301The American Commissioners to John Bondfield, 4 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, June 4, 1778: We have received your accounts for supplying the Boston ; some of the articles are dear, but we trust you to obtain everything as cheaply as possible. Your bills will be paid, and we hope the ship has left by now. You tell us of a plot against her, and we have forwarded the affidavit to the ministry;...
302Gabriel de Sartine to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 26 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
I only responded, gentlemen, to the first part of the letter that you did me the honor to write on the 12th of this month, but the second part also contains some interesting points. Without a doubt it would be desirable, if possible, to return to their mother country those American sailors who, through either habit or violence, had been attached to the English service, and thereby achieve the...
303The American Commissioners: Proposed Memorial to Lord George Germain, 7 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Library of Congress; ADS (draft): Library of Congress Whereas the Snow Dickenson with her Cargoe, which was the property of the Congress of the United States of America, was by an Act of Piracy, in some of her Crew, carried into the port of Bristol in England, and there as we are informed, was converted to the use of the Government of Great Britain; and the perpetrators of so base and...
304Matthew Ridley to the American Commissioners, 3 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer of this is Mr. Ebenezer Platt; with whose sufferings in the cause of America you are not unacquainted. He has lately got released from his confinement in consequence of a Petition from the Committee for American Prisoners. Mr. Platt is desirous of returning to his Country; and every mode but the one through France being stop’d I have taken the...
305The American Commissioners to Lord Stormont, 2 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : the Johns Hopkins University Library; AL (draft): Library of Congress; copy: Public Record Office. We did ourselves the Honour of writing some time since to your Lordship on the Subject of Exchanging Prisoners. You did not condescend to give us any Answer, and therefore we expect none to this. We however take the Liberty of sending you Copies of certain Depositions, which we shall...
306Dumas to the American Commissioners, 5 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief <The Hague, May 5, 1778, in French: I send translations of two letters from Germany; the Grand Facteur has also sent copies. I have received strange news from France, but you doubtless know about the pettifogging, etc., that goes on there. Yours of the 30th has just arrived, and I shall call on the Grand Facteur and our friend...
307Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 14 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library Since writing this morning by Capt. Nicholson I have been with Monsr. Peltrier, who informs me that the Vessell is at the mouth of the River, where it seems all Vessells of Burden are obliged to load. She is not yet loaded but there are several Cases of Fusils gone from hence to the Ship, and Monsr. Peltrier expects a Barge loaded with Bales to come down...
308The Commissioners to Gabriel de Sartine, 5 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour of your Excellencys Letter of the 5th. of this Month, but as the Memoire, of the French surgion, which your Excellency proposed to transmit to Us, was, by some Accident omitted to be inclosed in your Letter, We are ignorant of his Case, and consequently unable to inform your Excellency whether it is in our Power to afford him any Relief. If your Excellency, will have the...
309Franco and Adrianus Dubbeldemuts to the American Commissioners, 30 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives Comme Interessée dans Le Navire et Cargaison, dont Les papiers ci Incluse font Mentions, Nous prenons la Libertée, Messieurs, de vous Les remêtre, et de vous recommander tres particulierement cette afaire afin que par votre pouvoir, Le dit Navire (dont nous vous protestons, q’auqune autre Nation que hollandaise, est Interessee) soit rendue aux Proprietaires. Ils est...
310Thomas Bell to the American Commissioners, 11 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I sailed from Philad. the 6 of Sept. I Recd. no Letters from the Committe of Congress. The privet Letters I Recd. from Mr. Deane and the Honbl. Richard Henery Lee & Mr. Carmichell as to the dispatches for the Court of France I Recd. them from Monsr. Gerard as to Aney Other Letters I Recd. non— Gentln. I shall Sail Shortly for Philad. If you have Aney...
311Joseph Chase to the American Commissioners, 8 February 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Nantes, February 8, 1779: I beg you to send my brother Reuben Chase’s discharge from Dinan; I can go get him, or perhaps you could have him discharged without necessitating a trip on my part. He is ill and suffers in close confinement, although he finds no fault in his usage as a prisoner. I am sorry that I neglected to speak of this when I was in Paris,...
312The American Commissioners to Vergennes, [26 June 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères To his Excellency the Count de Vergennes, Minister for Foreign Affairs We the underwritten, Commissioners from the Congress of the United States of N. America, beg leave to represent to your Excellency, that Captain Burnel, Commander of an armed Vessel commissioned by the said States, did lately take Refuge in the Port of Cherburgh with his...
