201The American Commissioners to ——— Berubé de Costentin, 15 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives We desire you will allow Mr. Thomas Wilkinson, one of the Prisoners made by the Ranger, and now in your Hospital, to go into the Country for the benefit of his health, on his parole. We are Sir your most obedient Servants Signd The man Schweighauser had put in charge of American vessels and prizes in Brest. See Costentin to BF , Aug. 24. In Arthur Lee’s hand. He had...
202The American Commissioners to Ferdinand Grand, 6 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress We hereby request That you would pay Such Bills as shall be drawn on you upon Our Acct. by the Honl. Wm. Lee Esqr. or the honl. Ralph Izard Esqr. for any sums they may have Occasion for To the Amount of Two Thousand Louis D’orrs to each of them. We are sir Your most Obedient Humble Servants (Signed) Notation by Franklin: Letter of Credit written to M. Grand for Messrs...
203The American Commissioners to Sartine, 30 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have just received a Letter from Brest relating to the insecure State of our Prisoners there a Copy of which We inclose and request your Excellencys Aid in Securing them more effectually, till they can be exchanged. We also beg Leave to remind your Excellency of the Passport we desired for the English Cartell ship...
204The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 1 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have received, the Letter which your Excellency, did Us the Honour, to write to us, on the twenty seventh of the last Month: together with a Copy of a Letter from the Ministre of the Marine to your Excellency, of the twenty first of the Same Month. Convinced of the Propriety of those Ecclaircisements, which his Excellency demands, We had recourse to our Instructions from Congress, and...
205The 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...
206The American Commissioners to the Massachusetts Council, 16 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, July 16, 1778: We enclose a request from M. de Sartine, which we promised to send you. Americans will doubtless be inclined to supply the islanders, and the northern states be able to do so in the absence of, or perhaps even despite, British warships. We hope the attempt will be made; it will fetch a good price...
207The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 10 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Harvard University Library, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two) Capt. Jones has represented to us his desire & Intention of returning to the Countess of Selkirk, some Plate which his People took from her house. We apprehend that Congress would not disapprove of this Measure, as far as it should depend upon them; and We therefore consent on the...
Altho We have not written to you directly, for some time You may be assured, We have not been unmindfull of your Interests, your Comfort or your Liberty. We have been engaged, a long time, in negociating a Cartell of Exchange. This Work We found attended with many Difficulties, but at last have obtained Assurances from England that an Exchange shall take Place. We have also obtained from the...
209The American Commissioners to Musco Livingston, 31 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We are favoured with yours of the 24, and are not able to give you any certain Directions concerning the Duties upon C. Tucker’s Prizes. We have heretofore taken a great deal of Pains concerning the Subject of Prizes, and the Duties which must be paid upon them. Mr. Schweighauser of Nantes has obtained, as We...
210The 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...
211The Commissioners to Jonathan Williams, 9 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
We have received your Letters of the 12 Decr. and 23 of January. In the first You propose that We should write to Messrs. Horneca and Fitzeaux to pass the Amount of the Goods you mention to our Debit. In that of 23 of January, you propose that one of the Cases Still remaining in Mr. Schweighausers Hands should be delivered to you, and that We should give orders to Mess. Horneca &c. to replace...
212The American Commissioners to Thomas Simpson, 16 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: National Archives (two) <Passy, July 16, 1778: We have wanted to settle disputes among the Ranger ’s officers for some time, and at last have the pleasure of sending you a letter from Captain Jones which allows us to reinstate you on board the Ranger . Upon receipt of this, you will take command of the Ranger as first lieutenant, join...
213The 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...
214The American Commissioners to Sartine, 19 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) We beg your Excellencys Pardon for delaying the inclosed Paper So long.—We had the Honour of your Letter in Season, but by some Means or other it was, not attended to so Soon as it ought. In JA ’s hand. One of the copies at the National Archives is in Ford’s hand. The enclosures that might have...
