1From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Daniel Schweighauser, 24 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I last Night received your respected Letter of the 20th. Instant; inclosing one from Capt. Landais to which the Within is an Answer sent open for your Perusal. I should make no Objection to your Supplying the Alliance with such Provisions as might be necessary for the present Subsistance of the People that are on board her, many of whom are exchanged Prisoners, honest...
2The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 13 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, July 13, 1778: Load the Boston with whatever Capt. Tucker will take, and particularly with as much lead as he can carry and you can supply.> Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 160.
3The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 4 November 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two) <Passy, November 4, 1778: We have at last seen M. Bersolle’s accounts. According to the resolutions of Congress, all captured vessels of war belong to the officers and crew, who in fact receive a bounty for every man and gun on board. Congress never intended to be accountable for further expense on account of these prizes. Every...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Daniel Schweighauser, 20 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received duly your favour of Nov. 11. inclosing Capt. Samson’s Receipt for the Packets & Bills of Lading. This with your subsequent of Nov. 27. containing your accounts are now before me. I approve of your Charitable Care of the sick man Edward Slade and the poor Girl. Please to inform me if you know, how they came in to Europe. Is the Girl incapable of doing any...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 19 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your esteemed Favour of the 15th. I have no Directions to give relative to the Sailing or Destination of the Brig Active, but wish to be inform’d when you think of dispatching her, as I may write by her. No Orders nor even a Letter relating to the Ship Alliance are come to my hands; I therefore suppose she naturally falls under your Care as...
6The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 4 January 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) <Passy, January 4, 1779: We acknowledge your undated letter, and refer you to ours of the second of this month. We cannot furnish Gilbank with more money; perhaps our protest of his bills will convince him. We have applied for the convoy with the greatest possible urgency. We approve your...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 29 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I daily received yours of the 15. Instant. By a Letter from Mrs. Gourlade and Moylan dated the 10th. I am assured that they never refused to continue supplying the Alliance with the necessary Provisions: Therefore a Charge from your Correspondent at L’Orient on that Account, will not be rightly brought against me. In my last I mentioned that I might possibly in the...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 5 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have before me your favour of March 20 & one of a Post preceding without date. Your Orders to Capt. Landais to finish his Refitt at Brest were good, if he could obtain Permission & Conveniencies there: But I have understood that it could not be, and he writes me of the 28 past, that he proposes sailing for Nantes in 8 Days. I approve much of the Orders you have...
9The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 13 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, September 13, 1778: The Thérèse , whose cargo is assigned to us, has arrived at Nantes. We wish to sell the cargo and reserve the proceeds for a particular purpose. We request and impower you to sell the cargo, transmit an account, and hold the proceeds for our orders. M. de Sartine informs us he has taken...
10The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 9–10 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, July 9–10, 1778: We enclose an order on Desegray, Beaugeard fils & Cie. of Lorient for saltpetre, to be shipped to America as soon as possible. July 10: We also forward Mr. Williams’ order on Mr. Cossoul for articles to be shipped in the same way. > Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 147. In...
11From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 13 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Bearer M. De Guio having been an officier in The American Service and brought Prisoner into England, I request you would procure him a Passage to Boston if convenient in the Mercury Packet. He will pay the Captain for his passage on his arrival there; having considerable arrearages of pay due to him. I have the honour to be, Sir &c. Jean de Guio, a Canadian to...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Daniel Schweighauser, 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The enclosed from Mr Adams I suppose acquaints you with his Intention of embarking at your Port for America. I am confident you will readily afford him all the Assistance in your Power, that he may be well accommodated at Nantes and in the Ship Alliance. I have the honor to be Sir &
13The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 29 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have directed the Captain’s Read and Barnes to apply to you for such Cargoes as they can take for America, and for such Necessary supplies as they may demand, which We desire you to do with all possible Expedition and Frugality. We are &c.
14From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 26 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 16th. respecting Capt. Pickles. I should be happy if I could supply every American’s Wants to the Extent of their Wishes. But tho’ they feel their own Difficulties, they are insensible of mine, and imagining that I have a Mint of Money at command, they set no bounds to their Expences and Expectations. The Number of Such...
15From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 11 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have received your favour of the 7th. inclosing your Account, and advising me of your Drafts upon me for the same, which I shall duly honour. I have already furnish’d Mr. Robert Beverly Chew, with as much Money as I could afford, considering the Numbers that apply to me. You may if that will be acceptable furnish him with another Gunea. But not a farthing more to...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 24 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yesterday the Honour of your Letter of the 19th. Instant, where in you mention my having paid your former Accounts of Disbursements on the frigate Alliance and other Vessels, which you suppose was done with the approbation of Congress. The Congress have never yet had the Opportunity of giving their Opinion of those Accounts, and if they had Approved of...
