1To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 3 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Deane having promissd to explain my ideas of the Situation In which I could ever be inducd to revisit Berlin, and Mr. Lee knowing from me what I expected on that Subject, are the reasons which have prevented a personal explanation with you on my part. I do assure you I feel infinitely more pain in solliciting a mode of serving my country than in...
2To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, [4 June 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Inclosd is the Substence of Ld. Chathams motion. The court numbers show at once the hopes and intention of the Ministry. I am with much respect Your very humble Servant. Addressed: A Monsr. / Monsieur le Docteur Franklin / à Passy Notation: Carmicael On May 31 the Public Advertiser reported the defeat in the House of Lords the day before, by a vote of...
3William Carmichael to the American Commissioners, 31 June [30? 1 July?] 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society Gustavus Conyngham, when last heard from, had been in prison with his crew in Dunkirk. On June 2 Deane asked Gérard that they be released and permitted to return to America, and on the 12th they were at large and working on their new ship, the cutter Revenge . On the 30th Carmichael arrived, as he says here, with instructions; they were ostensibly from the...
4William Carmichael to the American Commissioners, 10 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society I have had the honor of receiving your Letter of the 7th of July and am sorry that you have not had an opportunity of yet applying to the Minister on the subject of Mr. Hodges vessel. The bond required was to give security here that the vessel should not cruise against the English. The Expressions of the Ministers letters were so vague and General that the...
5William Carmichael to the American Commissioners, 12 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society In my last I transmitted you an account of the Extraordinary conduct of the Captain of one of the British Ships of war laying in this road. That Ship joind by two others block up the road so as to make it impossible for any vessel to quit this port without being taken by one or other of them. The detention of the vessel formerly belonging to Mr. Hodge...
6William Carmichael to the American Commissioners, 21 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library I have this day renderd an account to Mr. Deane of the Sums disbursd by me on the Public service; I would have given it in sooner, but that I wishd and hopd to have had it in my power to have reimbursd the Whole. I render it to Mr. Deane because the money was cheifly expended under his orders and directions. I offer to become accountable to the Honorable the...
7William Carmichael to the American Commissioners, 30 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library I arrivd at this place last night in forty four hours from Paris. The Vessels which it was intended I should stop saild eight days ago, and it is most probable that the court knew of that circumstance because it is confidently asserted a french Frigate convoyd them as far as Ushant. Mr. Williams immediately took the proper steps to profit by your advices had...
8To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 1 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Before I leave Europe permit me to return you my most unfeighned thanks for the politeness and confidence with which you have treated me since your arrival in France and more particularly for the letter sign’d by yourself and Mr. Deane and addressd to the Committee of Congress for foreighn affairs. If I know my own breast my principal aim has been to...
9To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 14 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library The return of the Nymph frigate in which Captain Coulter [Courter] came passenger gives me the honor of informing you that the Deane arrivd at Portsmouth the first of May much about which time the Two ships loaded by Mr. Ross on account of Congress got in to this Port. Mr. Simeon Deane landed a fortnight before us so that we were happy to find the whole...
10To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 30 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The return of the Marquis de la Fayette gives me an opportunity which I seize with pleasure of renewing my assurances of respect and Gratitude to you. I have thro the course of the Summer taken the liberty of transmitting you such accounts of our internal Situation as might contribute to your information, tho’ by no means to your satisfaction. The Marquis...
11To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 25 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have the Honor of informing you of our arrival at this Place this Day in the frigate l’Aurore from Martinico to which Iland the officers of the Confederacy thought proper to proceed in Consequence of the loss of all our Masts & the Damage our rudder received on the Edge of the Bank of New-foundland. We Left Martinico the 28th. of December & have a most agreable...
12To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 19 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I cannot Let M. Girard leave this Without a Letter for you altho’ probably he can give you much better Information of the States of Affairs here than it is in my Power to give. I did myself the Honor of writing to you from Cadiz and Informed you of M. Jay intentions of Sending me to this City, a Letter from himself which M. Gerard will deliver, will inform you of the...
