51From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 22 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I am perfectly of the same Sentiments with your Excellency respecting Count d’Estaign. I know his Zeal for the Cause, and have a high Opinion of his Abilities. I have therefore not the least doubt but that his going to Boston was a Measure absolutely necessary, and will appear to be for the common Good. We just now learn that our Troops on...
52From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 3 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Having long known Mr Williams to be a very just Man in all his Transactions, I hope the Favour he requests of a Surséance may be granted to him, being confident that it will be employed to the compleat Satisfaction of his Creditors. I therefore earnestly pray your Excellency to obtain it for him....
53From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 8 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress The Congress disregarding the Proposals made by Sir Guy Carleton, and determined to continue the War with Vigour, ‘till a Peace can be obtained, satisfactory as well to the King as to themselves; (as will appear by their Resolves hereto annex’d) but being disabled by the great Deficiency in their Taxes arising from...
54From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 11 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Mr Franklin presents his Respects to M. le Comte de Vergennes, with Thanks for his kind Care in sending him the Packets that came by the Way of Spain. Mr Franklin sends herewith some Packets he has just Receiv’d from America in a Vessel arrived at Nantes, a swift Sailer, which is soon to return. See Vergennes’ letter of Sept. 8. On a Sept. 12,...
55From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, 19 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress I have the honour of sending to your Excellency some Advices I have just received. As the Letter from Virginia was received at New-Caste, a Town on the Delaware 40 Miles below Philadelphia, and probably after the Date of your Letters from thence, perhaps you may not have heard before, that M. De Barras had joined M....
56From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 8 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress As Baron de Holtzendorff has thought fit to trouble your Excellency with a Memorial to me, relating to his affairs and complains highly as I understand of the Congress & of me, I beg leave to acquaint you with a few Circumstances in our Vindication, most of which I have from himself in one of his former Papers. Mr. Deane soon after his Arrival here, is said to have...
57From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, 19 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress I lately received from America the enclosed Letters, and Resolutions of Congress. Such unexpected Drafts on me give me much Pain; as they oblige me either to give your Excellency the Trouble of fresh Applications, or to protest their Bills, which would be absolute Ruin. But your Excellency will see the pressing...
58From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes: Two Letters, 13 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress; (II) copy: Library of Congress I have communicated to Mr Lee the Letter your Excellency did me the honour to write to me of the 8th: Instant, relative to the Money placed in the Kings Treasury for Acct of Mr Stevenson; and also the Copy of the Letter to M. De Sartine which it enclosed: Mr Lee having no...
59From Benjamin Franklin to [Vergennes], [after 14 February 1779] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress M. Franklin se trouve dans une Position aussy facheuse que penible, & a la quelle les Circonstançes du Comerçe ajoutent beaucoup; en ce que le peu d’Envoys qui echappent aux Ennemis, ne lui parviennent pas, ou ne lui sont d’aucun Secours: Si ils sont en Tabacs, Les Fermiers Genereaux les reclament avec raison; & si ce sont des ris, ou tout autre Denrée, M. De...
60From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes: Two Letters, 24 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Mr: Carnes, an American Merchant settled at Nantes, who has already presented your Excellency with a Petition requesting un Arrêt de Sur-seance , informs me that it cannot be complied with unless he first obtains the Consentment of a third of his Creditors; that in order to do this, his Presence is necessary at Nantes; but that...
61From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, [before 2 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): American Philosophical Society J’ay eu L’honneur avec Messieurs les deputés des etats unis d’amerique de Representer a vostre excellence que le Retard des decisions en france sur Les Reprises faittes sur les anglais par les vaisseaux de guerre americains Les eloignoit des mers D’Europe, Nous avons ajoutté a Cette Consideration d’autres encore plus importantes. Il est de mon devoir,...
62From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 22 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Mr. de Veimerange acquaints me that a Part of the Supplies sent to America in the Rusée, have been taken by the Enemy, and that if it is thought proper to replace them, Orders should be speedily given for that Purpose. I therefore beg leave to mention to your Excellency that the Replacing those...
63From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, 10 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me, dated the 1st Instant, together with the Papers accompanying it, containing the Correspondence with Mr Adams. I have taken some Pains since to understand the Subject, and obtain Information of the Facts, from Persons lately arrived, having...
64From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 25 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yesterday a Letter dated the 20th. Instand, under a Cover mark’d with your Excellency’s Name but the Letter not signed by you or any other Person enclosing a Memoire which is likewise not signed, relating to the taking of the English ship the three friends by Capt. Landais, who is charg’d in the Memoire as having made that Prize in Contempt of the King’s...
65From Benjamin Franklin to [Vergennes], 1 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Le Refus qu’à fait M. Le Directeur General de se prêter aux propositions de M. Franklin, & ses besoins urgents, le determinent pour n’avoir rien a se reprocher, si les Evenements qu’il craint arrivent, de revenir a la charge auprès de l’Administration pour les prevenir, il demande en consequence, & a titre de pret, un Million quoique cette...
