21The American Commissioners to John Ross, 3 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Justin G. Turner, Los Angeles (1959); AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have received yours of the twenty seventh of October, inclosing a Copy of a Resolution of Congress of the 11th August 1778. We shall pay the strictest Attention and Obedience to this Resolution of Congress and to all others, as far as shall be in our Power; and Shall be...
22The American Commissioners to [John Ross], 9 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society <Passy, September 9, 1778: We acknowledge yours of August 29. We are authorized to discharge neither your private nor your public debts. If you purchased goods with money sent you by the commissioners and had given us an account, we could have given you orders. As it is, any goods you have belonging to the United States should be delivered to Mr....
23The Commissioners to John Ross, 3 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have received yours of the twenty seventh of October, inclosing a Copy of a Resolution of Congress of the 11. Aug. 1778. We shall conform ourselves exactly pay the strictest Attention and Obedience to this Resolution of Congress, and to all others, as far as shall be in our Power; and shall be always ready to receive your Accounts and to settle them, and pay the Ballance if any should...
24The American Commissioners to John Ross, 29 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have received your Letters of the fifteenth and Twenty-fourth of December, with their Enclosures, and once more assure you, that We have no Authority, to do any Thing in your Affairs, untill you have Settled your Accounts.— Whenever you Shall be ready to lay your Accounts before Us, We shall be ready to receive them...
25The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 10 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, August 10, 1778: We are not authorized by Congress to allow deductions from the seamen’s prize money or their advances. As for your stores and furniture, M. Simpson will undoubtedly deliver your private property upon request. We cannot advise you regarding your indemnification, but we...
26The American Commissioners to John Bondfield, 19 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have considered your plan and think it will be proper to send it to Congress for their Approbation. We desire you will purchase and ship on public Account in the best and cheapest Manner 28 Iron Cannon of 24 pound Ball and 28 of 18 lb. You will be so good as to send one set of Bills of Loading to us and another to...
27The Commissioners to John Bondfield, 11 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the fifth instant We have received. We wish better Health to Captain Ayers, and a safe Passage to his Vessell, which is at sea before now no doubt, if not however she is to sail forthwith, without further orders. Your Draughts for the Account inclosed will be duely honoured. But you must distinguish that Part of it, which belongs to Mr. Adams in his private Capacity from the other...
28The Commissioners to John Gilbank, 10 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have received your Letter of October the sixth, and wish it was in our Power to do more for officers in your situation than We do, altho that amounts in the whole to a large sum. But as We have al ready lent you as much Money as We have lent been able to lend to other officers of your Rank and in your Circumstances, it is not in our Power we cannot without a blameable Partiality to lend...
29The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 17 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress We have heard of your arrival at Brest with a prize, and are surprisd that you have not given us an Account of that and of your other proceedings. We desire you will not take any measures relative to the prizes and prisoners you may have made except in securing them, nor incur any considerable expence without our orders. Upon the receipt of this you will...
30The American Commissioners to John Young, 2 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society You will receive by Mr. Moylan dispatches for Congress, which you will secure ready for sinking in Case of Danger. On your Leaving the River Nantes it has been recommended as the safest to keep well in with the Coast of France until you can leave the Continent intirely. Of this you will be the best judge. We advise you to avoid speaking with every Vessel on...
31The Commissioners to John Lloyd and Others, 1 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
We have this Moment the Honour of your Letter of the Twenty Eighth of last Month, and shall give the earliest Attention to its im portant Contents, but We are unhappy to think that it is not in our Power to give effectual Relief. By the Treaty Consuls &c. are to be appointed, in the respective Ports, But the Power of appointing, Such important officers is wholly with the Congress—they have...
32The American Commissioners to [John Paul Jones], 15 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives Whereas we understand that Capt. Jones has in View to strike a Stroke upon the Enemy that may be greatly to their Damage, but in its nature not probably profitable to his Ship’s Company, unless some Reward be received from the Congress adequate to the Service done, And we being of Opinion that Rewards in such Cases are not only necessary for Encouragement, but are...
