31The American Peace Commissioners to Rodolphe-Ferdinand Grand, 22 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society We have received the Letter you did us the honour to write us on the 10th. Day of this Month, containing a brief State of the affairs of the United States in your hands. We see the Difficulties you are in, and are sorry to say that it is not in our Power to afford you any Relief....
32Henry Laurens, Richard Henry Lee, and John Adams to Joseph Trumbull, 5 September 1777 (Adams Papers)
The Resolve of Congress which you will receive under this Cover will shew you that we are appointed a Committee and for what purposes. We request you to transmit to us by the earliest good opportunity the fullest intelligence in your late department of Commissary General and you will further oblige us by adding any further information properly authenticated relative to the enquiries which we...
33The American Peace Commissioners to Robert R. Livingston, 27 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society The Definitive Treaties between the late beligerent Powers are none of them yet compleated. Ours has gone on slowly, owing partly to the Necessity Mr. Hartley (Successor of Mr Oswald) thinks himself under of sending every Proposition, either his own or ours, to his Court for their Approbation; and their Delay...
34Draft Letter from the American Peace Commissioners to Bariatinskii and Arkadii Markov, [before 15 July 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Around July 13, the American commissioners had been given to understand that mediation by the imperial courts was “a mere formality—a mere Compliment, consisting wholly in the Imperial Ministers putting their names & Seals to the parchment, & can have no ill effect.” On that basis, and believing that Vergennes was in favor of it, Adams drafted the...
35Preliminary Articles of Peace: Second Draft Treaty, [4–7 November 1782] (Franklin Papers)
D and copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; two D and copy: Public Record Office; transcript: National Archives As new American and British negotiators were converging on Paris, Franklin’s isolation in Passy posed certain inconveniences. John Adams arrived on October 26 but, as he initially refused to call on Franklin, the latter was evidently unaware of his arrival until Matthew Ridley...
36To George Washington from Thomas Burke and Henry Laurens, 15 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed papers are referred to us by Congress, and we wish for the assistance of your Ideas to enable us to make a more perfect report. we request you therefore to take the trouble of committing to paper your Opinion on the proposed terms for the exchange of Prisoners in the Southern department, and also any thing which you think will conduce to that End without Contravening your general...
The delegates of the United States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to all who shall see these presents send greeting. Whereas a trade upon equal terms between the subjects of his most Christian majesty the king of France and the...
38Appointment of William Temple Franklin, 1 October 1782 (Jay Papers)
To all to whom these Presents shall come, Benjamin Franklin & John Jay send Greetings. Whereas the United States of America in Congress assembled did on the 15 th . June in the year of our Lord 1781, appoint and constitute the said Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, & John Adams, Henry Laurens and Thomas Jefferson Esquires, and the Majority of them, and of such of them as should assemble for the...
39To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 11 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
I obeyed your Excellencys Commands most Litterally when I wrote to Mr L. to which I have this day receivd the following Answer. “When you write next to my good Friend Mr Adams I beg you would assure Him from the moment I receivd Intelligence of that Anonymous Scrip, I treated it with the Utmost Contempt and Abhorrence, I replied to the Gentleman, who transmitted it to me in the following words...
40To Alexander Hamilton from Henry Laurens, [27 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, July 27, 1779. On July 29, 1779, Henry Laurens wrote to Hamilton : “In addition to the lines with which I troubled you with the day before yesterday.…” Letter not found. ]
41To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 2 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of the 27th I have had the honor of receiving and presenting to Congress Your Excellency’s favor of the 23d Ulto which is still in the hands of a Committee. I have at present only to forward the Inclosed Act of Congress of the 30th September for Marching Count Pulaski’s Legion and other Continental Soldiers in and near this City to Princeton. I have the honor to be &c. LB ,...
42To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 25 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The 22d Inst. I had the honour of writing to your Excellency by Lieut. Colo. duplessis whose assurances induces me to beleive he has travelled as expeditiously as any of our post Riders. Inclosed your Excellency will receive an Act of Congress of yesterday relative to the Legal distribution of prize Money arising from Captures made on the Water by detachments from the Army, & in a seperate...
43To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 11 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of the 6th Instant by Sharp I have not received any of Your Excellency’s favors. Colonel Gimad takes the trouble of conveying this & also of a Packet containing 50 Copies of an Address by Congress to the Inhabitants of the United States of America—Your Excellency will be pleased to direct a dispersion of these papers so as most effectually to answer the purposes intended....
44To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 5 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writing to Your Excellency under yesterdays date with a p.S. of this Morning by Saxton. A Report on Your Excellency’s Letter of the 1st Inst. relative to measures necessary to be taken in Philadelphia in case the Enemy shall abandon that City had been considered in part yesterday & I had entertained hopes the whole would have been determined this Morning, but other business...
45To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 4 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have in charge from Congress to transmit to your Excellency the inclosed Resolution of the 20th Ult: relative to the Conduct of Major General Sullivan in the late expedition to Staten Island—which will be made public here as soon as a printing press can be set to work this is expected to be in a few days. I likewise inclose a Certifieed minute from the Journal of Congress shewing Your...