13To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 13 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I did myself the Honor of writing to you from Cadiz and since by M. Girard and therefore shall not repeat the information which those Letters and that Gentleman will have given you; on the 25th. of last month I transmitted to Mr. Jay the King’s Determination which was communicated to me by his Excellency the Count de florida Blanca & to himself in a Letter from the...
14To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 29 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Count De Montmorin is so obliging as to offer me an Occasion of writing to you by a Courier which I am loth to refuse for fear of betraying a Want of Respect to you or give Reason to others to suspect that I have no Share in your Confidence. I have nothing material to communicate unless the uneasiness I feel in being left here ignorant of the Situation of our...
15To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 22[–27] April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have at length the pleasure of being relieved from much Anxiety by the Receipit of your Letter of the 31st. of March and 7th. of April. I endeavoured to recollect every Circumstance of my Conduct since I left france, and altho’ I found in this Scrutiny that I had left many things undone which I ought to have done, I brought myself in not guilty biased perhaps by...
16To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 22 May 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have defered writing to you since my last of the 27th. Ultio. in Hopes of profiting by the Ct. De Montmorin’s Courier, but as it is not certain when one will be dispatched I venture to inform you by the ordinary post that Sir J.D. presented a memorial to the Ct. De FloridaBlanca, containing certain propositions tending to an Accomodation of the present differences...
17To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael: Extract, 18 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, The Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D., F.R.S., &c … (2nd ed.; 2 vols., London, 1817), II , 461. I thought, until the receipt of your letter (of the 17th June) that Mr. Jay had sent you Sir John Dalrymple’s Memorial, and other papers while I was at Aranjuez. He sends them, however, by this courier, and I think you will be amused in...
18To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 12 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I did myself the Honor of answering yours of the 17th. of June by a Courier from the French ambassador, but not having the Copy of my Letter to you, with me here, I cannot recollect the Date. M. Jay Sent by the same conveyance Sir John Dalrymples memorial and others papers. M. Cumberland Still remain at Madrid, but as the Count de Montmorin doth not appear uneasy in...
19To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael: Two Letters, 25 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) Copy: Library of Congress The Duke De Crillon, and who hath not heard of the Name of Crillon? does me the honour of accepting of an Introduction to you, which give me an Occasion of boasting of any influence with you to him, and to you of the honor he has done me by his Acquaintance & Friendship here. This Must be Clear to you when I mentione his name, tho’ that to those who know...
20To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 5 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress A Courier which the Ambassador of France dispatches from hence gives me an Opportunity of expressing the pleasure I received from your last to Mr. Jay, and at the same time of communicating the only interesting News from this Country, viz the departure of the Count D’estaing the 30th. ulto. with 38. sail of the Line & 70 Merchant men from Cadiz. The next day Mr....
21To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 21 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am afraid you will think me a troublesome correspondent, because I have no Opportunities of amusing or of giving information that will be agreable to you.— Our Necessities & difficulties are the themes for my Letters & be assured that it is not less disagreable for me to write on these Subjects than for you to be obliged to read what I write— Premising this you will...
22To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 6 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I sincerely grieve for the Cause that hath deprived me of the honour of hearing from you lately & I hope that this will find it removed & your Excellency restored to Health & Spirits. Mr. Cabarus charges himself with the Delivery of it. This Gentleman was among the first of my Friends here, & hath been uniformly such to our Country; He enjoys the Confidence of the...
23To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 28 February[–10 March 1781] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Prince Maceran’s [Masserano’s] Courier brought me your Favour of the 27. ulto. I am so sensible of the honour and pleasure of your Correspondence not to regret it. Yet when I tell you with sincerity that every Letter which I receive from you adds to my Desire of meriting your Esteem & consequently that of others, you will not I hope think your Indulgence thrown...
24To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 12 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Since writing a Letter which you will receive by the same Courier which brings this I am informed from good authority that Mr. Cumberland will shortly leave this & take Paris in his way to England— I shall inform you of the time he sets out or any other particular I may hear further with your Notice— He received an express yesterday morning from Lisbon which it seems...
25To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 25 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress At the Embassadors Table I had the Pleasure of meeting Mr. Senrat the Bearer of this Letter. He hath just returned to Europe after a long Absence from his native Country France, which he quitted with a View of travelling at the kings Expence in Africa & the east Indies & returns loaded with the Spoils of these Countries in the Vegetable & animal World, He expressed a...
