341To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 5 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having a chance of sending a letter to you I would not neglect it. The Atlantic is now the great gulph , indeed; for there seems no possibility of passing over it to each other. However I hope you spoke in the spirit of prophecy when you said your public affairs might be settled by the time my private ones were finished. Both those events are yet only in...
342From Benjamin Franklin to [Lord Howe], 8 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Whitehall had entrusted the peace mission to Lord Howe and his brother, but the Admiral played the leading part. He had carried on the lengthy maneuvering in London about the commission, he wrote the declaration that was disseminated on his arrival, and although he consulted with his brother he took charge of negotiating in America. His first problem...
343From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 8 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library The Congress having appointed Mr. Adams, Mr. Rutledge and my self, to meet Lord Howe, and hear what Propositions he may have to make, we purpose setting out to-morrow, and to be at Perth Amboy on Wednesday morning, as you will see by the enclos’d, which you are requested immediately to forward to his Lordship; and if an Answer comes to your hands, that you would...
344To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 8 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I was yesterday informed that my letter of thursday was not then gone I sit down now to make a little addition, fancying that I have not said all I have to say, for I wrote in haste. I think I gave you my family history pretty fully, as to public concerns, I know nothing, nor should I write of them to you if I knew anything, so I will give you some...
345From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 10 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Bruce Gimelson, Chalfont, Pa. (1978) It is possible that a Line from Lord Howe may be left for me at your good Mother’s, as I have appointed to be there to morrow Morning, in order to meet a Notice from his Lordship relating to the Time and Place of a proposed Interview. If it should come there to night, or very early in the Morning I could wish you would set out with it on horseback so...
346To Benjamin Franklin from Lord Howe, 10 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Lord Howe presents his compliments to Dr. Franklin, and according to the tenor of his favour of the 8th. will attend to have the pleasure of meeting him and Messrs. Adams and Rutledge tomorrow morning at the house on Staten Island opposite to Amboy, as early as the few conveniencies for travelling by land on Staten Island will admit. Lord Howe upon his arrival at the...
347Lord Howe’s Conference with the Committee of Congress, 11 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
AD : New York Public Library The committee appointed by Congress left Philadelphia on September 9, Franklin and Rutledge in carriages and Adams on horseback. They spent the night of the 10th in New Brunswick, where the taverns were full. Adams and Franklin had to share a bed in a room with one small window, which the younger man wanted shut for fear of catching cold; Franklin, delighted at the...
348The Secret Committee to the Maryland Council of Safety, 13 September 1776: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Maryland Historical Society <Philadelphia, Sept. 13, 1776: We have been asked for powder for the continental frigate built at Baltimore. The powder should have been ordered there, and we understand you have a considerable supply; please furnish four and a half tons for the purpose to Messrs. William Lux, Samuel Purviance, and David Stewart. We will repay you in kind or supply more if...
349The Committee of Conference: Report to Congress, 17 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
DS : New York Public Library; DS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress The committee returned to Philadelphia on the morning of September 13. On the same day it gave an oral report to Congress, and was asked for a written one as soon as possible. The latter was presented on the 17th, and the same committee was ordered to publish it with other documents relating to the...
350To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 17 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I cannot forbear expressing to you the Pleasure I receivd from hearing you were appointed by Congress with others to confer with Lord and Genl. Howe. The Subject of this Conference we do not as yet certainly know, but suppose it was desird on their Part for something more than settling an Exchange of Prisoners. I am not sorry our Enemies appear so eager for...