1To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Gillon, 19 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I crave your Pardon for the freedom I preuse in addressing the inclos’d to your Excellency, you will greatly favour me in communicating its contents to their Excellencies your Colleagues, particularly to Mr. Izard, if he is with you. I hope soon to have the satisfaction of assuring you in Person, with what Respect I am—Your Excellencies Most Obedt. hble...
2Alexander Gillon to the Commissioners, 25 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to embrace this earliest opportunity of acquainting you of my arrival here this day from Our Continent, Via Havana, were I embark’d in A Spanish Vessel for Spain the 17 Novr. last, and on the 19th. Instant fell in with A Small Fleet from here under the Command of Count de Grace, (Cape Finisterre bearing E S E about 50 Leagues) who immediately with his Usual Politeness, offer’d me...
3Alexander Gillon to the American Commissioners, 25 January 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Brest, January 25, 1779: I arrived here today from our continent via Havana. I embarked for Spain on November 17; on the 19th instant I encountered a small fleet about fifty leagues east south east of Cape Finisterre commanded by de Grasse, who suggested that I make for Brest with the frigate Fortunée , Capt. Marigny. To expedite the business I am sent on...
4The American Commissioners to Alexander Gillon, 2 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society (two), Library of Congress, National Archives We duly receiv’d the Honour of yours of the 25th. past, informing us of your Safe Arrival at Brest, on which We congratulate you. We have had no Advices from America Later than the Beginning of November; nor any thing interesting Since the Departure of Count D’estaing from Boston, the 4th of that Month;...
5To John Adams from Alexander Gillon, 17 April 1779 (Adams Papers)
Pardon me for not forwarding you the two inclos’d introductory Letters sooner but I was in hopes of readily accomplishing my business here thus expected the pleasure of delivring them to you. Hitherto I have received no possitive Answer, tho Mr. de Sartine has repeatedly favour’d me with opportunitys of Stating my Demands to him and Yesterday promis’d me A reply to my sundry Requests next...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Gillon, 21 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I propose setting off to morrow morning, I shall esteem it a particular favour if your Excellency will be pleas’d to send me per. the Bearer, the Pass I requested of you (when I had the pleasure of seeing you last) for Capt. Joyner & Self, with Servants & Baggage to Holland thro Flanders, & as we propose returning by the Sea Coast, so as to Visit Havre...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Gillon, 21 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Inclosed is the Passport you desire, with which I heartily wish you a good Journey and all the success you hope for. You may depend on my doing what I can for you, but do not depend on my succeeding. I have understood since I saw you, that these Applications of particular States are not agreeable. It is said, that if they are comply’d with, they will encrease, and...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Gillon, [25 May 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I much regret that I had not the pleasure of meeting your Excellency at Home on my first visit to you since my return from Holland. I was as unlucky Yesterday, being detain’d by unforeseen Events, so that I cou’d not wait on you till the Afternoon, missing you then also, I tho’t it best to come here in hopes of seeing you this day;—will your Excellency...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Gillon, 29 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By Letters lately recd. from So. Carolina I am well acqd. with its Situation & therefore take the liberty to address your Excellency thereon requesting you will weigh how far America is Interested in that States success or misfortunes & that if the Object you have in view for the Continental Ships & Vessels of War in Europe is not superior to that of the...
10From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Gillon, 5 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library I received the Honour of yours dated the 29th. past. The Zeal you show for the Relief of Carolina is very laudable: and I wish it was in my Power to second it by complying with your Proposition. But the little Squadron which you suppose to be in my disposition, is not as you seem to imagine fitted out at the Expense of the United States;...
11To John Jay from Alexander Gillon, 29 August 1779 (Jay Papers)
I flatter my self with the Hopes that you have enjoy’d a Perfect State of Health since I had the pleasure of Seeing you at Philadelphia, & that you will very soon Reap the Reward due to your Perserverance & Labour, as A little Success of the United Fleet must I conceive produce next Spring that Inestimable Blessing Peace.— I have been Seven Months in this Kingdom Labouring to Execute the...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Gillon, 1 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I inform’d your Excelly. of my intended Rout last time I had the pleasure of Seeing you, I now with satisfaction assure you that notwithstanding some extraordinary difficulty that arose in Prussia, I adjusted a very essential piece of business there, & know at what terms I can build & fit out these, but little can be done during the winter season there,...
13To John Adams from Alexander Gillon, 14 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to Congratulate you on your happy return to Europe, and to make this enquiry after your Welfare. I much flatter myself that nothing but affairs of the utmost Consequence cou’d induce you to undertake the Ardous task of again quitting your happy native Country, and I am well Convinced evry inhabitant on our Continent stands highly indebted to you for this fresh proof of your Zeal for...
14From John Adams to Alexander Gillon, 20 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had last Evening the Pleasure of your Letter from Amsterdam, of the 14th. instant and I thank you for your kind Congratulations, on my Arrival in Europe, and for your obliging Compliments. You and I have been tossed about the World, in the service of an Infant Country in distress and danger: happy and blessed indeed shall We be if all our Labours, Hasards, and Exertions, can in any degree...