17The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 25 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) : Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies, National Archives In Answer to your Letter of the Seventeenth Instant, We desire you would Ship to America, all the Goods belonging to the united States, of any Sort.—and consequently to write for no more Workmen, but dismiss, immediately, all that remain if any. We can give you no Directions about the Articles “entreposed” for the...
18The American Commissioners to Jean-Daniel Schweighauser, 1 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Harvard University Library We have receivd the enclosd from Made [Madame] Gerard Spouse of M. Gerard, Ambassador of this Court to the United States. She is a Lady that we much respect & if by any means you can procure her the satisfaction She requests you will exceadingly oblige Sir yr. most &c P.S. Any expence you may be at shall be thankfully repaid. A M. Schweighauser. American...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 15 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete copy: Library of Congress I have before me your favour of the 27th. past, & the 1st. & 6th. of May. In these Letters there are several Things upon which you ask my direction, such as the Demand of the Mate and Seamen of the Brigt. Morris, the Propriety of Sending away the Same Brig without Convoy or detaining her till the next, and the Affair of the Swedish Captain’s not having...
20From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 24 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I duly received your favour of the 18th. the Letter addressed to Mr. De sartine which I Omitted mentioning before was also deliver’d. The extracts you send me are of Letters, which were written, to check the Extravagant Demands of Officers, Such as that of Wm. Morris, and Others; money having been taken upon our account at divers Ports of france by Americans and...
21The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 16 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, July 16, 1778: We have ordered Lieut. Simpson, commanding the Ranger , to sea as soon as possible; please furnish him promptly with what he needs. The British prisoners on these ships are to be left behind, in such custody as you advise; we shall try tomorrow to get the ministry’s orders for their lodging.>...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 12 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 5th. Instant. I approve of the Orders you have given relating to the Subsistance of the Prisoners. It will be well to put them into the first Cartel that shall arrive at Morlaix, or go from any Port near you, taking a Receipt from the Captain, as for so many Persons—Prisoners made by the Americans. There were seventeen left in the Prison...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 19 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have just received your favour of the 16 inst. I think it right that those poor Prisoners who want necessary Clothing shou’d be supply’d. Humanity requires it. I send you herewith Copies of several Letters written to Capt. Landais by which you will see that he has for some Time had the most positive Orders from me to take your Directions and make the greatest...
24The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 10 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 10, 1778: We approve your refusal to pay William Morris 1,200 l.t. ; pay no one without our orders. Give the captains goods, for repairing their ships or feeding their men, and a suit of clothes for each to be charged against his pay. Dispose of Captain Whipple’s prize, if she arrives, as you and he think...
25From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Daniel Schweighauser, 3 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have received your Favour of the 19th. past. It may be as you observe very reasonable that Capt. Barnes should have the Gratification he demands, and also that the Col. Armand should have the Passage paid of himself and Servants, but as I have no orders relating to such Advances, I cannot meddle with them. I approve of your assisting Capt. Williams [ and ] the two...
26From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 16 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I understand that there is a Case of Goods in your Hands, which belongs to Mr. Simeon Deane, but was delivered to you on a Supposition of its belonging to Congress. Please to redeliver the said Case to M. Jona Williams, taking his Receipt for the same. I have the Honor to be &c— JW had first reported the mix-up more than three months earlier: XXVIII , 221–2. In...
27From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 30 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Last I had the honour of receiving from you was without date, But it contain’d your additional Explication or Reason in support of the second one per Cent. with which I acquiesce. I do not find that you have yet rectified the Charge of 5. per Ct. on more than one of the Cargoes of Tobacco. I now send the remainder of the Dispatches for Capt. Samson, wishing him a...
28From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 9 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress It appearing on the Examination of Mr. Ross’s Accompts, that the Committee are very considerably indebted to him, I conceive you may Safely Settle with him the accts. you have with the Committee agreable to Orders received by him from Robert Morris Esq. I have the honour to be &c. Ross had represented in Nantes Morris’ firm of Willing & Morris, and the orders...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 19 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of an ALS and copy: Library of Congress In reading over again your Favour of the * Inst, I perceive a Question which I did not before observe, and omitted to answer in mine of the 17th. viz. Whether I will pay your Disbursements for the Brigantine Active? You do not mention to what Sum they may probably amount; I have no Orders to make such Payments; and I daily expect Mr. Palfrey,...
30The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 27 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We recd. yours of the 22d Inst. acquainting us that Capt. Reed in the Baltimore has bro’t from 40 to 50 hhds. of Tobacco consigned to you by the Committee of Commerce. We have advice of the same from the Committee, who let us know that the Qty. is 49 hhds. which they have order’d to be sold and the Money held at our...