391From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine: Two Letters, 22 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) copy: Library of Congress They have written to me from England, that they propose to Send two Cartel Vessels with American Prisoners to Morlaix, one from Portsmouth, the other from Plymouth, in order to clear both Prisons at once. For this purpose they desire another Passport; which if your Excellency has no Objection to it, I Should be glad to send by the first Opportunity. I am,...
392From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 15 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library; copies: Henry E. Huntington Library, Columbia University Library, Library of Congress, National Archives Mr Grand tells me that he hears from Madrid, you are uneasy at my long Silence. I have had much Vexation and Perplexity lately with the Affair of our Goods in Holland: And I have so many urgent Correspondencies to keep up, that some of them at times...
393Benjamin Franklin and Arthur Lee to Vergennes, 10 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour to acquaint your Excellency, that Mr. Adams, appointed by the Congress to replace Mr. Deane in the Commission here, is safely arrived, and purposes to wait upon you as soon as recovered a little from the Fatigue of his Voyage. The Ship in which he came is a Frigate of 30 Guns, belonging to the Congress. In her Passage she took a large Ship from London to New York, with a...
394From 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...
395From Benjamin Franklin to Jean de Neufville & fils, 28 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour to write to me by the last Post, (it is without Date) and am glad to hear that Commodore Jones was so well fitted and ready for sailing. I hope he will arrive safe with his Ships in a good Port. I have wrote to Capt. Cunningham at Dunkerque, where he informed me he was soon to be.— The Letter you...
396From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Erskine, 16 October 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I should sooner have acknowledged your Favour of Aug. 16. containing the Drawing of your Chevaux de Frise: but that I have been so extreamly occupy’d as to be oblig’d to postpone writing to many of my Correspondents. Please to accept my Thanks for the Communication of your Contrivance, which I am persuaded will answer the Purpose where ever the Bottom...
397From Benjamin Franklin to Joshua Johnson, 18 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Trustees of the Maryland Funds in London have at Length sent me their Answer, importing that by the Advice of Counsel learned in the Law, they find they cannot safely do what is required by the Act of the new State, and as at present the Stock cannot be sold or transferr’d but by them, the Execution of the Act seems now impossible. Nevertheless if you think you...
398From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine: Two Letters, 19 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 14th. Inst. relating to the Claim of françois Vermeille to be payd Wages and prize money due to him from Capt. Cunyngham, Commander of the Revenge Privateer. I find on Enquiry that the Said Vermeille and several other french Sailors who Said they had belonged to that Vessel,...
399From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, [before 2 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): American Philosophical Society J’ay eu L’honneur avec Messieurs les deputés des etats unis d’amerique de Representer a vostre excellence que le Retard des decisions en france sur Les Reprises faittes sur les anglais par les vaisseaux de guerre americains Les eloignoit des mers D’Europe, Nous avons ajoutté a Cette Consideration d’autres encore plus importantes. Il est de mon devoir,...
400From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 22 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Mr. de Veimerange acquaints me that a Part of the Supplies sent to America in the Rusée, have been taken by the Enemy, and that if it is thought proper to replace them, Orders should be speedily given for that Purpose. I therefore beg leave to mention to your Excellency that the Replacing those...
401From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 25 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Having received Copies of the Papers found in the English Vessel called les trois amis, taken by Captain Landais, I desired a Person conversant in Such Matters to examine them, and I have now the honour to send to your Excellency here with the Remark he has made upon them. What Weight they may have is submitted to your Excellency’s Judgement. For my own Part, I should...
402From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 22 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours of the 12th. and one preceding. I am glad you took mine of the 5th as it was intended in friendship— It had appeared to me, that you hurt your own Views, and weaken’d your own hands by a censorious [quarellous?] Disposition that obstructed your Acquisition of … … at your Request and to prevent Mischief, the orders were not caried into Execution, I...
403From Benjamin Franklin to Kéralio, [on or after 20 November 1781] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I received my dear Friend’s kind Felicitations, and thank him for them, and beg him to accept mine in Return. The well founded Joy too of our excellent and most amiable Friend, doubles mine. Her great Sensibility sometimes gives her Pain, but the same must make her Pleasures more exquisite. I enjoy with her the great Honour her Sons have acquir’d in fighting so...
404From 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...
405To Benjamin Franklin from A. Sube, ——— Laporte, and P. Fauchier, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, 14 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Hier treize de ce mois nous avons celebré l’anniversaire de la fete etablie en l’honneur de nos bons amis et alliés les insurgents. Nous vous faisons passer un imprimé qui vous apprendra en detail ce qui s’est fait dans cette delicieuse journée. Nous avons bu au bruit des boëtes la santé du roy, celle des insurgents, et celle du comte d’estaing. Nous...
406From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 3 October 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Public Record Office Since my Arrival here I have received Four Letters from you, the last dated August 2. all filled with your Reasonings and Persuasions, and Arguments and Intimidations on the Dispute between Britain and America, which are very well written, and if you have shewn them to your Friends the Ministers, I dare say, they have done you Credit. In Answer I can only say that I...
