951Franklin and Silas Deane to Arthur Lee, 1 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: Harvard University Library; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copies: National Archives (four), University of Virginia Library (two), South Carolina Historical Society We have maturely considered your Letter of the 30th past. And tho’ we cannot see the mischievous Consequences of the 12th. Article which you apprehend, yet conceiving that Unanimity on this Occasion is of...
952Arthur Lee to Franklin and Silas Deane, 1 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I enclose you a note of the price of Arms in the King of Prussia’s Manufactory, sent me by the Baron Schulenburg; with information that the Director had orders to let us have whatever we orderd. He says they will come cheaper if we do not want them so highly finishd as the King requires them. Shoud you think it proper that any of them shoud be sent to...
953The American Commissioners to [Gerard], 30 January 1778 [i.e. 27] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; ALS (draft) or copy: University of Virginia Library We have concluded to make no farther Propositons for the present Treaty. We only wish the Word Sovereignty may be inserted in the two Places propos’d, if not thought absolutely improper. We have the Honour to be with the greatest Esteem, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servants We print the...
954Gérard to the American Commissioners, 30 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai recu avec la lettre dont vous m’avés honoré, la traduction que vous avès bien voulu me faire remettre. Je rendrai compte du contenu de votre lettre et je travaillerai sans delai à l’examen de la traduction. J’ai l’honneur d’etre avec une consideration respectueuse Messieurs Votre très humble et très obeissant serviteur Addressed: A Messieurs /...
955James Moylan to the American Commissioners, 30 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am not honor’d with the receipt of any of your favors since my last to you of the 23d. current. I am this day informed, that Government has order’d 2,000 Seamen to be raised in Nantes and 2,500 more in St. Malo, besides a number of Bakers of this Town, which are all to proceed immediately to Brest; likewise, that there are positive directions in all the...
956Arthur Lee to Franklin and Silas Deane, 30 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; two LS : University of Virginia Library; copies: Harvard University Library, South Carolina Historical Society More mature deliberation and fuller lights upon the subject, have satisfyd me that I was wrong in receding from my opinion against the admissibility of the 12th. Article in the proposd commercial treaty. I shoud therefore think myself neglectful of...
957John Ross to the American Commissioners, 29 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library; two copies: National Archives The present unhappie situation of Mr. Thomas Morris American Commercial Agent, now dangerously ill, and according to the opinion of his Phisician not likely to recover, oblige me to address you Honble: Gentlemen, that the necessary step may be adopted immadiately, to prevent the Worst of consequences to both Public and Private...
958A Proposed Article for the Treaty of Alliance with France, [on or before 27 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
D : Library of Congress The commissioners met with Gérard on January 8 and agreed to negotiate two treaties, one of amity and commerce and the other for an eventual alliance. On the 18th Gérard presented them with drafts of both, which he asked them to return. They consequently spent the next days in making copies and translations of the drafts, a chore that they dared not entrust to a...
959Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 27 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The letter I had the honnor of writing to you the 20th. instant, was dictated with that Eagerness I feel myself prompted to communicate to you every occurence which comes to my knowledge, and which I imagine may be agreable to you; the report it contain’d of an action between Genl. Gates and Genl. Cornwallis was then currant here, and was confirm’d to me by...
960Dumas to the American Commissioners, 27 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief, The Hague La présente est une suite de celle que j’ai eu l’honneur de vous écrire vendredi passé 23e. à l’adresse de Mr. A. Lee à Chaillot près Paris, rue bataille No. 5. Depuis ce temps j’ai fait d’autres découvertes, que j’ai communiquées au Substitut, qui m’en a su gré; et je n’hésite pas de vous en faire part aussi, parce que ce qui se passe en Baviere...
961John Paul Jones to the American Commissioners, 27 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the honor to inform you that from Paris I reached this place in 56 hours. As I have in my possession repeated Orders from Congress to Afford Aid and protection to the American Commerce, I conceive it to be my duty to give my best protection and safe conduct to the Squadron with Supplies now nearly in readiness to sail from hence, until they are at...
962To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 27 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society The background of this note was Lee’s dispatch from England to the committee of secret correspondence of June 3, 1776. William Carmichael was supposed to deliver it but did not for more than two years; he and Silas Deane opened it, kept it, and used it, Lee believed, to cause trouble for him. The statement about the episode that Lee enclosed with his note is...
963Dumas to the American Commissioners, 23 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief, The Hague Le Morceau de la Gazette de Leide d’aujourdhui, que je joins ici, vous fera voir que vos ordres, reçus par la Lettre de Mr. A. Lee, du 12e., ont été remplis conformément à vos desirs. S’il avoit dépendu de moi de prévenir absolument toute sortie de recrues Allemandes, il n’en seroit certainement pas parti un seul...
964James Moylan to the American Commissioners, 23 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since I had the honor of writing you the 7th. Inst. I am deprived of the receipt of any of your favors. There are letters this day in Town from Morlaix advising the arrival there of a vessel from Baltimore, which place she left the 10th. of December last, and the Capes of Cheasapeake the 14th. Dec. the Captain of which (it is said) reports that New York and...
965The American Commissioners to Gourlade, Bérard frères & Monplaisir, 21 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society We wrote you the 12 inst. on the Subject of the Letter returned to Mr. Beaumarchais since which we are without any of your favours, except of the 12 inst. which relates to the Sales of the Cargo of the Amphitrite, the acct. of which sales you will please to favour us with a Copy of for our Settlement with that Gentleman. It is a little surprizing that Capt....