313Joshua Johnson to the American Commissioners, 2 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I propose to fit out two or three Vessells on my return to England and send to Lisbon, to Load with Salt which I purpose to send from thence to some one of the United Colonies in America. I therefore humbly solicit your Pasports to protect the said Vessells from being Captured by the American Cruizers and to enable me with more security to throw in supplies...
314Dumas to the American Commissioners, 28 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief <The Hague, July 28, 1778, in French: I enclose summaries of twelve pages of diplomatic correspondence. It is reliably reported that there will be a suspension of arms in Germany until August 1 and it is generally thought peace will follow. This morning I took a copy of the treaty, omitting articles 11 and 12, to the Grand...
315Henry Johnson to the American Commissioners, [after] [19] August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Public Record Office Should have wrote you e’er this! I had no subject to write upon, knowing you have enough else to do besides reading a Scrawl, which signified nothing. Yours of the 19th Inst. came safe to hand, have to say I have done tolerable well with the French Sailors, many of them finding I would pay them no money have decamped; others (some few) have gone on board....
316The American Commissioners to the Committee of Commerce, 29 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, July 29, 1778: We have received your letter of May 28 by Captain Reed [Read]. We rejoice at the arrival of even 49 hogsheads of tobacco, but wish for more. As we are under contract with the farmers general to furnish 5,000 hogsheads, for which we have already received a million livres, we have consigned this...
317The American Commissioners to Sartine, [16 May 1778]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <[Passy, May 16, 1778:] Basmarein, Raimbaux & Cie. informs us that it has applied to the government for a frigate to defend its commerce and make reprisals for its losses; we request that it may have one, and will give the ship a commission and a letter of marque.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 123. The...
318Chaumont to the American Commissioners, 9 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society M. de Chaumont a l’honneur d’informer Messieurs les deputés du Congrès qu’il peut leur procurer deux cents milliers de salpestres de l’inde pres a L’orient a soixante le quintal pareil a celuy qu’il a deja procuré a M. Dean payable en lettres de change acceptées sur Paris Londres Amsterdam Bordeaux ou Nantes. Il faut unne prompte décision parceque les...
319The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 10 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
By some of the last Ships from America, we received from Congress certain Powers and Instructions, which we think it necessary to lay before your Excellency, and which we have the Honor to do in this Letter. We have the Honor to enclose to your Excellency a Copy of the Contract made between the Committee and Mr. Francy, a Copy of Mr. Francy’s Powers, and a Copy of the list of Articles to be...
320Simeon Deane to the American Commissioners, 16 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Casco Bay, Falmouth, April 16, 1778: I arrived yesterday on the Sensible and leave today for Congress; my time here is too short to collect news. No word of the fleet that left France in February, or of Capt. Courter from Spain. The chevalier Marigny is worried about British cruisers and anxious to leave as soon as possible. He and his officers have...
321The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 1 February 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives <Passy, February 1, 1779: We received yours of January 28. We are unhappy that we cannot give you effectual relief. The power to appoint consuls rests wholly with Congress; we can only appoint agents to execute our orders. Congress, a few days before it received news of the Treaty, empowered us to...
322The American Commissioners to John Bondfield, 27 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have before us yours of the 23d Inst. and are very sorry that Capt. Ayres is so indisposed as to prevent his return to America in the General Arnold. We wholly refer the appointmt. of a Master for this Vessel to you and Capt. Ayres and doubt not you will find a good Seaman and a person in whom you can confide. We...
323Sartine 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...
324The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 29 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have been favoured with a Letter signed by many Gentlemen of Nantes and dated the fifteenth of this Month, informing us that most of their Vessels were ready to sail to America, and that others were expected to be ready immediately, so that the Convoy need not wait at all, but might be ordered as soon as Convenience will permit. These Gentlemen are very desirous of a Convoy through the...
325The American Commissioners to James Smith, 28 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We received your Letter dated Paris Hotel de Saxe Aug. 24. and, altho We are altogether of a different opinion from yours respecting your Right of passing with your Effects Americans being intituled by the Treaty, no more than the Subjects of any other state in Europe in Amity with France, to pass with their Effects...
