51From Benjamin Franklin to von Blome, 12 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Reproduced in Charles Hamilton Auction Catalogue No. 49 (May 6, 1971), Lot 162. The Underwritten Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America to the Court of France, acknowledges the Receipt of the official Representation sent to him the 21st of November by his Excellency the Baron de Blome, Envoy Extraordinary from his Danish Majesty at the same Court, respecting...
52From Benjamin Franklin to Elias Boudinot, 1 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS and transcript: National Archives; press copy of LS and transcript: Library of Congress Inclos’d is a Copy of my last, which went by the English Pacquet. I heard after I wrote it, that the French Pacquet putting back by contrary Winds, Mr. Thaxter had an Opportunity of getting on board her and that She sail’d the 26th. of September. The mentioned new Commission is not yet come to hand. Mr....
53From Benjamin Franklin to Elias Boudinot, 27 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and transcript: National Archives Mr Thaxter late Secretary of Mr Adams, who is charg’d with all our Dispatches that were intended to go by the French Pacquet-Boat, writes from L’Orient, that tho’ he arriv’d there two Days before the time appointed for her Sailing, he miss’d reaching her by four Hours; but another light Vessel was fitting and would sail the 21st. Inst. in which he hop’d to...
54From Benjamin Franklin to Elias Boudinot, 27 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Your two Letters to the Commissioners, dated at Princeton the 27th of October & 1st of November, and one to me of the first of November, came duly to Hand; Mr Adams saw the public Letters in England, Capt. Jones having landed with them at Plymouth. We thank you much for the Intelligence they contain. I am now alone here, Mr. Jay being at Bath, with Mr Laurens, and...
55From Benjamin Franklin to Elias Boudinot, 13 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS , press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives; ALS (draft) and transcript: Library of Congress I received a few Days since the Private Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me of the 18th. June. I regret with you the Resignation of the late Secretary. Your present Cares are encreased by it, and it will be difficult to find a Successor of equal Abilities. We found...
56The American Peace Commissioners to Elias Boudinot, 10 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS and press copy of LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society On the third Instant, Definitive Treaties were concluded, between all the late belligerent Powers, except the Dutch, who the Day before settled and signed Preliminary Articles of Peace with Britain. We most sincerely & cordially congratulate Congress and our Country in general, on this...
57From Benjamin Franklin to Bra[iez?], 22 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society Je suis trop étranger, Monsieur, à toute Dispute sur le Mesmerisme, pour consentir que mon nom paroisse ni directement ni indirectement ailleurs que dans le Rapport des Commissaires au Nombre desquels Sa Majesté m’avoit nommé. J’ai l’honneur d’être, Monsieur, Votre trés humble & trés obeissant Serviteur In response to his letter of the...
58From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, 31 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society Voici, ma trés cher Amie, une de mes Plaisanteries serieuses, ou sourdes, que je vous envoie, esperant qu’elle pourra peutétre vous amuser un peu. Au quel cas, vous me recompenserez en me donnant, je n’ose dire un Baiser, car les votres sont trop precieux, & vous en étes trop chiche; mais vous me jouerez un Noel et l’excellent Marche des Insurgents—...
59From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, 8 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of AL : American Philosophical Society Je vous ai envoyé, ma trés chere fille, par Mr. le Roy, l’Avis à ceux qui veulent passer en Amerique, que vous m’avez demandé, & j’ai joint les Remarques sur la Politesse des Sauvages. Avec ce Billet, je vous envoye plusieurs autres petites choses, dont on a imprimé quelques Exemplaires dans la Maison, seulement pour nos Amis. Je vous demande...
60From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, [December 1783?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society Je vous envoye incluses, les petites Pieces que vous, ma très chere Amie, m’a fait l’honneur de me demander. Celle sur le Jeu des Echecs, doit etre dedieé à vous, la plus belle conseil qu’elle contient, etant copié de votre maniere genereuse & magnanime de jouer, que j’ai si souvent experiencé. Mon petit Fils a été voir votre Maison. Je suis bien...