33The American Commissioners to John Ross, 13 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two) <Passy, April 13, 1778: We are unable to comply with your request because the papers are Mr. William Lee’s; he is in Frankfurt, where you may be able to reach him by letter. Neither can we make further advances. We wish you to account for the goods bought with the funds we provided, but we cannot make a complete settlement; the...
34The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 10 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) <Passy, June 10, 1778: Please send us a return of your prisoners, with ranks and names, for an exchange proposed by the British court. We have your account of the disagreement among your crew, and will shortly give you our opinion.> Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 135; for the...
35The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 3 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, June 3, 1778: We have had numerous letters from Lieut. Simpson, and certificates from officers and others about him; although we do not wish to judge him, the certificates are most favorable to his character. Confining him anywhere except on the Ranger seems to us unjustifiably severe. We desire you to release him on...
36The American Commissioners to John Ross, 30 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Detroit Public Library; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: National Archives (four); transcript: National Archives <Passy, September 30, 1778: We received yours of September 22. We have no authority to give you orders or advice beyond what concerns the large sum of money advanced you by the commissioners some time ago for which you refuse to account. We have nothing to...
37The American Commissioners to John Adams, [on or before 5 May 1777] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress With this, you will receive Dispatches; with which you are to sail with all possible expedition. You will enclose the Dispatches in a Box with Lead, and have it always ready to sink, shoud you be in unavoidable danger of falling into the Enemies hands. To prevent this misfortune, you will constantly keep a good look-out, and be very cautious how you approach any...
38The American Commissioners to John Gilbank, 10 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have receivd your Letter of October the Sixth, and wish it was in our Power to do more for officers in your Situation than We do, altho that amounts in the whole to a large Sum. But as We have already lent you as much Money as We have been able to lend to other officers of your Rank and in your Circumstances, we...
39The Commissioners to John Ross?, 9 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 29 of August We duely received. We return you the Contract inclosed in it. We are neither instructed nor authorised, to discharge your Debts, whether contracted in a private Capacity or otherwise, and if We were, our Finances would not enable Us to do it, at present. In one of your Letters you Say you have certain Merchandises on Hand to ship to America, which you will not ship...
40The Commissioners to John Lloyd and Others, 26 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
We had Yesterday the Honour of your Letter of the Twenty first of this Month. You desire to know what Port or Ports, is or are made free, pursuant to the Treaty? We believe that none have as yet been determined on. At present all the Ports of France, are open, to American Vessells of all Denominations, and we are at present rather doubtful whether it would be politick in Us to apply to have...
41The American Commissioners: Instructions to John Thornton, [11 December 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): Library of Congress; copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library The mistreatment of American prisoners of war in England had long been on the commissioners’ minds. In February they had suggested to Lord Stormont an exchange, and the Ambassador had not replied. In April they had sent him depositions to back their claim that the British were behaving like savages, and to...
42The Commissioners to John Lloyd and Others, 13 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
We had Yesterday the Honour of your Letter of the seventh of this Month, and at the same Time that of a Letter from his Excellency the Comte De Sartine Vergennes, Copy of which We inclose. We have this Day written to his Excellency, requesting, that the Convoy may be sent without delay to Nantes, where the Vessells are waiting for it. We are very sorry, that the Kings service will not Admit,...
43The American Commissioners to Abraham Whipple, 13 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: National Archives (two), University of Virginia Library, Yale University Library <Passy, June 13, 1778: Mr. Hezekiah Ford, chaplain to North Carolina troops in the continental service, was captured and sent to Europe, and has now found his way to us in Paris. We recommend him to be chaplain on your frigate until he returns home.> Published...
44The American Commissioners to Emmanuel-Yves Bersolle, 22 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress Your Bill upon our Banker was not paid, because it was drawn without our leave; and before you had sent us the Accounts to shew we were your Debtors. When we have examind your Accounts and found them just; we shall give you Notice, that our Banker will pay your Draft for the Sum due. We conceive you cannot with any sort of propriety require payment sooner. We...
45The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 17 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: National Archives <Passy, July 17, 1778: We enclose a resolution of Congress about the treaties, and request that it be laid before the King. It will show him how he has won the hearts of that body and of the American people by a beneficence that time will never efface.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 298. See also the...
