13891To Benjamin Franklin from Gérard de Rayneval, [before 24 October 1782] (Franklin Papers)
Partial AL : Library of Congress … [sous] les yeux de M. le Cte. de Vergennes. Je desirerois fort, Monsieur, davoir un entretien avec vous et M. Jay, et vous m’obligeriez si vous vouliez me recevoir et me donner à diner avec lui jeudy prochain. J’attendrai votre réponse. J’ai l’honneur dêtre avec un On Oct. 24, a Thursday, Jay dined with BF at Passy and was surprised to find Rayneval there....
13892To Benjamin Franklin from Gérard de Rayneval, 12 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères J’ai mis Sous les yeux de M. le Cte. de Vergennes, M, les differentes letres que M Hartley vous a écrites, ainsi que votre projet de rèponse; ce Ministre a donné une entiére aprobation à la manière dont vous vous exprimez. Je joins ici un postscriptum concernant M. forth; M. le Cte. de Vergennes, qui en a pris lecture, trouve que vous...
13893To Benjamin Franklin from Gérard de Rayneval: Two Letters, 23 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la lettre que vous mavez fait l’honneur de mecrire en faveur de Mr. Carnes; je pense que pour procèder en règle, il conviendroit que vous écrivissiez directement à Mr. le Cte. de Vergennes; ce ministre m’a parû disposé à accorder les lettres de Sauf-conduit à votre recommandation. J’ai lhonneur dêtre avec un sincere...
13894To Benjamin Franklin from Gérard de Rayneval, 22 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Gerard prie Monsieur franklin de vouloir bien remettre le paquet cijoint pour L’amerique à Mr. le Capitaine Paul Jones qui a bien voulu lui promettre de s’en charger. Il l’assure en même tems de son respect et de son attachement. Jones may have encountered Rayneval during his recent visits to Versailles.
13895To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph-Mathias Gérard de Rayneval, 26 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Vous avez écrit à M. le Cte de Vergennes, Monsieur, au sujet d’une lettre que vous avez reçüe le 20. de ce mois, et qui est relative au navire de Dublin les trois amis. Vous mobligerez beaucoup si vous voulez bien me renvoyer cette lettre avec l’enveloppe: j’ai lieu de la croire de M. le Cte. de Vergennes, et c’est par inadvertence qu’elle a eté expédiée...
13896To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph-Mathias Gérard de Rayneval, 31 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress M. Le Comte de Vergennes étant surchargé de travail, Monsieur, il m’a chargé de vous faire part de la bonne nouvelle que nous venons de recevoir. Un premier Avis qui nous étoit parvenu ce matin, nous avoit annoncé un Combat entre M. Le Comte D’Orvilliers et M. L’Amiral Keppel. Deux couriers qui viennent d’arriver, confirment cette importante nouvelle. Le Combat...
13897To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph-Mathias Gérard de Rayneval, 4 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress L’avt. [avant] derniere lettre que M. Le Cte. de Vergennes vous a addressée, Monsieur, étoit accompagnée de plusieurs Lettres originales de M. Adams, comme nous en avons besoin, vous m’obligerez beaucoup Si vous voulez bien avoir la Complaisance de Me les renvoyer le plus promptement qu’il sera possible. J’ai l’honneur d’être avec autant de Considération que...
13898To Benjamin Franklin from Gérard de Rayneval, 7 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress Mr. de Rayneval à l’honneur de prévenir Monsieur franklin, qu’il Se presentera chez-lui demain avant diner pour l’entretenir sur différents objets; il renouvelle en attendant à Monsieur franklin les assûrances de son inviolable attachement. Endorsed: Note M. de Raynevall May 7. 83 Vergennes may have dispatched Gérard de Rayneval to discuss the three draft articles BF...
13899To Benjamin Franklin from Gérard de Rayneval, 10 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai bien des remerciements a vous faire, Monsieur, pour les gazettes que vous avez bien voulu me communiquer: je savois deja par les raports de M. le Chr. de la luzerne, que les fanfaronades de M. Cornwalis etoient faites sur le même moule que celes de l’amiral Rodney. Quant aux papiers relatifs aux passeports, je présume que votre intention est que je les...
