliments to Doctr. Franklin & sends him some newspapers received from America, which when he shall have perused he will beg the favor of him to send to mr. Adams. Addressed: A Monsr. / Monsr. Franklin / Ministre plenip. / des etats unis d’Amerique / á Passy
48To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee Perkins, 17 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I had the honor to deliver the paper upon the Influenza together with a letter (copies of both which are herewith inclosed) to a friend* in London, near a Year since, to be transmitted to your Excellency, which I afterwards was given to understand were delivered to——Barclay Esqr., who was so obliging as to undertake to be the bearer of to Your...
49To Benjamin Franklin from Bariatinskii, 9 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Le Prince Bariatinskoy a l’honneur de remercier Monsieur franklein de la communication, qu’il a bien voulû Lui faire du Traite de Paix. Notation: Bariatinskoy 9. 7bre 1783— The next day, Bariatinskii sent Empress Catherine II two gifts from BF : a Libertas Americana medal with its explanation ( XXXIX , 549–55) and a copy of Constitutions des treize Etats-Unis...
50From Benjamin Franklin to Sir Edward Newenham, 2 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 226–7. I have just received your very kind letter of the 16th past. I rejoice sincerely to hear of your safe return to your own country, family and friends, and of the success of your election. It is a pleasing reflection arising from the contemplation of...
51To Benjamin Franklin from William Temple Franklin, 19 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been long, very long, without receiving a Letter from you—or hearing of you:—but I suppose you & my other Correspondents, have not wrote in expectation of soon seeing me. This will be my last from this Country.— We set out on Monday or Tuesday. I could have departed a few days earlier, but Mrs. H. requested I would delay it that she might be able to...
52From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 10 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society I have received a Letter from a very respectable Person in America, containing the following Words, Viz “It is confidently reported, propagated, and believed by some among us, that the Court of France was at bottom against our obtaining the Fishery and Territory in that great Extent in which both are secured to us by the Treaty; that our Minister at that...
53To Benjamin Franklin from Uriah Forrest, 10 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The enclosed came to my hands this day and as it appears to have met with rough treatment on it’s Passage I have done myself the Honor to put it under Cover. Shou’d there be any thing at this place which your Excellency can Charge me with that will be usefull to yourself or Our Country It will afford me real pleasure Being with all possible Respect Yr....
54To Benjamin Franklin from Michel-Augustin Thouret, [c. 17 July 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Permettez que jaye L’honneur de vous adresser un exemplaire de mes recherches Sur Le magnètisme animal. Je desire que vous Le receviez comme une foible marque du respect et de la profonde Venération avec Lesquels je Suis, Monsieur et trés illustre confrere, Votre trés humble et trés obéissant Serviteur Though Thouret is here writing as the author of a work...
55To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 15 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief Je continue d’adresser à V.E. [Votre Excellence] la Lre. cijointe pour le Congrè’s, vous priant, M, après l’avoir lue de vouloir bien la fermer & lui donner cours par premier Navire qui fera voile pour le Continent. J’ai tiré le 5 de ce mois sur V.E. le semestre de mon salaire échu le 30 Juin prochain, savoir come à l’ordinaire £2700 tournois à une usance à...
56To Benjamin Franklin from Félix Nogaret, [after 6 December 1783] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Comme nous Sommes privés du plaisir de vous voir, je vous Suppose un mal, peutetre apocryphé, Mais qui vous va bien dans la circonstance où vous vous derobés aux acclamations de tout Paris. The day BF informed Vergennes that he was not well enough to continue his regular visits to Versailles; his letter is immediately above. The following poem is a variant...
57To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 7 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library A few days ago your Friend Mr. Alexander forwarded to me from Virginia your favor of the 2d: November accompanied with a packet for Dr. Cooper of Boston, which I shall forward to him by some private hand, to save expence of postage; having already found that expence from Virginia pretty heavy, for not withstanding your name was on the packet, as a frank, the post...
58John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 11 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
Last night I received your obliging Favour of the fifth of this Month. Your Excellencys Sentiment, “that the Foundation of Credit abroad must be laid at Home” is perfectly just, and accords with the General Sentiment of the Money Lenders, Undertakers and Brokers in this Country, whose Universal Cry is “We Should choose to see Some certain Method agreed on and established, for the Payment of...
59To Benjamin Franklin from George Washington: Résumé, 9 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress ⟨Philadelphia, December 9, 1783: Dr. Witherspoon, whom you know, is going to Great Britain on business and may possibly travel to France. I recommend him to your civility and attention.⟩ In the hand of GW ’s clerk Tobias Lear. There is no evidence that Witherspoon ever delivered the letter (now missing). John Witherspoon, president of the College of New Jersey, had...
60From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 9 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: National Archives I received a few Days since a Letter from Annapolis dated June 5th. in your handwriting, but not signed, acquainting the Commissioners with the Causes of Delay in sending the Ratification of the Definitive Treaty. The Term was expired before that Letter came to hand, but I hope no Difficulty will arise from a Failure in a Point not essential, and which was...