4901Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 16 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The present serves to inform you that Capt. Brown who has the Dolphin wishes to be excused from taking her as his owners have directed his return in the Mars which belongs to them; Capt. Brown hopes you will not misinterpret his Desire, and says that if you choose he will continue, but if the change will not displease you he wishes she may be given to some...
4902To Benjamin Franklin from [Benjamin Sowden], 16 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I am favoured with yours of the 5th of this Inst. and in compliance with your desire have enquired concerning the Price of the non Pariel Letter, of which you have a specimen inclosed. I had no occasion to go or write to Mr. Enschede, the Letterfounder at Haerlem as Mr. Rinier Arrenberg, Printer, Bookseller, and Courantier of this City, was sufficiently able...
4903Franklin’s Description of His Ailments, 17 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Œsterreichische National-Bibliothek, Vienna A.B. aged near 72 Years, had been subject to slight Fits of the Gout at long Intervals; was accustomed to what is called good Living, used but little Exercise, being from the Nature of his Employment, as well as from Love of Books, much in his Chamber writing or reading. About 3 Years since he found a small Spot on his Head cover’d with a dry...
4904Passport for Jan Ingenhousz, 17 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Yale University Library; ADS (draft): American Philosophical Society To all Commanders of armed Vessels appertaining to the United States of America, This may certify, that to my certain Knowledge the Bearer Dr. Ingenhauss is not an Enemy of the said States, nor a Subject of Great Britain, but an Inhabitant of Vienna in Austria, and Physician to the Empress Queen; going to England on his...
4905The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 18 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society, Haverford College Library; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) We have the pleasure of inclosing to you the copy of a letter from General Gates containing the circumstances of a Victory gained over General Burgoyne on the 7th. This event must defeat the main views of General Clinton in proceeding up Hudsons River. He has, it is true, got...
4906Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 18 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have recvd. a Letter from Capt. Thompson Commander of the Rawleigh Frigate by which I find the prizes made by the two Ships consisted of 750 hhds. Sugar 325 Puncheons Rum 70 Plank Mahogany 15 Casks of Coffee and the two Ships which Capt. Nicholson tells me are 500 and 800 Tons Burden. This Property was sold for 9700 Sterling, which I take to be about ⅓ of the...
4907To Benjamin Franklin from Jean Bochard de Champigny, 18 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Vous avez attendu Si longtems le premier volume de mon histoire d’Angleterre, qu’il étoit bien naturel que je me dépéchasse pour le second. Le voici; je souhaite que vous en soiez plus satisfait que du précédent, je suis sure que vous le serez des derniers. Je vous prie de m’accuser la réception de ce volume et de me croire avec la Considération la plus...
4908To Benjamin Franklin from Ingenhousz, 18 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I rcived yesterday from Madame chaumont the lettre of mr. Williams to which I iclose an answer, which you will be so good as to peruse and send to him by the first oportunity. I did not underwrite it, lest it should fall in wrong hands. If I was richer I should dare to venture the business without insurance. I should be very glad, if mr. Williams would...
4909To Benjamin Franklin from Louis-François Rolandeau, 18 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Si je n’eusse pas eu a céder a cértaines circonstances, j’aurais eu l’honneur en vous faisant ma cour, de vous faire de vive voix, la demande que je prends la libérté de vous faire par lettre. C’est de vouloir bien méttre votre visa sur les papiers, que Monsieur le Comte d’Ossun, qui m’honore de sa protéction, aura la Bonté de méttre sous vos yeux: quélques...
4910To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 18 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you the 9th Inst. inclosing one for M. Chaumont and a draft on him for 400.000 Livres. M. Chaumont mentions the 15th that he has not heard from me. I am therefore very uneasy about the fate of this Letter, and have written a Copy of it to M. C. to day. I now inclose you another draft of the same tenor and date, which if the other arrived safe you...
4911The American Commissioners to John Folger, 19 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Harvard University Library We have consider’d your Proposition of Returning in case of the Accident you mention on this Coast, and approve of the same: You will therefore act accordingly. We wish you a good Voyage, and are Sir, Your humble Servants Addressed: To Captn. / John Folger / To Care of Mr. Jno. Moylan / Merchs / Havre du Grace In BF ’s...
4912Thomas Thompson to the American Commissioners, 20 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I have the Honour to have now before me your Letters of the 13th: and 15th. Instant. In the first you desire I would write our situation; mine of the 10th. will satisfy you in that particular, therefore shall not say anything more on that head; in your first you advise us to Gurlard and Company and to send our Letters under Gurlard’s Cover. In your last you...
4913To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Elmsly, 20 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society P. Elmsly (Bookseller Strand) presents his respects to Dr. Franklin and begs to know if he would chuse to go on with his Subscription to Jacquin’s Hortus Vindobonensis, and if yes to whom he would have them delivered. Dr. Franklin owes £2:2:0. for the last delivery. As Dr. Ingenhouz with Jacquin’s Brother is now at London, if Dr. Franklin will be so good as...
4914To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Le Coeur: Bill for the Schooling of Benjamin Franklin Bache, 20 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Les deux quartiers de Pension de Mr. Benjamin franklin échus le quatre du présent 254 l.t. plus un habit uniforme tout compris 98.10 6 paires de bas de cotton a 50 s. font 15 un Chapeau 6 neuf paires de souliers 36 pour les semaines 17.10 pour le Perruquier 9 Livres de Classes 3
4915To Benjamin Franklin from John Welsh, 20 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Excuse the Freedom of my Presumption, in Writing to you tho not Personally Acquainted. Still from the Charector you bear from every Loyal American, induces me to let you Know of my Misfortune of being taken Prisoner, and brought here from the Westindias, Where I commanded a Privatier fitted out by Wm. Bingham Esqr. Agent of the Honourable Congress of...
