391From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 31 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I received yours of the 10th Instant, and am of Opinion with you, that the English will evacuate New York & Charlestown, as the Troops there, after the late Resolutions of Parliament, must be useless, and are necessary to defend their Remaining Islands where they have not at present more than 3000 Men. The Prudence of this Operation is so obvious, that I...
392From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 31 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; LS : Keya Gallery, New York (1997); copy: William L. Clements Library I have just received your Favours of March 11 & 12. forwarded to me by Mr. Digges, and another of the 21st. per Post. I congratulate you on the returning good Disposition of your Nation towards America, which appears in the Resolutions of Parliamt. that you have sent me: and I hope...
393From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 31 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: William L. Clements Library It is long since I have been able to afford myself the pleasure of writing to you; but I have had that of receiving several Letters from you, and I sent you in consequence a credit for 300 £ which I hope you received. I am sorry that you had been obliged to advance: The trouble you so kindly take is sufficient. I just hear from Ireland, that there are 200 of...
394From Benjamin Franklin to St. Farre, 31 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I do not recollect that I have ever known or seen the Person you mention; and it is certain that I never knew or heard that Mr. De Beaumarchais was charged with the Payment of Gratifications to those who had been Prisoners of War or that any such Gratifications were allowed, so that I could not have sent any Person to that Gentleman for such Purpose. I honour the...
395From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Wyld, 31 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: William L. Clements Library I have received yours of the 18th. Instant. I omitted answering your former, being informed that your Bill had not been honoured, whence I conceived that you had imposed on me. I am glad to hear that it is otherwise. Since you were here, I have received notice that no more such Passports are to be granted, the Traders having abused them: So that I must renew...
396From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 30 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS , copy, and transcript: National Archives; copy: Library of Congress In mine of the 9th Inst. I acknowledg’d the receipt of yours of Jany. 7. & I have not since received any of later Date. The Newspapers which I send you by this Conveyance will acquaint you with what has since my last passed in Parliament. You will there see a Copy of the Bill brought in by the Attorney Genl: for impowering...
397From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 30 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress With this if it comes to Hand you will receive Copies of several preceeding Letters to you which went by the Alliance, Capt. Barry, who sail’d the 15. without taking any of our Supplies, conceiving his Vessel not fit for such Service, and I am still uncertain whether any Part can go by the Convoy. If the St. Domingo Fleet, which has long been expected, were arrived,...
398From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Lafayette, 28 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have considered the Proposal of getting the American Prisoners out of Forton Goal & bringing them over in Companies to France in smuggling Vessels; but as to effect this there must be some Place found on the Coast where the Prisoners may assemble to wait for the Vessel may lye to wait for the Prisoners, as the Case may happen, without Danger of being discovered and...
399From Benjamin Franklin to ———, 26 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, avec ma petite Dialogue, votre charmante Epitre & Puisque je trouve que Madame la Goutte est de votre Connoissance, ma tres chere Amie je vous prie de grace que quand elle me fait une autre Visite, vous voudriez bien l’accompagner. Votre Présence me dedommagera de la sienne. Avec une telle Garde, la Peine deviendra Plaisir. We can identify...
400From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 23 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Jr. Copy: Library of Congress I have received yours of the 19th. Inst. with the Account of the Duties you have paid. I do not comprehend the Policy of burthening their own Manufactures; but the Laws of the Country we trade with must be observed. I have determin’d to rely on the Government entirely for the Transport of the Goods. I am instructed not to send them but under Convoy directly to...
401From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph-Mathias Gérard de Rayneval, 22 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress With this I have the honour of sending you all the Letters I have received from or written to England on the Subject of Peace. M. de Vergennes should have seen them sooner if I had imagined them of any Importance: for I have never had the least Desire of keeping such Correspondence secret. I was, as you will see,...
402From Benjamin Franklin to the Earl of Shelburne, 22 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office; AL (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress; transcripts: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives Lord Cholmondeley having kindly offer’d to take a Letter from me to your Lordship, I embrace the Opportunity of assuring the Continuance of my ancient Respect for your Talents and Virtues, and of congratulating you on the returning good Disposition of...
403From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 16 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Boston; copies: Columbia University Library, Henry E. Huntington Library, Library of Congress, National Archives I have received your several Favours of Jan. 30. Feb. 11. and March 1. and propose to write fully to you per next Post. In the mean time this Line may serve to acquaint you that I have paid duly all your former Bills drawn in favour...
404To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 16 March 1782 (Jay Papers)
I have received your several favors of January 30 th . February 11 th . and March 1 st . and propose to write fully to you p r . the next Post. In the mean time, this Line may serve to acquaint you that I have paid Duly all your former Bills drawn in favor of M r . Cabarrus; and that having obtained a promise of six Millions for this year, to be paid me Quarterly, I now see that I shall be...
405From Benjamin Franklin to [Bertin], 14 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library J’ai reçu, Monsieur, avec la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire le 11e. de ce Mois, le Passeport que j’avois donné dans l’Anné quatrevingt à M. Hutton. Vous trouverez cyjoint, Monsieur, un nouveau Passeport pour le meme charitable Objet, avec les Changemens que vous paroissez desirer. Je profite avec bien de l’Empressement, de cette occasion pour...