46To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 6 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
My last was under the 3d Instant by Maj. Brice since which I have had the honor of presenting to Congress Your Excellency’s several favors of the 30th Ulto, 1st 3d & 4th Inst. The present will cover the undermentioned Papers the Cases of the British Officers are submitted by Congress to Your Excellency referring to a Resolve of the 3d March —I received only verbal direction on this head & that...
Arrived Sunday 14th. April 1782. late in the afternoon at Leyden, lodged at the Golden Lion. 15th. at 5 oClock am. sent Mr. V by the Trekschoat to Amsterdam with a Message to Mr. A. “That I should be at Harlem where I requested he would meet me that day at the Golden Lyon, my business was of importance and respected a Treaty for Peace that being a Prisoner upon Parole I did not think it would...
48To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 6 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; incomplete copy: South Carolina Historical Society Hitherto, since my arrival on this side of the Channel I have had nothing worth your attention, to offer, indeed five or six last days excepted I had been confined at Bath. Mr. Oswald said to me yesterday, he was going to the proper place for learning, whether he should be soon, or when required to attend upon the...
49To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 14 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to the directions of Congress, I am to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant. Congress with great concern perceive that your sensibility is wounded by their resolutions. Placing the firmest confidence in your prudence, abilities and integrity they wish to preserve that harmony with you, which is essential to the general weal. You may rest assured that far from...
50To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 9 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writing to Your Excellency the 2nd Instant by Ross, since which Your Excellency’s several favors of the 29th Ulto & 3d Inst. with the several papers refer’d to have been duly presented to Congress—the former is committed to the Board of War—I have communicated the Extract from Count d’Estaings’ letter to Monsr Girard—Congress have no objection to granting leave of absence to...
51To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 26 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of the 20th Instant, I have had the honor of presenting to Congress Your Excellency’s several Dispatches under the 13th, 16th, 16th, and 18th. Inclosed with this, Your Excellency will receive four Acts of Congress as undermentioned. 1. An Act of the 23d empowering the Commander in Chief to take such Measures respecting the Officers of the Convention mentioned in Major General...
52To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 30 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since my last Letter under the 25th by Van Court I have had the honor of presenting to Congress Your Excellency’s favors of the 22nd and 23d. Your Excellency will find Inclosed herewith Copy of a letter which I have written to Major General Gates in Answer to Lord Balcarres’ application and also two Acts of Congress. 1. of the 26th Instant directing Count Pulaski’s Legion and all the Cavalry...
53To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 24 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society; copy: South Carolina Historical Society Mr. Laurens presents his Compliments to Doctor Franklin & requests him to give a place to the Inclosed Letter for Robt. R. Livingston Esqr among his dispatches for the Ship Washington & to inform him whether he will be in time for saving the Courier with other Letters any time to day. Addressed: His Excellency /...
54To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 14 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
My last to Your Excellency went by Davis, dated the 11th. Between one & two oClock yesterday the Packet which Your Excellency sent to Congress accompanied by Yours Excellency’s favour of the 11th was brot into the House, among other papers it contained an Address from the British Commissioners to Congress, at that minute Congress were determining on a proper reply to be given to Sir H....
55To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 7 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor of presenting to as many Members of Congress as have been convened in this City since the adjournment from York, Your Excellency’s several favors of the 28th & 30th June & 1st Inst: & at their special Instance have caused them to be printed for the information of the public. I arrived here on Tuesday last, but hitherto have not collected a sufficient number of States to...
56To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 23 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Mr Richard Beresford, a Native of South Carolina, a Young Gentleman of family, fortune and good Character who left New York on the 20th Instant called on me at a late hour last Night and delivered a verbal Message from Robert Williams Esquire another Native of that State, a very sensible Man, long a Practitioner in the Law, a respectable Character in general but not well affected to the...
57To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 18 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I had the honor of writing to Your Excellency a public Letter by James Martin & also of presenting to Congress Your Excellency’s favor of the 14th which the House received with satisfaction. permit me Sir, to recommend to Your Excellency’s protection two packets from the Sieur Gerard to Count d’Estaing, which will accompany this. I have assured Monsr Gerard that it is altogether...
58To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 8 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
The last Letter which I had the honor of writing to Your Excellency is dated the 6th Instant, in the mean time I have received and presented to Congress your favors of the 4th and 5th, the former is committed to the Board of War. By direction of Congress I now transmit Copy of a Letter of the 23d Ultimo from the honorable Major General Schuyler. You will be pleased Sir to direct your next...
59To Alexander Hamilton from Henry Laurens, 29 July 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
In addition to the lines which I troubled you with the day before yesterday by Colonel, or should I say, Doctor McHenry, he is an honest Man, with either, or without any Title, permit one to inform you—I presented to Congress this Morning, Colo. Fleury’s earnest request for the Flag which he had the glory of lowering at Stony point, that there was not a single voice heard in second to my...
60To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 17 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress; copy: South Carolina Historical Society I beg leave to refer to my letter of the 6th Instant by the hands of Mr. Storer—to speak in the current stile, Government is still a float. In the moment when it was thought an Administration would be formed, the prospects of the Coalition have been dashed— The K. it seems has been the stipulator, insisted upon keeping the Lord...