721To Benjamin Franklin from Sir Edward Newenham, 14 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Can a few Lines compensate the trouble of opening this Letter? It is to convey the sentiments of a whole family in wishing you & your Worthy Grandson many returns of the present Season—you have not, in the Extensive Dominions from the Bay of Fundy to the Missisippi, more sincere, warm or Impartial friends than Lady Newenham & the Colonels of the Liberty...
722To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Hopkinson, 24 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I cannot suffer so good an Opportunity to pass without renewing my Assurances of the Love & Respect I have for you— mine & my Father’s steady Friend. It is indeed long since I have written to you, & much longer since I have received a Letter from you— Your more serious & important Avocations are doubtless the Occasion of both— I am unwilling to intrude upon...
723To Benjamin Franklin from Silas Deane, 19 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I am informed by Col Wadsworth, and others lately from Paris, that it was currently reported of Me that I was intimate with Genl Arnold, and that a Pamphlet, lately published by Lord Sheffeild, owed to Me most of the Facts and Observations contained in it. I have found by experience that from the Moment a Man becomes unpopular, every report which any...
724To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 6 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; copy: University of South Carolina Library I have been about a fortnight indebted for your obliging Letter of the 17th Ult: delaying from day to day a reply, hoping from expected supplies of Money from my own funds I should have avoided calling upon Mr Grand, but the prospect is vanished. My Attornies had sent me a Bill for £500. which is protested, they had Shiped...
725From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 24 January 1784 (Adams Papers)
Desirous of doing all in my Power, to Save Mr Morriss Bills, I determined to go to Amsterdam, and accordingly, Sett off, the Beginning of this Month from London, in a Season too rigorous for Pleasure.— At Harwich we were obliged to wait Several Days for fair Weather, which when it arrived brought us little Comfort as it was very cold And the Wind exactly against Us. The Packetts were obliged...
726To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, 24 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je Suis on ne peut pas plus fâché mon Illustre Docteur d’avoir passe mon automne Si loin de vous et en vous disant cela je me flatte bien que vous ne le prenez pas pour un Compliment à La Françoise. Je ne le Suis pas moins Je vous assurre de n’avoir pas encore pu vous écrire un Seul petit mot. Mais La vie que Je mene ici est Si coupée par le regime qu’on y...
727To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Ponçins, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, 12 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Lannée derniere il vous fût adréssé par le chevalier De montorcier De Sugny, ancien Capitaine au régiment de flandre, de la ville de montbrison, un projet pour lever un Corps de militaires et douvriers, pour lutilité des états unis de lamerique. Ce cher. de Sugny montorcier, est mon Cousin germain; son age de Séxagenaire, et la goutte dont il est possedé,...
728To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 25 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since I had the honor to answer Your Excellencys Letter of the 26th Ulto. from St. Ildefonso, this Court has judged proper to adopt a measure which it has had in contemplation for some time past, by finally concluding to send Mr Gardoqui late Consul General in England, to represent his Catholic Majesty in the Character of Chargé D’Affaires to the United...
729To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 5 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Most earnestly have I wished for the Definitive Treaty to arrive, and Congress to find a resting place, that they might then have time to recall you, and our little Family be once more joined, the Treaty I am told is come, but when Congress will settle no one can say, they have lost much of the Confidence of the People since they began to wander, your old Friend...
730To Benjamin Franklin from Chiappe, 10 January 1785 (Franklin Papers)
Translation of ALS in Italian: National Archives; copy: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères The enclosed is a copy of the original forwarded to Your Excellency by route of Dar-al-Beida and Cádiz. Now I must inform you of the arrival at this Court of the Captain in question, having occurred the 17th day of last December, whose name is James Erwin of Philadelphia, Commander of the...
731To Benjamin Franklin from d’Ogny: Proposed Franco-American Postal Treaty, [c. 25 May 1784] (Franklin Papers)
Autograph translation by Benjamin Franklin: American Philosophical Society; D : American Philosophical Society Under cover of the May 25 letter immediately above, the baron d’Ogny sent Franklin a thirteen-page “Projet de Traité pour la Correspondance des Lettres entre l’Office des Postes de France et celui des Etats Unis de l’Amérique Septentrionale.” The text published below is Franklin’s...