406From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 12 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress Having concluded to provide for the Payment of the Bills drawn on Mr. Laurens in favour of Mr Ross, which were presented to you last Year, this is to request that you would examine and accept the said Bills, and keep an Account of them. I have ordered Money into the Hands of Messrs Fizeaux and Grand for the Payment of those that...
407From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 11 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have just received a Number of Packets from America. In opening them I did not perceive that the enclosed was directed for you, till I began to read the Letter it contain’d. I beg you will excuse this Inadvertence. I congratulate you on the Change of Disposition in the English Nation with regard to America. Misfortunes make People wise, and at present they seem to...
408From Benjamin Franklin to Fizeaux, Grand & Cie., 11 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Messrs. Laswood, Van Hasselt & Van Suchtelen, have in their Possession a Number of Bills, of which the Enclosed is a List, drawn by Fra: Hopkinson Treasurer of Loans, on Mr. Laurens, in favour of John Ross amounting in the whole to 40,958 Bank Florins. I have wrote to them to apply to you for Payment, and I have at the same time desired Mr. Grand to send you the Funds...
409From Benjamin Franklin to Ferdinand Grand, 11 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress This is to desire you would as soon as may be possible furnish Messrs. Fizeaux & Grand at Amsterdam with the Sum of Forty Thousand, nine hundred and fifty eight Bank Florins in order to discharge the Bills drawn in Favour of Mr. Ross, and which will be due the 19th. of this Month. Place the same to the public Account of Sir, Your &c L’Air de Lamotte wrote “may be”...
410From Benjamin Franklin to Larwood, Van Hasselt & Van Suchtelen, 11 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your respected Favour of the 4th. Instant, containing a List of the Bills in your Possession drawn in favour of Mr. Ross amounting to 40,958. Bank. I shall take Care by the next Post to place Funds in the Hands of Messrs. Fizeaux & Grand for the Payment of those Bills, to which House in Amsterdam you will be pleased to apply, with great Regard I have the...
411To Benjamin Franklin from Palteau de Veimerange, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, 11 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Les perquisitions que j’ai fait faire pour trouver des Navires propres à transporter en Amérique, les differens effets qui ont été rassemblés à Brest, pour le Service des Etats unis, n’ont pas été heureuses jusqu’à présent. J’ai la certitude qu’il n’en pourra être fourni aucun de Nantes et de l’Orient; il n’y a pas lieu d’esperer qu’il puisse S’en trouver à...
412From Benjamin Franklin to John Barry, 9 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, New-York Historical Society I have just received yours of the 29th. past and am sorry you do not think proper to go to Brest and take in some of the Goods, as I apprehend they are much wanted and that you will be blamed. The Account of Sundry Frenchmen which you mention as inclosed, was omitted and I have not received it. With this you will receive my Dispatches,...
413From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 9 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; press copy of LS : National Archives; copies: National Archives, Library of Congress I have just received the honour of yours dated Jan 7. Your Communication of the Sentiments of Congress with Regard to many Points that may come under Consideration in a Treaty of Peace, gives me great Pleasure, & the more as they agree so perfectly with my own Opinions and furnish me...
414From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 9 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have just received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 7th. of January, with the Duplicates of Sundry others. In mine by this Conveyance you will be pretty fully informed of the State of our Funds here, by which you will be enabled so to regulate your Drafts as that our Credit in Europe may not be ruined, and your Friend kill’d with Vexation. The...
415From Benjamin Franklin to John Barry, 6 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, New-York Historical Society I received yours of the 27. past by which I perceive you had not then received mine of the 10th. I therefore send you a Copy enclosed. You will see by it the Utility and Necessity of your going to Brest and there taking on board what you can of the continental Stores. It will be doing great Service to our Armies, who want much what is...
416From Benjamin Franklin to the Conde de Aranda, 4 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Bearer Don Gabriel Olivar, a Clergyman of the Island of Minorca, is recommended to me by a Friend in London, as an honest worthy Man. I beg leave at his Request to present him to your Excellency, and to ask in his Favour a few Moments of your Attention. With great & Sincere Respect, I am, Your Excellency’s &c. See Raspe’s letter of [February], above.
417From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 4 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; press copy of LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives Since I wrote the two short Letters of which I herewith send you Copies, I have been honoured with yours No. 5 dated the 16th Decr. Enclosed I send Copies of two Letters from M. le Comte de Vergennes, relating to certain Complaints from Ostend and Copenhagen against our Cruisers. I...
418From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 4 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, National Archives With this you will receive Copies of my two Letters dated Jan. 28 and another dated the 30th. since which I have been continually in Perplexity and Uncertainty about our Money affairs. I obtained a Sketch of the Account mentioned in my last. You will see by Letters I enclose that I endeavour’d to correct it, and make it 2,216,000 Livres more in...
419From Benjamin Franklin to Palteau de Veimerange, 4 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have followed your kind Advice in acquainting M. le Comte de Vergennes & Mr. le Ms: de Castries with our Difficulties in finding Vessels. Mr. Vergennes was so good as to promise he would speak about it to the Marquis; and the Marquis has very obligingly promis’d to do all he can for us and I hope we shall succeed. I therefore request you would order the Remainder of...
420From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 3 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; press copy of LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 26th. past, enclosing an Official Paper on the Part of the Danish Court, relating to the Burning of some English Vessels on the Coast of Norway, by three American Ships....