1William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 14 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and AL : American Philosophical Society I have been prevented from having the honor of writing to you for some considerable time past, as an Embargo has been laid upon all Shipping bound to Europe, in Consequence of some Dispatches, which the General received from France. I vainly hoped that it would be a Forerunner to a Commencement of Hostilities, but it is now taken off; and there seems...
2To John Jay from William Bingham, 14[–15] August 1782 (Jay Papers)
Major Franks, on his Arrival here, the 1 st Instant, delivered me your Letter of the 8 th Septem r ., in which I find You do not acknowledge the Receipt of several that I had wrote You, which renders your Precaution very necessary— It is the prevailing Opinion in America that Negociations are on the Tapis for a general peace & y r . Departure from Madrid, to hold a conference (as is said) with...
3To John Jay from William Bingham, 17 February 1779 (Jay Papers)
Above is Copy of my last Respects, since writing of which the Continental Frigate the Deane, & the armed Brigantine the General Gates have arrived here, in order to careen & refit. I am sensible I shall expose myself to innumerable Difficulties in undertaking to supply these Vessels with what they stand in need of. Nothing but the Pain I must feel at seeing the Service suffer, could induce me...
4To John Jay from William Bingham, 6 June 1781 (Jay Papers)
Your obliging Favor of the 24th Nov r is the only one that has reached me since your Departure from Martenico— I the more regret it, as the Value I set upon your Friendship, makes me anxious oftentimes to receive the same flattering Marks of it— The object of my Wishes, concerning which I requested you to sound a particular Gentleman was, soon after I mentioned it to you, unsolicited for, in...
5William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 5 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the honor to inform You that the Count D’Estaing arrived here with the Fleet under his Command the Beginning of last Month. Admiral Byron, with 14 Ships of the Line, had been cruizing off Boston Harbor, watching the Motions of the French Fleet; but, the Day previous to its Departure, a violent Storm arose, which cast the Somerset ashore on Cape Cod,...
6William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 11 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society; AL : American Philosophical Society By a Sloop of War Sailing this Evening for Brest, I have only Time to communicate to you the important News that has been received to Day by a Vessel which Sailed from Salem the beginning of July and brings a Gazette of the 3d of that Month which mentions, that Gen. Howe after having made a Junction of Some of his Troops...
7William Bingham to the Commissioners, 16 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
It is a long time Since I have had the honor of receiving any of your Commands, and am the more surprized at it, as a Packet Boat has arrived with Dispatches for the General, informing him of a Treaty of Alliance and Commerce being concluded on betwixt the Court of Versailles and the United states of America. Should this Treaty cause any material Change in the political or commercial System of...
8William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 3 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society The arrival at this place of the Continental Frigate the Deane, & the armed Brigantine the General Gates, in order to be careened & refitted, & to procure a fresh Supply of Provisions, has greatly embarrassed me, not having sufficient Funds to answer their Demands. I am therefore under the Necessity of refusing them the necessary Supplies, or of...
9To Benjamin Franklin from William Bingham, 8 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I flatter myself that you will excuse the Liberty I take in recommending to your Notice & Protection during his Stay at Paris the Bearer Richard Harrison Esqr—a Gentleman who was employed in this Place in the public Character of Agent for the States of Virginia & Maryland & who has rendered his Country some essential services by his Exertions in that Line—...
10William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 19 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society Above is Copy of my last Respects, since which have received none of your esteemed favors. The Subject which I alluded to in my last, is in regard to the Sale of our Produce, which the French Merchants at present absolutely refuse to purchase for the European Market; as many of their Vessels have been already visited, and American Produce which has been...