46The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 13 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, July 13, 1778: Load the Boston with whatever Capt. Tucker will take, and particularly with as much lead as he can carry and you can supply.> Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 160.
47II. The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 9 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Some late Proceedings of the Enemy, have induced us, to submit a few Observations to your Excellency’s superior Lights and Judgement. His Britannic Majesty’s Commissioners, in their Manifesto of the 3d of October, have denounced “a Change in the whole Nature and future Conduct of the War,” they have declared “that the Policy as well as Benevolence of Great Britain, have thus far checked the...
48The American Commissioners to Ralph Izard, 22 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have just now the Honour of a Lettre from M. De Sartine dated the 19, which We suppose is his Excellencys Ultimatum concerning your Effects taken in the Nile, and We therefore take the earliest opportunity to inclose you a Copy of it that you may be able to take your Measures in Consequence of it, in which We...
49The Commissioners to C. W. F. Dumas, 10 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have received yours of the 2d Instant, with the Declaration sign’d by Mr. Van Berikel, and his explanatory Letter to you, which give us much Pleasure, as they show the good Disposition of that respectable Body, the Burgomasters of Amsterdam towards the United States of America, and their Willingness, as far as may depend on them, to promote, between the Republick of the United States Low...
50The American Commissioners to Samuel Tucker, 15 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society We this Moment had the Pleasure of your Letter from Bourdeaux of Ap. 11. and approve of your Activity in getting your Ship ready for Sea. We have this Day dispatched to Captain Palmes your Orders for your future Government, and shall write this Day to Mr. Bondfield to supply you with all necessary Provisions, and are your...
51The Commissioners to Caron de Beaumarchais, 10 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
In a Letter We have received from the Committee of Commerce of the 16 May We are informed that they had “ ordered Several Vessells lately to South Carolina for Rice, and directed the Continental Agents in that state to consign them to y our Address. ” In the Letter from Mr. Livingston to Us dated Charlestown So. Carolina 10. June 1778 he has Subjected the Cargo of the Theresa Thérèse to our...
52The American Commissioners to Boux, 3 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society We have wrote Capt. Nicholson who will procure you a Passage to America and we hope it may be such a one as will be agreable. Inclosed you have a Letter for the Hon’ble the Marine Board which you will send to them and attend their future Orders. Capt. Nicholson will give you notice where to meet him, or the Ship in which you can have a passage. We are...
53The American Commissioners to Horneca, Fizeaux & Cie., 2 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society; National Archives (two) Nous voyons avec Plaisir, par votre Lettre du 17 Septembre, que vous avez bien compris L’arrangement proposé pour notre Emprunt et que vous y confirmerez, a l’exception de la Retinüe que vous demandez pouvoir faire dans la premiere Année de dix pour Cent qui ne doivent vous entrer que par dixieme chaque Année. Nous ne pouvons...
54The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 4 November 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two) <Passy, November 4, 1778: We have at last seen M. Bersolle’s accounts. According to the resolutions of Congress, all captured vessels of war belong to the officers and crew, who in fact receive a bounty for every man and gun on board. Congress never intended to be accountable for further expense on account of these prizes. Every...
55The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 26 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
We had last Evening the Honour of your Excellencys Letter of the twenty fourth of this Month, in Answer to ours of the twenty Eighth ultimo relative to the Liberty for Americains to pass through this Kingdom with their Effects, in their Way home, Duty free, inclosing Copy of a Letter from Mr. Necker to your Excellency, upon the same subject. We shall take the Liberty to pursue the Rules...
56The American Commissioners to Abraham Whipple, 13 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: National Archives (two), Yale University Library <Passy, July 13, 1778: We have ordered Capt. Tucker to join you for your cruises and homeward voyage; leave as soon as possible.> Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 160–1.
57The American Commissioners to Van Berckel, 29 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): National Archives <Passy, October 29, 1778: Some of your propositions can only be discussed in a personal interview. We wish you or someone authorized by you might meet one of us at Aix-la-Chapelle or any other place you may judge more convenient. We also leave to you the selection of fictitious names to be used when meeting.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VII . In Arthur...
