121John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 3 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Bordeaux, October 3, 1778: No ships have arrived from America; that none have come from [South] Carolina is to be expected because of the embargo on rice, but many French vessels are in Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, even if American ships are lacking. A ship belonging to Mr. Ross was sold here. The crewmen who shipped for the round trip demand...
122Thomas Grant and Joses Hill to the American Commissioners, 3 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Bordeaux, October 3, 1778, with two paragraphs in French: We the first and second mates contracted on May 3 for us and eight other sailors of the snow Nancy , Edenton, North Carolina, James Morrisson master, to sail for Spain or France, load the ship and return to the united provinces. We were advanced a month’s wages in dollars and in July, on arrival in...
123Joy Castle to the American Commissioners, 2 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This May Inform you That I have got My Ship Which I ham Much Obliged to you all for and Shall Sail for the Contanent Verey Soon. If there is aney thing In My power to Sarve you In I Should be glad To have the honner to Execute your Comand. I Shall Mack for the Caps. of Virginia if Posable. I Should a Sailed Before this But My Whife has Been Verey Bad I...
124Dumas to the American Commissioners, 2 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief <The Hague, October 2, 1778, in French: Since my last letter I have spent ten days in Amsterdam in the service of the United States-one day with the Grand Facteur, two with our friend and seven writing 615 numbers, 2460 folios, 2255 times “A” and 2255 times “Passy 31. Aoust 1778” on your promissory notes. When I left...
125Sartine to the American Commissioners, 1 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society; Library of Congress (two) <Versailles, October 1, 1778, in French: For certain reasons I am asking His Majesty to grant Mr. Fagan passports for three British ships to carry goods from France to England. I request you to grant him whatever documentation he needs for protection against privateers. The merchandise involved consists only of goods belonging...
126Matthew Ridley to the American Commissioners, 29 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society <Paris, September 29, 1778: A number of years ago, in London, I came upon a manuscript book of the commissioners of the English navy. It contains accurate descriptions of the ships and their equipment then in commission as well as calculations for their repair and the duties of their officers. Conceiving this...
127Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 27 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: National Archives (three), Library of Congress (two), Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, Massachusetts Historical Society; transcript: National Archives <Versailles, September 27, 1778, in French: In your letter of the 28th of last month you recalled the King’s promise in article 8 of the...
128Schweighauser to the American Commissioners, 26 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives <Nantes, September 26, 1778: After I wrote you asking instructions about M. Peltier du Doyer’s claim on the cargo of the Thérèse , I decided to put a stay on his action and demanded delivery of the goods to me to prevent his remitting the proceeds of his sales to Paris. The inventory of the arsenal is completed. Mr. Williams wants me to sign the annexed receipt which I...
129Joseph Wharton, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 26 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Paris, September 26, 1778: In order to lessen the scarcity of salt in America and to benefit myself I propose to send several cargoes of it from Portugal this coming winter. As you informed me there is no congressional resolution against direct trade from Portugal to the United States, I ask passports for the vessels I may load there. Because of the...
130Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 25 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society J’ai reçu, Messieurs, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire pour reclamer des Effets appartenans à M. Izarts qui ont été pris sur un batiment Anglois allant à Livourne. Je n’entrerai pas ici dans la question si le Navire Ennemi rend la marchandise Ennemie, les Capteurs l’éleveront certainement. Mais Comme cette...
131Schweighauser to the American Commissioners, 24 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives <Nantes, September 24, 1778: I received your letter of the 14th [13th] only yesterday covering one from Capt. Richard, together with the documents relative to the cargo of rice and indigo shipped by A[braham] Livingston of Charles Town. The person in charge of the vessel, M. Peltier du Doyer, tells me that, on orders from M. de Beaumarchais, he has already sold the...
132Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 24 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Library of Congress (two), National Archives Par la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 28 du mois dernier, Messieurs, vous avez demandé l’entrée libre dans le Royaume et l’Exemtion de tous droits des effets de beaucoup d’Américains qui se trouvent en Europe, et qui sont dans le dessein de retourner dans leur...
133Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 24 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I this Day compleated the Inventory of the magazine of arms and presented it to Mr. Schweighauser for him to sign the Receipt at the Bottom. We are agreed as to quantity and number but he declines engaging to receive the articles for Reparation remaining to be supplied without your orders. I therefore request you to give your Directions accordingly that I...
134Engelbert François van Berckel to the American Commissioners, [23 September 1778]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society <[Amsterdam, September 23, 1778], in French: The undersigned, counsellor pensionary of Amsterdam, informs the commissioners that the burgomasters of the city authorize the following declaration: assuming Congress will not enter into any agreement with the English commissioners that would be harmful or prejudicial to Dutch trade in Europe either directly or...
135Philip Hancock to the American Commissioners, [after 2 September 1778] (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; (II) AL (draft): American Philosophical Society On the supposition that these memoranda were written on the same day, we are publishing together the petition of Philip Hancock to the American Commissioners and the version Franklin rewrote for him in clear, forceful English. Franklin, like Georges Grand, was moved by the plight of this man of good...
136Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 22 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Nantes, September 22, 1778: When I laid my accounts before you, I left the general one open pending its completion; I now send it, closed and settled, up to May 30, 1778. You will also find accounts of the arms magazine, invoice of arms repaired, and the general account from June 1 to September 10, with a balance in your favor of 7,386 l.t. 18 s. 9 d. I...