15To John Adams from Alexander Gillon, 14 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I should have had the pleasure of answering your respectfull favour of 20th. past ere now had I not waited to have inform’d you what was doing here. The States are still sitting and I have reason to believe will not adjourn soon, various are the Reports of their proceedings but from what I am able to gather from there I can depend on. The Grand business is done between the Northern Powers on A...
16From John Adams to Alexander Gillon, 21 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I recieved yours of the 14th. which came very safe. I thank You for the News about the Northern Powers, but should have been glad you had been more particular. There are Reasons to suspect that some Letters are opened, but as the friends of our Country must communicate with each other, it will not do to interrupt Correspondences for fear our Letters shall be opened. We may write so...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Gillon, 12 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society When I had the pleasure of seeing you last, I acquainted your Excellency that there was strong hopes, that I should want Seamen & requested your Aid which you was pleased to promise me, observing that there was no men wanted for the immediate Service of the Continent, as the Alliance had more men than she wanted, I have now the direction of One Vessell for...
18To John Adams from Alexander Gillon, 12 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
A Fever having confind me to my lodgings some days, debar’d me of the pleasure of waiting on your Excellency, and of making a Verbal instead of A written application to you in behalf and for the use of the State of South Carolina. Your Excellency has been partly a Witness to the unavoidable delays I have met with here, proceeding from a three months spell of Easterly winds and not sufficient...
19From John Adams to Alexander Gillon, 12 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter which you did me the Honour to write me the 12 of Novr. It would give me great Pleasure to do any thing in my Power consistant with the duty I owe to my Constituents to assist you. But the Advices you allude to are as great an Obstruction to you as to me. I have left no Measure unattempted, that Prudence could justify: but have neither procured any Money nor obtained...
20To John Adams from Alexander Gillon, 8 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
Since I have been Honoured with Your Excellency’s Reply of 12th November to my Application to You the same day in behalf of the State of South Carolina, fresh disappointments have arisen that Caused unavoidable delays, and thereby Accumulating Expences. These disappointments could not be foreseen nor expected, and were, the delay of 280 Men, all the Ammunition, and Cloathing I had paid for...
21From John Adams to Alexander Gillon, 10 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter which you did me the Honour to write me on the Eighth of this Month, requesting of me to furnish you with fifty obligations of the United States, to enable you to discharge the Debts of the Ship of which you have the command, in the Service of the State of South Carolina. I have considered your Letter, Sir, and all the Arguments contained in it, with all that...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Gillon or John Joyner, 28 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and partial AL (draft): Library of Congress The essential Interests of the United States making it absolutely necessary to retain the Money which had been ordered to America by the Conveance of your Ship, I am obliged hereby to desire that you would return the same, if already shipt to Messieurs Fizeaux Grand & Co., for which this shall be your Order and Justification. I have the honour...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Gillon, 4 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society Your Excellency knows so well all my Occurrences in Holland, particularly my Contract with Lieutt. Colonell Laurens, that I need say but little about Major Jackson, whom I early acquainted that on the Troops coming on board I found there was but little room left. Ships were Chartered, and I got out to Sea as soon as I...
24From John Jay to Alexander Gillon, 9 October 1781 (Jay Papers)
The paper herewith enclosed is a copy of a letter which I recieved this morning from his Excell y the Count de Florida Blanca, his Catholic Majestys principal Secretary of State, and Minister for foreign affairs. You will perceive from it, that two men on board your frigate are claimed by this Government, as deserters from one of his Majestys Irish Regiments of Infantry; and that you are said...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Gillon, 14 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the Honour of addressing Your Excellency the 30th. Past since when we have refitted our Ship as well as the conveniencies of this Port & Circumstances would admit, & have now our Supplies on board paid for, by part of the State of South Carolina’s effects on board, & the Ballance in Your Accepted Bills which I was happy enough to pass...
26To George Washington from Alexander Gillon, 4 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
When the Ship South-Carolina was at Sea waiting off of the Texel for two Dutch Ships that were coming out to go under her Convoy, loaded with Continental Goods: there was sent onboard, two Boxes from Amsterdam, directed to Your Excellency, which I believe came from the House of Messrs John de Neufville & Son, without any particular advices to Captain Joyner or me; whilst at Corunna, Captain...
27To George Washington from Alexander Gillon, 6 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Montgomery not proceeding at the time I expected, prevented forwarding to your excellency by him the 2 boxes, had the honour of writing to you about the 4th of March last: they are now on board the south Carolina, ready to be delivered to any person, your excellency will please to appoint to receive them. With very much respect I have the honor to be Your Excellency’s most obedient &...
28From George Washington to Alexander Gillon, 17 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received by the post your two favors of the 4th March & 6th of June. I feel myself much obliged to you for the Care & Attention you have paid to the two Boxes sent on Board your Ship at Amsterdam—they contain a Press for Copying Letters, & were ordered on Board by Messrs De Neufville & Sons, & designed as a present from them to me. If you will be pleased to deliver the Boxes to the...