4141To Benjamin Franklin from Ralph Izard, 29 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy and two transcripts: National Archives; transcript: South Carolina Historical Society I have seen the person you have referred to me, and who is desirous of my recommending him to you for a Passport to go into Italy. He says that he was born in South Carolina; but has been so long out of it, that he neither knows anybody there, nor does anybody know...
4142To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Loring Austin, 17 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Nature of my Errand to Europe I had the Honor to communicate to your Excellency soon after my Arrival, the Difficulties which have occur’d to accomplish it if possible, have verified your Predictions. Altho’ disappointed & often mortified in every Attempt I have made to execute this Commission entrusted to me by the State, my Anxiety was however greatly...
4143To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 3 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS, LS and L : University of Pennsylvania Library; ALS (draft): New-York Historical Society; transcript: National Archives I have just now recd the certificates required by Mr. Vallier, the vessel which carries my dispatches having been detained I embrace the opportunity to forward them— Nothing new since my last, except that by a Gent who left Charles town the 4th. Ult. we learn that the...
4144To Benjamin Franklin from Augustus Gottlieb Spangenberg, 8 March 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Archives of the Moravian Church, Bethlehem What you have done hitherto for the Defence of our County hath not been in Vain, but hath stopp’d our cruel Enemy from going on like a Bush-Fire in his wicked Ways. Had you not secured the Frontiers with some Forts in building of which you have ventured your own Life and taken upon you so many and various Hardship’s; the Enemy would likely not...
4145To Benjamin Franklin from Johann Valentin Embser, 28 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society La paix glorieuse, que l’Amérique vient de conclurre, doit remplir de joye tout honnête homme, par la preuve éclatante, que par le courage & la fermeté, appuyés de la sagesse & de la prudence, la vertu triomphe des ennemis les plus puissans. Je joins mes voeux les plus ardens à ceux de l’Amérique pour les jours précieux de l’Illustre Franklin, dont le nom...
4146To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Cushing, 26 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I cannot omit this Opportunity to Congratulate Your Excellency on the great & Glorious News we have this day received of the Surrender of General Cornwallis & his Army to the Allied Army under General Washington & the French Fleet under Count De Grass, I inclose a hand Bill giving an Account of this Important Event & hope soon to have an official Account...
4147To Benjamin Franklin from La Rochefoucauld, [6 February 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Le Duc de la Rochefoucauld fait bien des complimens à Monsieur franklyn, en le remerciant des bonnes nouvelles d’Amérique qu’il a bien voulu lui donner; il a l’honneur de lui envoier sa traduction à laquelle il a fait quelques corrections, dont deux assez longues qu’il a mises sur un papier à part; si Monsieur franklyn les approuve, et s’il veut renvoier le...
4148To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 26 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and transcript: National Archives I do myself the honor to enclose you a convention for the Establishment of Consuls, Which has just passed Congress— You will find that you are empowered either to sign it in France, or if any alterations are made, to send it here to be executed; nothing new since I wrote you; We are Still in the Dark with respect to European Intelligence, not having heard...
4149To Benjamin Franklin from Jacob Duché, Jr., 22 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I return your Excellency my most sincere and hearty Thanks for your Kindness & Condescension in answering my Letter, and for the candid & affectionate Manner in which you have given me your Advice on a Subject in which I feel myself deeply interested. This Advice shall be the Rule of my Conduct; and I will wait with Patience, till I hear from my Friends at...
4150To Benjamin Franklin from Madame de Chaumont, 15 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mille graces, Monsieur, vous avez résolu ma question, comme je le désirois, en préférant que vos amis suivent le penchant qu’ils ont a sentretenir avec vous, a la discretion de ceux qui sen privent dans crainte de vous importuner, cette décision est tellement de mon goût, que je l’estime autant, ne vous en déplaise, que toutes celles que vous avez données en...
4151To Benjamin Franklin from John Cuthbert, 30 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Time elapsed since I had the pleasure of seeing you at the Royal Society and receiving your Commission in regard to the Furniture of our Collieries makes me almost ashamed to sit down to answer it. As soon as I got to Newcastle I made what Enquiry I could for a proper Person to copy and design all their Utensils, and at last found one Mr. Beilby, an...
4152To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 28 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received my Dear Friends Obligeing Letter with another Inclosed to our Friend Hamilton which I forwarded to Him. Doubt not but will proof Satisfactory. This Serves to convey Advice of a Box of Books for Thy Self, Lib: Com. and J. Bartram perticulars as under. From His Affectionate Friend The Box is Directed for Thee and comes by the Carolina Capt. Friend....
4153To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 23 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Yale University Library Inclosed is an Acct: of the Expenses of Master Johnnott including his passage to Philadelphia amouting to £ 752 l.t. 2.— for which I have this day drawn a bill on you in favour of Messr: Laval & Wilfelsheim. It was not possible to get his passage at a Cheaper Rate, though extravagant & unreasonable all have been obliged to Submit. Another Lad of the Same age of...
4154To Benjamin Franklin from George Whitefield, 27 May 1748 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from A Select Collection of Letters of the Late Reverend George Whitefield, M.A . … (London, 1772), II , 141–2. Inclosed you have a letter which you may print in your weekly paper. It brings good news from this little pleasant spot. If you could print it on half a sheet of paper, to distribute among the Bermudas captains, it might perhaps be serviceable. The inhabitants...
4155To Benjamin Franklin from Amelia Barry, 8 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I too well know the enlarged mind which informs my revered Friend, to imagine that all private considerations are sunk in public duties, I am persuaded that you will be pleased to hear that my long and painful residence in Barbary is brought to a close, and that this place is fixed on for our abode, for some time at least. As your Excellency was deaf to...