58The Commissioners to Gabriel de Sartine, 5 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour of your Excellencys Letter of the 5th. of this Month, but as the Memoire, of the French surgion, which your Excellency proposed to transmit to Us, was, by some Accident omitted to be inclosed in your Letter, We are ignorant of his Case, and consequently unable to inform your Excellency whether it is in our Power to afford him any Relief. If your Excellency, will have the...
59The American Commissioners to the Committee of Commerce, 29 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, July 29, 1778: We have received your letter of May 28 by Captain Reed [Read]. We rejoice at the arrival of even 49 hogsheads of tobacco, but wish for more. As we are under contract with the farmers general to furnish 5,000 hogsheads, for which we have already received a million livres, we have consigned this...
60The American Commissioners to Sartine, [16 May 1778]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <[Passy, May 16, 1778:] Basmarein, Raimbaux & Cie. informs us that it has applied to the government for a frigate to defend its commerce and make reprisals for its losses; we request that it may have one, and will give the ship a commission and a letter of marque.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 123. The...
61The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 10 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
By some of the last Ships from America, we received from Congress certain Powers and Instructions, which we think it necessary to lay before your Excellency, and which we have the Honor to do in this Letter. We have the Honor to enclose to your Excellency a Copy of the Contract made between the Committee and Mr. Francy, a Copy of Mr. Francy’s Powers, and a Copy of the list of Articles to be...
62The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 1 February 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives <Passy, February 1, 1779: We received yours of January 28. We are unhappy that we cannot give you effectual relief. The power to appoint consuls rests wholly with Congress; we can only appoint agents to execute our orders. Congress, a few days before it received news of the Treaty, empowered us to...
63The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 29 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have been favoured with a Letter signed by many Gentlemen of Nantes and dated the fifteenth of this Month, informing us that most of their Vessels were ready to sail to America, and that others were expected to be ready immediately, so that the Convoy need not wait at all, but might be ordered as soon as Convenience will permit. These Gentlemen are very desirous of a Convoy through the...
64The American Commissioners to James Smith, 28 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We received your Letter dated Paris Hotel de Saxe Aug. 24. and, altho We are altogether of a different opinion from yours respecting your Right of passing with your Effects Americans being intituled by the Treaty, no more than the Subjects of any other state in Europe in Amity with France, to pass with their Effects...
65The American Commissioners to Sartine, 30 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives In Answer to your Excellencys Letter of the Twenty fifth of this Month, We have the Honour to inclose, four Papers, with Blancs to be filled as your Excellency may have occasion. These Requests being all the Protection in our Power to give, We hope will have the desired Effect and We have the Honour to be &c In JA ’s hand.
66The American Commissioners to Sartine, 15 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 15, 1778: We refused M. Bersolle’s previous draft until he had sent his accounts. He then billed us for a thousand louis advanced to Capt. Jones on his arrival. Again we refused, because we had not authorized the advance and, when the Captain wrote that he could not feed his...
67The American Commissioners to American Prisoners in England, [19] September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: National Maritime Museum, Public Record Office, National Archives (two); transcript: Library of Congress <Passy, September [19], 1778: We have not written you for a long time but have been engaged in negotiating a cartel of exchange, and have assurances from England that an exchange will take place. The government of this kingdom has provided a...
68The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 4 January 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) <Passy, January 4, 1779: We acknowledge your undated letter, and refer you to ours of the second of this month. We cannot furnish Gilbank with more money; perhaps our protest of his bills will convince him. We have applied for the convoy with the greatest possible urgency. We approve your...
69The American Commissioners to Americans Taken on Board of English Frigates, 15 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have received a Letter from Mr. Robert Harrison of the 7 Octr. and another from John Lemon, Edward Driver and John Nichols, of the 12, all Prisoners in Dinant Castle, all professing to be Americans who have been first compelled into the Service of their Enemies, and then taken Prisoners by the French. You are not...
70The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 10 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères <Passy, April 10, 1778: Mr. Adams, appointed by Congress to replace Mr. Deane, has arrived and will wait on you as soon as he recovers from his voyage. He came on a continental frigate, which took a prize with a cargo valued at £70,000. Congress is detaining Gen. Burgoyne and his army for a breach of the convention, and has more than 10,000...