1The American Peace Commissioners to Prince Bariatinskii, [2 July 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Retranslation: reprinted from Nina N. Bashkina et al. , eds., The United States and Russia: the Beginning of Relations, 1765–1815 ([Washington, D.C., 1980]), p. 199. On Tuesday, July 1, at the weekly gathering of ministers at Versailles, Vergennes informed the American peace commissioners that the Anglo-French treaty had been settled, pending British approval, and the time had come for them to...
2The American Peace Commissioners to Elias Boudinot, 10 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS and press copy of LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society On the third Instant, Definitive Treaties were concluded, between all the late belligerent Powers, except the Dutch, who the Day before settled and signed Preliminary Articles of Peace with Britain. We most sincerely & cordially congratulate Congress and our Country in general, on this...
3The American Peace Commissioners to Francis Dana, 12 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS, AL (draft), and copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: Library of Congress We have the Honour to congratulate you, on the Signature of the preliminary Treaty of Peace, between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, to be inserted in the definitive Treaty, when France and Britain Shall have agreed upon their Terms. The Articles, of which We do ourselves the...
4The American Peace Commissioners to Alleyne Fitzherbert, [20 February 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society We have recd. the Letter wh you did us the Honor to write on the 18th. Inst, together with the Passports mentioned in it. His britannic Majesty’s Proclamation of the 14th. Instant has our entire approbation, and we have the Honor of transmitting to you, herewith enclosed, a Declaration perfectly correspondent with it. It appears to us important to...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 28 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress; copy: University of South Carolina Library The 20th. Instant I had the honor of receiving your favor of the 12th. with Postscript of the 13th. by the hand of my Son, who will be the Bearer of this. I should have replied immediately, and at all hazards to my health have made a Journey to Whitehall, on the subject of Mr. Secretary Thomson’s Letter, which considering...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 6 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; incomplete copy: South Carolina Historical Society Hitherto, since my arrival on this side of the Channel I have had nothing worth your attention, to offer, indeed five or six last days excepted I had been confined at Bath. Mr. Oswald said to me yesterday, he was going to the proper place for learning, whether he should be soon, or when required to attend upon the...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 24 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society; copy: South Carolina Historical Society Mr. Laurens presents his Compliments to Doctor Franklin & requests him to give a place to the Inclosed Letter for Robt. R. Livingston Esqr among his dispatches for the Ship Washington & to inform him whether he will be in time for saving the Courier with other Letters any time to day. Addressed: His Excellency /...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 17 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress; copy: South Carolina Historical Society I beg leave to refer to my letter of the 6th Instant by the hands of Mr. Storer—to speak in the current stile, Government is still a float. In the moment when it was thought an Administration would be formed, the prospects of the Coalition have been dashed— The K. it seems has been the stipulator, insisted upon keeping the Lord...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 30 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
L : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copies: Library of Congress, South Carolina Historical Society; transcript: National Archives I writ to you on the 7th. Inst: by Mr Oswald, since which, that is to say, on the 28th. I was honored by the receipt of your letter of the 12th. inclosing a copy of the Commission for treating for Peace, by the hands of Mr Young. The Recognizance exacted from me...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 28 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: University of South Carolina Library This will be accompanied by a Letter of equal date accounting for my Reciepts of public Money to which I beg leave to refer. Since my arrival in London I have been rather too much hurried by Visits & returns to enquire minutely into News, I learn however that Mr. Fox’s (Lord North’s) Bill for changing the system of Government of East India Affairs...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 10 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; copy: University of South Carolina Library The 6th. Inst: I had the honor of addressing you by Post & availing myself of the encouragement you had given to hope for a supply of Money from Monsr. Grand on account of the United States, I requested that Gentleman by the same conveyance to remit to me the full value of One Thousand or twelve hundred Guineas which I...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 27 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; copy: University of South Carolina Library My thanks are due for the justice you did me, in beleiving I had written to some one or other of my Colleagus since my last return to London, altho’ it appears by the Letter you have honored me with under the 21st Inst. mine of the 9th. addressed to the whole had not reached them, an unlucky circumstance which gives me much...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 7 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: University of South Carolina Library; incomplete copy: Library of Congress Very late in the evening of the 12th of July I had the honor of recieving at Vigan your favor of the 2d. By the dawn of day the next morning I had mounted the chaise in order to prosecute my journey to this place & here I arrived in a very shattered state of health on the 30th. & have been ever since confined to...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens: Two Letters, 4 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : American Philosophical Society; (II) Copy: University of South Carolina Library Permit me to introduce at Passy, Mr. Parker a young Gentleman of an exceeding good character Son of John Parker Esquire a respectable & valuable Citizen of the State of South Carolina. Mr. Parker who is studying the Law, means to improve the next vacation by a Visit to Paris & is, as all the World are,...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 24 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress; L (draft): University of South Carolina Library In pursuance of the measure which I had the honour of intimating in my last of the 17th. Ulto. I waited on Mr. Adams at Hague and made a tender of my Service in the duty first charg’d upon me by Congress, that of borrowing Money for the Use of our United States, provided I was included and Authoriz’d in the Commission...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 30 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
