1To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, [after 26 May 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I catch up my pen in haste: but, it is not that circumstance which makes me omit prefatorial apology, in this attempt to draw You into a literary correspondence. Difference of age and other differences vastly more important vanish, when I consider our relationship as “Friends to America.” And, I am conscious that the service of these United States is the...
2To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 4[-9] July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society I think it my duty as an Individual to communicate to you some information which you may not perhaps receive in a more formal or authoritative way. The treaties made with the Chevalr. de Borre Mr. Du Coudray &c. &c. have given infinite trouble being inconsistent with each other, and all of them, except the one you signed with 4 Engineers, inconsistent...
3From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 7 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I receiv’d your Favour (without Date) communicating a Method of Secret Writing, for which I am oblig’d to you. I have since receiv’d yours of July 4. I was very sensible before I left America, of the Inconveniencies attending the Employment of Foreign Officers, and therefore immediately on my Arrival here I gave all the Discouragement in my Power to their...
4From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 21 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress; copy: Yale University Library I see in a Vote of Congress shown me by Capt. Franval, that Mr. Deane is disown’d in some of his Agreements with Officers. I, who am upon the Spot, and know the infinite Difficulty of resisting the powerful Solicitations here of Great Men, who if disobliged might have it in their Power to...
5To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 15 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Your favour of Decr. 21st. I read in Congress that it might have the Operation which you benevolently generously and honourably intended. But really Sir, when you say you “perceive he (Mr. D———) has Enemies”, I am not inclined to determine that you form your Opinion upon the Proceedings of Congress alone, to which you refer in the Beginning of your...
6To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 20 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) By a most unlucky Mistake I did not forward the Resolve of May 5th. with the Ratifications of the Treaties sent in that Month in the Packets A.B.C.; but I have sent them in D.E. via Martinique; and now forward them in F.G. via Boston, not allowing myself to wait for the Concurrence of the Committee in a...
7From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 22 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives, American Philosophical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives; copy: Harvard University Library I received your Favour of May 15. and was glad to find that mine of Decr. 21. had come to hand. Mr. Deanes Brother writes that it was not signed, which was an accidental Omission. Mr. Deane himself is I hope with you long before this time, and I doubt not but every...
8James Lovell to the American Commissioners, 12 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: American Philosophical Society; copies: National Archives (two), Library of Congress Congress having foreign Affairs now under Consideration, I shall not write to you on that Subject, more especially as it is quite uncertain how the present Papers will be conveyed to you. Nor shall I pretend to unravel to you the Designs of the Enemy. They are very inscrutable: The Printers know...
9To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 8 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives By Mr. Cummins, on the 29th. of last Month, I forwarded several Papers of Importance Triplicates of Which Mr. Bromfield the Bearer of this will deliver: But an Accident then took place obliging me to hold back a Letter which I had written to you. Time was wanting in which to write another, the Vessel having fallen...
10To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 8 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives The Marquis de la Fayette having sailed from Boston the day before the Arrival there of Letters sent from hence for you and him by the President of Congress, I now forward to you duplicates of those Letters with a Course of News Papers Via St Eustatia, having a very fine opportunity to that Island, and hoping they...