6001To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 21 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives; copy: United States Naval Academy Museum This serves only to cover my letters to the Duke De Chartres and his Squire as mentioned in my last. Unless you entirely Approve of these letters I beg you to suppress them. If you Approve them I could wish it may be consistent and convenient for you to see, or Write a line to, the...
6002To Benjamin Franklin from Bernard Dehez: résumé, 1 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Saint Sebastian, January 1, 1780, in French: I refer to Capt. Conyngham who had given me his word of honor that he would stand surety for the outcome of his trial, whatever it was. Messrs. Gardoqui and Messrs. La Goanere from Coroña were to do the same in case the War Council in Madrid disapproved the freeing of Conyngham’s five crewmen. But I never heard...
6003From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 8 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
This morning were brought me four Bills of Exchange drawn on Mr. Laurens on the 6th. of July 1780 for 550 Guilders each. I have desired time to write to your Excellency, and obtained it. But as there is a large Number of these Bills not yet arrived, and as they come in sometimes by single Bills, and generally in small Numbers at a time, it will be giving your Excellency much Trouble as well...
6004To Benjamin Franklin from Silas Deane, [2 June? 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I send inclosed all the Papers that came To hand, also a Letter from Mr. Bingham by which I find the Cargo from Havre in the Ship in which Davis went passanger was arrived at Martinico and I hope by this the whole is safely Landed on the Continent. I am ever Dear Sir most respectfully Your very Humble Servant On June 7 the commissioners, in a letter now...
6005To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 10 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: Library of Congress Prisoner exchange was the focus of correspondence between Hartley and Franklin during the summer of 1778, and a major goal of Franklin’s activity. He systematically collected names of British captives from American sea captains to meet the terms of the Admiralty, and negotiated with the French for an appropriate port and...
6006To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Ceronio, 21 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I crave your indulgence for the freedom I take in adressing myself to you but as you have given so many repeated proofs by your sublime knowledge of your good wishes in serving mankind, I flatter my self you will extend your bounty towards a distressed Father whose Mind is constantly agitated for want of News from his Son. This is my Case, and I hope the...
6007To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 10 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am in hopes this will be either handed you or put into some foreign post by Capt. C———m, who not liking his late lodgings, left them with three others & came to me a day or two ago. I have done every thing in my power for him both at the former place & here, & He will be off this nights tide to R——m in a Dutch vessel. His plan is to push for D——n——k &...
6008To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Walpole, 1 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I was very glad to receive a testimony under your own hand of your kind remembrance of me, and I am obliged to you for the information you give me, relative to the Lands of our purchase in America. When the charges incurred here upon that Object are finally settled, I shall send you an account thereof with a credit upon some House in Paris for the ballance....
6009To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Oliver, 8 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Notwithstanding I have not the honor of a personal acquaintance with you. I am no stranger to the Rank you hold in Europe. I pray the favor to introduce myself to you by this Letter. You are acquainted with the Capture of the Island of Grenada, & its Dependencies: and with the Terms that Monsieur Le Compte de Durat has been pleased to lay the Inhabitants...
6010To Benjamin Franklin from Jean de Neufville & fils, 17 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The spirit for the American caúse beginns to revive here, and may be I feel the more impulse for this manner of thinking, which hath been always so agreable to me as we enjoi’d many Conversations on true liberty with Mr Van der Capellen Mr. Dúmas and severall American Gentlemen, among which, one introdúces himself every where with proposalls, after having...
6011To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 3 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: Library of Congress It is so long since I have heard from you that I fear the communication is Stopped between us. It is between two & three months. As you know that Peace is the object of every view of mine, the present extremely anxious state of affairs, makes me wish for some communication with you. You know that my opinion & wish has always...
6012To Benjamin Franklin from Caroline Edes, 12 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did not receive your favor dated Monday the 10th: till this day at Noon, consequently it was then too late to do myself the honour of waiting on you according to your Appointment. I therefore take the liberty of inclosing Mr Bridgen’s letter, and entreat the favor of your Answer as soon as possible. I am, with great Respect, Sir, Your most Obedient...
6013To Benjamin Franklin from Courtney Melmoth, 30 [March] 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Dubourg has this Morning again express’d his Inclination and desire to translate the little Pamphlet I sent you last Week. He offers to get it printed at the Royal Press by consent of the Society; but these testimonies of approbation from one Quarter, avail little to the author’s satisfaction, if his Labours do not seem in any degree, or by any Effort,...
6014To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 16 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai l’honneur de vous ecrire la presente qui vous sera remise par les nommés Joseph Gole & Moses howes tous deux matelots americains qui ont été pris sur Differents navires & conduits en Angletterre, d’ou ils se sont sauvés des prisons, et sont arrivés ici manquant de tout, comme ils cherchent a retourner en Amerique Je leurs ai fourni Pour le compte de...
6015To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 20 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief La vraie amitié qui caractérise si bien vos Lettres du 2 & du 9 Octob. me remplit de gratitude. Je vous promets bien saintement de la mériter jusqu’au dernier soupir, avec votre approbation qui m’est aussi précieuse que la vie. J’eus la satisfaction, avanthier d’avoir ici Mr. Searle, & de passer la nuit avec lui à Leide,...
6016To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 27 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer of this Thomas Kearl, of Norfolk in Virginia being desirous of returning to his natif Country, apply’d to me to know how he could proceed, I advised him to go to Paris, and from thence to Nantes or Lorient, and tol’d him that he might call on your Excellency to know wether there are any vessells at the above ports bound to America, being well...
