Copies: National Archives (two), Harvard University Library; transcript: National Archives Monsieur de Monthieu earnestly requests that his accounts may be finished. The receipts were left here some time since. He also repeats his request to be favoured with the Anchors. As we have refused to sell them, he will if we will send them to him deliver them in America to our order. They may thus go...
2The Secret Committee to the American Commissioners, 18 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library You will receive herewith a Copy of our Letter of Yesterday by the Lexington, with its enclosures. This goes to Boston for a Passage from thence. An armed Vessel belonging to that State will carry the dispatches and will be governed by your directions respecting her Load back, and the Time of her return. Should you have failed in obtaining the Loan, or of...
3The Secret Committee to the American Commissioners, 9 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Johns Hopkins University Library; copies: American Philosophical Society, National Archives, Library of Congress, University of Virginia Library This letter is intended to be delivered you by John Paul Jones Esquire an Active and brave Commander in our Navy, who has already performed signal services in Vessels of little Force and in reward for his Zeal, we have directed him to go on board...
4The Committee of Secret Correspondence to the Amerìcan Commissioners, 30 December 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; Haverford College Library; LS without postscript: Joseph E. Fields, Joliet, Ill. (1958); AL (draft ): American Philosophical Society; copies: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; National Archives (two) The military defeats that had followed consistently on the Battle of Long Island, and had brought the British so near Philadelphia that Congress had fled to...
5The Committee of Secret Correspondence to the American Commissioners to France, 24 October 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copies: Library of Congress; National Archives The Congress having Committed to our Charge and Management their Ship of War called the Reprisal, Commanded by Lambert Wickes Esqr. carrying sixteen Six pounders and about one hundred and twenty Men, We have allotted her to carry Doctor Franklin to France and directed Capt. Wickes to proceed for the...
6The Secret Committee to the American Commissioners, 17 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library; draft: Harvard University Library We have the honor to inclose you a Resolve of Congress that is of great Importance to the public Service, which has suffered considerably the last Fall, and during this Winter, by the insufficient manner in which our Soldiers were clothed. Having found much Delay heretofore in getting Cloth made up, the Congress desire that 40,000...
7The Committee of Secret Correspondence to the American Commissioners, 19 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Virginia Library; two copies: National Archives; draft: American Philosophical Society The events of war have not since our last furnished any thing decisive. The enemies Army still remains encamped upon the hills near Brunswick, and still our Troops continue to beat back and destroy their Convoys insomuch that we understand their Horses dye in numbers, and we have reason to...
8The Committee of Secret Correspondence to the American Commissioners, 9 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copies: Library of Congress; Yale University Library Captain Hammond having been detained longer than we expected, furnishes us with an opportunity of giving you the information we have since our last received from the Army, thro a Committee of Congress left at Philadelphia; for we have yet had no regular accounts from General Washington. On the 2d....
9The Committee of Secret Correspondence to the American Commissioners, 25 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress We are commanded by Congress to transmit Copies of their Resolve of the 13 instant to all the Gentlemen abroad that hold correspondance with any of their Committees. The Necessity of Such a resolution and due attention to it, is fully evinced by the heavy expence america has been put to by many Gentlemen received into their...
10The Committee of Secret Correspondence to the American Commissioners, 2 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; LS : Rutgers University Library ; draft: Harvard University Library; copies: National Archives (two), Library of Congress You will recieve inclosed copies of our letters of the 21st. and 30th. Decemr., and of the Resolves of Congress accompanying them. It concerns us not less than we are sure it will you, that you should have heard so seldom from us, but...
11The Committee of Secret Correspondence to the American Commissioners, 21[–23] December 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society, New York Public Library, University of Virginia Library, British Library; AL (incomplete draft ): American Philosophical Society; three copies: American Philosophical Society, National Archives, Library of Congress This letter was in response to Deane’s of October 1, which was the first word from him in Paris that reached Philadelphia. He complained hotly...
12The Secret Committee to the American Commissioners, 14 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; LS : American Philosophical Society, Harvard University Library; copies: Library of Congress, British Library. I have the honor to enclose herein a Copy of two Resolves of Congress passed the 19th and 29th Novr. by which the Secret Committee are directed to import two hundred and twenty Six Brass Canon and Arms and equipage compleat for three thousand...
13From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee and Ralph Izard, 19 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; copy: Library of Congress I received last Night the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me, relative to your having a Passage in the Alliance. It was unnecessary to use Arguments with me, to shew the Propriety of that Measure. Mr Lee may remember that I mentioned it to him some Weeks since; and receiving no Answer I imagined he had other Views. The Ship is...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 3 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society It is true I have omitted answering some of your Letters. I do not like to answer angry Letters. I hate Disputes. I am old, cannot have long to live, have much to do and no time for Altercation. If I have often receiv’d and borne your Magisterial Snubbings and Rebukes without Reply, ascribe it to the right Causes, my Concern for the Honour and Success...
15From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 12 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Harvard University Library Mr Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr Lee, and sends all the Journals he has; but, as he has not yet had time to read them, he prays Mr Lee to return them when he has perus’d them.— Addressed: The honble A Lee Esqr / Paris. Notation: Sepr. 12. 1779 Lee did so later that day with a note saying, “Mr. Lee presents his Compts. to Dr. Franklin & returns the...
