1From Benjamin Franklin to All Captains and Commanders of Vessels of War, [18 May 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society The Bearer of this, Mr. George F. Norton, a Native of Virginia, and returning thither with his Family, has, during his Residence in England, manifested on all Occasions his Attachment to the Cause of Liberty, and his Compassion towards his Countrymen confin’d in the English Prisons, many of whom he has assisted in their Distresses with a liberal...
2From Benjamin Franklin to All Captains and Commanders of Vessels of War, [11 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I do hereby certify to you that I have long & intimately known the Bearer Richd. Oliver Esq; Member of Parliament & late Alderman of London & have ever found him a sincere & hearty friend to the Cause of Liberty & of America; of which he has given many substantial Proofs on various Occasions. Therefore, if by the Chance of War he should in his Voyage from England to...
3From Benjamin Franklin to All Captains and Commanders of Vessels of War, [11 April 1779] (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress The Religious Society commonly called the Moravian Brethren having established a Mission on the Coast of Labrador, for the Conversion of the Savages there to the Christian Religion, which has already had very good Effects, in turning them from their ancient Practices of surprizing plundering and murdering such White People Americans and Europeans, as for the...
4To Benjamin Franklin from the Massachusetts Board of War, 24 October 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Translation: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères <Boston, October 24, 1777, in French: Your public character and responsibilities justify our opening a correspondence to inform you of events since the happy days of Trenton and Princeton. The British have recently occupied Philadelphia and fought Washington at Germantown; our privateers are doing damage, but the middle states are...
5From Benjamin Franklin to All Commanders of Vessels of War, [4 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress To all Commanders of Vessels of War commission’d by the Congress of the United States of North America, These are to certify you, that the Bearer M. Riotto is a Subject of his most Christian Majesty the King of France, appertaining to his Highness the Prince of Conti, and that the Horses and the Dogs, or other Effects that...
6From Benjamin Franklin to the Massachusetts Board of War: Extract, 17 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Goodspeed’s Catalogue, no. 517 (1963), pp. 50–1. I was much oblig’d by your Favour of Oct. 20. containing the History of the Campaign, and exceeding good news of Gen. Burgoyne’s Deafeat, etc. I communicated it immediately to the Ministry at Versailles, to whom it gave the most perfect Satisfaction. I have now the Pleasure to acquaint you, that two Treaties between France and the...
7To Benjamin Franklin from the Massachusetts Board of War, 8 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society We are honord with yours of the 17th February and made happy in being acquainted by it of the Alliance lately formed between his most Christian Majesty and the united States of America, in which, considering our Scituation, that young Monarch hath evidenced a dignity of Mind, which will be of more lasting honor than can be conferrd by a Crown....
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society This will be handed you by Capt. Courter who goes express with our Dispatches to Congress and is to inform you that we have wrote by the Capt. of the Frigate in which Capt. Courter takes Passage, for you to Pay the Capt. of said Frigate the Sum of 15,000 Livres money of France which Letter of ours we are Confident will meet with due honor; and we have...
9The Massachusetts Board of War to the American Commissioners, 14 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: American Philosophical Society, Library of Congress Your esteem’d favours of the 21 December per Mr. Dean 12th. February per Capt. Senneville, and 17th of same Month per Capt. Courter, we had the Honor to receive. Agreeable to your request, we have furnished Capt. Courter with every necessary for his Journey to Congress, on which he set out the 7th. Instant, being the second day after...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Rush, [24 July or 31 or 7 August 1776] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Dr: Rush begs leave to inform Dr. Franklin that the members of the Canadian Committee will wait upon him this afternoon at 6 oClock at his own house. Addressed: Dr Franklin The committee was to hear Canadian petitions; its meetings determine the note’s possible dates. See Smith, Letters , IV , 537 n.
11To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 19 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress B V: presents his most affectionate respects to Dr. Franklin, and is unfortunately so engaged to day, as not to be able to accept of his kind welcome. B V’s brother acted for the best, but not being privy to circumstances, misunderstood him.— Tomorrow evening B V will however call at Passy, unless inconvenient to his friend, and directed otherwise. Addressed: A Monsr /...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin West, 28 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your friendly remmbrences of me by the bearer of this is so flattering, I could not permit his return to you without making my Acknowlegments by letter for so pleasing a marke of your esteem, It allways gave me and Mrs. West the greatest satisfaction to hear of your health—a confirmation of which I have not only recived by our friend, but have now before in...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre-Simon-Benjamin Duvivier, 20 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society La Médaille dont Votre excellence m’a chargé est gravèe et je la regarde comme finie, je desirerois avant de faire tremper les coins avoir lhonneur de vous en montrer les Epreuves pour profiter de vos avis pendant quil en est encore temps. Pouriez vous me fixer un jour ou je pourois estre sur de vous rencontrer chez vous, ou bien en venant a Paris voudriez...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Putnam, 30 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having this day negociated to Mr. John Augustus Byrne of this City the four Bills as undermentioned the first & second of which I have heretofore transmitted to you, & not being advisd by your Excellency of their Acceptance or payment I think it proper to mention the 1sts. of sd. Bills are accepted in your hands. Mr Byrne remitts them to his Banker Mr....
