1To Benjamin Franklin from John Ross, 19 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the honour of your Excellencey’s much Respected favour 15th. Inst:— The disturbance on board the Alliance must be attended with delay’s & difficultys in geting forward the Stores. Therefore, it being evident Your Excellencey’s plan have been deranged by the measure’s of that faction, much to the dishonour & prejudice of the United States & foreseeing...
2To Benjamin Franklin from John Ross, 7 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Ross Respects wait on his Excelly. the Minister plenipoty of the United American States—and send some American papers received today via Holland, by a Vessel arrived from Philada. Mr: Ross has got several letters from America, but none later then 24 March, and not a single Sylable of News from any of his friends— Ross was apparently more conscientious in...
3To Benjamin Franklin from John Ross: Extract, 24 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from “Memoir of John Ross, Merchant, of Philadelphia,” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography , XXIII (1899), 78. That unless your Excellency affords him speedy relief, agreeable to the express order of that Honble Body (Congress) he must plainly tell your Excellency, that his ruin is immediate and unavoidable, as he has bills running upon him, which he has accepted in...
4John Ross to the Commissioners, 8 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
By the tuisdays post, I had the honor of your favour 30th. Ultimo now before me. And I find thereby, a want of Authority, deprivs me of either instructions or Advice from you in the concerns of the Public, farther thin what respects the large Sume of money put into my hands by the Honorable the Commissioners. It has been all along my own Opinion, that am only responsible to the Honorable...
5John Ross to the American Commissioners, 8 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library; copies: National Archives (two); transcript: National Archives <Nantes, October 8, 1778: I have yours of September 30 indicating that I am to be deprived of the commissioners’ advice beyond that concerning the money extended me. It has been my position all along that I am responsible only to Congress but I fail to see why you have charged me with...
6John Ross to the American Commissioners, 18 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library; three copies, National Archives <Nantes, August 18, 1778: I wrote on July 16th and 23rd respecting public business and have received no reply. Mr. Delavile has applied to me once more with bills of Mr. Ceronio on the public account. I need an answer for him. Likewise I require the funds owed Willing, Morris & Co. from the public account to terminate their...
7John Ross to the American Commissioners, 28 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library; copy and transcript: National Archives Permit me to congratulate your Excellenceys, and the Inhabitants of the United States on the happie late Event , of your Embassie at this Court. I cannot doubt of its giving universal satisfaction in America, and I hope that confidence and Friendship will not only be preserved thereby, but the Objects of Advantages in...
8To Benjamin Franklin from John Ross, 28 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did myself the honor to address Your Excellencey about two weeks since, without the pleasure of any in return. The Sole intent of this trouble serves merely to give Mr. Jno. B. Paschen of Hamburgh, a Particulare friend to America, the Opportunity of handing this as a pretence and introduction to pay his respects to You at Paris. He is a good kind of Man...
9John Ross to the American Commissioners, 12 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library I did myself the honour to address you on the 26th. and 28 Ultimo. Being since without the favour of any of Your’s, Permit me to repeat my request of being informed by you Honorable Gentlemen What has been done with those books and papers carryed off from hence by Mr. Wm. Lee. Yesterday I heard, and not before , of a very timely precaution he took on the day of...
10To Benjamin Franklin from John Ross, 7 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Altho’ I have not hitherto assumed the liberty of troubleing you in the Epistlary way, I think you may be assured it did not Proceed in the least from a want of that respect due to you from me, in Your Public Character nor Private life. And I hope you will Dear Sir, believe me sincere, (unsuspected of flattery) that I am so perfectly satisfyed of Your...
11John Ross to the American Commissioners, 26 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Extract and transcript of extract: National Archives The Ship three friends ownd by Mr. Williams & Co. being detained still here owing principally to the want of hands, will am in hopes from the assurances of the Capt. and owners depart tomorrow . . . I have since advisd them (the Committee of Congress) of the change of property in the Ship La Brune in Consequence of your accepting of the Ship...
12John Ross to the American Commissioners, 6 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I had the honour to address you on the 29 Ulto. on the business of Mr. Thomas Morris late Commercial Agent now deceast, and tho not as yet favoured with your answere, doubt not Your attention to those measures, Proper to command possession and a liberty of Inspection into those Books and papers now under Seals. The Ship La Brune under the direction and command of...
13John Ross to the American Commissioners, 29 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library; two copies: National Archives The present unhappie situation of Mr. Thomas Morris American Commercial Agent, now dangerously ill, and according to the opinion of his Phisician not likely to recover, oblige me to address you Honble: Gentlemen, that the necessary step may be adopted immadiately, to prevent the Worst of consequences to both Public and Private...
14John Ross to the American Commissioners, 3 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society I had the honour to address you on the 24th Ultimo. Since without the pleasure of any of your favours. The Scarsity of many necessarys in America, and the practibility of adopting plans less inconvenient and expensive to the Country then have been pursued for some time past to the manifest prejudice of the United States in numberless respects, I shoud be...
15John Ross to the American Commissioners, 24 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library Your very respected favour of 18th Inst: I received by Capt: Nicholson. Contents thereof I duly Note. The Safe arrival of the Hamburgh vessel, you may suppose gave me pleasure, and tho at L’orient when I had advice of it, I embrace’d the first post to give you the earliest Notice, recept of which you acknowledge in this now before me. I must take the liberty to...
16John Ross to the American Commissioners, 2 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library Previous to the shipping any of the Property purchased at Germany &ca. and collected to Hamburgh under my care and direction on Account of the United States, I consulted You on the propriety of having it Insured Round here and I doubt not youl Recolect Your opinion on that point Vizt. “that it was Customary for all Nations to run the Risque of what was for...
17To Benjamin Franklin from John Ross, [November 1765] (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): American Philosophical Society In the Midst of our Confusions, You will permit me to trouble You with the reading a line from me also, but to give You a Regular Course of Intelligence Concerning our affairs, is What I will not Attempt, as I hate Writing Very much, and leave that to Mr. Hughes our Welsh Squire, who upon Honour has fought the Battle Manfully, and I think there...
18To Benjamin Franklin from John Ross, 20 May 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By this time I presume You Can pretty nearly Judge what is to be the issue of our Application to His Majesty for protection, and shou’d more Ingredients be Wanting, We are daily furnished with them, to prove, What is lamentably too true, that we have only the form without the powers of Government. We seem at present to have two kinds of Governments on the...
19To Benjamin Franklin from John Ross, 20 December 1764 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Duty as well as Inclination ingage me to write you, tho’ nothing very material occurs worth communicating since your leaving us; as I am certain Numbers of your Friends have given you Intelligence of all the Minutiae passing among us (for indeed there is nothing more.) I venture these few lines only for the pleasure arising, that I may not be accounted...