732To Benjamin Franklin from Sir Edward Newenham, 20 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Every hour of my Life induces me most Gratefully to commemorate the Æra, that first made me acquainted with the Virtuous Heir of ancient Roman Patriotism; this day I had the honor of your Excellencys of the 2d Inst: at the same time that I had one from Philadelphia, mentioning a hope that this Independant Kingdom would be included in the Commercial Treaty—...
733To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 3 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; copy: University of South Carolina Library I ask your pardon for having so long delayed an acknowledgement of your favor of the 6th. December. first occasioned by a purpose of writing by Mr. Jay, whose departure was uncertain & I happned to be abroad when he was so good as to call upon me at Bath to take leave. Immediately after he left us, I was seized by a violent...
734To Benjamin Franklin from William Temple Franklin, 7 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have now the Pleasure of informing you, (and indeed it is a great one) that I have got the better of that stubborn Monster the Fever & Ague. I thought myself exceedingly unfortunate when I was taken with it,—but I esteem myself fortunate to a much greater Degree in being so soon quit of it. It is to the excellent Advice of Dr. Jefferies, the constant &...
735To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, [13 September 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: South Carolina Historical Society, Massachusetts Historical Society; press copy of copy: Henry E. Huntington Library I have received the Letter which you did me the Honour to write me, on the Tenth of this Month, in which you say, you have received a Letter from a very respectable Person in America, containing the following Words vizt. “It is confidently reported, propagated and...
736To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre-François Chevallié, 21 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Ayant fait L’acquisition au mois de mai 1777. du Vaisseau du Roy L’Hyppopotâme de 50. Canons, et La cession un mois aprés en faveur de M. de Beaumarchais je fus chargé par Luy de luy faire faire son radoub, Armément, et Expédition et de suppléer le nom du Fier Rodrigue, à celuy d’Hyppopotâme. Vous vous rappellerés aisément, Monseigneur, combien Les...
737To Benjamin Franklin from [Fortunato Bartolomeo de Felice], 15 January 1785 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Permettez qu’un admirateur depuis 35 ans aumoins de vos grands talens vous adresse la lettre ci jointe, elle servira de preface a quelques idées que j’ai mises par écrit ces jours passes et que je viens de donner à l’imprimerie. Un personnage distingué de la Haye m’envoya il y a 6 semaines les Observations de M. l’Abbé de Mably, sur les differentes...
738To Benjamin Franklin from the Comtesse d’Houdetot, 31 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Me permettés Vous Mon Cher Et Venerable Docteur De Vous Demander De Vos nouvelles; Et Dans L’Eloignement ou je Suis De Vous De M’informer au Moins Comment Vous Vous portés Et Si Vous pensés quelques fois a la personne La plus Remplie Des Sentimens De L’attachement Le plus tendre Et De La plus profonde Veneration, je ne puis oublier la touchante Bonté avec...
739To Benjamin Franklin from Frédéric-Samuel Ostervald, 1 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Puisje me flatter que votre Excellence ne désaprouvera pas la liberté que je prends de lui renouveller aujourdhui l’expression de mon hommage le plus respectueux, & de reclamer les bontés qu’Elle voulut bien me marquer lorsque j’eus l’honneur de le lui présenter moi meme il y a environ trois ans. Une circonstance particuliere semble même m’y autoriser...
740To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens: Two Letters, 18 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : Library of Congress; copy: University of South Carolina Library I beg leave to refer to my Letter of the 7th. Inst. by the hands of Mr. Bourdieu. Mr. Hartley call’d upon me the 13th. at Bath & return’d a verbal answer. “The King had ordered him immediately to Paris for exchanging the Ratifications.” & he accordingly goes & will do me the honor of delivering this. Nothing...
