51From 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...
52From 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...
53The American Commissioners to [the Comte de Vergennes], 4 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères We have the Honour to acquaint your Excellency that we have just receiv’d an Express from Boston, in 30 Days, with Advice of the total Reduction of the Force under General Burgoyne, himself and his whole Army having surrendered themselves Prisoners. General Gates was about to send Reinforcements to Gen. Washington, who was near Philadelphia...
54From 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...
55From 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...
56The American Commissioners: Memorandum for Vergennes, [24 February 1777] (Franklin Papers)
D : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères We have ordered no Prizes into the Ports of France, nor do we know of any that have entered, for any other purpose than to provide themselves with necessaries untill they could sail for America, or some Port in Europe, for a Market. We were informed this was not inconsistent with the Treaty between France and Great Brittain, and that it would...
57From 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...
58From 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...
59From 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...
60From 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,...
61The American Commissioners to [Vergennes], 19 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères <Passy, April 19, 1778: We hear from Bordeaux and Nantes that high insurance rates and British captures create almost an embargo on shipping to America, which defeats the aim of the treaty. We earnestly request you to provide convoys.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 42. In WTF ’s hand.
62The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 21 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Capt. Wicks when he left France on his last Cruise was ordered not to return if he could possibly avoid it, but to intercept some of the Irish Linnen Ships, and proceed with them for America where the Article was much wanted. Unfortunately he miss’d those Shipps, and having giv’n The Alarm, he had no way to avoid being taken but by sheltering...
63From 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...
64From 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...
65From 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...
66The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 19 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; three copies and transcript: National Archives <Passy, May 19, 1778: We have received your letter of May 15 with its enclosure, and have forwarded copies of both to Congress. Justice, we have no doubt, will be promptly done.> Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 103 and discussed...
67The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 5 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Dr. Franklin, Mr. Dean, and Mr. Lee, present their most respectful Complimts. to the Count de Vergennes; and request an audience of his Excellency, to-morrow morning, at such hour as he shall be pleas’d to appoint. Notation: 1777. Janvier 5. In BF ’s hand according to Stevens ( Facsimiles , VI , no. 613), but actually in Arthur Lee’s. We have...
68From 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...
69The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 3 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: National Archives We have just receivd information that Mr. Thomas Morris, at Nantes, one of the commercial Agents of Congress, is at the point of death; and that his Papers, on that event, will be taken possession of by the Officers of the Crown. As some of these Papers may very materially concern the public business, we beg an Order...
70From 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...
71From 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,...
72From 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...
73From 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...
74The American Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 7 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft) and copy: Harvard University Library The Commissioners from the United States of America desire to represent to his Excellency the Count de Vergennes, that they have received Intelligence of a Vessel belonging to the States having been taken by the Culloden, an English Ship of War, close on the Coast of France; and that the same...
75From 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...
76The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 4 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, June 4, 1778: We enclose the copy of a letter from Capt. Whipple, which contains all the intelligence he brought.> Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 127. In Arthur Lee’s hand, signed by him and Adams. To BF above, May 31.
77From 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...
78From 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...
79From 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...
80From 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...
81From 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...
82From 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,...
83[The American Commissioners]: Memoir [for Vergennes], [c. 8 January 1777] (Franklin Papers)
D : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères The situation of the United-states, require an immediate supply of Stores of various sorts, of which a proportion of Military for the opening and supporting the coming Campaign. Vessels or Ships belonging to the United-States cannot be procured, and if they could, the Danger and Risque would be very great. Diffuculties have arose at the...
84The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 1 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; three copies and transcript: National Archives <Passy, October 1, 1778: We have received your letter of September 27 and its enclosure. Our instructions from Congress do not empower us to conclude treaties with the Barbary states but we request your help in obtaining passes from them for American...
85From 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...
86From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 11 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress The Congress having been extreamly embarrassed and put to great Expences by the Number of Foreign Officers that went to America in Expectation of Employment, and who could not be employed, our Armies being already arranged and more than fully Officer’d, have signified to me their Pleasure that I should give no...