326The American Commissioners to Sartine, 30 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives In Answer to your Excellencys Letter of the Twenty fifth of this Month, We have the Honour to inclose, four Papers, with Blancs to be filled as your Excellency may have occasion. These Requests being all the Protection in our Power to give, We hope will have the desired Effect and We have the Honour to be &c In JA ’s hand.
327Joy 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...
328Sartine to the American Commissioners: Two Letters, 13 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) Copies: Library of Congress, National Archives; (II) copy: Library of Congress J’ai reçu, Messieurs, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 2. de ce mois. Je sais que vous chargés vos Agens dans differens Ports du Royaume de fournir aux prisonniers Americains echapés, ou revenant d’angleterre, les objets dont ils peuvent avoir besoin à leur arrivée; mais il ne paroit pas...
329James Moylan to the American Commissioners, 11 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am this moment informed by a Gentleman from Brest, that the Ranger Frigate Cap: J. Jones arrived in that port with a prize of 16 Guns the 8th. Instant after laying a Town on the Coast of Ireland under contribution. I have not yet learned any further particulars of his Voyage, but I suppose Cap: Jones will inform you of them when he gets ashore. I have the...
330C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 13 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
Les affaires deviennent ici extrêment sérieuses. La résolution (dont ma lettre du 10 vous parle) de refuser les convois aux Matieres marines, n’est pas encore formellement prise ici. On a décidé seulement, que Mercredi prochain on prendra à cet égard une résolution à la pluralité. Mrs. d’Amsterdam ont protesté contre cette pluralité, comme contraire à la Constitution, qui, dans ce cas, demande...
331Samuel Nicholson to the American Commissioners, 15 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will informe You of our worthy friend Capt. Wickes leaving this Yesterday Eve with a fine Easterly Wind. The Dolphin Capt. Brown Sailed in Company. At Sun Setting they Discharged their Pilots, when they were clear of the Rocks &c. Since which the wind has Continued fresh from the Eastward, so that I make no doubt that by Noon this Day (a Monday) he is...
332John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 12 May 1778: Letter and résumé (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society I have just time in Compliance to Mr. Livingstons request to write your honors that an offer has been made him of a vessel to be compleatly fitted and armed provided your Honors will grant a Commission. His desires in this appears to spring from the advance it would give him of rank at his Arrival in America. If this should meet your...
333The American Commissioners to Sartine, 15 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 15, 1778: We refused M. Bersolle’s previous draft until he had sent his accounts. He then billed us for a thousand louis advanced to Capt. Jones on his arrival. Again we refused, because we had not authorized the advance and, when the Captain wrote that he could not feed his...
334The American Commissioners to American Prisoners in England, [19] September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: National Maritime Museum, Public Record Office, National Archives (two); transcript: Library of Congress <Passy, September [19], 1778: We have not written you for a long time but have been engaged in negotiating a cartel of exchange, and have assurances from England that an exchange will take place. The government of this kingdom has provided a...
335Thomas Morris to the American Commissioners, 19 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the pleasure to address you last on the 11th. Instant by Captain Hammond, who I understand arrived safe at Paris on Thursday Evening last, and make no doubt duely delivered the sundry dispatches he brought with him from America for you. Any intelligence they contain, and that you may think proper to communicate, shall be greatly Obliged to you for....
336Dumas to the American Commissioners, 28 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief <The Hague, April 28, 1778, in French: We await the return of your letter in final form, so that I may present it. The memorandum for which Mr. Lee provided the material will be published within a few days; the public here must learn that Congress will make peace only on equal terms and in concert with its allies. Beware...
The effects of Dr. James Smith of New York have, gentlemen, finally been found. They are at the customs office at Calais and consist of a package containing 12 table cloths and 12 knives and forks of iron with silver ferrules. If Mr. Smith plans to bring these goods into the Kingdom, he cannot avoid paying the regular charges, but if he intends to return them to America, then he will be free...
338The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 4 January 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) <Passy, January 4, 1779: We acknowledge your undated letter, and refer you to ours of the second of this month. We cannot furnish Gilbank with more money; perhaps our protest of his bills will convince him. We have applied for the convoy with the greatest possible urgency. We approve your...
339John Gilbank to the American Commissioners, 4 November 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Nantes, November 4, 1778: I am applying to you again for money to meet my necessary expenses. Without assistance I can neither avail myself of an opportunity to sail for America nor fulfill my duty to Congress; my attachment to the American cause precludes my receiving help from my family. Had I not been captured on my last attempt to get to America, this...
