13891To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes, 8 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Le Comte de Vergennes a l’honneur de renouveller à Monsieur Franklin l’assurance de ses sentimens et de lui envoyer des Paquets à son adresse arrivant d’Espagne. Il en est resté un a Madrid que M. Le Cte. de Montmorin croit ne contenir que des Journaux. The packet was probably the one carried by the Victorieux which arrived in Cadiz on Aug. 13; see our annotation to...
13892To Benjamin Franklin from Feutry, 12 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je manque réellement d’expression pour vous faire mes très humbles et très sinceres remercimens, des Six bouteilles de madere que vous avez eu la bonté de m’envoyer. J’ai été d’abord épouvanté, Monsieur, à L’aspect de ce bataillon rangé sur ma commode, mais quand J’ai réfléchi qu’il n’etoit venu là que pour ma défense, pour chasser L’ennemi, et me ramener...
13893To Benjamin Franklin from Martha Laurens, 14 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I took the Liberty to write to you some time ago to beg the favor of you to procure a Passport for our family to go to England. To this Letter it did not please your Excellency to make any answer. My Uncles premeditated Journey wholly on my dr Papa’s account was put a stop to by his exceeding ill health, & by a Letter from that Kingdom. I now intrude upon...
13894To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 3 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. A. Lee’s respect to Dr. Franklin. As it is probable the Evening will be dark and bad, which together with the badness of the road at this season will render it very inconvenient for Dr. Franklin to go from Challiot in the Evening; Mr. Lee woud prefer postponing the meeting till to-morrow at Passi. Mr. L. begs the favor of Dr. F. to send him the...
13895To Benjamin Franklin from Sartine, 17 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Le Lieutenant General de l’Amirauté de Vannes et de l’Orient m’informe, Monsieur, que vous lui avez écrit pour demander que le Vaisseau le Serapis soit vendu pardevant les Juges de cette Jurisdiction. Vous vous rappellerez certainement que dans le Principe, J’avois proposé de faire estimer le Bâtiment dont il s’âgit, et d’en faire remettre la valeur pour être repartie...
13896To Benjamin Franklin from James Searle, 11 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Searle of Philadelphia presents his respectfull Compliments to Dr. Franklin, & has the pleasure to Send him two packets, & Seven letters with which he had the honor of being Charged by the Drs. Friends in America. Addressed: Honble. / Benjamin Franklin Esquire / Passy Notation: [ torn: word missing ] Searle 11. 7bre. 1780.
13897To Benjamin Franklin from Coder, 17 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Recevez avec bonté mes remercimens et ceux de mon digne frere, pour l’interet que vous avez bien voulu prendre dans le tems à son affaire auprès de Mr. de Sartine. Ce ministre doit voir avec bien de l’etonnement, ainsi que tous les Courtisans qu’un officier aussi subalterne que mon frere vis a vis Mr. D’argout, soit sorti d’un conseil de guerre si...
13898To Benjamin Franklin from George Washington, 18 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; LS (draft): Library of Congress I have been honored with two favors of Your Excellency—one presented by the Count de Segur, of the 2d. of April—the other delivered by the Prince de Broglie of the 8th.—both which were rendered doubly agreeable, by the pleasure I had in receiving them from the hands of two such amiable & accomplished Young Gentlemen.—...
13899To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte de La Touche, 24 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Lespoir que jai eu jusqua ce moment que ma Sante me permetterait davoir lhonneur de vous presenter mon hommage respectueux et vous faire agreer mon compliment Sur la paix et la recconnaissance de lindépendance des etats unis ma empéché de vous remettre La lettre cy jointe qui ma été remise a londres par chr Sargeant votre ami. Me trouvant for incomodé et...
13900To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Nesbitt, 17 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Stephen Willson, a young Gentleman lately arrivd from America will have the honor to deliver you this Letter. He is recommended to me by my friends in Philadelphia in the warmest manner, & doubt not but he will prove himself entirely worthy of your Excellencys favor & protection— I have the honor to remain wth. Sentiments of the greatest respect Sir...