13900To Benjamin Franklin from Gérard de Rayneval, 30 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Monsieur franklin trouvera ci-joint la lettre originale de M. adams; M. de Rayneval le prie de vouloir bien la luy renvoyer, aussitôt qu’il en aura fait tirer copie. Notation: De Raynval, Versailles le 10. Juin 1780. Presumably the recipient’s copy, now at the AAE , of JA ’s June 22 memorandum to Vergennes, for which see JA to BF , June 29. Among BF ’s...
13901To Benjamin Franklin from Gérard de Rayneval, 14 [i.e., 24] June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress M. Le Cte. de Vergennes a remis avant hier, Monsieur, une Lettre pour vous à M. Dumont qui desireroit fort de vous entretenir; S. Ece. vous seroit infiniment obligé si vous vouliez bien lui dire si le dt. Dumont vous a éffectivement vû, et lui confier les Ouvertures qu’il peut vous avoir faites. Mon Exprès a ordre d’attendre votre Reponse. J’ai l’honneur d’etre avec...
13902To Benjamin Franklin from Gérard de Rayneval, 29 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress J’ai rendu compte à M. le Cte. de Vergennes, Monsieur, de la difficulté que fait Mr. Hartley de signer à Versailles et ce Ministre m’a chargé de vous mander, que rien ne devoit vous empêcher de signer à Paris mercredy prochain, Jour designé pour la Signature des autres Traités; mais il vous prie d’indiquer à M. Hartley 9. heures du...
13903To Benjamin Franklin from Marie-Nicole Grossart de Virly Gérard, 30 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je me suis adressée a vous, Monsieur, pour vous prier de faire rachetter une boëte que j’avois envoyée a M. Gerard, vous avez eu la bonté de me promettre de faire faire les démarches necessaires pour cet objet. Comme il y a déjà un peu de tems que je vous ai importunée, permettez moi de vous en demander des nouvelles, je sçais Combien les affaires...
13904Marie-Nicole Grossart de Virly Gérard to the American Commissioners, 26 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Harvard University Library J’avois envoyé a mon Mari, mon portrait et celui de ma fille, sur une Boete que M. Williams de Nantes a fait partir par un vaisseau qui a ete pris et conduit a Grenezay. M. de Chaumont m’a dit Messieurs que vous auriez la bonté pour moi et mon mari d’employer votre Correspondant a Nantes, qui a son gendre fils du Maire de Grenezay pour [racheter?] cette Boete...
13905To Benjamin Franklin from Humbert Gerbier de Werchamp, 24 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Un mien Cousin de Nantes, de mon nom, m’ecrit pour m’engager à chercher quelque protection auprès de vous, à l’effet de vous demander une grace. Comme je crois monsieur que la meilleure protection auprés de vous, est vous même, et que la bonté de votre cœur ne vous laisse jamais refuser, ce quil vous est possible d’accorder, je vais vous presenter moi même...
13906To Thomas Jefferson from Heinrich Gerlach, [27 March 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to acquaint your Excellency that I am arrived in the flag of truce Genl. Riedesel from New York under passports from his Excellency General Washington at Hampton road. This flag contains (refreshments) some stores, Cloathing and money. Majr. Genl. Riedesel directed me to express to your Excellency his wishes, that you would permit the Quartermasters, or such other officers as may...
13907To Thomas Jefferson from Heinrich Gerlach, 29 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been Waiting with grate anxiety to receive Your Excellency answer to my Letter of the 27th. March last, which Your Excellency was pleasd to inform me You had forwarded to Congress for their Determination. I beg leave to Inform Your Excellency I am verry desirous to get the Bussiness of the Flag of Truce Settled as soon as possible, and to propose if it can be done without any Trouble to...