215The American Commissioners to Vergennes: Letter and Memoir, 7 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS and copy : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives; (II) LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères We have the Honour to inclose to your Excellency a Memorial of very great Importance to the United States, to which We beg your Excellency’s Attention and a favourable Answer. We have the Honour to...
216The Commissioners to Gustavus Conyngham, 19 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have received a Complaint from the remaining Part of your Officers and Crew, of an unfair distribution of Prize Money by Mr. Hodge. To prevent any Such Complaints in future, We desire that you will put your Prizes into the Hands of Messieurs Gardoqui at Bilboa, and into those of the Principal Merchant at Cadiz or Corogne Coruña , directing them to make a Speedy Distribution of the...
217The American Commissioners to Sartine: Three Letters, 17 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
(I) AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives; (II) LS : Archives de la Marine; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives; (III) LS : New York Public Library; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have the Honour of your Excellencys Letter of the 14 of this Month informing Us, of his...
218The American Commissioners to Sartine: Two Letters, 18 August 1778: letter and résumé (Franklin Papers)
(I) AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; (II) AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives The Administration in England have agreed to an Exchange of Prisoners with us, and propose that it shall be made at Calais. They will accordingly furnish us with a Pasport for a Vessel to bring the Prisoners from Brest to Calais, if we procure a similar one for their...
219The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 22 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives We have the honor of enclosing to your Excellency a Letter to us from the Honble. Ralph Izard Esqr. Commissioner of Congress to the Grand Duke. We beg the favor of yr. Excellency to give directions for the delivery of the Packages mentiond therein to Monsieur Etienne Cathalan Mercht. at Marseilles, subject to the disposal of Mr. Izard. We have the honor of being with...
220The American Commissioners to Daniel McNeill, 27 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, October 27, 1778: We received yours of October 12 concerning your prisoners. On the basis of the King’s regulations on prizes and prisoners, published at the same time, we assumed no special ministerial order was necessary and that officers in the ports were instructed to secure prisoners as provided in...
221The Commissioners to Vergennes, 19 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
By sundry Letters from Merchants of Bourdeaux and Nantes, we are inform’d, that many Adventures to America are discouraged by the high Price of Insurance, and the Number of Captures made by the English, which together have an Operation almost equal to an Embargo; so that the Commerce which might be so advantageous, to both Countries, by supplying their mutual Wants, is obstructed, and the...
222The 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...
223The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 27 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, October 27, 1778: We have received yours of September 27 and approve your handling of the Thérèse and her cargo. We think you should sign the receipt to Mr. Williams, through the words United States, and omit what follows. He should discharge any demands against him and notify us, who stand behind him, without the...
224The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 19 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Massachusetts Historical Society; copies (two): National Archives We desire you will furnish Lieut. David Walsh with twelve Guineas taking triplicate Receipts from him payable to the president of Congress or his order. We are Sir Your most Obedient On Oct. 8 Franklin accepted a draft of Welsh’s for 176 l.t. , dated July 22: Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 361.
225From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 18 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
Thomas Beer, with his Wife and two small Children came to my House this forenoon, and presented me a Letter from Mr Coffyn of Dunkirk of the 2d. of Octr, recommending Beer to me as a Person who had been obliged to fly from England, for having assisted American Prisoners to escape; and inclosing a Copy of a Letter from your Excellency to Mr Coffyn of the 22d. of August, advising Beer to go to...
You are to go by the shortest Road to Dieppe, and make all the Dispatch possible. At Dieppe enquire for Mr. Baron, Merchant there, and take his Advice whether to go off to the Ship, or to acquaint the Captain with your Arrival send him the Letters you have for him, and desire him to come and meet you on shore. The last is safest for the Intelligence you may obtain, as well as for you, if the...
227Franklin and John Adams to John Paul Jones, 10 February 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two) <Passy, February 10, 1779: As the change in command of the Ranger might be subject to misinterpretation, we hereby certify that your leaving that ship was with our consent and at the express request of M. de Sartine, who desired to employ you in some public service. That Lt. Simpson...