66From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 8 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am much oblig’d to yr. Excy. for the Notice you were so good as to send me yesterday. I send my Grandson to M. de Sartine, to procure from him two Orders to the proper Officers at Brest. The one to receive the Prisoners brought in long since by Capt. Jones. The other to receive the Mutineers from on Board the Alliance. I beg you would be pleas’d to give a Line, if...
67From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 14 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Walter R. Benjamin Autographs, Inc., Hunter, New York (1982); copy: Library of Congress The Gout having again attacked me, and confined me to my Chair, I find I shall not be able to present myself at Versailles on Tuesday. Your Excellency will have the Goodness to excuse me, and believe me ever, with the sincerest Esteem and Respect. Your most obedient & most humble Servant. March 16; see...
68From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 27 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Enclosed I send your Excellency the Copy of a Letter I have just received from Mr Hartley, in which he expresses a Desire of making me a visit to talk about Peace, if it may be done with the Consent of the Ministry here. I should be glad to see him as my Friend and a Friend to America: but unless he...
69From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 8 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Yesterday Mr Oswald communicated to Mr. Jay and me a Paper he had just received from his Court being a Copy of the King’s Order to the Attorney or Sollicitor General to prepare a Commission to pass the great Seal, appointing him to treat with us &ca. and he shew’d me a Letter from Mr Secretary Townshend, which expresses his Concern that the...
70From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 4 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have considered the Proposal of M. le Mis. de Segur, to cede to the Congress the military Stores left by M. de Rochambeau at Baltimore; and I am of Opinion that it is probable a Part of them may be acceptable, if not the whole; and that possibly some of the different States may be enclined to purchase what the Congress should not want. But...
71From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 15 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have the honour to acquaint your Excellency, that our Courier is to set out to-morrow at Ten aClock, with the Dispatches we send to Congress by the Washington, Capt. Barney, for which Ship we have got a Passport from the King of England. If you would make any Use of this Conveyance, the Courier shall wait upon you to-morrow at Versailles,...
72From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 22 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress M. De Chaumont m’ayant procuré par pure bonne Volonté des Etoffes pour l’Habillement des Troupes Americaines, me demande aujourd’huy que je lui assure le Remboursement en France des Lettres de Change que je lui ai promises sur le Congrès, et dont je ne doute nullement qu’il y sera fait Honneur. J’ai l’honneur de...
73From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 23 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress Mr de Chaumont informs me that it has been agreed between your Excellency and him, that I should write you a Letter, requesting your Assurance of Payment here of the Bills I am to draw in his Favour upon the Congress for 500,000 Livres, in case they should not be paid in America. He has accordingly furnished me with...
74From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 3 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress It was indeed with very great Pleasure that I received and read the Letter your Exy. did me the honour of writing to me, communicating that of the President of Congress and the Resolutions of that Body relative to the Succours then expected: For the Sentiments therein express’d are so different from the Language held...
75From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 16 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have the honour to inform your Excellency, that the English Ministry do not agree to any of the Propositions that have been made either by us, or by their Minister here; and they have sent over a Plan for the definitive Treaty, which consists merely of the Preliminaries formerly signed, with a short Introductory Paragraph, & another at the...
76From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 9 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangeres The American Commerce in general, and that between France and America in particular having suffered greatly of late, from the Number of Frigates employed by the Enemy to cruise on our Coasts, I am directed to communicate to your Excellency the Paper on that Subject which I have the honour now to enclose, wherein the Means of protecting that...
77From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 15 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me yesterday, & have perused the Papers inclosed with it relating to William Campbell. They are undoubtedly genuine Papers, but I know nothing more of the Person, having never seen him, or heard any thing of him during his residence in Paris that I can recollect. I return the Papers, and am, with...
78From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, 15 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; press copy of ALS , and copy: Library of Congress; transcripts: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives On Sunday, April 14, Shelburne’s representative Richard Oswald, accompanied by Franklin’s old friend Caleb Whitefoord, arrived in Paris bearing Shelburne’s April 6 letter. That evening Whitefoord traveled to Passy on his own...
79From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 17 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I received the Letter your Excellency did me the Honour of writing to me the 15th. Instant. The Proposal of having a Passport from England was agreed to by me the more willingly, as I at that time had Hopes of obtaining some Money to send in the Washington, and the Passport would have made its Transportation safer, with that of our...
80From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 15 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 13th. Inst, and I loose no time in forwarding to your Excellency the Orders you desire for the 4 English Vessels destined to pass between Dover and Calais; tho’ I am persuaded the Passports they are furnished with from his most Christian majesty; would have been sufficient...
81From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 15 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress I thank your Excellency for the Information contain’d in the Letter you did me honour of writing to me the 12th. Instant, relating to the American Prisoners at Lisbon. Mr. Dohrman was, I think, appointed by the Congress to take care of them. I do not know the Reason of his Discontinuing that Care. But if he has not...
82From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 6 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have the honour of returning herewith the Map your Excellency sent me Yesterday. I have marked with a strong Red Line, according to your desire, the Limits of the thirteen United States, as settled in the Preliminaries between the British & American Plenipotentiarys. With great Respect, I am Sir, Your Excellency’s most obedt & most humble...
