41From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 8 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour of yours of the 29th. of April, and according to your desire, have inclosed a List of the Bills accepted with the Times of their becoming due, and Shall draw for the Money to discharge them, only as they become payable, and through the House of Fizeaux & Grand. I Sincerely congratulate you, upon the noble Aid obtained, from the French Court for the currant Service of the...
42From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 29 April 1779 (Adams Papers)
I had, Yesterday, the Honour of yours of the 24th inclosing a Letter from his Excellency M. de Sartine, expressing his Majestys Desire that the Alliance Should be retained here a little longer. As my Baggage was on board, and every Appearance promised that We should be under Sail in three or four days for America, in a fine ship and the best Month in the Year, this Intelligence, I confess, is...
43From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 26 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I duely received your Excellencys Letter of August 6th, but have been prevented by Sickness and a variety of accidents from answering it Sooner. My accounts have never been mixed, with Mr Dana’s, any farther than this. Mr Dana was here last December, I believe, and was going to Paris. In order to avoid opening an account here, he desired me to lend him, Some money for the Expences of his...
44To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 8 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have the Honour of yours of the 29th of April, and according to your desire, have inclosed a List of the Bills accepted with the Times of their becoming due, and Shall draw for the Money to discharge them, only as they become payable, and through the House of Fizeaux & Grand. I Sincerely congratulate you upon the noble Aid obtained, from the French...
45To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 3 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society The Moments we live in, are critical and may be improved, perhaps to advantage, for which purpose I beg Leave to propose to your Consideration, whether it is not proper for Us to write to Mr Dana at Petersbourg, acquaint him with the Signature of the Preliminaries, inclose to him an authentic Copy of them and advise him to...
46To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 27 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I embrace the opportunity, by Mr: Bingham, to enclose to your Excellency, Copy of a Letter from Mr: Jefferson, by which it appears that we are joined in some affairs which will give me the Occasion to visit Paris once more, and reside there for some little time at least. As Mr: Jefferson will not probably arrive before the latter End of August, and...
47To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 4 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society Yesterday was presented to me another Bill of Exchange for 1100 Guilders, drawn on Mr Laurens 25th. Feby. 1780. I have, as usual, asked time to write to your Excellency, to know if You can be responsible for the payment: if not, they must be protested, for there is no Money to be had here. Indeed if there was a...
48To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 29 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had, Yesterday, the Honour of yours of the 24th. inclosing a Letter from his Excellency M. de Sartine, expressing his Majestys Desire that the Alliance Should be retained here a little longer. As my Baggage was on board, and every Appearance promised that We should be under Sail in three or four days for America, in a fine ship and the best Month in the...
49From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 27 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I had last night the honour of your Letter of the 22d and I most heartily congratulate the French Court and Nation, on the acquisition of a Dauphin. The Ships which the South Carolina, was to have taken under her Convoy, are Still here. I am told, that the Ships are the best that are to be had: that they are to be sold at a reasonable Rate, so reasonable that the difference, between the...
50From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 30 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have already accepted Bills drawn upon Mr. Laurens, to the Amount of Thirty four Thousand three hundred and fifty Eight Guilders. How many more will arrive I know not. I shall inform your Excellency from Time to Time, as they appear, and I accept them. This Republick is in a violent Crisis. If a certain Party prevails, We Shall raise no Money here. If they do not We shall raise very little....
51To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 29 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Samuel Andrews, formely of Boston lately of Demarara, is going to Paris upon Business, respecting a Vessell taken by the French and carried into Martinico. He will lay before you his Papers, and hopes for your Countenance, in the Prosecution of his Appeal, altho he claims as a Dutchman. I have the Honour to recommend him to your Excellencys Notice. I...
52To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 3 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society Mr Adams has the Honour to inform Dr Franklin that the American Ministers for the Peace, are desired by the British Minister to meet him at the Hotel du Parc Royal, Wednesday, at Eleven, for a Conference concerning the Definitive Treaty. Addressed: A Son Excellence / Monsieur Franklin / Ministre Plenipotentiaire / des Etats Unis...
53From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 24 March 1779 (Adams Papers)
I had the Honour of a Letter from, your Excellency at Nantes, but as I was setting off for this Place could not then acknowledge it. I Staid, no longer at Nantes, than just to look about me, before I determined to see Captain Landais, that I might know, the state and Prospects of his Frigate. As you was so good as to desire Mr. Schweighauser, to consult with me, and Mr. Schweighauser wrote to...
54John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 20 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
The Day before Yesterday the Baron de Thuilemeyer the Envoy to their High Mightinesses, from the King of Prussia, did me the Honour of a Visit, but as I had Company, he stayed but a short time. As I accompanied him to the Door, he whis told me, that he had Something to Say to me from the King, and desird me to name an Hour, when he might call upon me again. I told him his Hour should be mine,...
55John Adams to Franklin and John Jay, 20 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society The Day before Yesterday the Baron de Thuilemeyer the Envoy to their High Mightinesses, from the King of Prussia, did me the Honour of a Visit, but as I had Company, he stayed but a short time; As I accompanied him to the Door, he told me, that he had Something to Say to me from the King, and desird me to name an Hour, when he might call upon me...