26To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 30 March[–1 April 1781] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am this moment informed that an express to Mr. Cabarus whom I took the Liberty of introducing to your Notice leaves this for Paris in less than an hour. I seize the Opportunity to give you an Acct. of our present critical Situation. You will recollect that I have mentioned more than once the promise of the Court to furnish as far as three Millions of Reals for the...
27To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 14 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Some time ago I made you a volontary promise to contribute to your pleasure by introducing to your Acquaintance Mr. Giuste late chargé d’Affairs of Vienna & Tuscany at this Court— He now to the great regret of all his Friends here puts it in my Power to fulfill my Engagements & to add to the Number of these few of the Many who have desired your Acquaintance, that have...
28To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 20 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received by Mr. Jay’s Courier who returned last night your favour of the 12th. & seize the earliest Opportunity of acknowledging my Obligations for this fresh Mark of your Confidence & Esteem, Mr. Jay communicated to me your Letters, & their Contents with Respect to the Situation of public affairs here as well as to what concerned ourselves personally gave me the...
29To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 30 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress On my return home from Mr. Jay’s, I find that a Courier for France is expected to pass thro’ Madrid this Night, I profit of the Occasion to inform your Excellency that Mr. Jay has this Day drawn a Bill on Mr. Grand in favour of the Marquis D’Yranda for 487,320 livres Tournois to pay the Bills of Congress which will become due the ensuing Month— There is some...
30To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 23 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I seize the Opportunity of a Russian Courier on his return to Petersburg from Lisbon to transmit you the inclosed Letter from M. Vaughan & to thank you for the Pleasure your Introduction afforded me. He is a promising young Man & seems exceedingly desirous to improve himself, Mr. Jay having no Instructions to administer the oath of Allegiance, declined doing it until...
31To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 26 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress An Express which Mr. Gabarus sends to Paris afords me an Opportunity of sending you the latest Spanish Gazettes & to apologize for not having yet sent the Books you expressed a desire of reading— They have been long in readiness to send, but I have not yet been able to find a Person going directly to Paris, who could conveniently charge himself with the Delivery of...
32To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 13 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress I send you the last Spanish Gazettes in this inclosure by a Courier which the French Ambassador dispatches this with the news of the arrival of Monsr. de Guichen at Cadiz. The United fleet by this Junction amts to 52 sail of the Line, besides 3 other Spanish ships which are in the vicinage of the above-mentioned Port. The General...
33To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 15 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the pleasure of receiving your obliging favor of the 24th Ulto. a few days ago— I am happy that the Persons whom I took the Liberty of Introducing to your Notice, have not been thought unworthy of it. Mr Giusti in a Letter from Paris to me, expressed himself in terms of great sensibility for the pleasure I had procured him by my Introduction of him at...
34To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 23 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Boyetet Consul General for France in this Country has been so obliging as to charge himself with the Works of the Conde de Campomanes & the memorials published by the Society of the Friends of their Country which I have long promised to send you; & which I should have done sooner if an oppertunity had offered— Permit me to Introduce this Gentleman to...
35To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 20 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Charles Traverse having been so obliging as to offer to charge himself with my pacquets for your Excellency, I have seized the opportunity of sending you a Discourse of Mr. Iove Llanos, which I mentioned in a former Letter & the Poem of Mr Ths. Iriarte on Musick. I am on an Intimate Footing with the Authors & If their Works give you any pleasure in the...
36To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, [before 23 January 1782] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You who know so well the public & private obligations we have to the Marquis de Yranda, would never pardon me, If I should suffer one of his family to pass thro’ Paris, without giving you an opportunity of convincing him of the sense you have of the obliging notice, it has taken of us here—But you would be Still more offended with me, After having been...
37To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 22 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received with very great Satisfaction your Letter of the 23d Ulto. I am sorry that you should think it necessary to make any apology for your Silence, for I make this Sacrifice which is not a small one to the Public Service as I have been constrained to make others. I feel all the force of what you say with respect to our pecuniary Situation, but present...
