1Franklin and Jacques Finck: Agreement, [before 1 January 1783] (Franklin Papers)
D : American Philosophical Society Le Mtre. d’Hotel entreroit le 1r. Janvr. 83. et agiroit en cette Qualité de concert avec le Cuisinier actuel pendant 2 ou 3 Mois pour se mettre au fait de la maniere de vivre de M. Franklin, ainsi que de la Depense que cette vie exige. Il aura des Gages à raison de 600 lt. par an. On lui donnera en outre une Gratification, Si on a lieu d’être content de lui,...
2From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [1782] (Hamilton Papers)
Engrossed by our own immediate concerns, I omitted telling you of a disagreeable piece of intelligence I have received from a gentleman of Georgia. He tells me of the death of my brother Levine. You know the circumstances that abate my distress, yet my heart acknowledges the rights of a brother. He dies rich, but has disposed of the bulk of his fortune to strangers. I am told he has left me a...
3Editorial Note on Franklin’s Accounts, 1782 (Franklin Papers)
During the period of this volume, Franklin attempted to settle his accounts with his landlord, le Ray de Chaumont. We publish the successive versions of these accounts, and we provide an overview of the dispute in a headnote to the first of them, [before April 26]. The following previously identified accounts still apply: VI and VII ( XXIII , 21); XII ( XXV , 3); XVII ( XXVI , 3); XIX and XXII...
4Editorial Note on Promissory Notes, 1782 (Franklin Papers)
By the time Franklin issued the first of the promissory notes in March described below, he was using a new triplicate form, set in gros romain italic, with slight variations in wording. This form lasted him through the end of the French mission. On March 25 Joseph Gould of Massachusetts, a mariner on the Raven from Boston, and Moses How of Rhode Island, taken on the Polly , each received...
5Editorial Note on Franklin’s Accounts, 1782 (Franklin Papers)
One new account begins during the period covered by this volume. XXXI. Jacques Finck’s Accounts of Household Expenditures, January 15, 1783–February 1, 1784: University of Pennsylvania Library, 81 pages. Jacques Finck, the new maître d’hôtel, remained in the Passy household until Franklin left France. He submitted two statements each month: an itemized list of groceries and household supplies,...
6Editorial Note on Promissory Notes, 1782 (Franklin Papers)
During the months covered by this volume, seven American seamen claiming to have escaped from British prisons, all but one of whose claims seem to have been legitimate, received financial assistance on Franklin’s order and signed promissory notes at Passy. They each received the same amount: 120 l.t. , or 5 louis d’or . Capt. Samuel Mansfield, who signed a promissory note on Aug. 25, brought...
7Editorial Note on Remedies for the Stone, 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Franklin received dozens of remedies for the stone during his stay in France, from friends and strangers alike. Most were unsolicited and many are undated. We have determined that most of the undated remedies were sent in response to later episodes; they will be noted in future volumes. The rest we describe here at their earliest possible date, following Franklin’s first attack. All of them...
8Passport for Cartel Ships, [1782] (Franklin Papers)
Passy, printed by Benjamin Franklin, 1782. Printed form and AD (draft): American Philosophical Society Whereas an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain has been lately passed for the Exchange of American Prisoners; and in pursuance thereof, sundry Vessels are by that Government engaged as Transports to convey to America those Prisoners of War who have been confined in the Goals of England and...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, [1782?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Before you left America, I believe I mention’d to you the great Losses I had sustain’d from the Enemy, in my Household Furniture, Books, Debts from Persons who took Refuge in Howe’s Army &c. so that take all together, I am perhaps, as large a Sufferer, in Proportion to what I possess’d, as any one in this Town; nor would two thousand Pounds Lawf: Money make...
10To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Favier, [1782?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Mes malheurs ne vous Sont pas connus, et si l’on vous en a dit quelque chose, ce ne peut être que sous un paliatif. J’ai regret de ne vous en avoir rien dit dans le temps où je le pouvois, ou vous l’avoir donné par écrit et bien détaillé, ce tissu de miseres! Aujourd’hui on débite que vous m’avez renvoyé parce que je vous ai fait des torts, et cette...