15To Benjamin Franklin from [Benjamin Sowden], [1 September 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Last post I had the honour to write and forward you a Letter to the care of that Young Gentleman who was charged about ten weeks since with the delivery of my Large packet for Messrs. Rumsey and Gordon jointly, and who, in a Line that accompanied it to Yourself, I told You had lived many Years with me. As it is of importance You should have that Letter, I...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Franklin Bache, 18 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu vôtre lettre avec beaucoup de plaisir parcequ’il y avoit long temps que je n’avois eu de vos nouvelles et De celles de mon Papa et de ma maman. J’ai donné le gouter que vous m’avés acordé et je vous en remercie beaucoup j’en fus très content ainsi que tous mes amis je ne vous envoie pas une pièce de dessin parce qu’elle n’est pas tout à fait finie...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Franklin Bache, [c. 15 September 1780] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’avouë qu’il y a très longtems que je ne vous ai écrit c’est pourquoi je vous écris une lettre assez longue pour vous donner de mes nouvelles. Je pense toujours à vous et je vous envoye pas la pièce de dessin, parceque je veux en faire quatre differentes je fais tous mes efforts pour vous contenter et pour avoir un autre prix l’année prochaine. Je crois...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 23 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Lest by some accident I should miss the opportunity of travelling with the courier, I sit down just to tell you that I am prepared to depart the instant I hear the commission is sealed, which by the Chancellor having been at Buxton has been for some days delayed. I have got together the different articles committed to my care to procure, and shall not...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Lincoln, 25 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Congress has ordered me to prepare and lay before them a State of the pay Rations and Subsistence of the Officers and Men in the Armies of the different powers in Europe—as these often vary I have no means of procuring the necessary information with accuracy from any books I have seen— I am under the...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Franklin Bache, 26 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’avoue qu’il y a longtemps que je ne vous ai écrit cependant je pense toujours à vous si j’avois eu plus de temps je vous aurais écris en anglois il y à aussi longtems que vous ne m’avès ècris mais je sçais bien que ce n’est pas de vôtre faute et que c’est les affaires qui vous en enpechent. J’espère que vous aves reçu mon prix dans la derniere lettre je...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Franklin Bache, 19 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: American Philosophical Society J’avois promis de vous envoyer dans ma première lettre une pièce de dessin, mais ce sera pour une autre fois, m’empressant de vous écrire aujourdui pour vous apprendre que j’ai remporté le prix pour avoir mieux traduit un morceau de latin en françois que les autres écoliers; ce prix se donne publiquement dans léglise cathédrale et par le premier...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 25 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg to introduce to your acquaintance my friend Dr. Lister, whom I first became acquainted with at Edinburgh, and who was there a good deal respected for his good character and assiduity, and who I find bears an equal character among his connections here in London. I know him to be a person of very amiable & honorable character in his private conduct,...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, [17 or 18 September 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am arrived once more in this town, and wish to be blessed with one hour’s conversation concerning myself and a brother. You know from my friend Williams that I am obliged to leave my name at Lord Stormonts in consequence of the note I before wrote to him; and if you could give me an interview at a neutral place till I have gone through the ceremony of...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Franklin Bache, 25 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Full of Impatience to recieve a letter from you in order to know the state of your health & whether you consent to my having a wathch as I Desir’d by my Last, I write yo the present Letter, to ask again that Favour and repeat to you that I have not reciev’d the Parcel of Books mention’d in your Letter of the 7 Jan. 1783. I have receiv’d Lately a letter from...
25From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, 22 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This Line will be presented to you by a very ingenious Gentleman, M. Kempel, inventor of the Automaton that plays at Chess. He has other Inventions in Mechanics of a more useful Nature, which he has Thoughts of communicating in England, if he can meet with Encouragement. I beg leave to recommend him to your Civilities & Counsels, and am ever, with sincere Esteem &...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, [before 19 November 1781] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have a letter with some philosophical papers which will reach you as soon as I find an opportunity, & by which you will be informed of the reasons of my long silence. In the mean time I proceed to give you some necessary intelligence. You perhaps have heard that I have made a connection in the family of Mr Manning, a West India merchant; & that Col...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Webb, 7 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society So peculiarly a good Opportunity as by the hands of your amiable Grandson, I could not let slip, without thanking you for the Favour of your Letter by Mr. Pigot. I am much obliged by those Terms of respect & Sentiments of Good-will you are so Kind to express relative to Me & Mine. I still wait the happy Issue. No material Alteration has yet happen’d in the...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Franklin Bache, 30 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the liberte to wright to you for to tell you that I am in good health M Marignac Gives his compliments to you and says that I am a good boy I will do all that can for to be the first of the class M. Cramer is in good health give my compliments to my cossin and to cochran and to Deine A have notings mor for to tell you for the presente. I am your...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin West, 19 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society If I was to permit my friend and nabour Mr. Green to visit Paris without convaying this to your excellency, I should think myself defecient in that friendship I have ever wished to shew him. He is an Artist of distinguished merrit in Mezzatinto engraving, and has done most of the esteemed prints in that manner from my paintings. He visits France in the line...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Guild, 5 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society About six weeks past I arrived at l’Orient from Boston. Since my arrival I have purchased a Brigantine at private sale in l’ Orient and wish to dispach her immediately for Boston. Should therefore be much obliged to your excellency for a passport, that, as she is American property, she may go under the American flag. Her dimensions are 50 feet keel, 18 feet...