1From Benjamin Franklin to Pierre Landais, 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Your other Swedish Prize is retaken and carried into England, as we hear by the English News Papers. The other which is arrived, will I suppose be tried in the Court of Admiralty of the Port at which she is arrived, unless being unable to find Proofs that the Property of the Cargo is English, you should think fit to discharge her. Mr Adams will take his Passage in...
2From Benjamin Franklin to Pierre Landais, 16 February 1779 [i.e., 17] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I duly receiv’d your favor of the 7th inst. I made an immediate Application to the Ministry here for Advice relative to the Conspirators, and I postpon’d writing to you till I should receive it. I suppose the Newness of the Case has occasion’d some Delay; But I will not any longer omit answering your Letter as far as I can. I am told it is a standing Rule that no...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Pierre Landais, 28 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress; Harvard University Library In case the Circumstances of the Bonhomme Richard, should make a Delay of her Sailing necessary of which Mr. De Chaumont will inform you, I do hereby direct that you proceed to the North Seas by Such Route as you Shall judge most proper, and cruise there till the end of September in such Parts as are most convenient for intercepting the...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Pierre Landais, 1 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I receiv’d the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 28th. past. Inclos’d I send you the certificate I gave you the last time I saw you to justify your stay in Paris till the Time of its Date, You left it on my table. As I do not understand that Capt. Jones has refused to deliver your Things, or that any Application has been made for them, an Order to him...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre Landais, 2 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I write you in Answer to yours of June 24th. as in the former, thinking it was nothing but right in Demanding my people Should be righted. And indeed if there is any time Lost it is by the delay of there payment, my two first prizes, Sweedish Ships, were bro’t in on account of the Masters’ not furnishing Sufficient proofs of their Neutrality having sent you...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre Landais, 7[-8] February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I have the pleasure to inform you of my arrival here yesterday after a passage of twenty three Days, from Boston where I was fitted out for the purpose of conveying to France the Marquis de la Fayette, and Suite, the Chevalier de Rimondis, the Captain late Commander of the Ceasar one of the Ships belonging to his Majesty and to bring you the Packetts...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre Landais: Response to the Officers’ Affidavit, [after 26 November 1779] (Franklin Papers)
D : University of Pennsylvania Library The following articles, are the Answers to the five & twenty Articles made by some American Officers [ in the margin: not sign] the 30th. Day of Oct 1779 at Texel, respecting the Conduct of Peter Landais Capt of the American Frigate Alliance brought to him Novr. 26th. 1779. Art. 1. has been answered in a Court Martial Kept at L’orient for which the first...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Landais, 27 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your favour of the 17 inst.—with the List inclosed of your Ships Company. I am concerned to see the Number so small, But it is not in my Power to enlarge it; as you do not chuse to have french Seamen, and Americans are not to be had; and If I shou’d procure a Permission for you to enlist Volunteers from among the British Prisoners in France, there is Danger...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Landais, 11 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your favour of the 3 inst. The Order of M. de Sartine was sent from Versailles on Monday last for taking your Mutineers off your Hands, so that I hope you are free of them before this Time & employ’d in fitting your Ship for the sea; in which you will make all the Dispatch possible & follow the Directions of the Agent as to the Place of Rendezvous in Order...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Landais: résumé, 9 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Paris, January 9, 1780, in French: Please certify to be a true copy the following extracts of J.P. Jones’s letter to you dated the Texel, Oct. 3, 1779. I am sorry to trouble your excellency again but thinking it necessary, I hope it will be granted.> Landais gives a French translation of several sections of Jones’s letter, beginning with “When the Fleet...
11From Benjamin Franklin to Landais, 28 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Archives de la Marine, Library of Congress, Harvard University Library Being arrived at L’Orient agreable to the Orders I sent you when at Nantes, you are to join Capt. Jones, put yourself and ship under his Command as your senior Officer, proceed with him on the Cruize he is about to make, and obey his Orders untill your Return to France. I heartily wish you Success, both with Regard...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Landais, 19 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours of the 12th. and 15th. Instant. I was glad to hear of your safe Arrival at l’Orient, but what you write me about the Officers of your ship afflicts me exceedingly. At this Distance I can do nothing towards remedying the Disorder. I must therefore leave it to Commodore Jones whose Authority with the Aid of Courts martial, if necessary, will I hope be...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 7 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I have waited ’till now for your Order for Sailing as you announced me another letter in yours of the 24th. June, to Come by the next Post—but since you have wrote me nothing and that you charged me in that letter with the prejudicial delay of the Sailing of the Alliance, and given no hopes of having my People righted, I have prevailed upon them to go to our...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 12 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Sailed from the River of Nantes the 10th. Instt. Came at anchor at Groay Island the 12th and into the harbour of L’Orient today, where Monsieur Ray De Chaumond Delivered me the Letter Your Excellency honnoured me with the 28th Ult. Containing Your Order to put my Self and Ship under Capt Jones Command accordinly I went Directly to Seek him and ask’d his...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 28 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I landed the day Before yesterday the Eight and thirty mutiners, I am getting Ready for to Sail for Nantes as fast as Possible and Expect to be ready in Eight days thence. I have had here all the Iron work repair’d and nothing but the most necessary things have been done or had. I shall wait for your orders at Nantes in a forteen night if the wind Permits....
