691To Benjamin Franklin from the Baron de Feriet, 5 December 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Vous m’aviés fait espérer, Monsieur, que quand mr. votre petit fils serait de retour, il viendrait voir Les différens appartemens que je vous ai cherché ici; depuis que j’ay eu L’honneur de vous voir, j’ay Sû que mr. de cabre 1er. commis de la Marine, devait quitter une maison fort belle, et dans le voisinage de mr. de reynneval; en conséquence, je lui ai...
692To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre Roussille, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, [c. 1 September 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Le Sr. prre. Roussille natif, & habitant a Bordeaux a l’honneur de vous exposer humblement qu’il S’embarqu’a le 22 mai 1778. en qualité de volontaire Sur la frégate des Etats unis de l’amerique Septentrionale nommée la Boston, Commandée par le Capitaine Tucker, armee en Guerre, et faisant course Sur l’ennemi. Ils firent le 19 juin de la même année la prise...
693To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Nathaniel Bancroft, January 10–14, 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honour of writing you Sometime ago a few lines, which I hope you received. As I never forget my good friends, although they may be at many other parts of the world; I am glad of embracing every opportunity of enquiring after their health & happiness & as I have a very great regard for your’s, on account of the great friendship that has subsisted...
694To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 11 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received some days ago a Letter from the Cte de Campomanes in answer to the one which your Excellency put into my hands for him; As I had in prospect an occasion of sending it by an extraordinary Courier I have taken the Liberty to detain this Letter until the moment of the Departure of the Courier— The packet would have cost your Excellency an...
695To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 13 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Three LS : Yale University Library, American Philosophical Society, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copies: Harvard University Library, Library of Congress I have written to you, under Yesterday’s Date, on a very interesting Subject; and I will now add Something farther which I did not chuse to place in that Letter, as a Copy of it is transmitted to the Houses in Holland. And first I will...
696From John Jay to Benjamin Franklin, 13 December 1784 (Jay Papers)
The Marq s . Dela Fayette is so obliging as to take Charge of this Letter— He has seen much of our Country since his Arrival, & having had many opportunities of knowing our true Situation, he will be able to give you a full and fair State of Information on the Subject. I think he ^ is ^ ( ^ & ^ has Reason to be) convinced that the attachm t . of America to him has not been abated by the Peace,...
697To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 16 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Consul General of France kindly informing me that a Vessel was on the Point of sailing for Brest, I have only a Moment to inform you that the House of Representatives for this State have this Moment passed an Act for a Duty of 5 pr Cent on all Goods imported for paying the Interest of our National Debt, according to the Requisition of Congress. This...
698To Benjamin Franklin from John Coakley Lettsom, 28 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I write this at the request of my friend & Countryman Thornton, a Student of medicine, & a young gentleman of fortune from Tortola; who has, like every other person of sentiment & ambition, a fond desire to know Dr. Franklin, & I have taken the liberty to request his delivery of this letter— I think he will make a distinguished character; he has at present...
699To Benjamin Franklin from William Temple Franklin, 2 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Little did I imagine, when I wrote you from Dover, of the Inconveniences I had experienced on the Passage, and of the Uneasiness I then felt, & which I supposed was caused by the Sea Sickness, that the Result would be, a fever and Ague! But Alas! it is too true.— That very Night on my Arrival at Cantorberry I was seized with a shivering; it did not however...
700To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Stamitz, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, 2 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Pardonnez la liberté que je prends de vous Ecrire sans avoir l’honneur d’être Connû de vous; je viens d’apprendre trés positivement que Messieurs les Amériquains, voulant faire refleurir les beaux arts chez Eûx. Sont sur le point d’avoir une troupe française, dont Monsieur Clerval, ancien Comédien de Provinçe doit en être le Regiseur, qui pour cet Effect...
701To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Bra[iez?], 21 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Il y a longtems que je médite la démarche que je fais aujourdhui, et mes réflexions m’ont fait préfèrer cette voie à l’incertitude d’obtenir un moment d’audiance. Avant de parler de l’objèt qui me détermine, je crois devoir établir Le Seul titre que j’aïe à la Confiance que je désire de vous inspirer, Monsieur, en m’annonçant comme protègé moins qu’ancien...
702To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 22 July 1784[–6 August 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Ever since the Termination of the unhappy Contest between Great Britain and America, I have been anxious to write to you, and to endeavour to revive that affectionate Intercourse and Connexion which till the Commencement of the late Troubles had been the Pride and Happiness of my Life. Uncertain, however, whether the decided and active Part I took in...
703Map of the United States of America, Following the Peace Treaty of 1783, Dedicated and Presented to Benjamin Franklin … (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Affiches, annonces, et avis divers, ou Journal general de France, June 10, 1784. Carte des Etats-Unis de l’Amerique Suivant le Traité de Paix de 1783, issued by Jean Lattré in 1784, was neither the first French map of the United States published after the signing of the peace, nor an entirely accurate depiction of the boundaries of the new nation, as its title implies. It was,...
704To Benjamin Franklin from Hope & Co., 16 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We presume on the Strength of the personal Acquaintance we have the honour of & the Sentiments of Esteem inseperable from this advantage to present to You our estimable friend William French Esqr., prior of the Firm of French Crawford & Co. one of the most opulent & respectable Houses at Glasgow, who with Peter Spiers Esqr. a Young Gentlemen of Family there...
705To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Todd, 17 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Royal Mail Archive I received on Tuesday Night last at 12. the Letter you were pleased to write me the 9th: Instant, and consequently too late to thank you for it by that Post. My Lord Foley and Mr Carteret are both in the Country at present, but I have not a doubt of their approving the plan d’Arrangement which you have put into French, exactly as...