340C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 2 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
Although you have had no news from me since my last of 13–18 September, I have nevertheless, as Sir Grand will attest, been busy in the service of the United States. Of the ten days I spent in Amsterdam, I employed one in waiting on the Grand Facteur, two with our friend, and the other seven shut up in a room writing 615 numbers, 2460 folios, 2255 times A, and 2255 times Passy 31. Aoust 1778...
341The American Commissioners to Americans Taken on Board of English Frigates, 15 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have received a Letter from Mr. Robert Harrison of the 7 Octr. and another from John Lemon, Edward Driver and John Nichols, of the 12, all Prisoners in Dinant Castle, all professing to be Americans who have been first compelled into the Service of their Enemies, and then taken Prisoners by the French. You are not...
342Antoine-Raymond-Gualbert-Gabriel de Sartine to the American Commissioners, 5 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives J’ai l’honneur, Messieurs, de vous envoyer un mémoire qui m’a été adressé d’Alresford, par un Chirurgien François pris sur le Batiment Americain Le Gest. Si les Etats unis ont adoptés quelques precautions pour faire passer des secours à leurs Sujets, detenus en Angleterre, je ne doute pas que vous ne les...
343Laborde Lissalde to the American Commissioners, 22 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Pour nous conformer à l’article 11 du Réglement du 27 Septembre dernier nous avons l’honneur de vous addresser la déclaration que vient de rendre pardevant nous le Sr. Néhémie Story cidevant chef de prise du Senaut anglois l’Esperance de Bristol chargé de morue, qui, ayant été pris par le Sr. Jean Leach commandant le corsaire le francklin de Salem et...
344Rawlins Lowndes to the American Commissioners, 18 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The State of South Carolina having Resolved to procure three Ships of War in foreign parts for the Protection of their Coast and Trade, Have intrusted that Service to their Commodore, Alexander Gillon Esqr. a Zealous and approved Friend to the American States, who embarkes for France with some other Officers to manage that Business. The Legislature have...
345Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 7 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library The Day my last was written I purchased the Ship in question for 55500 Livres and by her excellence and fitness for our purpose, I hope she will sufficiently make up for the Loss of the Duc de Chartres. I have this Day drawn on Mr. Grand in 6 different Drafts for 15000 Livres and have advised him accordingly, which please to desire him to honour; this makes...
346Robert Morris to the American Commissioners, 18 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Connecticut Historical Society By this Opportunity I forward you sundry dispatches from Congress and the Committee of Secret Correspondance still at Baltimore, and from them I have just received the inclosed resolve of Congress dated the 5th Inst. Copies of which I shall transmit you by various Conveyances, in order that you may give orders for procuring the Articles required and to have...
347Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 19 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Wrot you Last post Informing you of the Suckces of my Last Cruize and take this Opertunity To Inform you of the Safe Arrival of All my Prizes. I Am in Great hopes youl be Able to Obtain Leave for me to heav Down and Repair my Ship at this port As that Will be Absolutely Necessary prior To my Departure from this As I Recd. a Shott in [ torn ] Bottom When...
348The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 10 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères <Passy, April 10, 1778: Mr. Adams, appointed by Congress to replace Mr. Deane, has arrived and will wait on you as soon as he recovers from his voyage. He came on a continental frigate, which took a prize with a cargo valued at £70,000. Congress is detaining Gen. Burgoyne and his army for a breach of the convention, and has more than 10,000...
349The Commissioners to Gabriel de Sartine, 27 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have received the Letter which your Excellency did Us the Honour to write to Us on the 21 instant, relative to the Isabella, retaken from a Guernsey Privateer, by Captain McNeil in the General Mifflin. As it is extreamly probable that the Compte D’Estaing has retaken several American Vessells from the English, We shall no dout Soon have Intelligence, what has been done in those Cases. We...
350Jonathan Williams to the Commissioners, 23 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour of writing you December 12 1778 inclosing a Letter from Messrs. Horneca Fitzeau & Co. relative to 13 Bales cases and Barrells marked No. 1 to 13 which are the property of Mr. Simeon Dean and which were delivered to Mr. Schweighauser on a supposition that they belonged to the commissioners as mentioned in my said Letter. I have not had the honour of an answer on this Subject. I...