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...
3To 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...
4To 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...
5James 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...
6To 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...
7To 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...
8To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 29 April[–17 September 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Harvard University Library As the Books & Papers of the Comtee. of foreign affairs remain on the Table of Congress to be used in the public Deliberations which still continue upon a fruitful Subject begun last September you do not at this Time receive any official Letter from that Committee. But I will not omit the good opportunity by Mr. Smith,...
9To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 13 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society (three), University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: National Archives By way of Martinique I forward to you Gazettes, Journals and one or two Pamphlets. The Situation of Things in Congress has been such for some time past that the Committee of foreign Affairs has been drawn on to look dayly for some interesting Decisions to communicate to you, which must...
10To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 9 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society (three), University of Pennsylvania Library; copy and transcript: National Archives I send by this Opportunity Journals & Gazettes with some Letters which were to have gone by Way of Martinique some time ago with others that I hope will reach you by that Channel. I add a Compleat Set of the Journals as far as they are printed viz 1st. Vol 2d Vol and from...
11To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 6 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society, Harvard University Library, University of Pennsylvania Library Your favor of July 22d 1778, forwarded from Nantes by Mr. Williams the 25th of February this Year, arrived not here till the 31st. of July. I wonder the more that so very few of yr. letters reach Philada. in the Course of a Year as Mr. Dumas finds means to convey a series above the Numbers of...
12To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 16 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library On the 30th. of Augst. I received yr. favr. of June 2d. with the ministerial Paper containing Mauduit’s Speculations and, since that, several Pamplets wch. came under the care of Chevalr. de la Luzerne and, I think, under a Superscription in yr. Grandson’s handwriting, have reached me. I am sure Hartley is stumbling only over a Mistake about the...
13To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 12 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives Mr. Gerard having been particularly applied to relative to the Affairs of M. Du Coudray by the Heirs has the original Certificate of which this is the Triple; but Doctr. Franklin will mark out for himself a Line of Conduct referring properly to the Civility due to Mr. Gerard and the Interest of Mr. Du Coudray’s...
14To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 24 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Two als: Massachusetts Historical Society, American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives; transcript: National Archives I forward the Gazettes to Boston for you, as usual without knowing when they will find a Passage from thence. Your Letter of Sepr. 30th and one from Doctor Lee of Decr. 8th. came to hand two days ago, your prior being May 26 recd. augst. 17th.— I hope you have got...
15To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 4 May 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I cannot write with official authority nor have I time to enlarge now upon our public affairs owing to the particular Circumstances of the Mass: Delegation which forces me to attend in Congress and the Vessel will probably sail before our Adjournment this Afternoon. I refer you to the Journals & Gazettes together with Mr. Robert Mease’s Conversation. It is...
Congress having appointed the Honble Henry Laurens to solicit a Loan of Money in the United Provinces of the Low Countries, in Order to facilitate his Success the enclosed Resolution has been passed. We need say Nothing to explain or urge it, except that it is thought a Mark of Attention and Confidence due to those Powers; that their Interest, if the State of Politicks incline them to exert...
17To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 15[–22] August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and AL : American Philosophical Society; copies: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, National Archives, Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives Tho I cannot procure the Signatures of the Committee of foreign Affairs at this Moment nor the Resolve of Congress respecting Bills to be drawn on you to the amount of one hundred thousand Dollars passed 2 or 3 days ago,...
18To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 7 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society; copies: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, National Archives, Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives With a Letter of former date, I have to inclose to you some further Proceedings of Congress respecting Bills drawn upon you, and to acknowledge the Receipt of yr. Letter of May 31st. I think I can venture now to assure you that...
19To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 28 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copies: American Philosophical Society, National Archives; transcript: National Archives A Committee was appointed in Congress on the 6th. to draught a “Letter to our Ministers at the Courts of Versailles & Madrid to enforce the Instructions given by Congress to Mr. Jay by their Resolutions of the 4th. Instant and to explain the Reasons & principles on...
20To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 21 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and transcript: National Archives The bearer William Palfrey Esqre our late paymaster general has been appointed Consul in France, with powers adequate to a general Agency in our Commercial Concerns there. But while I take up my pen to introduce him to your patronage, I ought to use it, rather perhaps, by way of apologizing for myself in the line of Member of the Committee for Foreign...
21To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 9 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy and transcript: National Archives I forward Gazettes Journals & some particular Resolves, by Way of Amsterdam. The Arrival of the Ariel has given us Dispatches from you long expected—of June 1st. Aug 9. Decr. 2d & 3d. Congress had, before the Receipt of your Letters Feb. 19th, written to Mr. Adams Jany. 10, and signified their Concurrence in...
22To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 31 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives I send you a few News papers and the last monthly Journals which have come from the Press. The Enemy will tell their own Story of the naval Engagement on the 16th. They have ventured nearer to Truth in Rivingtons royal Gazette than almost at any one time before, since the very Commencement of Hostilities. Our Allies...
23To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 17 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (two): American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives; transcript: National Archives Doctor Putnam whose Letter is inclosed, by the Uniformity of his Attachment to our public Cause, merits your Patronage; and I inclose also for your Information some former Proceedings of Congress in which this same Gentleman is interested; requesting Sir that you would obtain a Knowledge of the...
24To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 21 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copies: National Archives, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; transcript: National Archives It does not appear that the Resolutions of June 26. affecting yourself & Colleagues as well as Mr. Dana have been transmitted. Mr. Presidt. McKean will take other Opportunities of Writing. I think it essential however in the mean time to forward duplicates...
25To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 3 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer Mr. Gibbs full of Respect for your Character has not only the very natural Ambition of being introduced to your venerable Person but cherishes the Hope of obtaining your sage Counsel and your Patronage upon his Arrival in France with an Intention to establish himself there at least for some years. Your Philanthropy alone secures that Patronage to...