11Arthur Lee to Franklin and John Adams, 17 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Chaillot, May 17, 1778: Because I am not well enough to come to Passy I send you my drafts of important letters; alter them as you wish. If our subordinates disregard our orders, and involve us in debt without accounting for what they spend, we and the public suffer.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 130.
I am well informed that two Indorsements have been made on the Accounts I have had the Honour to present to the Commissioners, one of which contains Accusations as injurious to my Reputation as they are false and malignant. The first of these Indorsements is on my Account dated Sept. 10 1778 and is written in the following Words.— “N B The Order from B Franklin and John Adams Esqrs. to the...
13Arthur Lee to Franklin and John Adams, 10 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I perceive by the letter you have sent me that Mr. Deane’s claim is ascertaind by marks, and therefore have signd the letter. But I think enquiry shoud be made after those goods which were bought with the public Money in Holland, and which those now given up were supposd to be. I am unwilling to sign the Letter to Capn. Jones, because it does not contain the...
14Charlotte and Peter Amiel to Franklin and John Adams, 17 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. and Mrs. Amiel present Compliments to Mr. Franklin and Mr. Adams, will do themselves the pleasure to accept their obliging invitation for next Friday. Addressed: Doctor Franklin / Passy For the husband see the note on Lee to BF above, April 2. The Amiels were frequent dinner guests of the commissioners; so was Jonathan Loring Austin, who also accepted on...
15The Prince de Poix to Franklin and John Adams, [12 April? 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Mrs. Harry Hull, Washington, D.C. (1957) Le Prince de Poix est venu pour avoir l’honneur de voir Messieurs Franklin and Adams. Il a le plus grand empressement de faire connoissançe avec Monsieur Adams qui a eu la bonté de lui apporter une lettre de M. de la Faÿette. Il aura l’honneur de repasser mardy matin et de lui offrir tous ses serviçes pour ce qui pouroit lui etre agreable dans ce...
16Arthur Lee to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, 7 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
To a written Letter, one of you was civil enough to return me a verbal answer, that Doctor Bancroft was appointed to transact business for us in England, and that his instructions shoud be sent to me. Why you shoud think that in the choice of a person to represent us, I shoud have no voice; I am at a loss to conceive. The notorious character of Dr. Bancroft as a Stockjobber is perfectly known...
17John Paul Jones to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, 9 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that this day Arrived here a Virginia Pilot boat from Boston in 23 days. The master reports—that Comte Destaing had saild from thence a fortnight before on a Secret destination—that the Summerset was lost on Cape Cod, the materials saved and the Crew Prisoners —that the Providence, Boston, and Ranger were Arrived having taken two or three Merchant Vessels—That...
18Elijah Hall to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, 3 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
I request your Honours Favour in behalf of the Officers and Men, that you would point out some Method to bring the Prizes to sail, which we took on the late Cruize, as we are much in want of Cloathing and other Necessaries which we cannot do without. Many of Us have Wives and Children now suffering in America, the Time for which most of the People engag’d being now almost expired, and no...
19Arthur Lee to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, 17 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Being too much indisposd to come to Passi this morning, and thinking the subjects of the enclosd Letters of pressing importance; I have sent you what I think shoud be written. You will make such Alterations as you think proper. But if the subordinate Servants of the public continue to obey or not obey our Orders as they please—to act as they will, without taking our orders—to involve us in...
Mr̃ Jefferson’s compliments to M r. Adams & D r. Franklin, and incloses to them the letter to the D. of Dorset on the separate articles. he also sends one on the general subject & in the general form as had been agreed when they parted last: but thinking that it might be better, by reciting what had been done with mr̃ Hartley to keep the ground we have gained, and not to admit that we...