4156To Benjamin Franklin from Jean de Neufville & fils, 10 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We now beg leave to Confirm to your Excellency What we had the honor of writing you last post, to Which we can have nothing to add on our part and of course can only keep your Excellency informed of the progressive Steps that are daily taken towards bringing the Affair in Question to a final Issue to your Satisfaction, which will not be less so to us, as...
4157To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 25 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am extreemly uneasy at not hearing from you particularly in answer to mine relative to Mr. Shweighaussers proposals which seems to surprise him, and I am fearfull it will make some impressions unfavourable to the notice and Friendship you have hitherto honoured me with. I who know how many things you have to attend to and being conscious of not having...
4158To Benjamin Franklin from G. Anquetil Brutiere, [5 January 1779]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <[January 5, 1779,] in French: Last September I called on you with M. Stadelle, merchant of Strasbourg, and explained my loss of 4–5,000 l.t. when my ship on the Newfoundland Banks had to take on seven English prisoners from a Massachusetts privateer. You asked me to give you my complaint in legal form and in triplicate, two for the colony and one for your...
4159To Benjamin Franklin from William Smith, 16 May 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I was favoured with your obliging Letter, acknowleging the Receipt of sundry Copies of our Transactions for some learned Societies and Gentlemen in England, and informing us that you had delivered the Books accordingly. I was then preparing to embark for Carolina, where I was lucky enough to get One Thousand Guineas for our College, which is at present in...
4160To Benjamin Franklin from Emmanuel-Pierre de La Plaigne, 7 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress J’ay l’honneur de prévenir Votre excellence que je dois mettre a la voile du 20 au 25 du present. Je prens donc la liberté de Vous demander Vos ordres, et reponces que Votre excellence aura a faire a Mr. Le Vice president Jones et autres dont vous jugerés a propos de me charger. La difficulté que nous avons en Georgie de nous procurer les diverses Gazettes de Londres...
4161To Benjamin Franklin from Claude-Mammès de Pahin Champlain de La Blancherie, 30 [April] 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society La Blancherie (1752–1811) was a young man with a big idea. He had already spent two years in the French West Indies, where the treatment of blacks revolted him, and had published a treatise on education; now his energies were devoted to establishing an international cultural center for all the arts and sciences. The project had been under way for some time,...
4162To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 20 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We are Again Going to Sail, But no News about our cloathing— What is Become of it, I Cannot Guess, and am extremely sorry that they are not Arriv’d— I hope the Whole will be soon Sent to America, and this intelligence will I dare Say Be very Agreable to the Army. In Wishing You A Good health, and the accomplishment of any thing You May desire, in Wishing...
4163From George Washington to Benjamin Franklin, 28 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Marquis de la fayette having served with distinction as Major General in the army of the United States, two Campaigns—has been determined by the prospect of an European War to return to his native Country. It is with pleasure that I embrace the oppertunity of introducing to your personal acquaintance a Gentn whose merit cannot have left him unknown to you by reputation. The generous...
4164To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 16 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you a few Lines this day by Major West a particular Friend of mine— Count Mumford does me the honor to take charge of this— I beg leave to introduce him to your acquaintance & civilities— I have formed a commercial connection with Mr. John Shee of this place, under the firm of Bache & Shee, I shall esteem it as a particular favor, your recommending...
4165To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Baptiste Pecquet: Memorial, [c. 26 June 1783] (Franklin Papers)
DS and transcript: National Archives Jean Bapte. Pecquet agent interprete de la Nation françoise à Lisbonne à l’honneur d’exposer à votre Excellence, qu’il a été assez heureux pour rendre, depuis le Commencement de la rupture entre les Etats unis de l’amerique et L’angleterre, des Services essentiels aux differents matelots américains que les hazards de la guerre ont amenés dans ce port,...
4166To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 30 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I have not been able to bring our business to a conclusion within a sheet , and I choose to send the whole together: It cannot now be more than a week. The Bp. of St. A. has given another motto for a head that is engraved;— “ Non sordidus auctor naturœ verique .” I hope I am not usually presumptuous or sanguine; but I guess you will not be displeased with...
4167To Benjamin Franklin from James Hunter, 24 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Received yours of the 10th of February, by which I was told to Draw upon you for eighty seven pounds ten shillings sterling, pursuant to which I have Drawn upon you, for the said sum of eighty seven pounds ten shillings sterling, and have disposed of the Bill unto James Hunter Merchant of our City on his order, to be paid on thirty Days Sight according to...
4168To Benjamin Franklin from Dominique-Louis Ethis de Corny, 23 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am Requested to introduce to your Excellency Mr. D’Acosta gentleman of Nantes, Vho has some Business Relating to the north america. He Desires to have the honor of Waiting on your Excellency. If you Will Be so Kind as give me the notice of Day Vherein I may Lead this gentleman to Passy, in the Next Weeck, I shall traduce your Answer to Mr. D’acosta. I...
4169To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley: Two Letters, 22 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; transcript: Library of Congress; (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: Library of Congress The bearer of this, & of some other papers (Mr. D ) is a very sensible & worthy gentleman, with whom I have had the pleasure of contracting an acquaintance, since the commencement of the American troubles, originally upon the...
4170To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 1 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; incomplete ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Your Friends Mr. Carmichael and Mr. Holker left this Place last Thursday for York Town where the Congress sits. The Day before, being the Anniversary for Election of Counsellors, I had the Pleasure of dining with them in Public at Faneuil Hall, where the King of France, his Army and Navy, and our...