56From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 5 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
Commodore Jones is just arrived from Philadelphia with Dispatches. Those directed to the Ministers I opened. one contained nothing but Newspapers and Proclamations. The other contained a Letter to “the Commissioners” and a Sett of Instructions. The Letter bears Date the 1. of November the Instructions the 29 of Oct r. — a remaining Packet is directed to you alone, but probably contains a...
57To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams: Two Letters, 13 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society I had Yesterday the Honour of yours of the third of this Month. C. Landais had So much diffidence in Some of his Crew, that he could not think of carrying home any of the most culpable of the Conspirators, especially as he was so weak handed. The naval Code of the united States, has great occasion for Amendments in many Particulars, without...
58From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 14 May 1779 (Adams Papers)
The Day before Yesterday, We arrived here, in two Days from Nantes, all well. There is a Frigate now turning into this Port, which is said to be Le Sensible, and if this is true, I hope, it will not be a long Time before We get to sea. The Chevalier de La Luzerne I hope is sensible of the Value of every Moment in the last half of the Month of May towards a Voyage to America. If We wait untill...
59To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 17 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society The Day before Yesterday, were brought to my House, Fifty one Bills of Exchange, amounting to 40958 B. f. [Banco florins] all drawn on the 22 June 1781 at Six months Sight, on the Honble Henry Laurens Esqr, in favour of Mr John Ross. This is a Pheenomenon which none but you Philosphers can explain, at least, I can think of but one Hypothesis, which...
60John 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...
61To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 13 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society I have the Honour to inform you that I have this day drawn upon you, a sett of 2 Bills of Exchange, at one usance, in favour of Messrs Fizeaux Grand & Co, for Six hundred and twenty five Pounds sterling being my Salary for one Quarter, computed in the Bill at four Thousands seven hundred and thirty three Crowns, Ten Sols and nine Deniers, of Sixty...
62To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 1 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Upon my Arrival here I found your Letter of the 30th. of June, Copy of which had been sent along to me by Mr. Thaxter to Paris, but by some unaccountable means sent back without being delivered to me. Many Bills had been presented in my Absence, and at first I was at a loss whether to accept them, until further Advice from You. But considering they had lain...
63To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 25 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have the Honour to Advise you, that I have this day drawn four setts of Bills of Exchange, of two in each sett, for Ten thousand Livres Tournois each, payable to the order of Captain Joyner Commodore Gillon not being yet arrived, and this sum being represented to me by Major Jackson absolutely necessary for the present Use of the ship. I applied to the...
64From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 4 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday was presented to me another Bill of Exchange for 1100 Guilders, drawn on Mr Laurens 25th. Feby. 1780. I have, as usual, asked time to write to your Excellency, to know if You can be responsible for the payment: if not, they must be protested, for there is no Money to be had here. Indeed, if there was a probability of obtaining any small Sum here, quare, whether it would not be...
65John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 19 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour of your Letters of the 27 of June and 4. July, and Should advise your Excellency to present the C. de Mercy, a Copy of the Instruction as you propose. By the Length of Time, We have been left without Information respecting foreign Affairs, and by other Circumstances, there are greater Divisions among our Countrymen, respecting these as well as their Finances, than are...
66To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 26 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Robert Castle Norton Autograph Letters of U.S. Presidents, Western Reserve Historical Society; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; copy, two press copies of copies, and transcript: National Archives One day, last Week, I recd at Amsterdam a Card from Diggs, inclosing two Letters to me from Mr David Hartley. The Card desired to see me upon Business of Importance: and the Letters from...
67To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 10 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society Relying on your Virtues and Graces of Faith and Hope, I accepted the Bills to the Amount of ten thousand Pounds Sterling, drawn in favour of Mr. Tracy. I have recieved Advice from Congress of more Bills drawn upon me: when they arrive and are presented, I must write You concerning them and desire You to enable me...
68From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 17 May 1779 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the 10th. I received the Day before Yesterday, and am glad to hear that the Chevalier is making diligent Preparation for his Departure, for I wish, most impatiently to see him. Every day, now is a great Loss. In a Letter I wrote a few days ago I mentioned Some Reasons for prefering Boston to Delaware. I think there can be no doubt that there are at least Several Frigates in...
69From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 17 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
I never was more amuzed with political Speculations, than Since my Arrival in this country. Every one has his Prophecy, and every Prophecy is a Paradox. One Says America will give France the Go By. Another that France and Spain, will abandon America. A Third that Spain will forsake France and America. A Fourth that America, has the Interest of all Europe against her. A Fifth that She will...
70From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 29 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Samuel Andrews, formerly of Boston lately of Demarara, is going to Paris upon Business, respecting a Vessell taken by the French and carried into Martinico. He will lay before you his Papers, and hopes for your Countenance, in the Prosecution of his Appeal, altho he claims as a Dutchman. I have the Honour to recommend him to your Excellencys Notice. I have written to Mr. Thaxter to ask the...