966The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 21 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: American Philosophical Society, Library of Congress, National Archives (two) We mean in this letter to give you a succint view of the state of our military affairs. You must long before this reaches you have been made acquainted with the signal success of the american arms in the northern department, particularly the several Engagements in that quarter previous to the surrender of...
967Gourlade, Bérard frères & Monplaisir to the American Commissioners, 21 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society In Consequence of your letter of 12th: Instant we have acquainted Mr. Beaumarchais we were ready to account with him for the whole Proceeds of the Cargo of the amphitrite of which we have already remitted to him part of the amount and Shall continue. If our accounts of disbursements for the two frigattes have exceeded your expectations you cannot with any...
968Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 20 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honnor to address you my last the 15th. inst. advising you the arrival of Two wounded Seamen taken in the Lexington, and by a former I inform’d you on a Seperate slit [slip] of paper of the Taking of the Brigantine l’aimable Reine Capne. Paul Berthelot, bound from Martinico to this port, by the Swan Capn. Wm. Meadows, which carry’d her to New...
969William Lee to the American Commissioners, 20 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Virginia Historical Society As you have now furnish’d me with the copy of the Treaty, I do not know of any reason for remaining here any longer, therefore propose setting out for Vienna in two or 3 daies to execute my appointment at that Court, provided you will supply me with the necessary funds to bear the expence of my Commission. The money will not be immediately requisite, as a...
970Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, [19 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
Extract: American Philosophical Society On my arrival at Brest I went to the Commandant of marine to ask permission for the Ship to go to St. nazare to which I received a refusal for want of orders. I represented to the Commodore (at Quiberon) the inefficacy of the Convoy if we had not liberty to go to St. Nazare. That he said he could not help as the Commander at Painbeuf was not under him...
971The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, with Arthur Lee’s Dissent and Their Rejoinder: Three Documents, 16[–18] … (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library; (II) ALS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library; (III) ALS : National Archives; ALS (draft): Library of Congress; copy: Harvard University Library As it is not in our Power to procure you such a Ship as you expected, we advise you after equipping the Ranger in the best...
972Arthur Lee to Franklin and Silas Deane, 17 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am sorry that the things to which I objected having been continued in the Instructions for Capt. Jones prevent me from giving my signature to them except in the manner which I have the honor to send you. I am Gentlemen with great esteem Your most Obedient Servant Notations in different hands: A Lee to BF. & SD / A. Lee to BF. & SD. Lee’s dissent is...
973David & Son to the American Commissioners, [16 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
Extract: American Philosophical Society The Success of Baltimore John Nicols Master coming from Maryland is arrived here yesterday with 140 Hogsheads of tobacco. This vessel was destined for Nantes or Bordeaux, but having been chased by three Men of war without Colours and which we believe to be the three that saild last from Brest, the said Capt. taking advantage of the night got clear and is...
974The American Commissioners to [John Paul Jones], 15 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives Whereas we understand that Capt. Jones has in View to strike a Stroke upon the Enemy that may be greatly to their Damage, but in its nature not probably profitable to his Ship’s Company, unless some Reward be received from the Congress adequate to the Service done, And we being of Opinion that Rewards in such Cases are not only necessary for Encouragement, but are...
975The American Commissioners to Gourlade, Bérard frères, & Monplaisir, 12 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society Mr. Beaumarchais shewed us your Letter of the 7th Inst. by which we find that you had not so much Confidence in the Commissioners as to deliver the Cargo of the Amphitrite to their Order untill your Disbursements on the two Frigates should be paid you. On our part tho’ we were greatly surprised at the Amount of those Disbursements as well as the prices of...
976The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 12 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and transcript: National Archives Not having received any letters from you since the 26 of May we were severely chagrined yesterday upon the arrival of Capt. John Folgier, who, under the name of dispatches from the Commissioners at Paris, delivered only an enclosure of clean white paper with some familiar letters, none of which contained any political intelligence. You will see by the...
977Intelligence from Brest, 12 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
D : National Archives This is the first in a long series of intelligence reports to Franklin or the commission. Most were forwarded to Congress and are now in the National Archives; the few that are not there are copies, the originals of which were either forwarded and subsequently lost or for some reason not sent. We handle all these reports in the same way as letters from commission-seekers....
978The American Commissioners to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 10 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress We desire you would advance to Capt. Paul Jones, of the Ranger, five hundred Louidores, for which your draught upon us will be paid. We are Sir Your most Obedient Servants (Signed) Notation: From the American Commissioners Letter of Credit Passy January 10th 1778 recd. Passy January 10th. 1778 To cover wages and equipment for the Ranger: Morison, Jones , p. 124. Jones...
979Arthur Lee to Franklin and Silas Deane, 10 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: National Archives; incomplete copies: National Archives, Harvard University Library When the conversation turned to day on giving Mr. Williams credit for 200,000 l.t. more on our Banker, as we were just parting there was not time to consider the subject so maturely as the largeness of the demand seems to me to require. But I presume it cannot be either proper or warrantable in us...
980John S. Harmanson to the American Commissioners, 9 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is about 8 Weeks since I arrived here with a resolution of going home to Virginia which I informed Mr. Deane and Mr. Lee of. About the time I got to Bordeaux Capt. Walke of Virginia arrived with whom I concluded to go home, but unluckily for me he has not got away as yet, having been detained some time on Account of a Law Suit with Mr. Barton of this...