61From Benjamin Franklin to Anne-Louise Boivin d’Hardancourt Brillon de Jouy, 29 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University; press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society Je vous felicite trés cordialement, ma trés chere amie, de l’heureux Accouchement de notre Fille. Puisse l’Enfante être aussi bonne & aussi aimable que sa mere, sa grandemere, sa grandegrandemere, &c. Je me souviens d’avoir un jour rencontré chez vous quatre de vos Generations, quand vos Enfans etoient tres jeunes; & que...
62From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Brillon de Jouy, 16 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of copy: American Philosophical Society Mr. Franklin fait mille Compliments à Monsieur Brillon. Il lui envoie selon sa Promesse l’Extrait de la Lettre que M. Bache lui a écrite, au quel il a joint une Traduction, et le prie de vouloir bien les remettre à M. Thomas. Who served as an intermediary between the abbe Thomas (who had grievances against JW and the firm of Bache & Shee) and...
63From Benjamin Franklin to [Madame Brouttin Mollien de Sombres], [after 4 March 1784] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society That I am sorry I was not at home when she did me the honour of calling on me. That the Appointment of Consuls does not belong to me: but That whenever one is appointed for Dunkirk, I imagine it will be Mr Coffyn, who for seven Years past has constantly served the United States in taking Care of & relieving their poor Prisoners escaping from England &...
64From Benjamin Franklin to Cadet de Vaux, 5 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Bibliothèque Municipale, Nantes Malgré tout le desir que J’ai, Monsieur, de faire quelque Chose qui puisse vous etre agreable ainsi qu’a M. Votre Frere,— Il m’est absolument impossible de faire le voyage de Paris dans Ce moment cy; ma Maladie, et la saison rigoureuse, sont des obstacles insurmontables pour moi— J’ai moi meme fait executer un Poele Cheminée propre a bruler le Charbon de...
65From Benjamin Franklin to [John Calder], 21 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS : Library of Congress Understanding that my Letter intended for you by General Melvill was lost at the Hotel d’Espagne I take this Opportunity by my Grandson to give you the purport of it, as well as I can recollect. I thank’d you for the Pleasure you had procur’d me of the General’s Conversation, whom I found a judicious, sensible, and amiable Man. I was glad to hear that...
66From Benjamin Franklin to the Conde de Campomanes, 5 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I have received much Instruction and Pleasure in reading your excellent Writings; I wish it were in my Power to make you a suitable Return of the same kind. I embrace the Opportunity my much esteemed Friend Mr Carmichael affords me, of sending you a late Collection of some of my occasional Pieces, of which, if I should live to get home I hope to...
67From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 11[–15] October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS and copy: American Philosophical Society I have just received the honour of yours of the 25th past, and shall communicate it as you desire to my Colleagues, tomorrow. I think you did right in mentioning to the Minister the Nature of our Commission, &c. In my last I sent you a Copy of our Letter to the Count d’Aranda. Herein I inclose his Answer, in order to keep you fully...
68From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 26 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have received your kind Letter of the 11th. Inst. with one from the Cte. de Campomanes enclos’d, wch. I shall answer in a few Days. Your Namesake is gone to England; but I think he wrote to you before he went. I expect him back in 4 or 5 Weeks.— I suppose he acquainted you that Mr. Jefferson is arrived. He has brought Commissions joining him with Mr...
69From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 15 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Henry E. Huntington Library; press copy of LS and transcript: National Archives I am much concern’d to find by your Letter to my Grandson, that you are hurt by my long Silence, and that you ascribe it to a suppos’d Diminution of my Friendship. Believe me, that is by no means the case; but I am too much harassed by a Variety of Correspondence together with Gout and Gravel, which induces me...
