731To Benjamin Franklin from Joshua Barney, 9 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I recd. Yours by Express and have to thank You for Your Early advice in respect to Saving any Insurance on My own Adventure, we had a rumour of the kind the day before I recd. Yours by Way of Nantes, but coming from You has cleared every Doubt. The Vessells that are at this place are the Ships, Revolution, Capt. Webb, Buccaneer Capt. Prearson, Cicero, Hill,...
732To Benjamin Franklin from Rodolphe-Ferdinand Grand, 9 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Ferdinand Grand’s resources were stretched to their limit. He was besieged by demands from the various American peace commissioners to pay loan office certificates and other expenses, and by requests from Robert Morris to pay bills of exchange. Moreover, an interest payment on the 1781 Dutch loan arranged by France had come due on November 5. In...
733To Benjamin Franklin from Abel James, [before 8 December 1782] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress This letter—or at least the first part of it—is well known to readers of Franklin’s autobiography. James announced that he had found a manuscript in Franklin’s hand that appeared to be an unfinished account of his life, as well as a set of “notes” for that account. He enclosed a copy of those notes and urged Franklin to complete the project. When Franklin did resume...
734To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 8 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress However Certain it Appears that Peace is Near at Hand, I Have thought that Personal Considerations ought to Give Way to Motives of Public Utility— I am therefore sailing With the fleet, and Untill Peace is Ascertained, Will Continue in Promoting the Views Which You Have Decided to Be the Most Advantageous to America— in this Affair, it is Useless to observe that My...
735To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Saint-Auban, 8 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Si la communiquation Monsieur relativement a la saison etoit plus comode jaurais deja eu lhoneur de vous aler voir, ce nets que depuis quatre jours que nous somes arivés de la campagne, mde de st. auban et moy nous flattons, que vous voudres bien nous demender a diner avec monsieur votre fils, en voulant bien aussi par la petite [ poste ] nous faire...
736To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 7 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Mr: Laurens presents his Compliments to Mr. Franklin, and requests the honor of his Company to dinner on Wednesday next at 3 oClock. In the hand of Henry Laurens, Jr. JA attended the dinner: Butterfield, John Adams Diary , III , 95.
737To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 6 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society After Having Been two days out of the Road, a S. o. [SW] Wind Obliges us to Come Back Again, and I fear it Will Give time for Lord Howe to Embarass our Passage— No Letter from You Has Yet Come to Hand, Which I am Very sorry for, as I Impatiently Waït for Information Upon our Monney Affairs— I Have not Yet Received Your Answer to My Consulting Letter— But I...
738To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 6 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): New-York Historical Society The College of Dartmouth in New Hampshire having suffered materialy in its funds since the war by the loss of those contributions which it till then recd. from England—Docr. Wheelock son of the worthy first founder proposes to solicit a subscription in France & Holland for its support— He flatters himself that the charity of an institution whose chief...
739To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 6 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Day before yesterday there were a number of Letters in Town announcing a Peace. The News came from the secretary of the Duc d’orleans who ’tis said informed that the King had announced it to the Duc. Such respectable Information prevented every Doubt and I among the Rest believed it. I immediately set myself to work to get a little fast sailing Brig...
740To Benjamin Franklin from Catharine Greene, 5 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Have been favord with your letter by Count Segar, which he forwarded from Philadelphia he Came to Providence with the Army we Sent for him but was gone to Newport on his Return to Providence Ray was at home and waited on him he Sat a day to Come with Count Rhoshambow but it was a heavy Rain for three days, after that the first Coll went to Boston and he...
741To Benjamin Franklin from Ségur, 5 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society M de segur a l’honneur de faire à Monsieur franklin ses sinceres remerciments de ce qu’il a bien voulu prendre le soin de lui faire parvenir un Paquet venant de nantes par un exprès; il le prie de recevoir les assurances de son parfait attachement./. Presumably dispatches from America; see JW to BF , Dec. 1.
742To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 4 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress To My Very Great Concern, I Have not Yet Received Your Answer to My letter, Nor the Account of What Has officially Past in Monney Matters— But Your Opinion Has Been I should Go, and I Am Pursuing an object that May I Hope prove Useful to America— Upon Your Opinion therefore, I Determine My Going— We are Under sails With 9 ships of the line, And about 6000 Men Recruits...
743To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Percival, 4 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Messrs. James and Charles Hill, are the Sons of Mr. John Hill, late a very considerable Tradesman in Manchester, and have left their Native Country in consequence of the Bankruptcy of their Father.— This testament to the identity of James and Charles Hill—brothers who were in France awaiting passage to America—was procured so that BF might write them a...
744From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 3 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
The Moments we live in, are critical and may be improved, perhaps to advantage, for which purpose I beg Leave to propose to your Consideration, whether it is not proper for Us to write to M r Dana at Petersbourg, acquaint him with the Signature of the Preliminaries, inclose to him an authentic Copy of them and advise him to communicate it to the Ministers of the Empress, and to all the...
745To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 3 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society The Moments we live in, are critical and may be improved, perhaps to advantage, for which purpose I beg Leave to propose to your Consideration, whether it is not proper for Us to write to Mr Dana at Petersbourg, acquaint him with the Signature of the Preliminaries, inclose to him an authentic Copy of them and advise him to...
746To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 3 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By this Vessel you will receive a tin and a Wooden box; both with grafts of the best new town Pippins which Mr Powell was obliging enough to procure, each of the grafts has a peice of the Old wood remaining to it, the wooden [ torn: box] was put up by him in a particular manner with wax and tallow, the other by Mr Bache according to your directions, Mr...
