1381To Benjamin Franklin from Jno. Hammond, 6 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I think there is no person, to whom I might apply to for Redress, Like as a person that is not acting not only for the Good of the publick, but also for the Good of the Common welth. I am Sorrow to trouble you nor neither Should I, had not my present Situation Required it. I am Sorrow to have occation of writing to you, in Respect to the marchant, with whom...
1382To Benjamin Franklin from Charles-François Le Brun, 6 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society When I deliver’d to you on Sunday Last the Letter of messrs. Delagoanere & Co. of Corunna I observed to you that they were very uneasy on account of one of your Letters which was missing because they Supposed it might have been intercepted. You approved of their idea of having your answers transmitted to them under my cover that they could go Safe and...
1383To Benjamin Franklin from William Moran, 6 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Both my duty and present situation oblige me to take the liberty of writing to you; Had I been treated as any man of my station should Expect here at Dunkirk, I could have been of some Service to the Cause long since. Moreover there is no greater Sign of our Departure at present than was ten days Ago as the wind still continues in the same point, besides...
1384To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 6 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have received your Favour of the 30th Ultimo and am glad the Bill is accepted. I imagine the Words added are not of much consequence, if the Customs here are as they are in England. I have in consequence given an order to Bilboa to supply Babson taking care however not to exceed what the Balance in my hands may be. I shall be able to judge of M....
1385The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 8 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; two copies: Archivo Historico Nacional The Commissioners from the Congress of the United States of America, beg leave to represent to your Excellency, that it is near a year since they had the Honour of putting into your Hands the Propositions of the Congress for a Treaty of Amity and Commerce with this Kingdom, to which, with sundry other...
1386Franco and Adrianus Dubbeldemuts to the American Commissioners, 8 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We had the honnour to write You Our Last on the 21st of Last monthy since which we are honoured with Your moast Esteemed favour of the 23 of Last month in answer Serves that we are Greatly obliged to you for the Goodnes you have had to forward the papers Send you and as we are willing to send according Your good advice the Duplicat to our frends in st....
1387To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Goudeman, 8 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Ne croyez pas que je saisisse le moment de vos succès pour vous demander une juste faveur. Il y a longtemps que j’avois prévu cette victoire, et ce n’est pas la derniere que vos Braves et Vertueux compatriotes remporteront sur leurs tirans. Mais ce n’est pas de quoi il est ici question. Un de mes amis, de Province, me prie, Monsieur, de vous adresser le...
1388To Benjamin Franklin from Catherine Macaulay, 8 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have some affaires which demand my immediat return to England. You are very sensible that the suspenssion of the Habeas Corpus Act subjects me to an immediat imprisonment on any suspicion of my having held a correspondence with your Countrymen on this side the Water. This Sir is the only reason why I did not fix a day to have the honor of seeing you at my...
1389To Benjamin Franklin from Courtney Melmoth, [8 December? 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I took the first opportunity, after my Arrival in Paris from the Country, to wait on the worthy Mr. Dubourg. He mention’d his having offer’d to your Inspection, Sir, a little hasty Ode that was addressed to you. When I avow myself the Author of that Copy of Verses, it is merely in the Hope that it may discover enough of my Heart and my Wishes to induce you...
1390To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Jacques Bachelier, 9 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’aurois eté vous faire mon Compliment de felicitation sur les heureux succes dont l’Europe Retentit sans l’accident qui est arivé a mon Epouse une Epeingle qu’elle a avalé, nous à alarmé pour sa vie. Je profite du premier moment de soulagement qu’elle Eprouve pour me Rejouir avec vous de ce que la Cause de l’humanité est triomphante. Je suis avec Respect...
1391To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Jacques Caffiéri, 9 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je vous prie de recevoir mes complimens de l’heureux succés de l’armé Ameriquaine qui vient de remporter une victoire complette sur les anglois; je vous en félicite. Je désire que leurs conquêtes prosperent de jour en jour pour que les treize Provinces ûnie jouissent de la liberté et de la Paix qu’elles méritent à tous Egards. Je prie M. votre petit fils...
1392To Benjamin Franklin from John Thurston, 9 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society From the Knowledge I have of your Goodness, and the Small acquaintance, I was Hon’d. with by you, at Philadelphia and New York, I hope you will Excuse the freedom I take, in recommending the Bearer Mr. Fowler, who Am Certain, you’l find to be a faithfull Honest Man. I am your Excellencys Most Obliged Humble Servant PS. The Bearer is pofects [perfecting?]...
1393From Benjamin Franklin to Goudeman, 10 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society We consider M. Wuibert as one of our Countrymen. Hundreds of them are in the same Situation. We have propos’d to the British Court, thro’ their Ambassador here an Exchange of Prisoners in Europe. The Proposition was rejected with Insolence. We have no Interest with that Court to procure Favour. That Gentlemen may depend on our taking the same Care &...
1394To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Blin, 10 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Habitant d’un Paÿs voüé depuis Longtems au commerçe et partageant avec Mes Patriottes un Interest bien permis a la deffense des vaillans americains, Il y auroit il de L’indiscretion de ma part, a vous demander, Monsieur, sur le sort de Leurs armes, des nouvelles, que nôtre Gazette nous refuse avec constançe? Elle ne produit que des Lettres de contradiction...
1395The 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...
1396From Benjamin Franklin to Sir Grey Cooper, 11 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library Receiving frequent Accounts by American Prisoners, who have escap’d from your Goals, of the miserable Situation and hard Treatment of their Countrymen at Portsmouth and Plymouth, we have prevail’d with a Gentleman, Major Thornton, (to us much a Stranger but who appears a Man of Humanity) to visit the...