137Ralph Izard to the American Commissioners, 21 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères <Paris, September 21, 1778: I have learned that the ship Nile , Captain Goldsmith, has been taken while bound from London to Leghorn and brought into Marseilles. She carried 20 packages of my baggage addressed to Monsieur Antoine Martinelli, merchant, to be delivered to the abbé Niccoli. My name doesn’t appear on them as this might have...
138Musco Livingston to the American Commissioners, 21 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Bordeaux, September 21, 1778: I received yours of –– [August 31], and will answer on my return to Nantes where I have left the relevant papers. I have a very fine ship ready to sail immediately and will gladly take two or three hundred tons of the public goods now at Nantes. Since I am unfamiliar with the terms and conditions of shipment, write me your...
139Sartine to the American Commissioners, 21 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress (two), National Archives (two); transcripts: National Archives (two) <Versailles, September 21, 1778, in French: I have received your letter of the 17th. I knew that the principle of reciprocity in the matter of recapture would meet with your approval. The regulations of Massachusetts of which Capt. McNeill informed you are...
140Jonathan Loring Austin to the American Commissioners, 19 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Passy, September 19, 1778: On Tuesday [September 22] I will leave for Holland and then for America. I would appreciate letters of recommendation to Congress, the Massachusetts Council and other assemblies or individuals. Had I the money myself or had I not exceeded the credit with Pliarne, Penet & Cie. given me by the Board of War in Boston, I would not...
141Daniel Blake and John Lloyd to the American Commissioners, 19 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives Being informd that some malicious person, or persons, have been, and are still endeavoring, by the most infamous means, to deprive Mr. J. D. Schweighauser of his good name, and being apprehensive that the intention is to prejudice him in the estimation of the Honorable Commissioners, we think it an act of Justice due to injurd Merit, to acquaint you, that we have...
142S. and J.-H. Delap to the American Commissioners, 19 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We received the Letter you did us the honor of writing us the 18th July last covering one for Capt. Wm. Hill Sargeant and a Blank Bond for him to fill up and sign; inclosed we return you said Bond executed by him and us for £1000 lawful Money of America, which is from what we could learn, the Security usually given for a Vessel of Cap. Sargeant’s Burthen...
143Dumas to the American Commissioners, 13[—18] September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief <The Hague, September 13[–18], 1778, in French: The Assembly of Holland has resolved to increase the republic’s naval forces in Europe by 32 ships of the line as well as frigates and 8,000 crewmen. The address of the bourse of Amsterdam has arrived as has one from a number of Rotterdam merchants. The merchants of Dort are...
144Francis Hopkinson to the American Commissioners, 18 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (three): American Philosophical Society I am directed by the Board of Treasury of the United States to transmit to you a List, shewing the Numbers the Bills of Exchange are to bear, which will be drawn upon you and issued from the respective Loan Offices. Agreeable to this Order I now enclose you an Invoice of such Bills as have been forwarded to each State from my Office, ascertaining...
145Elisabeth-Angélique Lalouëlle to the American Commissioners, 18 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society <St. Malo, September 18, 1778, in French: Bernard-Alexandre Lalouëlle, my son, embarked in January, 1777, on the Reprisal , Capt. Wickes, as second surgeon at the salary of 72 l.t. per month, plus two shares of the prizes. He performed brilliantly the amputation of the arm of the second officer in command. When the Reprisal , having taken several prizes,...
146Horneca, Fizeaux & Cie. to the American Commissioners, 17 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: National Archives, Massachusetts Historical Society <Amsterdam, September 17, 1778, in French: Your letter of August 31 came only two days ago. Ours of the 7th acknowledged receipt of the book of notes and coupons signed by you. We will work on the arrangements with all possible zeal and prudence, and with all the skill we have acquired from fifty years of experience; your instructions...
147William Lee to the American Commissioners, 17 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Paris, September 17, 1778: I wish to confer with you on an important and profoundly secret subject; I will wait on you at any hour tomorrow at noon or afterwards when you are alone.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VII . Lee had been in Paris several days and planned to remain there no longer than three weeks: Ford, Letters of William Lee , II , 472,...
148Sartine to the American Commissioners, 16 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two), Library of Congress <Versailles, September 16, 1778, in French: I have received your letter concerning the French ship Isabelle recaptured by the privateer General Mifflin . The naval ordnance of 1681 assigns captains of recaptured vessels a third of their value if retaken within 24 hours. American privateers in France benefit...
149John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 15 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Bordeaux, September 15, 1778: The cutter Tartar , Captain Southcomb, arrived yesterday from the York River, which it left on July 29. Southcomb reports d’Estaing had taken five English frigates and that New York was closely blockaded and would doubtless fall. [ Postscripts: ] Captain Ayres died on the 13th; I had him buried as decently as is allowed to...
150Richard Grinnell to the American Commissioners, 15 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Guernsey, September 15, 1778: Captain Peter Collas and I sailed with Captain [Corbin] Barnes from Paimboeuf August 29. We were captured September 1 by Captain Abraham Bushall who treated us like brothers. We fell in with Captain Niles whose schooner Spy had been taken by a Jersey privateer. Niles and Barnes succeeded in throwing all papers overboard....