441Dumas to the American Commissioners, 28 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief <The Hague, July 28, 1778, in French: I enclose summaries of twelve pages of diplomatic correspondence. It is reliably reported that there will be a suspension of arms in Germany until August 1 and it is generally thought peace will follow. This morning I took a copy of the treaty, omitting articles 11 and 12, to the Grand...
442John Ayres to the American Commissioners, 29 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Bordeaux, July 29, 1778: I arrived yesterday in 26 days from Boston with a packet for you which ill health prevents me from delivering personally. Mr. Texier, a friend of Mr. Bondfield, has agreed to deliver it. I trust I shall soon recover and will be glad to serve in my capacity as captain in the continental navy. If not, I will await your orders. P.S....
443Sartine to the American Commissioners, 29 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Harvard University Library; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress, National Archives; two transcripts: National Archives J’ai recu, Messieurs, La Lettre que vous m’avés fait l’honneur de m’ecrire Le 16 De Ce mois. Sa majesté compte beaucoup sur les secours en vivres que Le gouvernement de la Baye de Massachusset pourra procurer aux isles St. pierre et Miquelon. Les...
444Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg to the American Commissioners, [before 31 July 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Dubourg attendra vendredi 31e juillet Messrs. Franklin, Lée et Adams chez Esprit Libraire au Palais royal a deux heures precises, pour avoir l’honneur de les conduire en une maison du voisinage, ou on sera tres flatté de les recevoir. BF ’s old friend and former translator. This note was written on the verso of a letter from Genet of July 23 which, we are...
445Dumas to the American Commissioners, 31 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je viens de recevoir les doubles des deux Lettres du Committé des affaires étrangeres, que vous avez eu la bonté de m’envoyer. Voici quelques Extraits des Depêches ministériales pour ce qu’il y avoit de plus essentiel. Ici rien de nouveau, si ce n’est que la désertion est très forte parmi les troupes de la république. Pas moins de 1500 déserteurs pendant...
446Abraham Whipple to the American Commissioners, 31 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library Have the pleasure of acquainting you, that my Ship has been in readiness for the Sea ever since the 25 inst. only wait for a favourable wind, the wind has been to the westward this fifteen days past, which makes it absolutely impossible to get out. These winds blowing directly up the River added to this the water is so...
447Peter Collas to the American Commissioners, 1 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I late master of the brigg Triton belonging to the United States of America which was Captur’d by the Enemy within bell Isle, On my Return here from England, I Protested Against the Said Captur’s therein Showing where And by whom taken and the Value of the Said brigg and her Cargo, which Protest you have been Pleased to Present to the Minister,...
448James Moylan to the American Commissioners, 1 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Lorient, August 1, 1778: The Boston and her three prizes sailed this morning. Captain Tucker accidentally mentioned to me your orders to load some goods, but as the wind was fair he decided not to wait for them. I can freight them for you at reasonable terms on a French ship I am sending to America next month. I am much obliged to Mr. Franklin for...
449John Paul Jones to the American Commissioners, 2 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: United States Naval Academy Museum, National Archives, University of Virginia Library <Passy, August 2, 1778: Captain Jones requests the commissioners to supply him with copies, or allow him to copy, the following letters: M. de Sartine’s letter to the commissioners about Capt. Jones, their answer, the commissioners’ letter to Lieut. Simpson resulting from Capt. Jones’s proposition in...
450Intelligence from Toulon and Other Places, 3 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
D : National Archives According to practice we summarize here the nine other intelligence reports which fall within the period of our volume. All were written in French; the final two are in an unknown hand, while the first seven (and the one we print) are in the hand of the chevalier de Kéralio, the military inspector who was the general source of the reports. (I) Brest, August 10, 1778: M....
451Dumas to the American Commissioners, 4 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library <The Hague, August 4, 1778, in French: M. van Berckel has responded to my letter. The Grand Facteur strongly recommended I send you a copy. P.S.: Congratulations on d’Orvilliers’ victory over Keppel; a letter sent to the chevalier [Georges] Grand by his brother informed us of it.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 344–6. Dumas included a copy of van...
452William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 5 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Two LS : American Philosophical Society Suivant Les Intentions Du Congrès j’ay L’honneur De Vous Donner avis que j’ay faits Traitte ce jour sur vous ordre De Monsieur aubin Bellevue Pour la somme De Mil Livres Tournois Payable a Trois Mois De Vue que je vous Prie D’avoir La bonté D’accueillir favorablement et en passer le Montant a L’acompte Des Etats unis De L’amerique. J’ay L’honneur D’etre...
453Alexander Fowler to the American Commissioners, 6 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society That your Petitioner served His Brittannick Majesty Eighteen Years with Honor and Reputation as will be seen by the Annexed Testimonials of His Conduct and Character. That in the year 1773, your Petitioner being then quartered in the City of Philadelphia, when it was no longer doubtfull that the British Legislature had formed a Plan to entail Slavery on the...
454John Paul Jones to the American Commissioners, 6 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: United States Naval Academy Museum <Passy, August 6, 1778: By a resolve of Congress the seamen engaged on the Ranger were given forty dollars each, and the landsmen twenty dollars advance in continental bills. They have also been supplied with slops, and received a small cash advance at Nantes last winter. I consider it my duty to represent these...
455Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 6 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library In the Extracts from Mr. Deans Letters to me, which I had the honour to give in to you some time since, I refered to the whole Letters of the following Dates, June 27. July 19. July 28. Augt. 1. Augt. 7 and Nov. 15, all in 1777. I have now the honour to inclose Copies of the whole of these Letters, and shall be happy if they are of any use to you. I propose...
456John Gibson to the American Commissioners, 8 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives In pursuance of an order of the Board of Treasury, I inclose you the following Resolutions, and beg leave to inform you, that notwithstanding the order of Congress for immediately striking Bills of Exchange to a greater amount, the Interest of the Continental Loan Office Certificates Issued to the 10th of March last will not exceed...
457Sartine to the American Commissioners, 10 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society <Versailles, August 10, 1778, in French: Since I wrote you on July 29 the commissaire des classes at Nantes informs me the American agent there has entrusted him with some British prisoners. M. de la Porte, intendant at Brest, has written me that the cargo of the Ranger’s prize is spoiling. I await your reply in order to...
458Peter Frederick Dobrée to the American Commissioners, 11 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library My Father in law has just now comunicated me the Honorable Mr. Lee’s Letter of the 4 Instant, which he received Yesterday, together with sundry extracts which would greatly alarm me, was not I consious of my Innocence. I will not take too much upon those precious moments which you so laudably dedicate to your Country, to refute the false accusations contained...
459James Moylan to the American Commissioners, 12 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The forgoing is extract of a letter I this day received from Lisbon dated 21st July. It may happen, the information may be of some utility to you, which is the reason I forward it, being with due respect Honorable Gentlemen Your assur’d humble Servant Addressed: The Honorable / Plenepotentiary Ministers / of the United States of / America / at / Passy...
460Barbeu-Dubourg to the American Commissioners, 14 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je prens la liberté de vous adresser M. de Vic dont le fils M. de Bois Bertrand etoit passé en Amerique vers le mois de juin ou de juillet 1776 a la recommandation de M. Penet qui lui avoit fait esperer le grade de Lieutenant Colonel ou même de Colonel. Nous avons appris depuis qu’en arrivant au Continent ses services y furent agréés, mais qu’il fut pris...
461John Paul Jones to the American Commissioners, 15 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copies: National Archives (two), United States Naval Academy Museum <Brest, August 15, 1778: I have been here five days and have neither seen nor heard from Lt. Simpson; but Mr. Hill reports the general rumor that I have been turned out of the service, that Simpson has replaced me with a captain’s commission, and that my letter to you of July 16 was only...
462John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 17 [i.e., 16] August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Bordeaux, August 17 [ i.e. , 16] , 1778: Captain Ayres’s poor health probably precludes his return voyage with your dispatches. Instruct me concerning his successor. Ships like his could transport goods to America quickly; if financial considerations permit, I could execute a partial order. I do not wish to seem presumptuous but I am herewith submitting a...
463Sartine to the American Commissioners, 16 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Harvard University Library; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress, National Archives; two transcripts: National Archives <Versailles, August 16, 1778, in French: In answer to your letter of the 13th on the question of prizes and prisoners, I enclose a copy of the regulations with revisions to articles 2 and 14. I will at all times receive with pleasure your...
464John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 17 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By Monsieur Le Norman who left this yesterday I had the Honor to advise you of the ill State of Health of Cap. Ayres and of my apprehendtion of his incapacity to proceed. I am more confirmd in my doubts his Physicians assuring me it will be imposible for him to resist the sharpness of the Air and the fatigue of the Passage, and of which he appears himself...
465James Moylan to the American Commissioners, 17 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: American Philosophical Society <Lorient, August 17, 1778: The brig Lady Washington , Captain Rowntree, arrived yesterday from the James River with a cargo of tobacco, having sailed July 8. The captain tells me the two armies were in New Jersey and the British transports still in the Delaware. Washington’s army amounted to 18,000 men, the people were in high spirits and money was...
466Dumas to the American Commissioners, 18 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <The Hague, August 18, 1778, in French: Nothing worthy of writing has occurred since I last wrote. I visit the French ambassador daily and, through him, received the Gazette de Yorktown that Mr. Franklin had entrusted the Chevalier [Georges Grand] to forward to me. Today’s Gazette de Leide is filled with its contents. I’m enclosing a copy of a letter I sent...
467John 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...
468Elisha Hinman to the American Commissioners, 19 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the pleasure of acquainting you, that I arrived here the 17th and am happy in finding the Providence Frigate Captn. Whipple, ready to part for America I have embarked on board, and flatter myself with a Speedy and safe passage. After Compliments of Respect I have the honour to be Gentlemen Your most Obedient very humble Servant Addressed: Honble...
469Abraham Whipple to the American Commissioners, 19 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives <On board the Providence , Brest, August 19, 1778: I wrote you from Paimboeuf on July 31; since then the Boston joined me and on Aug. 8 we proceeded in company to Brest, delayed by unfavorable winds until the 14th. I found here that Lt. Simpson had obeyed my orders of July 24th in quickly preparing for sea. But I was surprised to...
470George Finlay, Thomas Anquetil, Wm. Allan and Brown Bencor to the American Commissioners, 22 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Ancenie, August 22, 1778: We are prisoners taken by Capt. Tucker of the Boston . From Nantes we were sent to this town. We beg you to grant us liberty or supplies, since we have done nothing different from other captains who have been freed. Commanders of American vessels have gained their liberty.> Published as “British Prisoners of War to the...