16Franklin and Silas Deane to Arthur Lee, 28 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: Harvard University Library; AL (draft ): American Philosophical Society; two copies: University of Virginia Library The treaties are copying both in French and English, will be done to Day and ready to be examined by you tomorrow Morning. We do not desire to postpone any Proposition you make, otherwise than from the Impossibility of doing two things at once. We suppose the Convoy...
17The Committee of Secret Correspondence to [Arthur Lee], 30 November 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: University of Virginia Library On November 29, 1775, Samuel Chase brought before Congress a proposal to send ambassadors to France. John Adams seconded the motion, and a vehement debate ensued. A number of alternatives were advanced, and one finally gained approval: to appoint a five-member committee of secret correspondence for the purpose of opening communication with friends of...
18From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 31 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Amherst College Library I have not at present any Public Money in my hands; and all that I can expect will be necessary to pay Congress Drafts, and other indispensible Orders and Engagements. I have the honour to be, with very great Respect Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant Addressed: To / The honourable Arthur Lee Esqe. / Paris. / [ in another hand: ] a lhotel notre Dame /...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 9 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Merchants alluded to in my Letter to your Brother, were Mr. Bayard, Mr. Monthieu, and M. Chaumont. The Terms I understood to be those proposed by Virginia. I have the honour to be with great respect, Sir Your most obedient and most humble servant An obvious mistranscription by the copyist.
20From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 5 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The late Arthur Bloch The interview to which this brief note is a summons was the one that the commissioners had requested the day before, to discuss making the treaty public. Gérard met them on schedule, and opened the conversation by taking Lee to task for misquoting him to Aranda about another matter; Lee put the blame on Deane, who refused to take it. Franklin then recalled them to...
21Franklin and Silas Deane to Arthur Lee, 13 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copies: American Philosophical Society, University of Virginia Library Messrs. Franklin and Deane present their Compliments to Mr. Lee, and acquaint him that they propose to send away the Dispatches on Monday next. Endorsed: Feby 13. 1778 This copy, in Lee’s hand, was appended to his reply below, Feb. 14; the AL is in BF ’s hand.
22From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 6 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; incomplete transcript: University of Pennsylvania Library Mr. Williams had Orders from Mr. Deane and my self to purchase and make up a large Quantity of Cloathing, and ship the same, in pursuance of the Orders of Congress. I imagine you were not in France when this Measure was taken, and so could not be consulted. But you certainly have been...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 30 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Virginia Library; copy: Library of Congress I received but Yesterday Morning just as I was going out of Town; the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me dated the 26 Inst. respecting my supplying you with Money for your Support in Spain. As I cannot furnish that Expence, and there is not, in my Opinion, any likelihood at present of your being received at that Court, I...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 2 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We received duly yours of Feb. 14. from Nantes; and one since from Bourdeaux, dated, by Mistake, Jan. 29. We are glad to hear you were got so far well on your Journey. The Farmers General since your Departure, have been again in Treaty with us for Tobacco. We offer’d (rather rashly, I think) to deliver it in France at 8 sols. They offer’d us 5. Interim we...
25Franklin and Silas Deane to Arthur Lee, 15 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (two drafts ): American Philosophical Society Messrs. Franklin and Deane present their respectful Compliments to Mr. Lee, and acquaint him that they propose to send away the Dispatches on Monday; and that they are and were ready and desirous to consult with him upon any Circumstance relating to that Business whenever he may think proper. Their Note of Friday was a simple Proposition for his...
26From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 11 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Virginia Library Mr. Franklin’s Compliments to Mr. A. Lee; sends him two Papers containing Facts relating to the Treatment of Prisoners; and begs to be excus’d waiting on him to day at dinner, as he shall be necessarily employ’d at home in preparing Dispatches for England, otherwise the Gentleman cannot set out this Evening nor to-morrow if they are not ready to day, as we...
27Franklin and John Adams to Arthur Lee, 23 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
L : Harvard University Library Mr. A. Lee is desired to sign and return the enclosed if he approves it. Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Lee M.P.D.E.U. / a sa Maison / A Chaillot Endorsed: Recd. from a Commissionaire on my way from Challiot to Paris, between 6 & 7 OC. in the Eveng., containing a Paper of which the enclosd is an exact Copy. A Lee July 24th. 1778. Returned unsignd at 8 OC. next...
28From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 17 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Harvard University Library; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society One of the Messrs: Beaumarin’s of Bourdeaux some time since told me they intended to send a Packet every Month to America, on their own Account, they having great Concerns there. He offer’d indeed to carry our Dispatches; but as at this Distance we could not know the Captains, nor the Degree of Confidence that might be...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 2 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Boston Public Library Mr. Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr. Lee: Mr. Deane is at Versailles, and Mr. F. cannot say whether the Hour 11 tomorrow will suit him: But as they dine together in town, Mr. F. will endeavour to bring Mr. Deane with him to Mr. Lee’s in their Return, which may be about 5 o Clock, if Mr. F. does not hear, before 11 o Clock to-morrow, that the Evening will not...
30Franklin and Silas Deane to Arthur Lee, 26 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Harvard University Library; two copies: National Archives; three copies: University of Virginia Library The greater the public Consequences that may flow from the Return of our Dispatches, the more necessary it seem’d that the Court should be immediately acquainted with it that the miscarriage might as soon as possible be repair’d. It was near...