228Franklin and John Adams to Arthur Lee, 23 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
L : Harvard University Library Mr. A. Lee is desired to sign and return the enclosed if he approves it. Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Lee M.P.D.E.U. / a sa Maison / A Chaillot Endorsed: Recd. from a Commissionaire on my way from Challiot to Paris, between 6 & 7 OC. in the Eveng., containing a Paper of which the enclosd is an exact Copy. A Lee July 24th. 1778. Returned unsignd at 8 OC. next...
229Franklin and John Adams to Monsieur and Madame de Lafreté, 9 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Messrs. Franklins and M. Adams are extremely sorry that they were not at home when M. and Mad. de la Freté did them the Honour of calling at Passy. They are engag’d to morrow and every day next Week: but if it should be convenient to M. and Made. de la Freté, they will do themselves the Honour of dining at Suréne on Monday the 18th. Instant, which is the...
230Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to J. D. Schweighauser, 1 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 1 November 1778. Dft , heavily damaged, MH-H : Lee PapersBenjamin Franklin and John Adams asked Schweighauser to help Mme. Gerard, wife of the French minister to the United States, obtain the return of portraits of herself and her son that she had attempted to send to her husband. According to the attached copy of a letter of 26 Oct. from Mme. Gerard to the Commissioners, the portraits...
231The American Peace Commissioners to Francis Dana, 12 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour to congratulate you, on the Signature of the preliminary Treaty of Peace, between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, to be inserted in the definitive Treaty, when France and Britain Shall have agreed upon their Terms. The Articles, of which We do ourselves the honour to inclose you a Copy, were compleated, on the thirtieth of last Month. To Us, at this...
We have received the Letter you did us the honor to write on the 25 th. Inst. Our Country has had early and repeated Proofs both of your Readiness and Abilities to do her Service. The Prospect of an inactive Campaign in America, induced us to adopt the Opinion, that you might be more useful here than there, especially in Case the Negotiation for Peace on the Part of France in England, should...
233To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams and John Jay, 28 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Historical Society of Delaware Mr Adams and Mr Jay present their Compliments to Dr Franklin and inform him, that they have just seen Mr Laurens and agreed with him upon a Meeting of the American Ministers Tomorrow at Eleven, at Mr Laurens’s Lodgings. The Drs Company is desired, and Mr Franklin Junr is requested also to attend. Addressed: Son Excellence / Monsieur Franklin / Ministre...
234Proposal by the American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley (Adams Papers)
Paris, 22 May 1783. PRINTED: JA , D&A , 3:125–127 . LbC-Tr ( Adams Papers ); APM Reel 103. With this offer the commissioners sought to counter Hartley’s proposal of the previous day (above) as well as the 14 May Order in Council. They proposed an agreement whereby both parties would appoint ministers to negotiate a permanent commercial treaty. Until such time as an agreement was concluded,...
Articles to be proposed in the definitive Treaty. MS ( Adams Papers ); endorsed: “Minutes of Articles to be / proposed in the definitive / Treaty.” Filmed at [ Dec. 1782 – June 1783 ]. These dates are derived from JA ’s Diary entries for 10, 12, and 13 Dec. ( JA, D&A Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 3:94–96 ). In the first, JA...
236Proclamation of the Cessation of Hostilities by the American Peace Commissioners, 20 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
By the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America for making Peace with Great Britain A Declaration of the Cessation of Arms, as well by Sea, as Land, agreed upon between His Majesty the King of Great Britain and the United States of America Whereas Preliminary Articles, were Signed, at Paris, on the thirtieth Day of November last, between the Plenipotentiaries of his Said...
237Passport for British Merchant Ships, [ca. 3 February 1783] (Adams Papers)
We John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, three of the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America for making Peace with Great Britain. To all Captains or Commanders of Ships of War, Privateers or armed Vessels belonging to the said States, or to either of them, or to any of the Citizens of the same—And to all others whom these Presents may concern send Greeting. Whereas...
238The American Peace Commissioners to Richard Oswald, 7 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS and three copies: Public Record Office; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress (three), Massachusetts Historical Society (three), National Archives, North Carolina State Division of Archives and History; press copy of copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives In answer to the letter you did us the honor to write...
