31From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 15 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society I have just seen in the English Newspapers that you and your Family are safe arrived in New York, which gives me great Pleasure. I send you herewith some of our latest News Papers. Mr Hartley is at length recall’d, having remain’d here Six Months without doing or proposing any thing towards the Commercial Treaty....
32From Benjamin Franklin to Bedtinger, 2 January 1785 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS , American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire pour solliciter la Place de Vice Consul des E.U. de l’Amerique au Havre, pour le sr. Dupuis.— Il m’auroit èté infiniment agréable de remplir vos Vues à cet égard s’il avoit dependu de Moi; mais Je n’y puis rien. M. Barclay notre Consul Général est seul autorisé a faire...
33To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 21 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received your Favour of the 18th. I thank you for the Steps you took with the Duke of Dorset, and with Mr. Adams; and hope they will prove effectual. I arrived here extreamly well, not at all hurt or fatigued by the Carriage I us’d, which I found generally very gentle. I embark this Evening for Cowes with Mr. Houdon. I have seen that M. du Plessis twice. He appears a Man of some...
34From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Henry Lee, 8 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: National Archives I received by the Marquis de la Fayette the two Letters you did me the Honour of writing to me the 11th & 14th of December; the one enclosing a Letter from Congress to the King; the other a Resolve of Congress respecting the Convention for establishing Consuls. The Letter was immediately deliver’d, and well...
I received your very kind Letter of the 16th, congratulating me on my safe Arrival with my Grandsons, an Event that indeed makes me very happy, being what I have long ardently wish’d, and considering the growing Infirmities of Age, began almost to despair of. I am now in the Bosom of my Family, and find four new little Prattlers, who cling about the Knees of their Grand Papa, and afford me...
36From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Laurens, 29 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; press copy of ALS : Library of Congress I received your Favour by Mr Bourdieu, and yesterday another of the 18th. per Mr Hartley, who also gave me the Gazette with the Proclamation. I am with you very little uneasy about that, or any other Measures the Ministry may think proper to take with respect to the Commerce with us. We shall do very well.— They have long...
37From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 15 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Katherine N. Bradford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1956) I received your kind Letter of July 22. I wish you had executed your Project of taking a little Trip to see me this Summer. You would have made me very happy,—and might have bath’d your Children here as well as at Southampton, I having a Bath in my House, besides the River in view.— I like your motherly Account of them, and in...
38From 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...
39From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 16 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; press copy of ALS : Columbia University Library We duly receiv’d (Mr Jay & me) the Letters you did us the honour of writing to us the 27th of March & the 2d Instant. We shall transmit, as you desire, the Recommendation of Mr Browne to Congress; and enclos’d we send a Copy of the Treaty with Sweden. We expect Mr Hartley here very soon, to exchange the...
40From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, July 26[–c. 15 August 1784] (Franklin Papers)
LS , copy, and transcript: Library of Congress I have received several Letters from you lately, dated June 16th. June 30, & July 13. I thank you for the Information respecting the Proceedings of your West India Merchants, or rather Planters: The Restraints whatever they may be upon our Commerce with your Islands, will prejudice their Inhabitants, I apprehend, more than us. It is wonderful how...