70From Benjamin Franklin to Chapel, 12 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la Lettre dont vous m’avez honoré le 7 du courant. Je ne puis vous donner la Lettre de Recommandation que vous desirez pour le Ministre Américain à Londres, puisque nous n’avons point encore de Ministre dans cette Ville; et il y a trop long temps que J’en suis absent pour être en état de vous faire connoitre les Maisons de...
71From Benjamin Franklin to [Charbonnier de la Robole], [13 September 1784] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress; press copy of L (French translation): American Philosophical Society Mr Franklin sends the Recommendatory Letters desired, but cannot advise Mr. Mouret to go to North America in Expectation of Employment in a Country of which he does not understand the Language, and thinks that if he will leave France he had better go to the French Islands St. Domingo,...
72From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Chase, 6 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I duly Receiv’d your Letter of the 18th. of September, with the Papers that accompanied it; but being at that time afflicted with two painful Disorders, the Gout and Gravel, I could not then give any Attention to Business; and before my Recovery, the Letters and Paper were both most unaccountably missing. I spent Hours from time to time in searching...
73From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques-Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont, 2 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society In May, 1784, after a truce of two years’ duration, Franklin and his friend and landlord, Le Ray de Chaumont, finally agreed on what was owed to whom. Franklin had tried unsuccessfully to settle their accounts in the spring and summer of 1782, on order of Congress. After Chaumont refused to abide by the ruling of their mutually chosen arbitrator,...
74From Benjamin Franklin to Chevallié, 26 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I duly receiv’d in its time, the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 21st. of October last, with the Papers that accompany’d it, relating to your Demands against the State of Virginia, the Congress, & sundry private Persons in America. Mr Jefferson, a principal Person and late Governor of that State, being in Paris, I thought I could not do better with...
75From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Childs, 8 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives I received your Letter of Nov. 13. with the preceding one therein mentioned. I had some Discourse with Mr Jay respecting you, and I express’d a Willingness to assist you in Setting up your Business, on the same Terms as I had formerly done other young Printers of good Character, viz. Whitemash & Timothy in Carolina, Smith and afterwards Mecom at Antigua, Parker at New...
76From Benjamin Franklin to Daniel Lathrop Coit, 14 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Printed invitation with MS insertions: Johns Hopkins University Library Dr. Franklin requests the honour of Mr. Coit’s Company at Dinner on Sunday the 18. Inst The favour of an Answer is desired. Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Coit. chez / Mr. Carter / Hotel d’Angleterre / Rue des Filles St Thomas. Endorsed: Doctr. Franklin’s Billet to Dine Daniel Lathrop Coit (1754–1833), a merchant of...
77From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 26 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS and transcript: Library of Congress I have received your Favour of the 16th October, and am much oblig’d by the Intelligence it contains.— I am happy to hear that your Government has agreed to furnish Congress with the Means of discharging the National Debt. The Obstruction that Measure met with in some of the States, has had very mischievous Effects on this side the Water;...
78From Benjamin Franklin to Creuzé, 14 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I received the three several Letters you did me the honour of writing to me on the Subject of the Aerostatic Machines, and the means of directing their Motion. The Academy of Sciences having appointed a Committee to consider that Subject, I thought I could not better dispose of your Papers than by communicating them to that learned Body, especially as...
79From Benjamin Franklin to Crocco, 15 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS : National Archives I have just received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 25th. past. I did indeed receive your former Letter of July, but being totally a Stranger to the mentioned Proceedings of Mr. Montgomery and having no Orders from Congress on the Subject, I knew not how to give you any satisfactory answer, till I should receive farther Information;...
80From Benjamin Franklin to ——— Desfours, 23 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society Je n’ai point reçu, Monsieur, le Projet dont vous faitez mention dans la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 15 du mois dernier; et Je serois bien aise de le voir. Quant à la Commn que vous desirez, Je n’ai aucune autorité pour l’accorder ou la refuser; tout ce que Je puis faire c’est d’envoyer votre Requete au Congrès, et de...