L : University of Pennsylvania Library Mr. Laurens presents his Compliments to Doctor Franklin and requests the honor of his company at dinner on thursday next at 3 oClock. In the hand of Henry Laurens, Jr. Laurens sent a separate invitation to WTF on the same day ( APS ). He was still in ill health, and on Jan. 9 he asked WTF to procure passports for himself, his son, and a servant to return...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 10 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): University of South Carolina Library I had the honor of addressing you under the 3d Inst. requesting you to procure & transmit a Passport for myself & family to go out of this Kingdom into England—this Morning I am advised from London that the proper document of leave to re-enter the latter, had been obtained & would be forwarded to Mr. Ginett...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 29 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; copy: University of South Carolina Library Mr. Bourdieu of London intending shortly a visit to France is desirous of paying his Respects at Passy. Permit me Sir, the liberty of introducing him in person to your acquaintance. To say Mr. Bourdieu merits the regard & acknowledgements of the Citizens of our United States would be only repeating what I have heretofore...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 20 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Letters inclosed under Cover with this were detained in order to have been forwarded by Mr. Young for whom I have been waiting some days, he is now arrived & determined to proceed to Hague, therefore I embrace the opportunity of Mr. Bacon who has promised care of the Packet & to deliver it without delay. Notation: H. Laurens. Among the enclosures may...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 21 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: University of South Carolina Library I have with much concern perused your address of the 10th. Inst, which you did me the honor of delivering this Afternoon, intimating that you had received a Letter from a very respectable Person in America containing the following words vizt. “It is confidently reported, propagated, & believed by some among us, that the Court of France, was at the...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 6 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; copy: University of South Carolina Library I have been about a fortnight indebted for your obliging Letter of the 17th Ult: delaying from day to day a reply, hoping from expected supplies of Money from my own funds I should have avoided calling upon Mr Grand, but the prospect is vanished. My Attornies had sent me a Bill for £500. which is protested, they had Shiped...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 3 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I thank you very sincerely for the kind attention to my health & welfare signified in your favor of the 19th. Ult. My acknowledgements are also due for your condescensions to my Son lately at Passy. I am waiting now for permission to re-enter England & to embark at Falmouth for New York with a Passport for proceeding thence to Philadelphia which I have...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 3 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; copy: University of South Carolina Library I ask your pardon for having so long delayed an acknowledgement of your favor of the 6th. December. first occasioned by a purpose of writing by Mr. Jay, whose departure was uncertain & I happned to be abroad when he was so good as to call upon me at Bath to take leave. Immediately after he left us, I was seized by a violent...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens: Two Letters, 18 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : Library of Congress; copy: University of South Carolina Library I beg leave to refer to my Letter of the 7th. Inst. by the hands of Mr. Bourdieu. Mr. Hartley call’d upon me the 13th. at Bath & return’d a verbal answer. “The King had ordered him immediately to Paris for exchanging the Ratifications.” & he accordingly goes & will do me the honor of delivering this. Nothing...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 7 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress; transcripts: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives Richard Oswald Esq. who will do me the honour of delivering this, is a Gentleman of the strictest candour and integrity, I dare give such assurance from an experience little short of thirty Years and to add, You will be perfectly safe in conversing freely with him on the business which he will...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 19 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library Mr. Laurens presents his respectful Compliments to Doctor Franklin & thanks the Doctor for his goodness in sending the American News Papers, Mr. L. will convey them to Mr. Adams to morrow. Addressed: His Excellency / Doctor Franklin / Passy.
27To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, February 27, 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; copy: University of South Carolina Library Accept my grateful thanks for the Contents of two Letters which you have honored me with under the 12th. & 15th. Inst. Your interposition with Mr. Grand for obtaining a supply of Money on my Account has impressed my heart with feelings which will never wear out, altho I have at present hopes of getting through without...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 7 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress; copy: University of South Carolina Library I had the honor of addressing you under the 31st Ulto, by the hands of my Son, who I hope will pay his Respects at Passy the present Day. This Morning I am favored with yours of the same Date, enclosing the several Copies of Papers from Congress, which you have enumerated, & also an open Letter to Charles Thompson Esqr, not...
29To 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.
30To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 17 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress; copy: South Carolina Historical Society I have but this moment 1 o Clock PM been honored with your Letter of the 6th. Instant, it has been long in its Passage, I must endeavour to make more Expedition in complying with your wish to return as soon as possible to Paris. I had flattered myself with hopes of being free. As tis possible nay probable that I shall be with...