13901To Benjamin Franklin from Courtney Melmoth, [8 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Dubourg yesterday gave me a second notice that you were to meet him and some other Company at Mr. Jeaneux’s to day. Upon my going to that Gentleman’s I found some Ladies and other Persons waiting the same Pleasure as myself, viz: that of seeing Dr: Franklin. Mr. Jeaneux beg’d I would inform you of his earnest wishes to see you upon an electrical...
13902To Benjamin Franklin from Edmund Clegg, 25 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Subscriber humbly hopes the importance of the subject proposed will plead his pardon for the want of all formalities of Address. The Bearer Mr Henry Wild has some things to lay before you, of such a kind as it is humbly hoped, will claim your attention. He is a prudent and honest man, and with his connected friends, equal to the Proposed Undertaking. If...
13903To Benjamin Franklin from Desegray, Beaugeard fils & Cie., 2 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Nous avons eu l’honneur de vous ecrire le 29. 8bre, et le 31 ditto on recut icy l’ordre de Mrs Les fermiers Generaux pour la libre Exportation de vos salpêtres, mais en même tems nous avons recus des avis de Lorient qui nous en ont fait suspendre l’Expedition, comme il est plus au long detaillé dans notre lettre de ce jour a Monsieur Williams, dont nous...
13904To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Harrison, 7 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This Comes with my kind adress to youre Honnor, hoping you will take it in Consideration to wards me. I Was Borne in Newbery north ameraca and sarve my time to my unklle at the Ship Carpinter trade. I shipt in Newbery With one Captain foster Bound to nance. Wee had the fortune to be taking by the Wasp Slope of Ware and Cared into Corke in Ireland. I Broak...
13905To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte de Vergennes: Proposal, [20 May 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society; copy and press copy of copy: National Archives; L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères L’Intention de sa Majesté le Roi T. C. [Très Chrétien] et les Etats Unis de L’Amerique Septentrionale en concluant entr’eux un Traité d’Amitié et de Commerce, aiant été de faire jouir leurs Sujets respectifs de tous les...
13906To Benjamin Franklin from Puchelberg & Cie., 5 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We have the honnour to inform Your Excellence, that the Kings officer appointed for the affairs of the marine having given his orders for the transportation of all the English prisoners, all those made by the american privateers which were yet behind, have been transferred likewise to Dinan, except a single Boy, who being sick is in the hospital. Several of...
13907To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 13 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Referring you to my private Letter, written to you by this Vessel, I beg leave to introduce the Bearer Mr. Cornelius Ray to your Notice, and protection. He is the son of a Gentleman of amiable Character, who formerly resided in the City of New York. Any Civilities which your Excellency may be pleased to show Mr Ray,— will be esteemed, as immediately...
13908To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 5 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library I take the liberty of inclosing two introductory letters Addressed to you in behalf of my Lieutenant, who since his embarkation into the service in July last under my Command hath behaved with becoming dilligence and Attention to duty. Should I have the honor of being called to Paris or should any Alteration immediatly take Place in my Command I shall have an...
13909From John Jay to Benjamin Franklin, 11 January 1782 (Jay Papers)
The last Letter I had the Pleasure of writing to you was dated the 31 Instant ^ Ult. ^ and referred to a former one of the 21 November last in which I stated the my Difficulties acc on acc t . of the Bills and the utter Improbability of my obtaining Relief any Relief here, & consequently the necessity I was under of
13910To Benjamin Franklin from Nicolas Ruault, 3 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Ruault a l’honneur de saluer Monsieur franklin et de lui envoyer les six exemplaires de ses oeuvres traduites qu’il lui a demandées l’autre jour. Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur franklin / à Passy. A well known Parisian publisher and bookseller. Four months earlier he had brought out the Œuvres de Bernard Palissy ..., with a dedication to BF in the form of...