87From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 17 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honor of writing to me the 13. Instant. I imagine that M. De Chaumont has been disappointed in the Expectations he had of finding Bankers here who would advance the Sum for which he sollicited your Excellency to guarantee the Interest. He at length...
88From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 14 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I have the honor to acquaint your Excellency, that I have received from the Congress their Appointment to be their Minister Plenipotentiary at this Court, together with a Letter of Credence, to be presented to his Majesty. I beg thereupon your Excellency’s Advice and Direction. I have need also of your...
89From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, 25 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 31st. of the last Month, relative to the fresh pecuniary Aid which the King was dispos’d to grant to the Congress.— I received also a second Letter on the same Subject, dated the 16th Instant. I am extremely sensible of his Majesty’s Goodness in according a new Loan to the...
90The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 29 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, October 29, 1778: We are ready to execute and exchange the declarations concerning the omission of the 11th and 12th articles of the treaty of commerce, and ask you to appoint a day for us to wait on you.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VII . In the hand...
91From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 28 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress Enclosed I send your Excellency a Letter I have just received from Mr. Wm. Bingham, Agent of the Congress at Martinique, complaining of the Proceedings of the Judge of the Admiralty there, relating to an English Privateer brought thither by some American Seamen, who have not only been deprived of their Prize, but are...
92From Benjamin Franklin to [Vergennes], [on or after 28 July 1783] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; ALS (draft): Library of Congress When the Ship Alliance belonging to the Congress was at l’Orient, under the Command of Capt. Jones, Moylan & Co Merchants there, were appointed to supply the Ship with what was necessary during her Stay. Capt. Landais taking Possession of the Ship surreptitiously in the Absence of Capt. Jones, apply’d to one...
93From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes: Two Letters, 6 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS , AL (draft), and copy: Library of Congress; copy: R.M. Salter, London (1979); (II) AL (draft): Library of Congress I have at length received from M. De Viemerange the Estimates of the Furniture made and to be made by Order of Mr Lawrens, and find that it exceeds two Millions. This with the two Millions & half sent from Brest, and the Million & half in Holland, absorbs the whole of the...
94The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 28 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, August 28, 1778: We have several subjects that we must lay before you. One, unfortunately, is money. The nature of the war has necessitated far more emissions of paper currency than would ordinarily have been wise; to limit them Congress has borrowed...
95From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 27 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 21st Inst; and having understood from Mr Grand that he had lately obtained a Sum that would be sufficient for the present Month, I communicated your Letter to him, and desired his Opinion whether instead of the Million I had...
96The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 13 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: National Archives (two), Library of Congress We have the Honour of your Excellency’s Letter of the 9th of this Month, requesting to be informed of the Port where those Vessels are which have occasion for a Convoy to America. These Vessels are at Nantes where they wait for the Convoy, which...
97From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 7 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; two copies: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the Honour of Writing to me the 4th Instant, on the Appointment of Consuls.— I have not yet received any Orders or Instructions from the Congress relating to that Object. I shall transmit to that Body a Copy of your Excelly.’s Letter; but as the Office of Consul has...
98The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 8 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; two copies: Archivo Historico Nacional The Commissioners from the Congress of the United States of America, beg leave to represent to your Excellency, that it is near a year since they had the Honour of putting into your Hands the Propositions of the Congress for a Treaty of Amity and Commerce with this Kingdom, to which, with sundry other...
99From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 9 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Mr. Barclay, our Consul general, waits upon your Excellency with a Complaint of a gross affront and Injury offered to the Congress of the United States at L’Orient, by some English Merchants residing at Bourdeaux, to which I beg your Excellency’s Attention, and that you would order such Measures to...
100From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 12 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress Since the receipt of the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me of the 6th of May past, I have enquired concerning the Munitions of War supply’d from the King’s Arsenals to Mr Lee, and which are gone to Virginia; and I find that they are different from those now desired for that Colony, and were a...