1From Benjamin Franklin to [Edward Bancroft], [after 15 May 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Princeton University Library Be so good as to answer to our Friend that it is impossible Mr. Hartley could have said what is represented above, no such Thing having ever been intimated to him; nor has the least Idea of the kind ever been in the Minds of the Commissioners, particularly Dr. F. who does not Care how many Spies are plac’d about him by the Court of France having nothing to...
2John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 16 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the honor to inclose the postscript to Hall & Sellers’s Paper of the 9th instant containing the message of the undersigned Ambassador of the Court of France to the Court of London; his Majesty’s Speech in Consequence &c. &c. The message is couched in terms very ludicrous and merry. It also speaks tacitly the Power and determination of France. It has chagrined the King and Ministry...
3The Commissioners to Sartine, 16 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Messrs. Basmarine, Raimbeaux and Co. having represented to Us, that they have applied to Government for a Frigate, to be employed in Defence of their Commerce to and from America, and in making Reprisals for the Losses they have lately Sustained by our Enemies. We the Commissioners of the united States of North America, hereby request, that Such a Frigate may be granted them: and in that Case,...
4The Commissioners to Vergennes, 16 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
We had this Morning the Honour of receiving your Excellency’s Letter of the 13. Instant relative to the Boston Frigate. We beg leave to assure your Excellency that the Frigate called the Boston, now at Bourdeaux, is a Ship of War belonging to the 13 United States of North America, built and maintained at their Expence, by the Honourable Congress. We therefore, humbly presume that his Majestys...
5To John Adams from James Lovell, 16 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
As I hinted to you in my letter of yesterday, which goes by a different Vessel from what bears this, Half-pay for 7 years, if they live so long, is granted to the Officers who serve the War out. It was also resolved to give 80 Dollars to the Men in addition to their Land. The Commissioners at the Courts of Tuscany Vienna and Berlin are to have plenipotentiary Commissions and not to be...
6To John Adams from William Vernon Jr., 16 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour of writing you a letter on the tenth of April, in which I informed you of my determination to reside in this place, and prayed that you would forward me recommendations to the house of Messrs. Feyers freres, which is one of the first character in this City. Being sensible that the business in which you must be involv’d leaves you few leisure moments, I was determined to wait...
7The Commerce Committee to the Commissioners, 16 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
This will be accompanied with a Contract entered into between John Baptist Lazarus Theveneau De Francy Agent of Mr. Peter Augustine Caron De Beaumarchais representative of the House of Rodrigue Hortalez & Co. and the Committee of Commerce. You will observe that their Accounts are to be fairly stated and what is justly due paid. For as on the One hand Congress would be unwilling to evidence a...
8John Paul Jones to the Commissioners, 16 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
As there is an appearance that the Sales of the Rangers prizes will be greatly protracted thro’ the claims of the Admiralty here—I have been under the necessity of drawing on you this day a Bill at five days sight in favor of Monsieur Bersolle for Twenty four thousand Livers—which I mean to distribute among the brave Officers and Men to whom I owe my late Success. It is but reasonable that...
9George Washington to James Mease, 16 May 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
Valley Forge, May 16, 1778 . Orders Mease to Camp. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
10The 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...
11The American Commissioners to Thomas Simpson, 16 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress We have received your State of your Arrest. As you cannot be tryd here according to the regulations of Congress we have desired Capt. Jones to procure you a Passage to America by the first Opportunity and provide you with whatever may be necessary for your defence. We are sorry for this event and hope you will be able to justify your conduct. We are &c....
12The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 16 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, May 16, 1778: We received this morning your letter of the 13th about the Boston , and assure you that she is an American warship maintained at the expense of Congress. The King’s reply to the farmers general will, we assume, accord with international usage.>...
13The Commerce Committee to the American Commissioners, 16 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress <York, May 16, 1778: We enclose a contract with Theveneau de Francy as agent for Caron de Beaumarchais. You will please liquidate and send the property of the accounts of Roderigue Hortalez & Co., taking care to distinguish the property of the crown from the company’s private property. We send an invoice of the articles to be...
14John Paul Jones to the American Commissioners, 16 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library; AL : United States Naval Academy Museum; copy: National Archives <Brest, May 16, 1778: The local admiralty will apparently delay the sale of the Ranger ’s prizes; I therefore have to draw on you through M. Bersolle for 24,000 l.t. to distribute among my officers and men. They need to provide for their families in America, who will expect clothing, etc., by...
15Members of the Drake’s Prize Crew [to the American Commissioners], 16 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society We the subscribers (persons put on board the Drake by Capt. Jones’s order, from the Ranger, to man her, under the Command of Lieut. Simpson,) do hereby testifie, that when a sail was seen on Our Lee quarter at Day Light in the morning of the 5th. May, the Drake (then in tow by the Ranger,) was hail’d from her, and ordered to Cast Off and to make the best of...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Paine: two letters, 16 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society Your favor of Octr. 7th did not come to me till March. I was at Camp when Capt. Folger arrived with the Blank Packet. The private Letters were, I believe, all safe. Mr. Laurens forwarded yours to me but by some Accident it missed me and was returned again to York Town where I afterwards recd. it. The last Winter has been rather barren of...
17To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Sutaine de Bourez[?], 16 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Paris, May 16, 1778, in French: When I paid you my respects in Passy several days ago, you asked for a memorandum about what is due me from the estate of my nephew, Du Coudray. I am asking only for the papers that I am told were in a particular trunk; I have the best right to them because we often worked closely together. His other effects belong to his...
18General Orders, 16 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
A most pernicious Practice has in too many instances prevailed of Officers on leaving Camp either upon Furlough or what is still worse to quit the service taking with them soldiers in the Capacity of servants—This abuse so detrimental to the Army & so injurious to the Public is positively forbid in future & Commanding Officers of Regiments are enjoined to prevent its being practiced on any...
19From George Washington to the Board of War, 16 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your two favors of the 12th Instant. If the provisions and stores, which are in the Southern States, can be transported by water, it will without question be infinitely more eligible, than the present mode of conveyance, which is and must be attended with great delay and vast expence. The vessels to be employed in this business, I should suppose, ought to be small and...
20From George Washington to William Finnie, 16 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to William Finnie, 16 May 1778. Finnie’s letter to GW of 8 April is docketed “Ansd 16 May.”
21From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 16 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
From many concurrent circumstances it appears that the enemy are preparing to evacuate Philadelphia, whether their design is to withdraw altogether from the Continent or to concenter their forces at new york cannot be ascertained—in case the latter shd be the case it will be proper to have provision of forage made on the road to the No. River for such body of Troops as may be ordered to march...
22From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 16 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving today your letter of the 8th of April Ultimo; and am much obliged to the Governor and Council for their agreeable present. It is now on its way from the head of Elk; when it arrives I make no doubt, but it will find us in a humor to do it all manner of justice. I rejoice with you most heartily, upon our recent good news; the ratification and public...
23From George Washington to James Mease, 16 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you the 17th of last month, desiring your immediate attendance at Head Quarters, duplicate of which I now inclose. I cannot conceive how that letter could have miscarried; neither can I conceive, if it got to hand, what can have prevented my receiving, some answer to it. I am now to inform you that the complaints against your department have become so loud and universal, that I can...
24Bill for Raising a Battalion for Garrison Duty, [16 May 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
For garrisoning the fortifications and batteries erected for the defence of the several ports and harbours within this commonwealth be it enacted by the Gen. assembly that a battalion of infantry to consist of 8 companies and each company of 68 rank and file shall be raised within this commonwealth by such persons as shall be appointed by the gov. and council [for] that purpose; that each...