13908To George Washington from Heinrich Gerlach, 20 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will be pleased to excuse the liberty I take in Stating my Case how I came here with a Ship loadet with Stors and Cloting belonging to the Convention Troops. Upon Your Excellency’s Passport Litt. A I went to Hampton Road to wait for Orders from His Excellence the Gouvernor Jeffersen Esqr. and hade the Honor to receive his answer No. 1 but waiting 4 weeks for the paper he...
13909To George Washington from the German Battalion Officers, 26 April 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from the German Battalion Officers, c.26 April 1778. On 26 April, Alexander Hamilton wrote to James Mease: “By command of His Excellency, I inclose you a letter to him from the officers of the German batalion. There appears, by the representation, to be something particular in the circumstances of that batalion, with respect to cloathing, which deserves attention. You will do...
13910To Benjamin Franklin from Germany, Girardot & Cie., 24 March 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society <March 24, 1777, in French: They have sent a letter for Franklin received from Strasbourg, and will forward the reply when notified.> Deane’s bankers, who had become BF ’s; see above, p. 18 n and Girardot de Marigny to BF , Feb. 6.
13911To Benjamin Franklin from Louis Necker de Germany, 8 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society M. de Germany makes his most humble compliments to Mr. Franklin and begs the favour of forwarding the inclosed letter to his direction by the next safe opportunity. Addressed: a Monsieur / Monsieur Le Docteur / Franklin / chez M. Le Ray de Chaumont / hotel Colbert à Passy The elder brother of Jacques Necker was a mathematician, a writer, and a banker who was...
13912Elbridge Gerry to the Massachusetts Delegates, 20 June 1775 (Adams Papers)
I Received the Letters, with which you were pleased to favor me per Mr. Fessenden on Saturday last being the 18th Instant, at a Critical Time for the Army posted at Cambridge. The Evening preceeding Orders were Issued in Consequence of a Consultation between the General Officers and Committee of Safety to take possession of Dorchester Hill and Bunkers hill in Charlestown which I must confess...
13913Enclosure: Extract of a Letter from Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 22 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
After declaring that neither the Letter from Mr. Marbois nor the conversation respecting the Fishery, Boundaries, Royalists and recommending Moderation in our Demands, are of Weight sufficient to fix in his Mind an opinion, that the Court of France wishes to restrain us in obtaining any Degree of Advantage We could prevail on our Enemies to accord to, the Doctor goes on— “I ought not however...
13914Elbridge Gerry to Samuel and John Adams, 3 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Since I wrote You from New York, I have spent most of my Time in endeavouring to get Information of the true State of Things in the eastern Colonies. With Respect to the Levies for New York and the northern Department they are nearly compleated. I have wrote to the president giving an Account of them and proposing an order of Congress for reinforcing the Army at New York with one of the...
13915To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 4 December 1775 (Adams Papers)
I received your Favour of the 5th of Novr and the Enquiries relative to Vessels suitable to be armed, Commanders and Seamen to man the same, secure places for building new Vessels of Force &c. are important in their Nature, and to have the same effectually answered I propose to submit them as soon as may be to the Court that a Committee may be raised for obtaining the Facts from the Maritime...
13916To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 8 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
Since my last the Situation of the Camp has prevented the Committee of Congress from transacting the Business of their Appointment. The Enemy, the Evening after the Date of my letter, marched out with their whole Force, which is said to consist of twelve thousand five hundred Effectives. We received Information of their preparations, a Day or two before, by persons who left the City; and the...
13917Elbridge Gerry to Abigail Adams, 30 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have been honored with your Letter of the 20th Instant, on a Matter of the highest Concern to the Continent, as well as to our mutual Friend, who represents it in Europe. Previous to the Receipt of the Letter I saw a Copy of one from Dr. F ranklin to C ongress , and was soon after confidentially informed by a Gentleman at the southard of the proceedings thereon, which I confess have given me...
13918To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 29 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
It is with the greatest pleasure, that I inform You of the late Arrangement of our foreign affairs, in which You are appointed to negotiate the Treaties with G Britain and our Friend Mr. Dana to be your Secretary. Mr. Jay is to negotiate with Spain, Mr. Carmichael to be his Secretary, and Colo. John Laurens, Son of the late president Laurens, to be Secretary to Doctor Franklin. I shall not be...