239Articles Proposed to David Hartley by the American Peace Commissioners (Adams Papers)
[ Paris, 29 April 1783 ]. PRINTED: JA , D&A , 3:114–115 . MS ( Adams Papers ). LbC ( Adams Papers ); APM Reel 109. LbC-Tr
240The American Peace Commissioners to Alleyne Fitzherbert, [20 February 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society We have recd. the Letter wh you did us the Honor to write on the 18th. Inst, together with the Passports mentioned in it. His britannic Majesty’s Proclamation of the 14th. Instant has our entire approbation, and we have the Honor of transmitting to you, herewith enclosed, a Declaration perfectly correspondent with it. It appears to us important to...
241The American Peace Commissioners to Francis Dana, 12 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS, AL (draft), and copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: Library of Congress We have the Honour to congratulate you, on the Signature of the preliminary Treaty of Peace, between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, to be inserted in the definitive Treaty, when France and Britain Shall have agreed upon their Terms. The Articles, of which We do ourselves the...
242The American Peace Commissioners to Lafayette, [27 November 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Columbia University Library; copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society We have recd. the Letter you did us the Honor to write on the 25th. Inst. Our Country has had early & repeated Proofs both of your Readiness and abilities to do her Service. The Prospect of an inactive Campaign in america, induced us to adopt the opinion, that you might be more useful...
243The American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley: Answers to Propositions, [29 June 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society (two), National Archives (two), Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; transcript: National Archives Answers to Mr Hartleys six Propositions for the definitive Treaty— To the 1st This matter has been already regulated in the 5th & 6th Articles of the Provisional Treaty to the utmost extent of our...
244To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 16 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society I have at last recieved Letters from Mr. Dana. Mr. Sayer arrived in town yesterday with Letters to me, and dispatches for Congress, which I shall transmit by the best opportunity. Three days before I had recieved a Letter which came by Sea, but had been almost four Months upon the passage. Mr. Dana appears to be...
245To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 10 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society Should the British Forces now in New York and Charlestown evacuate those Places and go to the West India Islands, they might give a good deal of Trouble to the French and Spanish Possessions there. It would cost those Powers many Men and Ships and a great deal of Money and Time perhaps to manage them: whereas...
246From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 20 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I had the Honour of yours of the 12th. and will take an early opportunity to send you all the Lights I can obtain, by Inferences from the Numbers of the Bills. Those already presented I shall accept according to your Advice. Your office is certainly a disagreable one in many respects, and mine grows every day more and more disgusting to me. I wish myself at home every hour in the 24,...
247From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 24 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Letter which your Excellency did me the Honour to write me on the thirteenth is recieved, and I have accordingly accepted the Bills, and shall draw upon your Excellency about the Time they become payable, for Money, to enable me to discharge them, provided I should not succeed in my Endeavours to borrow it here. I have hitherto no prospect at all. When I first arrived here, I had such...
248To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams and Francis Dana, [on or after 11 February 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Adams & Mr. Dana present their most respectful Complaments to his Excellency Dr. Franklin and wou’d acquaint him that as Mr. Adams had invited Company to dine with him on Sunday next, previous to his Excellency’s invitation, to dine with him on that Day, they cannot do themselves the honor of waiting upon him. Addressed: His Excellency Dr: Franklin /...
249Franklin and John Adams to Ferdinand Grand, 1 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, American Philosophical Society <Passy, October 1, 1778: Pay to John Adams 6,000 l.t. and charge the same to the commissioners’ account.> This letter only exists as copied in the account books of JA and WTF . It is published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VII , under Oct. 1; it also appears in Account III described above, XXIII , 19.
250Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to J. P. Mercklé, 13 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 13 April 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:52 . In replying to Mercklé’s letter of 26 March ( Cal. Franklin Papers, A.P.S. I. Minis Hays, comp., Calendar of the Papers of Benjamin Franklin in the Library of the American Philosophical Society , Philadelphia, 1908; 5 vols. ,...