13911To Benjamin Franklin from Van de Perre & Meÿners, 6 April 1780: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Middelburg, April 6, 1780, in French: Monseigneur, we beg you to help us obtain the restitution of our ship the Berkenbos , Capt. Arÿ de Neve, captured by Capt. John Paul Jones in early January, on its way from Liverpool to Leghorn with a cargo of herring and lead. The ship was sent to Boston or Philadelphia under the false pretext that the cargo was...
13912To Benjamin Franklin from Catherine de Wesselow Cramer, 9 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Les Représentans & les Natifs ont pris les Armes hier au soir, Monsieur, dans un moment où l’on avait si peu sujet de le Soubçonner, qu’il ne m’a pas été possible de mettre votre Enfant, & les miens en sûreté: cependant je crois pouvoir vous répondre qu’il ne lui arrivera rien. Il se porte à merveilles, & dès qu’on laissera sortir quelqu’un de la ville je...
13913To Benjamin Franklin from John Witherspoon, 15 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (two): American Philosophical Society The Committee of foreign Affairs lately wrote your Excellency on the Subject of my Son John Witherspoon who was Surgeon to the Letter of Marque De Graaff taken at St Eustatius and sent to England as I have been informed in the Alcmene Man of War requesting you to use your Endeavours to obtain his Release upon Parole and his Exchange as soon as...
13914To Benjamin Franklin from James Babson, 12 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives This Days post from Nantes brought me the Disagrable a Counts of the sea prises tacking by me and Capt. Kendrick to be Condemed to yours [use] of the King France. I Cannot se on what grounes or authority thay have for so Doing, as I had agood Commision for tacking of saiad Shipes; I Neiver thought of their Doing aney thing futher than sanding them out again &c. I Cant...
13915To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 30 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Le porteur de la présente, Mr. De Berenger, Chargé d’Affaires de France à la Haie depuis cinq ans, allant faire un voyage à Paris, veut bien me faire la double faveur de le présenter, & de le présenter à vous: & il m’est bien agréable de vous le faire connoître comme aussi parfaitement bien intentionné pour la cause Américaine, que zélé pour le service &...
13916To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquise de Lafayette, [August 24 or 26] 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mde. De La fayette offre ses tendres hommages, a monsieur franklin, elle a fait sa commission pour Mr. D’aguesseau, qui La assurée que Laffaire de m. Alexander, seroit jugée la semaine prochaine. Mde. De La fayette prie monsieur franklin de recevoir Lassurance des voeux bien sinceres, quelle forme pour Le suçcés dune affaire qui L’interesse. Elle Lui...
13917To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Allaire, 10 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress An Offer has been made me, which I think worthy Your Attention, as it may be of Infinite service to the fleets & Armies of America. A person has Applyed to me to furnish any Quantity (not less then 20 lb weight) of Doctr: James’s fever Powders, so well known all over Europe, for fifteen Shill, Ster. an Oz. Each Oz Contains 12 Packages, and the price that James &...
13918To Benjamin Franklin from Sartine, 19 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress J’ai appris aujourdhui, Monsieur, l’Arrivée de la fregate La Nymphe venant de Boston ou M. de Senneville est arrivé Le 5 May avec les deux Passagers. Je vous prie de me mander si vous avez reçû quelques Nouvelles. J’ai l’honneur d’etre, Monsieur avec une parfaite Consideration, Votre tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur The news was on its way, in...
13919To Benjamin Franklin from ——— St. Clair, 26 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Excellency will receive this by Mr Joly a Worthy Clergyman who has attended me during part of my confinement and who is gone to Paris on his own affairs as I wrot to your Excellency’s Secretary some time ago I shall not enter into a detail regarding the reasons of my Detention but beg humbly leave to refer you to Mr Joly who is fully informed on that...
13920To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 18 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania My letters under the dates of the 11th. & 15th. Inst— will inform You very fully of the final conclusion of the business I was lately upon, and I make no doubt but the rejection has been lamented by another party concernd fully as much as by me & my friends. The Books You orderd are already Shipd on board the Dutch Ship Anna Maria Captn. Christiaan...