83From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 1 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Exy did me the honour of writing to me of the 25th past, inclosing a Memorial relating to the Claim of two Corporals of the Artillery to Shares of the Prize Ship the Fox, taken by the Boston Frigate, on board of which they were, and assisting in the Action. Nothing appears to me more just...
84From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 3 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress When I last had the honor of waiting upon your Excellency, I mentioned certain Applications from the States of Virginia and Maryland, for Arms, Ammunition and Clothing, which I am desired by their Agents here to sollicit. I should sooner have presented your Excellency a Note of the Particulars, which I now enclose,...
85From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 24 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères The two extracts inclosed in this letter were brought to Passy as part of a conciliatory mission that backfired. On July 11, Franklin wrote Benjamin Vaughan to express doubts about Shelburne’s intentions. Vaughan immediately showed that letter to Shelburne, who denied any grounds for suspicion. Vaughan volunteered to visit Franklin and...
86From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 24 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excelly. did me the honour of writing to me the 22d. Instant, concerning the Complaint of the Sieur Rasquin against Mr. Williams, together with the Exposition des Faits as stated by the said Rasquin, which I return inclosed. In September last I received a Letter from the same Person with...
87From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 26 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress I received Yesterday Evening the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me, together with the Pacquet for M. De la Luzerne, which I shall take Care to forward with my Dispatches. I could have wished it had been possible to have written something positive to the Congress by this Opportunity on the Subject of the...
88From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 18 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress I send herewith to your Excellency a Translation of the Invoices of the Goods desired, with the Original. The Packet Boat which brought our Dispatches will be ready to depart for America next Week, but shall wait your Orders. She is a fast Sailer being built expressly for the Business; and the Captain is a trusty...
89From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 6 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères The State of Maryland being the last that acceded to the Confederation, & therefore esteemed by some the least hearty in the Cause, your Excellency may judge, by the Sentiments of the General Assembly of that State, as express’d in their Resolutions which I have the honour to send you enclos’d, what Reception any Propositions made by General...
90From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 6 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress I wonder much that your Excellency has received no Letters by our Packet Boat. There were some for M. De Castries & M. de Segur. I enclose what News I have which is not in the News papers. Those will have informed you of the Unhappy Loss of the Eagle, and saving of the Money &ca. I am with great Respect Sir,...
91From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 6 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: National Archives (two), Library of Congress, Columbia University Library; press copy: National Archives; transcript: National Archives By perusing the enclosed Instructions to Col. Lawrence & myself, your Excellency will see the Necessity I am under of being importunate for an Answer to the...
92From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes: Two Letters, 25 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (incomplete draft) and copy: Library of Congress; (II) ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress The first of these letters represents one of Franklin’s few imprudent acts as a diplomat. His congressional instructions had ordered him to seek French help in attacking Quebec and Halifax, but here he...
93From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 2 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress Major General du Portail, & Colonel du Gouvion, Engineers, lately returned to France, have been for five Years past employed in the Armies of the United States, and have, by their military Skill, Bravery & good Conduct done honour to their own Country and great Service to ours. Mr. Livingston, Secretary for Foreign...
94From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, 4 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft) and copy. Library of Congress I beg leave to acquaint your Ecellency that the Purchases of Clothing &ca for the Troops made by Mr. Lawrens, or by his Orders in Holland, will, as I understand, amount to near a Million, which he has left for me to pay. And that in consequence of his Majesty’s late liberal Grants in Aid of the United...
95From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 15 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have just received a Letter from Corunna of which I take the Liberty of enclosing a Translation. Your Excellency will see by it, that you formed a right Judgment of Gillon’s Intention in leaving behind him the Vessels that he had agreed to take under his Convoy, viz. That instead of going directly to America, he would Cruise for his own...
96From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 31 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress I have just received from M. De la Fayette a Letter, containing the Paragraph, a Copy of which I enclose praying your Excellency to cast an Eye on it. If you should not disapprove the Proposition it contains in favour of my Grandson, I am willing he should embrace this Opportunity of improving himself, in seeing the...
97From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 24 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress In consequence of the enclosed Letter which I have received from M. Adams, I beg leave to request of your Excellency, that the Orders therein mentioned if not already sent, may be delayed, ’till he has prepared the Representations he proposes to lay before you on that Subject, by which it will appear that those...
98From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 18 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 17th. of this Month, together with the Letters inclosed of M. De Sartine and of the Ambassador of Holland, concerning the Ship Flora, which had been brought into Cherbourg by the Black Prince Privateer: Your Excellency will see by the...
99From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 23 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du ministère des affaires étrangères I beg leave to recommend earnestly to your Excellency’s Attention the enclos’d Petition and Papers from Mr. Price, an honest worthy American, who was to my Knowledge very serviceable to our Army in Canada, and much esteemed by the Congress. I shall be very thankful if you can procure for him the Order he desires. With great Respect, I am,...
100From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 16 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me respecting the Means of promoting the Commerce between France and America. Not being myself well acquainted with the State of that Commerce, I have endeavoured by Conversation with some of our Merchants to obtain Information. They complain in general of the Embarrassments...