747To Benjamin Franklin from George Holt, 3 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Libty. I take in writing is, to solicit your Friendship; to gain me a pass or an exchange for me to go to England. I have done myself the honor to write to the Secretary of the Marine Department craving his generous release of me— I am from Hudsons Bay the Vessell Calld the Charlotte which circumstances you may in all Probality be well acquainted...
748To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 3 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS, LS and L : University of Pennsylvania Library; ALS (draft): New-York Historical Society; transcript: National Archives I have just now recd the certificates required by Mr. Vallier, the vessel which carries my dispatches having been detained I embrace the opportunity to forward them— Nothing new since my last, except that by a Gent who left Charles town the 4th. Ult. we learn that the...
749To Benjamin Franklin from Gurdon S. Mumford, 3 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Inclosed is a letter recd. by the Ship Nonsuch in 22 days from Philadelphia, it would have been sent on by the Express but by some unaccountabe means it was left behind & Mr. Williams now desires me to forward it to your Excellency— I ask a thousand pardons for having thus long delayed acknowledging the many kindnesses your Excellency was pleased to shew me...
750To Benjamin Franklin from Filangieri, 2 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Translation from ALS in Italian: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I don’t know whether you received my previous letter in which I alluded to what I am now obliged today to explain with greater clarity. I awaited your answer with impatience; but four months have already gone by and up to now I have not had the pleasure of seeing your writing. I flatter myself that this second letter will meet...
751To Benjamin Franklin from Jean de Neufville & fils, 2 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania We had the honour of Addressing your Excellcy. on the 24th. Octr. last on the subject of 4 Small Continl. Bills endors’d by Mr. Wm. Foster for The Honble. R R Livingston, on Which we have no reply. We now are to give you advice of having Endorsed 2 Continl. Bills No. 279 & 280—in date of 31st Jany. 1782 for 300 Dollrs. pble. to George putnam—which we...
752To Benjamin Franklin from John Taylor, 1 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The great friendship you have ever shewn me, produces a liberty which I trust you will forgive, as the subject is a matter of the utmost importance to me, and my family— I see in Freemans Philada. Journal of the 27th. february 1782 among the names of those who have forfeited their Estates, two John Taylors , and as I have not heard from my Agent Wm. West...
753To Benjamin Franklin from George Walker, 1 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society An old friend will excuse this familiarity of address to the Minister. I found by Mr. Wharton of Philadelphia, when he did me the honour of a visit at Calais, that I was still alive in your memory and good opinion; and that you were content with the excuses I had made you thorough him for my silence. Circumstances however seem now to be approaching, which...
754To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 1 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy: Yale University Library The Ship Nonesuch is just arrived in 22 Days from Philadelphia. Thinking it of great Importance that the public Dispatches should go forward with the utmost Expedition, and the Post not going out for two Days to come, I thought it my Duty to send off this Express which I hope will be agreeable. I have given the Courier...
755To Benjamin Franklin from Gilles de Lavallée and Other Offerers of Goods and Schemes, [c. November 1782] (Franklin Papers)
News of the peace negotiations inspires a number of merchants, manufacturers, and schemers to make offers to Franklin during the period of this volume. In November, Gilles de Lavallée outlines his plan to establish in the 13 “Colonies Unies” factories for making ribbons, yarns, and thread as well as textiles, coverlets, and sheets. His letter is published below. On September 26, Petit, a...
756To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Putnam, 30 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having this day negociated to Mr. John Augustus Byrne of this City the four Bills as undermentioned the first & second of which I have heretofore transmitted to you, & not being advisd by your Excellency of their Acceptance or payment I think it proper to mention the 1sts. of sd. Bills are accepted in your hands. Mr Byrne remitts them to his Banker Mr....
757To Benjamin Franklin from Ingenhousz, 29 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Yesterday I was favoured with your kind lettre dated Nov. 12., which gave me the greatest satisfaction, as the defection of the colonies from their alleys is entirely Contradicted by your lettre as well as by the papers inclosed. That for some English people here so flattering news was still so much credited among them a few days ago, that a gentleman of...
758To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques-Christophe Valmont de Bomare, 29 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library L’eloignement et une multitude d’affaires, m’ont empêché d’aller vous temoigner moi même, la part que j’ai prise à votre maladie et à votre retablissement— Je n’ai pû envoyer chez vous que mon domestique— Je vous supplie de ne pas douter du vif interêt que je prens à votre conservation et prosperité. Je vous prie aussi de presenter mes civilitez à...
759To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Dana, 17/28 November [i.e., 28 November 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Massachusetts Historical Society I wrote to Mr: Livingston in Augt: last: to advise Congress of a custom established at this Court by order of Her Majesty, That every Power entering into any Treaty with her, shou’d pay Six Thousand Roubles to Four of her Ministers (making in the whole Twenty four Thousand) upon the signing of the Treaty: And that if any occasion shou’d offer for me to...
760To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr.: Two Letters, 28 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) Copy: Yale University Library This will be delivered you by Capt. Archd. Balneavis, Lieut Archd. MacLean, Mr. Ochiltree & Capt. Wm. Hamilton all paroled at York town the 26 Oct 1781. & taken on their Passage from NYork to London by the Ship Marquis de la Fayette arrived here to my address as they have pressing business in London they prefer going by land & on their way will wait...