741To Benjamin Franklin from Ingenhousz, 2 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You will have recieved my lettre dated Nov. 19th. with a parcel to mr le Begue Containing papers for the press. Count choteck inquired again whether his bill of exchange has been forwarded by you to America. I told him you have probably had no time to write me about it, but that I make no doubt but the commission is sent to America. From the inclosed...
742To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Colson, 6 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Printed invitation with ms insertions: American Philosophical Society JE suis chargé par la Maison Philantropique, de vous rappeller que c’est Vendredi prochain le jour de son Assemblée, à 5 heures & demie précises, Hôtel du Musée , rue Dauphine. On y fera lecture de ce qui a été arrêté sur les Réglemens: vous voudrez bien vous souvenir qu’on paye, á cette époque, la Cotisation du sémestre de...
743To Benjamin Franklin from the Chevalier de Kéralio, 30 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society L’officier qui vous remettra cette Lettre, Mon respectable ami, est Mr. de gourdon qui a Servi avec moi à L’école Militaire, et qui ainsi que moi, a pris le parti de quitter cette Maison. Actuellement établi à passy, il desire fort voir de près le grand homme que tout bon françois doit cherir et Admirer, et à ce titre avoir l’honneur de Vous présenter son...
744To Benjamin Franklin from the Comtesse d’Houdetot, 16 December 1784 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Jay Des Remercimens a Vous faire, Mon Cher Et Venerable Docteur Du present que Vous M’avés Envoyé; jay Communiqué a Mr. De St. Lambert L’ouvrage Anglais Mais Combien j’ay Eté penetrée De La Lettre qui y Est jointe, Elle m’a arraché Des L’armes D’admiration Et De Regrets pour Le grand homme qui L’a Ecritte; Voila ce que L’humanité a perdû ce qu’on a Voulû...
745To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Bridgen, 11 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I was favoured with your Excellency’s Letter by Colll: Harmar under the date of April 17th:. In compliance with your request I have delivered to Coll: H’s care 3 Roles & 1 parcell the particulars of their contents you will find in the inclosed paper and how they are addressed. You say truly Sir that I promised to send them by the Count de Moustier, who...
746William Carmichael to Benjamin Franklin, 15 April 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I had the honor to write you on the 4th. Instant I have received from the Ct. de Rechteren the inclosed copy of a letter from the Dutch consul in Marocco which I forward for the information of the commissioners. I am also advised by Mr. Harrison that the Spanish Consul to the Emperor, but now at Cadiz preparing Presents for that Prince, informed him that he was instructed by the Ct. de...
747To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Price, 21 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received a few days ago your letter by Mr Hartley, and think myself much obliged to you for it, and for conveying to me the King of France’s Edict for establishing a new Sinking Fund. I received soon afterwards another Copy of the Same Edict from Ld Shelburne. My curiosity has been much gratify’d by it; but at the Same time I have been mortify’d to find...
748To Benjamin Franklin from Sir Edward Newenham, 29 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives, London It is so long Since I had the honor of receiving a Line from your Excellency, or hearing of your worthy Grandsons, or your own health, although I frequently solicited that favor, that I assure you, it has been no small matter of uneasiness to me & my Family—to deprive us of that, was, indeed, depriving us of a most...
749To Benjamin Franklin from Marsilio Landriani: Résumé, 9 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania ⟨Milan, November 9, 1783, in Italian: I would fail in the commission given to me by the Imperial Court of publishing a mémoire raisonné on the utility of conductors, in order to make their use more common among us, if before its publication I did not write to you, the illustrious and celebrated gentleman to whom we owe this great discovery. Not knowing...
750To Benjamin Franklin from John Walter, May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am oblig’d for your kind Letter, & the present accompanying it, which I think of great Moment to my future Patent.— When I first apply’d to have Type cemented for the incorrect Pamphlet I sent You, Mr. Caslon charg’d Me 2 s./0 per Pound for them, instead of 1 s./0 the common Price of Letters, but gave Me Expectation that the Demand would be lessen’d, if...