16To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 11 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You Called me by your Order from the Commend of the American Frigate Alliance which The Honorable Congress had Confided the Commend off, to me; upon Some Accusations that none but a Court Martial Can judge, and you have given the Said Commend to my accuser, You have kept me here these four months past I d’ont know what for as it Could be Said in America,...
17From Benjamin Franklin to Landais, [27 June 1780] (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: National Archives You are hereby directed to receive on board the said Frigate as many Cases of Fusils and as much of the Gun powder, ready to be delivered to you by Order of his Excellency the Prince de Montbarey, Minister of War, as you can conveniently Stow, giving a Receipt for the same; and the same, together with the Powder, Arms and Cannon, already Ship’d, to transport to...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 1 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Received Your Favour of the 24 ult. and went directly down the River to the Ship to aquaint the Honnble John Adam with the order you geve me. The wind is So high that no loaded buts can go aboard, I’ll do my utmost to fullfil your order as Soon as possible— I have recruted already fourty three fore mast men among the american Prisonners besides the...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Landais, 10 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Having not yet received from Commodore Jones, what he may have to offer in support of the Charges he makes against you, I find it proper to postpone for a few Days the hearing of your Defence, and I do therefore here by desire you to Stay in Paris till Monday next. When I hope the Hearing may take place. I am, Sir Your most obedient and most humble servant. Because...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 10 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Your Letter of the 2d. Instant, came safe to hand, yesterday, the first article of which, respecting the tryal or dismission of our Sweedish prize, I transmitt to Monsr. Pitot, coms. agent at Morlaix, where she is; leaving it to him & [ to ] act as his wisdom shall direct, he having all her papers. Your Exy. desires to hear, how my refitt goes on? I had the...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 16 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society, University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: National Archives My last to you was of the 14 Instant in which I informed your Excellency that I had retaken the Command of the Ship Alliance, which I left in the charge of my Lieutenant. There are on board this Ship sixty seven cases containing small arms and two hundred & sixteen barrells of powder, which are...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 3 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Windship arrived So late the 28th of february that I had no Time to answer the last article of Yours of the 22d. I have no other orders or papers from the Hble Navy Board of Boston Promissing any one of the Ship Money but one of which herein is inclos’d a Copy; Mr Cottentin adgent Commrs. here had a translated one in french at my arrival here (of which I...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Landais, 8 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress Understanding that you expect an explicit Order from me, this is to require you to receive on Board your Ship the Alliance, the Honourable John Adams Esq. with his Son and Servant, and give them a Passage therein to America. I have the Honour to be Sir your most obedient humble Servant In Gellée’s hand. Written at JA ’s request...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 28 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In the answer you favoured me with dated feby 12, you Say that I am pleased to blame you. I beg you Pardon, it dont became me to blame, but I may Say that I have been detained here by Your Excy Order, and ask for a passage for America. I ask at the Same time your order for my Staying here all that time, Since you have in your hand the first order you gave...
25From Benjamin Franklin to Landais, 24 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, American Philosophical Society, Harvard University Library I received your Favour of the 6th Inst from Brest, and the 19th from Nantes. I am glad to learn that you are safely arrived with the Prisoners. You will receive some of the exchanged Americans whom Mr Schweighauser has engaged for you: and I have applied to the Minister of the Marine for as many good French...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 24 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Harvard University Library I received the 22d Inst the letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 15th It. and would have complye’d with Your order inclose’d in it immediatly had I not been detain’d aboard one day to over hauld my papers, and when I came ashore I thought I wanted but half an our of time for to have a Certificate from under the...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 10 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been ever Since, January 15th, waiting for the favour of your answer, to the letter I had the Honour to Send you the Same day; and for the Copy of the letter from Monsieur de Sartine to you, in Consequence of which, you Ordered me to come to Paris, which you was so obliging to tell me you would Sent me, as I do want it for to write my justification...
28From Benjamin Franklin to Landais, 25 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: University of Virginia Library The Bearer Mr. Hezekiah Ford who has for some time been in the service of the United States, & always a zealous friend to the cause of Liberty, being about to return to America, if you can conveniently receive him in your Ship as a Passenger when you return thither you will oblige Sir Your most Obedient & most Humble Servant I Certify that the above Letter...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Landais, 24 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, National Archives You have written several Letters peremptorily demanding of me the Prize Money which you say is due to the People of the alliance and in yours of the 16th. which I have received thro’ the Hands of Mr. Schewighauser, you speak of time lost by the Delay of that Payment to the Prejudice of the Interest of the United States. Your two first Prizes were...
30From Benjamin Franklin to Landais, 12 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress You are pleased to blame me for your long stay in Paris. I have not heard of any Opportunity you have had of going to America, and if you had been there you must have waited as long for the Arrival of the Alliance before you could have had the Court martial you desire. There seems then to have been no time lost. When you desired me formerly to order your Things to be...