13919To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 10 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
In June last I returned to this State, and have since been favoured with your several Letters of the 23d. and 29th. of Feby., 19th. of March, 28th. of April, 23d. of May and 24th. of June, with the pamphlet by the Baron de Arundl, whom I have not had the Pleasure of seeing. Mr. Dalton informed me in July last that notwithstanding the Friendship of yourself and Doctor Franklin, in the Affair of...
13920To George Washington from Elbridge Gerry, 24 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
In Consequence of your Letter of the 22d directed to the President or any Member of Congress, I have conferred with William Henry Esqr. of this Place upon the most expeditious Method of collecting the Arms & Accoutrements in the Hands of the Inhabitants here, & he is of opinion that it may be accomplished by your Warrant to him grounded on the late Resolution of Congress for that & other...
13921To George Washington from Elbridge Gerry, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have waited some time, in Expectation of informing You with the Sense of Congress on the several Subjects mentioned in your agreable Favour of the 25th Decr; but am not yet fully able to answer my Purpose. a Committee is appointed from Congress & the Board of War, who in Concert with your Excellency have full Powers to form & execute a Plan for reducing the Number of Batalions now in the...
13922To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 11 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I received a Letter from the honorable Committee of Congress for collecting “a just and well authenticated Account of the Hostilities committed by the ministerial Troops and Navy in America since last March,” and beg leave to inform You that Colo. Palmer, Mr. Cooper and Colo. Thomson are appointed a Committee to subserve the purpose in this Colony in the Recess of the Court, which is this Day...
13923To George Washington from Elbridge Gerry, 28 September 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Elbridge Gerry, 28 Sept. 1777. Gerry docketed the letter that GW wrote him on 26 Sept. in part: “ansd 28th.”
13924To George Washington from Elbridge Gerry, 12 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Requisitions to the several States for Reinforcements to the Army, proposed in your Letter of the 18th Novr last, are not yet adopted by Congress; & a fresh application from your Excellency, appears to me necessary for promoting that important Business. a Report has been long since made on the Subject, & been several Times under the Consideration of Congress, but an Opinion has been lately...
13925To George Washington from Elbridge Gerry, 25 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote You a Line Yesterday desiring You to impower Mr Henry of this Place to collect the Fire Arms wanted for the Virginia Troops on their March to the Camp, since wch your Letter of the 23d is received, desiring that a Number of Blankets & Shoes may be also collected. I have seen Mr Henry within this half Hour, & he informs me that he has collected already about 250 Arms, & shall be able to...
13926To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 12 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have received from Mr. Lowell your Accounts and Vouchers, and shall deliver them to the Board of Treasury; how far they will be able to comply with the proposition of returning the latter, which is contrary to their usual Practice, I am unable to say, but will use my best Endeavours to accomplish it. Having lately explained to You some Matters, relative to our internal political Manoeuvres,...
13927To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 5 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
It gave me great Pleasure to learn by Your Letter of the 11th. Decr. that You had safely arrived, and had met with so agreable a Reception in Spain: and I hope soon to have the Satisfaction of hearing from You at Paris. Mr. Lovell informs me that he shall transmit You the Journals of Congress and News Papers by the latter of which You will perceive that the Enemy have invested Charlestown, and...
13928To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 25 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have attended to your Sentiments on the Subject of Money and am equally unhappy with You “to see Injustice, both to the publick and Individuals so frequent”; but how to remedy it, “hic Labor, hoc Opus est.” The Mode proposed by an Act allowing Depreciation or Appreciation on Specialties may releive a few, but I fear, that it would not have a general good Effect. The comparative Value of...
13929To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 3 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
I received your Favour of the 19th Novr on my Way to this Place; and the Business which your Friend Mr. Smith requested You to negotiate, shall be carefully attended to and performed. I thank You, for the Intelligence conveyed, and would endeavour to recollect in Return, what has transpired at Congress, had not our Friend Mr. Lovell, who as a faithful and accurate Intelligencer as well as on...