4916To Benjamin Franklin from the Duc de La Rochefoucauld, 21 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Ne voiant point paroître, Monsieur, la Constitution du Maryland , j’avois imaginé que peut être il y avoit quelque empêchement à cette publication c’est ce qui m’avoit fait différer la traduction de celle de la Caroline Méridionale . La premiere vient d’être inserée dans le Journal d’Amérique et d’Angleterre, et j’ai l’honneur de vous envoier la seconde en...
4917To Benjamin Franklin from Silas Deane, 23 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I go to Town this Evening to a Rendezvous with Messrs. Chaumont and Holker. The latter will be very much obliged to You for the Letters You promised him, he wishes to set out tomorrow morning. Docr. Bancroft is returned. Inclosed is a Letter from Thornton and with this I leave You the Papers, and am Dear Sir Your most Obedient, and Very humble Servant...
4918To Benjamin Franklin from Charles de Hirschberg, 23 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I have not the honour to be personnally Known to you, I should flatter myself very happy if I was only by reputation; In looking over my old correspondances some time ago, I found Your interrogation, which appeared to me so precise and just, that I undertook the translation and find that a great part of the world is indebted to me for the publishing, as...
4919The Massachusetts Council to the American Commissioners, 24 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Archives The Brigantine Penet John Harris Commander by Who you will receive this Letter has been taken up and fited out for a voyage to France solely with a Veiw of Conveying to you Authoritative Intelligence of the success of the American Army in the Northern Department. We sincerely Congratulate you upon this occasion and have the pleasure to Inform you that by...
4920To 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...
4921Franklin on the Miracle of the Revolution, 25 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Richard Henry Lee, Life of Arthur Lee, LL.D., Joint Commissioner of the United States to the Court of France, and Sole Commissioner to the Courts of Spain and Prussia, during the Revolutionary War . . . (2 vols., Boston, 1829), I , 343–6. Having some conversation with Dr. F. upon the present state of things, he seemed to agree with me in thinking that France and Spain mistook...
4922To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Austin, 25 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Important Conquest and Surrender of Genl. Burgoin and his whole Army to our Forces under the Command of Genl. Gates, has Induced the Council of this State to forward by Express an Account thereof to the Honble the Commissioners for American affairs at Paris; and as they have done my Son the Honor to be the bearer of this Intelligence, I beg leave Sir to...
4923To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper: Two Letters, 25 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : American Philosophical Society; (II) AL : American Philosophical Society; copy: Henry E. Huntington Library In the last Winter my only Daughter was married here to Joseph Hixon Esqr. of Monserrat, in the W. Indies. He went from hence in the Spring by Way of Cork to London. I beg you to take the Trouble of sending by the first safe Opportunity an enclosed Letter from her to him. The...
4924To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Walker, 25 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I with great pleasure embrace this early Opportunity of congratulating you upon the signal Success of the American Arms, in the northern Department and I hope it will be attended with happy Consequences by enabling us to get rid of our powerful Enemies on the Continent, and raising us generous and active friends to support our Cause in Europe: I make no...
4925To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Sr., 25 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In my Last I advised of the Enemies taken Possession of Ticonderoge and then mention’d that the Country were allarmed and would exert themselves and prehaps do Wonders. Wonders are don (God be prased) General Burgoyne and his Whol Armey Prisoners of War he and his Whol Armey to be Transported to England to tell the dolefull Tale. The Bearer Mr. Jonathan L....
4926François-Auguste-Pompée Hennet to the American Commissioners, 26 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society M. hennet a l’honneur de saluer Messieurs Francklin et Deane et de les prier de vouloir bien lui faire savoir s’ils ont eu avis de l’arrivée à Nantes des fusils qu’il y a fait expedier de la manufacture de Maubeuge, pour leur compte et par leur ordre. M. hennet est chez M. Brillon où il attendra la réponse de ces Messieurs, il se randra chez eux si ils...
4927The American Commissioners to Stephen Sayre, [before 17 November 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress We learn with much surprise from your Letter to Dr. Franklin of the 27th of Octr. that you have remaind at the Court of Berlin apparently in a public character. It is our duty to inform you, that acting under a public character without being authorizd, is criminal; and we therefore advise and enjoin you to desist from any such conduct in future at Berlin or...
4928To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis Alexandre d’Hanache, 27 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Je prends la Liberté de vous adresser cy joint une Lettre par Duplicata pour Le Comte de Stirling que je vous prie de vouloir bien Lui faire parvenir j’aurais eü l’honneur de vous La remettre moi-même sans des affaires qui me retiennent a paris; dès que je serai Libre de disposer d’un moment j’aurai La satisfaction d’aller vous voir. J’ai l’honneur...
4929To Benjamin Franklin from Stephen Sayre, 27 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library I address you not as a Commissioner for America, but as a man of feeling, who has a disposition to do justice to all the world. Do you not think it hard indeed that I should be left under the necessity of returning to England, at the mercey of my Enemies, who are Enemies also to public liberty, after having committed myself by taking an open part in the...
4930Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 28 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library The present serves to inform you that Mr. de Sartine has written to the Commissary here relative to the Lion in which he forbids that any munitions of war of any kind be embark’d or that any pretended Clearances be made. I have not nor can I appear in this Business, but I have desired Mr. Peltier to assure the Commissary that no munitions of War shall be...