1131From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 27 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress To get rid of all farther Projects and Propositions which I never understand relating to the Shipping of the Goods, I entrusted you with that Business and impower’d you to freight a Ship or Ships. But I have not succeded, for in yours of the 23d. you send me new Schemes. No other Man of War to go under the Command of Comme. Jones can at Present be obtained. Assist him...
1132From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Huntington, 4 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS and AL (draft): National Archives; copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives M. Gerard, under whose Care I understand the Dispatches from Congress to me, were forward’d, is not yet arrived here, and I have not received them. I cannot therefore at present answer any thing that may be contained in them. He is however expected next Week, and I may afterwards have time to write...
1133From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 20 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; copies: National Maritime Museum, Public Record Office; transcript: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 9th. Instant, with a Copy of the Letter from the Admiralty Office relative to the proposed Exchange of Prisoners, in which the precise Number of those we have here is desired. I cannot at present give it you, they being dispers’d in different Ports;...
1134From Benjamin Franklin to Gustavus Conyngham, 16 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I wrote a Letter to meet you at Dunkirk supposing you might have gone there. This Letter was sent back to me. The Uncertainty of your Stay at the Texel after I heard of your being gone thither prevented my writing to you while there. Inclos’d I send you a Letter from your good Wife. I will inquire for your old Commission, and endeavour to get it back for you. I had...
1135From Benjamin Franklin to Horatio Gates, 5 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I embrace this Opportunity of the Marquis de La Fayette’s return to the Army, to Salute you, my dear old friend, and to present you with my best Wishes for your Health and prosperity. He will deliver you a Book lately published by General Burgoyn to explain and account for his misfortune. The perusal may amuse you to make the work compleat— Methinks he ought to have...
1136From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, 23 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I am Much pleased with the Account you give me, of the Disposition with which the Proposals from the Empress of Russia have been received, and desire to be informed from time to time of the progress of that interesting Business. I Shall be glad to hear of your perfect Reconciliation with the Because a Continuance of your Difference will...
1137From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 14 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Walter R. Benjamin Autographs, Inc., Hunter, New York (1982); copy: Library of Congress The Gout having again attacked me, and confined me to my Chair, I find I shall not be able to present myself at Versailles on Tuesday. Your Excellency will have the Goodness to excuse me, and believe me ever, with the sincerest Esteem and Respect. Your most obedient & most humble Servant. March 16; see...
1138From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 24 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Royal Archives, Windsor Castle The Prince de Massaran, being so good as to desire carrying a Letter to you, I sit down to write you a few Lines, tho’ I hope soon to see you. Enclosed I send a Copy of one of Mr. Deanes Letters. I shall show you more when you come. In consequence of a Proposition I sent over, the Parliament of Britain have just passed an Act for exchanging American...
1139From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Huntington, 12 March[–12 April 1781] (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives (two); copies: Library of Congress, Columbia University Library; press copy: National Archives; transcript: National Archives I had the honour of receiving on the 13th. of last Month, Your Excellency’s Letter of the 1st. January, together with the Instructions of Nov. 28. and Decr. 27. a Copy of those to Col. Laurens, and the Letter to the King. I immediately drew a...
1140From Benjamin Franklin to François-Louis Teissèdre de Fleury, 15 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Courier de l’Europe , XIV (November 4, 1783), 290. This letter has puzzled editors for years. Its subject is the silver medal that Congress ordered Franklin to have struck for Lt. Col. de Fleury. Fleury himself delivered the congressional resolution to Franklin in early 1780 when he was on leave, but he was called back to America before Duvivier, the engraver, completed the...