706To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Todd, 19 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Royal Mail Archive I had the pleasure of writing to you on the 22nd. past, and since that time a great deal of Sorrow has fallen to my Share by the unexpected Death of my beloved Nephew Mr. George Maddison, who is also an heavy loss to me and others in a public Capacity, and particularly as he was so well informed in the Negotiations going forward...
707To Benjamin Franklin from Francesco Chiappe: Two Letters, 3 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II): Translations from the Italian: National Archives; copies: National Archives (three); Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères After having executed his Imperial Majesty’s commands agreeable to the enclos’d, I take the Liberty to inform your Excellency that lately a Ship of his I. M. Rais Hamet Turchi—having taken an American Vessel with a Cargo of Salt Petre and Clothing,...
708To Benjamin Franklin from Sir Edward Newenham, 25 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You will see by the enclosed, what has been done in the Grand National Convention; The Variety of Sentiment & Contending Interests are Objects almost unsurmountable objections to any Plan; the Speeches are not fully enserted, but the Substance is—In my private opinion—all will end in a just & Equitable place Bill, which in a few sessions will prove a real...
709To Benjamin Franklin from Philippe-Denis Pierres, 12 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This letter contains the first allusion in Franklin’s papers (albeit an indirect one) to the doctor’s having hired J.-Fr. Hemery in the fall of 1784 to reactivate the dormant typefoundry at Passy and teach Benjamin Franklin Bache how to cast printing type. Pierres here reports that he has, as requested, forwarded a letter from Franklin to “hemery.” That...
710To Benjamin Franklin from Campomanes, 26 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Translation of LS in Spanish: American Philosophical Society I received the collection of miscellaneous published works by Your Excellency along with your esteemed letter of June 5 and the advice to emigrants to the United States of America: all by the hand of my friend Mr. Carmichael. The various writings, published at different times, reveal a statesman full of foresight and vigilance for...
711To Benjamin Franklin from Elias Boudinot, 1 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress; copy: Princeton University Library My last letters to you, were on the 15th. of August and 9th. of September, on the same subject, enclosing the ratification of the Treaty with Sweden and duplicate, with an act of Congress for your altering a few words in it—striking out the word North before America in the title of the...
712To Benjamin Franklin from Jane Mecom, 16 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is my Duty as well as Inclination to Inform you much oftner than I have done of my Situation and Afairs, I acknolidg I have Suffered very Trifling circumstances to cause me to Neglect it for the Time; you are the only Person in the world I wish to know all my Transactions an the motives to them as such a Friend as my Dear Brother would Subject me to the...
713To Benjamin Franklin from Charles de Butré, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, 8 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Je viens de lire avec un attendrissement inexprimable les lettres d’un cultivateur américain, elles me confirment dans ce que j’avois toujours pensé Sur la fausse description faite de ce paÿs par l’abbé Raynal historien peu véridique Sur les principaux points de Son histoire politique. C’est une Suite variée des tableaux les plus touchans et les plus...
714To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre Huet de La Valinière, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, 3 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Me permetra de vous dire que depuis le moment, ou j’ai eu l’honneur de vous presenter mes respects en votre Hotel a Passy, je n’ai cessé de travailler pour votre peïs & le Canada; si je n’ai pas reüssi, ce n’est pas ma faute. Je suis ce Prêtre qui, aprés avoir passé 26. ans en Canada, ai eu le malheur d’en être exilé a raison de suspicion: ensorte que plus...
715To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 4 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., The Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D., F.R.S., &c. (2nd ed.; 2 vols., London, 1817), II , 440–1. I only write one line to you to let you know that I am not forgetful of you, or of our common concerns. I have not heard any thing from the ministry yet: I believe it is a kind of vacation with them before the meeting of parliament. I...
716To Benjamin Franklin from John Curwen, 23 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You may truely be surprized at the Receipt of a Letter from a Stranger (a Person in a remote Corner in England, a Country with which you have been at War) & one who is not ambitious of aspiring above the humble Rank of a Ploughman. I have often of late had a great Desire to write to you, & as often suppress’d it, for when I compared my own Insignificancy...
717To Benjamin Franklin from John Shaffer, 12 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Je pris hier la liberté de vous écrire pour reclamer l’honneur de Votre protection, quoique je Sente bien que je ne l’a mérite plus. Je vous ai instruit Sur le Sujet de ma Détention, c’est une circonstance malheureuse qui m’a entrainé dans l’etat triste et déplorable ou je me trouve réduit, circonstance d’autant Malheureuse qu’on m’a depouillé de mon...
718To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Shipley, [on or before 13 October 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A few days ago I was surprisd & delighted by a kind Letter from You transmitted to me by your Grandson now in London, & flatterd myself I should soon have seen him & been able by the Kindness I wishd to show him, to express some part of the Reverence & Affection I have allways felt for You. Mrs Shipley & her Daughters were overjoy’d with the expectation of...
719To Benjamin Franklin from Du Calvet, 24 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’apprends de Mr. lambert, Banquier á paris, que pour être payé de la dette dont les êtats unis me Sont redevables, depuis la retraite de leurs généraux du canada, il ne me reste plus, que la voie de m’addresser personnellement au Congrés, par l’envoi des piéces originales qui la justifient. J’ai des idées trop relevées de la probité et de la justice de Mr....
720To Benjamin Franklin from Du Calvet, 4 January 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçue le 28 de decembre par penny post la lettre que Votre Excellence m’a fait l’honneur de m’ecrire le 14 d’octobre dernier. Si cette lettre est partie de passy par la voie directe de la poste, il n’est pas difficile de deviner la cause, qui la prolongeé Si ong tems Sur la route, avant de parvenir jusqu’a moi; les Soupçons et la malice du despotisme...