21Thomas Jefferson to Franklin and John Adams: Résumé, 1 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society ⟨March 1, 1785: Mr. Jefferson sends Mr. Adams and Dr. Franklin his notes on the treaty with Prussia. When Mr. Adams has perused them, he should send them to Dr. Franklin. Mr. Jefferson proposes a meeting at Passy on Thursday [ March 3 ] at 12 o’clock. He sends “the Prussian propositions, mr. Adams’s & Dr. Franklin’s notes, & the former project & observations...
22Arthur Lee to Franklin and John Adams, 28 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Your Letter informing me of the Alteration of your Intention, not having reached my House till some time after the Hour you had appointed for setting out for Versailles, I was gone before it arrived. I informed Count Vergennes, that you were coming, & we waited till 5’ O’Clock under no small Embarressment, especially myself, to conceive what detained you....
23[Edward Bancroft] to [Franklin and John Adams], [before 7 August 1778] (Franklin Papers)
Two copies and transcript: National Archives In early 1778 Silas Deane and his friend Edward Bancroft had used their inside knowledge of the Franco-American treaty negotiations to wager on the London stock market. Unfortunately for them, Musco Livingston, a young ship captain, saw a letter written by Bancroft to a Mr. Wharton (probably Samuel Wharton, Bancroft and Deane’s partner, but perhaps...
24Arthur Lee to Franklin and John Adams, 22 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: University of Virginia Library M. Monthieu calld on me yesterday, but I was too ill to see him. I suppose it was to urge the payment of his demand, which I am by no means yet satisfyd is due. The Papers he has given in, instead of vouching it, render it suspected. The only true & sufficient Voucher is the receit which Mr. Williams did give, or ought to have given to M. Peltier duDoyer at...
25From the Abbés Chalut and Arnoux to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, [before 27 July 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Les abbés Chalut et arnoux ont l’honneur de souhaiter le bonjour aux deux respectables deputés du Congres genéral. Ils sont bien fachés de ne pouvoir pas se rendre à l’honneur de leur invitation, pour vendredi prochain ils sont empechés Ce jour là, ce qui excite leurs regrets. Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur franklin / Ministre plenipotentiare / des états...
26Arthur Lee to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, 22 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
M. Monthieu calld on me yesterday, but I was too ill to see him. I suppose it was to urge the payment of his demand, which I am by no means yet satisfyd is due. The Papers he has given in, instead of vouching it , render it suspected. The only true and sufficient Voucher is the receit which Mr. Williams did give, or ought to have given to M. Peltier de Doyer at the time he sa id ys he deliverd...
27Arthur Lee to Franklin and John Adams, 8 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having not seen the Letter of Mr. Williams to which one of those sent me is an Answr. I cannot form any judgment of it. As there are no marks mentiond by which Mr. Deanes claim to any of the Goods in the possession of the public Agent can be ascertaind—as all the Goods in question, were, when received, declard to be on account of the public; & as I perceive...
28Thomas Mifflin to Franklin and John Adams, 20 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives I have the Honor to transmit to you the following Acts of Congress relating to the formation of commercial Treaties &c Viz— N 1. Letter to the Ministers plenipotentiary at the Courts of Versailles and Madrid dated 17th. of October 1780— N 2. Instructions to the Ministers of the United States for making Peace with Great Britain dated May 30th. 1783 N 3. Instructions to...
Although a stranger to you, I take the liberty of writing because I think that, as the representatives of a nation owing its existence to its virtues, you are sufficiently the friends of mankind to care to clarify for one of your fellow men the means by which he proposes to achieve happiness. In France, by the effect of a national prejudice, the labors of an active life, honorable as they are...
30Thomas Jefferson to Franklin and John Adams: Résumé, 17 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Massachusetts Historical Society ⟨Cul-de-sac Tetebout, October 17, 1784: Mr. Jefferson sends to Mr. Adams and Dr. Franklin drafts of the two letters to be sent to the Duke of Dorset. One is on the separate articles. The other is on the general subject, and written in the form that they had agreed upon during their last meeting. Having reconsidered the latter, he sends a second version...
31Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bennett Lloyd to Franklin and John Adams, [2 July? 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd present Compliments to Messrs. Franklin and Adams, and will do themselves the honour to dine with Them on Saturday next. Addressed: Messrs. Franklin & Adams For the two see XXVI , 343 n. In the husband’s hand. We assume that they were accepting for the celebration on Saturday, July 4, to which the commissioners invited all the American...
32From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, 17 October 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson’s compliments to Mr. Adams and Dr. Franklin, and incloses to them the letter to the D. of Dorset on the separate articles. He also sends one on the general subject and in the general form as had been agreed when they parted last: but thinking that it might be better, by reciting what had been done with Mr. Hartley to keep the ground we have gained, and not to admit that we...
33Thomas Jefferson to Franklin and John Adams: Two Memoranda, [before 10 November 1784] (Franklin Papers)
(I) AD and AD (draft): Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; (II) AD and AD (draft): Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society When Congress instructed the commissioners to negotiate twenty treaties in two years, it did not send a draft treaty; it specified nine “points [to] be carefully stipulated” in the accords. Faced with so daunting an assignment...
34Henry Grand to the American Peace Commissioners, 10 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
It is some Months ago since I had the honor to write you, & am well persuaded, altho I received no Answer thereto, that it will have engaged your attention. I earnestly wish it may have been productive of an Improvement to the Finances of Congress which I then foresaw would be short of our Wants & which is unfortunately too much the case at present. Last Month I remitted to the Honorable R t....
35Henry Strachey to the American Peace Commissioners, 5 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
Knowing the expectations of the Kings ministers that a full Indemnity shall be provided for the whole Body of Refugees, either by a restitution of their property, or by some stipulated compensation for their lossess, & being confident, as I have repeatedly assured you, that your refusal upon this point will be the great obstacle to a Conclusion and Ratification of that Peace which is meant as...
36Thomas Mifflin to Franklin and John Adams, 20 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of copy: American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives I have the Honor to transmit to you an Act of Congress of the 16th. Inst: together with Copies of the several Papers to which that Act refers. I am with the Greatest Respect, Gentlemen, Your obedient & humble Servant In L’Air de Lamotte’s hand. The enclosed resolutions of March 16 (Hist. Soc. of Pa.; see JCC, XXVI ,...
37Marie Silvestre Grand to Franklin and John Adams, [1778?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mde Grand prie Messieurs Franklin et adams de venir prendre le thé cette a près midi chez elle mr le roi y sera et fera la parti du cher papa. Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin Mme. Ferdinand Grand, whose last extant invitation to the commissioners had been in May, 1778: XXVI , 399–400. While the present letter may date from JA ’s return to Paris in...
38Arthur Lee to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, 8 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
Having not seen the Letter of Mr. Williams to which one of those sent me is an Answer I cannot form any judgment of it. As there are no marks mentiond by which Mr. Deanes claim to any of the Goods in the possession of the public Agent can be ascertaind—as all the Goods in question, were, when receivd, declard to be on account of the public; and as I perceive in the Banker’s Accounts very large...
Upon the receipt of the provisional Articles & a subsequent account brôt by a Vessel dispatched by Count d’Estaing, I wrote the Letter N o. 1. to S r. Guy Carleton, & N o. 2. to Admiral Digby: to which I recieved the Answers N o. 3. & 4. You will find them cold & distant— Those they wrote to the Minister of France, in answer to similar Communications made by him, were still more so, and...
40Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje to the American Peace Commissioners, 29 … (Adams Papers)
We observe by the favour of your Excellencies most honour’d letter of 22 Inst. that M r. Grand has laid before your Exc s. a state of the Affairs of the United States under his Care; and that the Dispositions made upon him are Such, that therefore your Exc s. advise us to remit to M r. Grand on account of Said States a sum of half a Million Livres Tournois, if the Cash in our hands, compared...