181To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 16 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have written the inclosed to Mr. Blunt because I thought it my duty so to do. If you don’t think so, please to keep it. The one to Mr. Vaughan does not contain a word of a public nature. Please to forward it. I have not answer’d Mr. Alexander, because I want your assistance to know how it should be answered. I shall be infinitely obliged if you will...
182To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 18 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I came hither on the Business of our House having 5 rich Jamaica prizes to our address, with upwards of 2000 hhd Sugar & 400 hhds Rum. The Alliance is just arrived with 4 more, & she has sent 5 into America, two have got into Nantes so we know of 16 taken; I have another privateer which I hourly expect will bring in 2 or 3 more.— I have advice from my...
183To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 6 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Yale University Library The Courier having passed by L’orient I did not receive your Favour of 31 March ’till yesterday. The Permission I ask of Mr Paulze is no exemption from a Duty which is a Right and if the Farmers choose to understand the Matter they will see it is not. I have declined Mr Bondfields proposition & shall send Goods to Brest as...
184To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 19 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Yale University Library This serves to inform you that I have this day Settled with Mr. Gourlade for the Deans Anchors in the following manner agreeable to your order Vizt: The anchors amount to as per bill 6445.18.— I have pd. the ballance due from me to the Commrs £2799.19.9 I have drawn on you at this date in favr. M Gourlade 3 days do. 3645.18.3 £6445.18.
185To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 9 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library Please to read the inclosed Letters to Lord shelburne & Mr Vaughan then please to deliver them to Mr Vaughan if with you or forward them to him if not.— The subject appears to me worth a national Claim if you think so please to add a Line to my Letter to Lord shelburne, if you think an official Claim not consistent & you in...
186To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 1 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Permit me to express my sincere Wishes for your Health & Happiness with every other possible Blessing for this and many succeeding Years, and at the same time to renew my gratefull Thanks for the Friendship & assistance you have so long & so often honoured me with, which I assure you it shall always by [be] my utmost Endeavour to merit by a steady...
187Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 28 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Yale University Library The Thérese sailed as I wrote last and was at St. Nazare the 26th, the Wind continuing fair she has no doubt continued her route. You may date the Departure of Capt. Hammond at nearly the same time as the Therése overtook him at St. Nazare. I have a Letter from Mr. Rumsey which says he expected to sail the next day....
188To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr.: Two Letters, 22 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society To recommend Mr Barclay to your Civility & friendship would be superfluous because his public & private Character are both known to you & both entitle him to your Notice. I however think it my duty to congratulate you on the late Glorious News & to assure you that I am as always Your dutifull & affectionate...
189To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 16 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is current on Change to day that the Americans have declared War against Portugal. I can not conceive how this accot can come yet every body seems certain it is true. I beg if there is anything in it that you will let me have a Commn for the Spry to cruise against the Portuguese. She may pick up a rich Prize on her Way home. I shall be obliged to you if...
190To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr.: Two Letters, 1 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library; (II) ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Yale University Library Since my last I have a ship loaded with Sugar & Cotton from Port au Prince (but belonging to Boston) arrivd at L’Orient to my address. I have written a Letter to Mr Necker which I inclose, you will see the subject by reading it, & if you approve...
191Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 12 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library; letterbook copy: Yale University Library Mr. Morriss returned from Painbeuf yesterday morning, I immediately went to him to repeat in person what I had before written to him. He told me that no person in Europe had power to controul him, that therefore the orders I had, were without sufficient Authority, and ’till he could see powers from Congress superiour to...
192Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 11 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Brest, May 11, 1778: You will have heard the news of Capt. Jones. He needs about £2,000, he tells me, to equip the Drake before the French court intervenes; he can only draw on you.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 107–8.
193To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 23 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library I inclose you a Letter I have received from Mr Dalton of Newbury, you will see by it that he is in hopes another Application will procure a greater allowance from Government for the Brig Fairplay. I have promised (not with a view of having ⅙ of the Property) to write you once more though it does not appear [ to ] me likely to...
194Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 3 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been for several Days down to the Ship and left her at St. Nazare. I have done with both the French Ships. I beg you will please to apply for an order to wait in Quiberon ’till all the Ships join else I am afraid the Brune will be left. Poor Mr. Morris has finished his affairs in this world. I am much concerned at being absent, but every care was...
195To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 14 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library I wrote you last Post relative to a ship of 300 Tons which is offered for Freight to take out the public Stores. The proprietor of this Ship is Mr Arnoux one of our principal Merchants here & his son in Law Mr Mitchel will call on you to talk on the subject whatever you do with him therefore will be conclusive on Mr Arnoux & I...
196Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 8 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I don’t hear farther relative to the purchase of Mr. Montieu’s Fusils I conclude that you do not intend to put any on board the Count de Vergennes, so propose to put in her as much salt as will answer for Ballast. I have lately been looking over some Memoires about Mr. Montieu’s process and find that these Fuzils cost him at the rate of 25 sous each for...
197To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 10 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania My Cousin Jona Williams tertius will have the honour of delivering you this.— He lately arrived from America & will therefore be able to give you many pieces of Information which perhaps may have not found their way through a public Channel.— His views in coming to France were principaly to reestablish his Health, having succeeded in this he wishes to...
198To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 9 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have sent to Billy by this Post a Copy of my last Memoire to M de Vergennes, Supported by those of my Creditors who are of this Town & were of the Meeting, with Copies & Extracts of Several Letters I have received. I send also the originals of these Letters to prove the veracity of the Extracts. As they extend to matters foreign to the Subject and are too...
199To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 20 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library Mr Lee in answer to the Gentlemen arbitraters of my accounts wrote a Letter of which the enclosed is a Copy, & this Copy I am directed to transmit to you. I am ever Your dutifull & affec Kinsman Notation: Jona. Williams July 20. 1779. The Gentlemen had informed Lee on July 9 that the examination of JW ’s accounts had begun,...
200Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 6 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have kept the Duplicates of the Dispatches to this Time in Expectation of a private Hand, that failing I am now obliged to send a Man on purpose, but in the least expensive way. If you have no further commands for him please to discharge him directly; he is not to return Post unless you order him so to do. The minister lately sent orders to stop the Lion,...
201To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 5 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library The King has published an Arrêt suspendending the Payment of all Bills drawn by the Marine in America 12 months after the just time of their becoming due and I have 184. thousand Livres in that Situation. These Bills belong to a number of Individuals who are here & the Returns are Shipped, I have already paid the greater part...
202To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 6 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Inclosed is the proportion of the little Ship I mentioned in my last. The price you will find more reasonable than either of those proposed by the other Builder. A Ship arrived the other day from Carolina; an Officer who came passenger in her is I suppose by this time with you, I am very sorry I did not see him. I am much disappointed by not receiving...
203To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 2 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: E. Marie Lorimer (Melrose, Pa., 1957) I remitted to Mr Grand a few posts since about 50,000 Livres in Bills on you, & I find by a note at the bottom of his Letter that the payment is not certain. Near the whole of these Bills are on my own Accot and the disappointment would affect me very much; besides this, some part were remitted me by Mr Bache for...
204To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 14 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This is the first letter in Williams’ extensive correspondence from Nantes. He went at Deane’s suggestion, and expected to return as soon as he had inspected the stores that Peltier, the agent of Hortalez & Cie., was loading on the Mercure . But he also had other tasks assigned him. One, to judge by this and the following letter, was to investigate Penet,...
205To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 26 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives Mr. Porter of Connecticut who was lately at Paris applied to me in distress for Money and said you desired him to do so: I advancd him four Guineas as per the inclosed Receipt relying on his word that you would not object to it. Mr. Leger Capt. Jno. Nicholsons first Lieutenant is arrived here and has no money, the 10 Guineas he...
206Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 11 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have to inform you that Capt. Jenkins is just arrived from Nantucket. His last Accounts from Boston were the 25 Decr., at which time nothing material had happened. He left nantucket 6 Jan. He reports that Gen. Lee was exchanged for Gen. Prescot, the army were in high Spirits, and in want of nothing. Gen. Washington had no Intention of going into Winter...
207To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 18 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: E. Marie Lorimer (Philadelphia, 1957) It is found absolutely necessary for Mrs Williams to take a Journey & reside some time in a high Country in order to reestablish her Health. In consequence of this and in order to produce to you all my Accounts & Vouchers I have determined to go to Passy, first leaving Mrs Williams at St Germain, she...
208To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 27 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library I send you enclosed Messrs Horneca Fitzeau & Cos Invoice with such an order on them as appears to me equitable on all Sides, if you think so, please to sign it & return it with the Invoice. It will be proper for you to keep Copies of both these Papers. I return you enclosed the papers you so kindly communicated to me.— I shall...
209To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 16 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library When I made the agreement with Mr de Chaumont about the Ship I thought it was not possible to have any Difficulty; but he & his Correspondents make a strange demand of receiving the Freight before she Sails from Bordx because the words of the agreement are “ frêt acquit avant le depart ” & the Departure they fix to be from...
210Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 27 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I was astonished on saturday Evening to find that Mr. DuCoudray had returned to Nantes. As we were late for the Tide (the loss of which would have been the loss of a day) I came away without seeing him: Mr. Peltier tells me he has positive orders from Mr. Demontieu (which are given with your approbation) that if Mr. Du Coudray should come to Nantes to...