13930Elbridge Gerry to Abigail Adams, 17 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
By the last Post I was honored with your Letter of the 13th March, communicating in Confidence your Sentiments on a certain publication in the Philadelphia Paper, which had been too striking to escape the Notice of Mr. A dams ’s Friends in this Quarter. It is not easy to ascertain the Intentions, of the philosophical Society in their Election of Mr. A . . . . s, or how far they were concerned...
13931To George Washington from Elbridge Gerry, 6 August 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Elbridge Gerry, 6 Aug. 1776. On 16 Aug. GW wrote to Gerry : “Your favours of the 3d & 6th have come duly to hand.”
13932To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 24 August 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have only Time by this Days post to express the pleasure I feel on the News of your safe Arrival to your Family and Friends, and the prospect of an agreable and early Interveiw with You. The Letters to me which You mention in your’s to Mr. Lovell never came to Hand, or I should certainly have acknowledged the Receipt of them; altho I have been under the Necessity of giving up my most...
13933To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 8 January 1777 (Adams Papers)
Since You left Philadelphia many important Events have taken place in the Council as well as the Field; those that are publick You are undoubtedly informed of, the other I shall briefly hint as they occur to my Mind. Congress have ordered Arms and Equipage for 3000 Horse and 150 brass Field peices to be imported without Delay. The General to expedite Business is invested with Great Powers,...
13934To John Jay from Elbridge Gerry, 20 September–9 October 1781 (Jay Papers)
Agreable to your Excellency’s Request of the 18 th of Nove r last, which I have lately received, I Inclose the Constitution of this State, together with a News Paper containing the latest political Intelligence. Since the Arrival of the Fleet of our allies at Virginia, We have a favorable Prospect of a happy Issue to the French Campaign, & I flatter myself that You will have the Pleasure of...
13935Elbridge Gerry to Abigail Adams, 16 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure of addressing You on the 17th of April last, since which Congress have received several Letters from our worthy Friend at Paris, containing Copies of his Correspondence with the Count de V e rg enne s, Primier of F ranc e. In one of his Letters to Mr. A dam s the Count says “the principal object of your Mission, I mean what regards the future Pacification, shall be announced...
13936Elbridge Gerry to Abigail Adams, 31 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
Agreable to the Request contained in your Letter of the 4th, I have the Pleasure of transmitting You some further Intelligence, respecting our Friend in Europe, received last Evening in a Letter from Philadelphia. Mr. L ovell says “Mr. J.A. is sole Plenipo tentiary for forming a triple Alliance between Holland, France, and America, for bringing the War to a speedy Issue. Spain may make it...
13937To George Washington from Elbridge Gerry, 3 August 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Elbridge Gerry, 3 Aug. 1776. On 16 Aug. GW wrote to Gerry : “Your favours of the 3d & 6th have come duly to hand.”
13938Elbridge Gerry to Samuel and John Adams, 21 – 22 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
I have been fully employed since Thursday Noon in obtaining some Knowledge of the State of the Army and conferring with the different Corps of Officers from the General to the Field officers, and have the pleasure to inform You that they appear to be in high Spirits for Action and agree in Sentiments that the Men’s as firm and determined as they wish them to be, having in View since the...
13939To George Washington from Elbridge Gerry, 7 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Having lately seen an intercepted Letter of the 20th of November last, written by Mr Lovell, & published in Rivingtons Gazette, I wish to be indulged on making a few Observations on the Subject. When General Knox was here, he informed me, that the paragraph of the Letter which respected a person’s being “popular,” was supposed by some to refer to your Excellency; but the Date of the Letter...
13940To Benjamin Franklin from Francois Gianolio, 12 November 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Turin, November 12, 1777, in French: I have long wanted to establish commercial contact with America, but am unable to go there; so I am asking your assistance. Congress, I know, has established agents in Europe for importing American and exporting European products; and I should like to be added to this fortunate group. America has plenty to offer...