407From Benjamin Franklin to Ferdinand Grand, 23 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS , copy, and press copy: Library of Congress Mr Digges has not sent me any Account of his Disbursements, on which his Drafts ought to be founded, tho’ I long since desired it of him; and I have this day heard something that makes me doubtful. I therefore desire, that if you have not already paid the Bills mentioned in these his inclosed Letters, that you would stop Payment till farther...
408From Benjamin Franklin to [Madame Brillon], [29 November 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Esperant de jour en jour d’être bientot en Etat de visiter ma trés chere Fille, j’ai omis d’écrire: car j’écris avec difficulté. Il vous coute moins de remplir une feuille toute entiere que moi un Billet de quatre Lignes. Mais comme j’entends dire que vous vous fachez un peu contre moi, à cause de ma Silence, me voici la plume à la main. J’etois charmé de...
409From Benjamin Franklin to the Earl of Shelburne, 10 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Public Record Office; press copy of LS , and copy: Library of Congress; transcripts: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives I have received the honour of your Lordships Letter, dated the 28th past, by Mr Oswald, informing me that he is sent back to settle with me the Preliminaries of Time & Place. Paris as the Place seem’d to me Yesterday to be agreed on between Mr Grenville...
410From Benjamin Franklin to Giambatista Beccaria, 19 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Having sometime since heard of your Illness with great Concern, it gave me infinite Pleasure to learn this Day, from M. Chantel, (who did me the honour of a Visit) that you were so far recover’d, as to be able to make little Excursions on Horseback. I pray God that your Convalescence may be quick and perfect, and your...
411From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 28 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress I last night received together yours of the 21st & 24th.— I had before recd yours of the 19th. I am glad you have sent me so exact an Acct of the Bills you have drawn on M. de Chaumont, and that you have concluded to draw no more on him, but on me directly. I never understood the Reason of his Proposing that circuitous...
412From Benjamin Franklin to John Rutledge, 7 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress The Bearer of this M. Roulhac being about to establish a House of Commerce at Charlestown, his Friends here who are Persons of Distinction request me to recommend him to some Persons of Note in your Province, for their Protection and Counsel on Occasion. The Character he bears here is extreamly good; I beg leave therefore to introduce him to your Excellency, and to...
413From Benjamin Franklin to Fizeaux, Grand & Cie., 7 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the honour of yours of the 31 past and thank you for the News it contained, tho’ not yet confirmed. I know nothing of that Mr. Miller But if he appears to you to be an honest Man, I consent to your supplying him to the value of ten Guineas which I will repay. Please to take three Notes for the sum, that I may send them over by different Conveyances. It is...
414From Benjamin Franklin to Gabriel Johonnot, 18 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Enclosed is a Letter I have just receiv’d for you under my Cover from Sweden. There is another for your Son which I shall forward. I suppose you have heard of his safe arrival at Geneva, & of his Welfare, of which he has acquainted me. I would advise you not to depend in the least on obtaining a Passage in a Ship of War. The Permitting them to take Passengers is found...
415From Benjamin Franklin to Cradock Taylor, 12 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress If you were engaged in the English service, and taken fighting against the United states or their Allies, I cannot obtain your Liberty. The king of france will justly claim the Return of a french Prisoner in exchange for you, and you must therefore wait the Establishment of a Cartel. You have not sent me any of the Proofs you say you can produce in your favour, and as...
416From Benjamin Franklin to Georgiana Shipley, 8 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress It is long, very long, my dear Friend, since I had the great Pleasure of hearing from you, and receiving any of your very pleasing Letters. But it is my fault. I have long omitted my Part of the Correspondence. Those who love to receive Letters should write Letters. I wish I could safely promise an Amendment of that Fault. But besides the Indolence attending...
417From Benjamin Franklin to J.F. Frin & Co., 13 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I beg pardon for detaining your Bills so long. It was occasioned by the greatest number we happened then to have upon hand, and the time necessary to examine them all. Yours are now sent to Mr. Grands, accepted as of the Day on which they were presented; excepting the Two drawn in favour of Nath. Terry for 18. Dollars, and nath Brown for 36. Those Gentlemen, cannot...
418From Benjamin Franklin to the Baron de Thun, 17 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I am really ashamed to have been so long without answering the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 6th Instant. I had receiv’d one at the same time from the same Mr Auer, and it being in the German Writing which I cannot read, I sent it to a Friend requesting a Translation of it. I have waited for that, in order to be able to...
419From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 11 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress I am honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 27th. past, acquainting me with your Appointment as Minister Plenipotentiary to the States General, on which please to accept my Compliments and best Wishes for Success in your Negociations. We have just received Advice here, that M. la Motte Piquet, met with the English Convoy...
420From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Digges, 26 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I comply’d readily with your late Recommendations, placing faith in the Declaration of the Parties, that the Transaction was bonafide intended, for the Purpose mentioned, getting home their Property. If this should be extended to cover an illicit Trade, it will when discovered effectually put a Stop to such Operations. I see by some thing in a late paper from that...