38To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 3 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I seize the opportunity of writing you by a French Courier who is sent with the news of Mr Guichens arrival at Cadix with five sail of the Line 2 frigates and a Cutter the 26th Ulto., & I once more sollicit your friendly attention to our distressed situation here. The Bills for this month become due now every Day & must be refused payment in the End, unless...
39To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 8 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society On the 3d. Instant I received from the French Embassador Your Excys. obliging favor of the 11th. Ulto. I should have done myself the honor of answering it the Same day by Mr Clonard the Bearer of Dispatches from the Chevalier de La Luzern & General Rochambeau, Had not my whole Time been taken up in Copying letters to Mr Jay which I was afraid had been...
40To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 20 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I begin this as I have done several of my former Letters with Advising your Excy that I have drawn on You a bill in favor of Messrs. Estevan Drouilhet & Co. for 2400 Livres Tournois at 90 days after Date, this Sum being the ballance of the Quarters Salary for which you permitted me to draw— The Cte. de Montmorin informs me that the King has been pleased to...
41To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 16 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Jays acquaintance with the Ct. de Rechteren who does me the honor to ask an Introduction to your Excy might preclude the necessity of the present Address, If I had not a strong desire of convincing the Count of my sense of his Civilities and of my connection with you— I might from your Long Silence conclude that he will owe much more to his own merit...
42To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 6 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress Altho Mr Jays acquaintance with Mr Gardoqui, who will have the honor to deliver this to your Excy. Might excuse me from taking the present Liberty, yet I cannot refuse this Gentlemans request to be the bearer of a Line from myself to your Excy; His friendly conduct to me intitles him to every mark of Consideration in my power to shew him & I hope to the many proofs of...
43To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 15 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I had the honor to receive, altho Somewhat Late the Communications you made to me of the Treaty signed the 30th of Novr. with G. Britain. Your Letter remained more than three weeks in the hands of this Ministry, If I may be Allowed to Judge from its Date & Delivery. I am Infinitely sensible for the Communication which you did me the honor to make of this Important...
44To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 14 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I had the honor to address your Excellency some time ago by the Baron le Fort and to advise you that I should find myself under the necessity of calling on you for the advances made by our Bankers here for the Public— After having delayed as long as possible these payments, as well to comply with the request you made Mr Jay to give you all the time in his power at the...
45To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 15 January 1784[–4 February 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I recd. on the 4th instant the Letter which your Excy did me the honor to write me the 15th Ulto., The kind assurances which it contains of your constant esteem and affection have removed from my mind an uneasiness which had oppressed it for a long time— Until I was led to think that by some means or other your friendship for me was diminished, It was always a...
46To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 14 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I had the honor to address your Excellency the 2d of this month by Post; Mr Barry a gentleman recommended to me by Mr Adams affords me an occasion of forwarding to you two publications which the Ct de Campomanes and the Abbe Gavarra desired me to present to you in their Names— I am still without news from America; this & other disagreable circumstances of a private...
47To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 20 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Inclosed I have the honor to send you a Letter from the house of Drouilhet advising me of their having drawn upon your Excellency for £s [ l.t. ] 13447.5. s. at 60 days date making the Sum of 54000 Rials de Vn. [Veillon] or 2700 Dollars for the payment of a bill drawn by Mr Morris on me which bill became due since my Departure from Madrid.— I intended to...
48To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 9 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; ALS (draft): National Archives I arrived here the 26th of June, my first business was to present myself at Aranjuez where the Court then resided. I had in some measure engaged before my departure from Spain to return before the Royal Family left that residence. So far I have fulfilled my engagements— On this Acct I set off from Paris more abruptly than I...
49To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 11 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received some days ago a Letter from the Cte de Campomanes in answer to the one which your Excellency put into my hands for him; As I had in prospect an occasion of sending it by an extraordinary Courier I have taken the Liberty to detain this Letter until the moment of the Departure of the Courier— The packet would have cost your Excellency an...
50To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 13 August [i.e., September] 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honor to receive your Excellencys Letter of the 26th Ulto. this day & knowing that a Spanish Courier extraordinary is to set off this Evening for Paris I avail myself of the occasion to thank your Excy for the information contained therein as well as for those proofs of Amity which appear in the whole tenor of the Letter I have just received;...