6017To Benjamin Franklin from Nicolas-Toussaint Le Moyne, dit Des Essarts, 2 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je vous supplie D’aggréer Le Volume que j’ai L’honneur De vous Envoyer. Il Renferme une Cause qui Doit vous interresser, celle Du paratonnerre De st. omer . Tous ceux qui sont capables De sentir Le prix Des Bienfaits Du Genie, Vous Doivent De la reconnoissance. J’ai saisi avec plaisir L’occasion De vous offrir L’hommage De La mienne. Ce sera une jouissance...
6018To Benjamin Franklin from Stephen Lee, [before 19 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Brave Assistance most Wisely given by you, to Set the Gallant Americans at Liberty, Emboldens me a poor prisoner of War, to beseech your protection, and Aid, in gaining me my freedom; I have many friends in America, Defending their Rights, and Priviledges, and as my Wish and Intention was, the first Conveyance to go to them friends, I now Humbly beg...
6019To Benjamin Franklin from the Abbé Jarry, [c. 29 January 1782] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Dated on the basis of the enclosure: eleven printed pages of verse comprising two compositions and bearing Le Noir’s permission to print dated Jan. 29. The first piece was a 17-strophe ode on the birth of the dauphin. This was followed by four and a half pages of irregularly rhymed decasyllables in praise of Marie-Antoinette. Jarry wrote, at the top of page...
6020To Benjamin Franklin from the Abbé Chalut, 1 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society L’abbé Chalut a l’honneur de faire ses compliments à Monsieur franklin, et de le prier de la part de son frere de lui faire l’honneur de venir diner chez lui un jour de la semaine prochaine. Le jour est au choix de Monsieur franklin. C’est pour diner avec un ambassadeur qui desire beaucoup de Le voir. Mad. de Chalut lui fait mille compliments, et la petite...
6021To Benjamin Franklin from Pierres, 27 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Vous devez être étonné sans doute de ne point recevoir de ma part les Exemplaires des Constitutions de l’amérique que je vous ai promis le 20 du courant, jour que j’ai eu l’honneur de vous voir. En vous quittant j’ai été chez M. de Néville. On m’a montré le nouvel Embargo mis sur cet Ouvrage; c’est une Note que M. le Garde des Sceaux a écrite à côté de la...
6022To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 24 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I beg Leave to trouble your Excellency with the Delivery of the enclosed Letter which is left open for your Perusal that in Case the Baron should trouble you farther on the Subject you may be fully possessed of my Sentiments to him. I am respectfully, your Excellency’s most obedient and humble Servant He enclosed a letter of the same day to Baron d’Arendt ( Morris...
6023To Benjamin Franklin from Gratien, 23 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ay Lhonneur De Vous adresser Cy Joint Une Expedition de requete a nous presentée (Concernant le navire suedois la Victoria Detenu En ce port, suivant Detail que Vous avez par Ma Lettre du 19 Mars.). Je Vous prie De prendre Connoissance de L’ordonnance provisoire que J’ay Eté obligé de rendre. Monsieur De grandbourg secretaire General de La marine recoit...
6024To Benjamin Franklin from Castrioto, 2 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having reciev’d no answer to several letters that I have wrote to you, I aught to cesse in soliciting an honnour, which you find I don’t deserve. But I take once more this liberty, to felicitate you upon the good success of your negociations, which I learn with great pleasure. Your Treaty with France, and ours with Spain bring in the best opurtunity to...
6025From George Washington to Benjamin Franklin, 27 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
This letter will be delivered to you by Mr Mason, Son to George Mason Esqr. of Virginia, a Gentn of fortune and influence in that State—a zealous & able Supporter of the liberties of this Country—and a particular friend of mine. The young Gentlemans bad health induces him to try some other clime, probably the Air of Montpelier, while inclination may lead him to Paris, in which case, I take the...
6026To Benjamin Franklin from John Bondfield, 23 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the Honor to forward by the Express going with the dispatches receivd by the same Conveyance the Inclosed packets arrived last Evening by Cap Benin(?) from Boston he saild from that port the 25 August, he reports that by a considerable reinforcement arrivd at Ponobscot our People were oblidged to destroy their Shiping and abandon the attempt against...
6027To Benjamin Franklin from John Diot & Co., 27 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We did ourselves the honnour to Write to your Excellency the 16th. Instt. to forward you an Abstract of the Journal of the Black Princess privateer, and to acquaint you with the arrivall in this harbour of the prize St. Joseph. We now think it our duty to forward to Your Excellency all the Procès Verbaux and documents relative to Said Prize, whereof, from...
6028To Benjamin Franklin from Gastellier, 3 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Recevés je vous supplie de nouveau mes actions de Graces trés humbles de l’honneur que vous m’avés fait en recevant la dédicace de mon foible ouvrage et surtout de la maniere beaucoup plus honnête que meritée avec la quelle vous avés daigné l’accueillir. Le souvenir d’un bienfait aussi précieux ne s’effacera jamais de ma mémoire et je puis vous assurer que...
6029To Benjamin Franklin from F. Bayard, 2 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je vous supplie d’ecouter favorablement Monsieur jolly de la Tour Interessé dans La maison de Messieurs famin De Londres dont un d’eux a habitté Longtems La Georgie. Je me flatte Monsieur que vous auréz été satisfait de la maniere dont j’ai Traitté avec Monsieur Platt d’après votre Recomandation. J’aurai sous peu l’honneur de prendre vos instructions a ce...
6030To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 26 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Yale University Library This document alludes to Jonathan Williams, Jr.’s, relationships with two key figures in Franklin’s life: Jacques Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont and Edward Bancroft. All three men were involved individually and with one another in private business ventures, Williams arranging for the shipping of thousands of livres worth of...