1397From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 11 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Virginia Library Mr. Franklin’s Compliments to Mr. A. Lee; sends him two Papers containing Facts relating to the Treatment of Prisoners; and begs to be excus’d waiting on him to day at dinner, as he shall be necessarily employ’d at home in preparing Dispatches for England, otherwise the Gentleman cannot set out this Evening nor to-morrow if they are not ready to day, as we...
1398From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Walpole, 11 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : David Holland, London (1955) I ought long since to have acknowledg’d the Receipt of the Bills you sent me, in full Discharge of the Ballance of our Account. For which I thank you. I am sorry Lord Chatham’s Motion for a Cessation of Arms, was not agreed to. Every thing seems to be rejected by your mad Politicians that would lead to Healing the Breach; and every thing done that can tend to...
1399The American Commissioners to Lord North, 12 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Evening Post , January 24–27, 1778 From motives of duty, and an earnest desire of mitigating the calamities of war, we proposed, near a year since, to the King of Great Britain’s Ambassador here, an Exchange of prisoners in Europe. The answer we received must have been made known to your Lordship, and the world will judge of its decency. It would have been honourable for...
1400Dumas to the American Commissioners, 12 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief, The Hague Les grandes joies sont muettes, ainsi que les grandes douleurs. Je vous félicite de tout mon coeur; et Dieu benisse l’Am. unie. En reponse à la Lettre de Mr. A. Lee du 4e. je n’ai rien eu de plus pressé que d’envoyer sur le champ aux gazettiers, tant françois que holl[andois], copie fidèle et exacte, sans changer, ajouter, ni retrancher un seul mot,...
1401To Benjamin Franklin from “Amicus,” 12 December 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
D : Yale University Library <Pennsylvania Coffee House, London, December 12, 1777: I have recently seen a paper supposedly written to facilitate American borrowing. It would do credit to any author; its case for the inevitable growth of America will convince every intelligent reader. Great Britain has achieved pre-eminence during the past eighty years for two reasons, the growth of her...
1402Certificate for Rolandeau, 13 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Dartmouth College Library This may certify whom it may concern, that M. Rolandeau, a Lieutenant in the 5th Regiment of the State of Carolina, came to France on some Affairs of Importance which indispensibly requir’d his Presence, and so suddainly that he had not an Opportunity of obtaining his Congé. Of this I am well assured by Persons of great Honour and Distinction here. And as he...
1403Arthur Lee to Franklin and Silas Deane, 13 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. A. Lee’s Compliments to Dr. Franklin and Mr. Deane. He receivd a Letter yesterday from Bilboa informing him, that the ten thousand Blankets for which Mr. Lee had remitted money from the spanish fund were ready to be shipt together with a very great quantity of Sail and tent cloth, Anchors, Cables, Cordage and Dreggs but that they must either purchase...
1404To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Priestley, 13 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Though our correspondence be interrupted by the most unhappy of all events, and your mind must be wholly occupied with things of infinitely greater moment than any thing that I can write to you about, you are never long out my thoughts; and I still flatter myself with the idea of seeing you once more. The late news from America has contributed very much to...
1405To Benjamin Franklin from James Babson, 14 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This may Enform you that I Sailed from Bilboa Novmr. 20 with my pore Nacked Crew by a fafour of Messrs. Gardoquis & Sons that Trusted me with one hundred Pound Sterling to Buy a Little provishing. I fell In with Six fish Vessells from N Foundland affter a Little Dispute Tuck them all and Carred them Into St. andero [Santander]. I oared [ordered] them to...
1406To Benjamin Franklin from Ingenhousz, 14 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; AL (draft): Yale University Library You will be surprised to see, that I am not yet arrived in England. I found my Brother’s wife dangerously ill and could not part with her before all danger was over. I found no letter of you or of any other friend at the post office at Amsterdam. I am now for some days at Delpht with my old friend and instructor Mr....
1407To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Boudet, 15 December 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Lyons, December 15, 1777, in French: An unfortunate Frenchman, whom cruel losses over the years have overwhelmed, addresses a virtuous Englishman and asks for refuge among his countrymen. I came here in 1759, the youngest son of a large Montpellier family, to work in a textile firm and then in a house trading with Spain, and lost the fruit of my labor. In...
1408To Benjamin Franklin from Claude-Isaac Peuch, 15 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society En qualité de Sujet d’un Etat libre qui a tout sacrifié pour se procurer l’independance, j’ai admiré plus d’une fois les efforts surprénnans et généreux de vos Compatriotes pour se procurer les mêmes avantages et se délivrer d’un joug qui auroit certainement été aggravé, à mésure que les Oppresseurs auroient trouvé de facilité de l’appesantir. Comme...
1409Dumas to the American Commissioners, 16 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook summary: Algemeen Rijksarchief, The Hague Envoyé le supplément de la Gazette fançoise de Leide No. 100, où est inséré l’extrait de la Gazette de Boston, savoir la lettre du Général Gates, Capitulation de Burgoyne, et Lettre du Général Washington. Détaillé mes opérations à cet égard, par rapport à l’avertissement du Gazettier de Rotterdam du 13e. où il promettoit ces pieces pour...
1410Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 16 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library My last to Mr. Dean in answer to his of the 8th. informed you that I intended to go to Painbeuf, to give you a fuller account of the Lion, but various affairs have prevented. I have now ordered every article that relates to that Ship to be collected and sent on board with the utmost dispatch and by the end of this Week I intend she shall be compleat in...