51James Moylan to the American Commissioners, 30 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am not honor’d with the receipt of any of your favors since my last to you of the 23d. current. I am this day informed, that Government has order’d 2,000 Seamen to be raised in Nantes and 2,500 more in St. Malo, besides a number of Bakers of this Town, which are all to proceed immediately to Brest; likewise, that there are positive directions in all the...
52The Massachusetts General Court to the American Commissioners, 23 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress Agreeable to the Directions of the Genl. Assembly of this State, I do myself the Honor to transmit One hundred Copies of An Act intitled “An Act to prevent the return to this State of certain persons named and described and others who have left the same and joined our inveterate and Cruel Enemies;” in Order that the same may be...
53Tristram Barnard to the American Commissioners, [after 9 October 1778]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <[Paris, after October 9, 1778]: A valuable whaling business has been established by the English since the onset of hostilities with America. If you intend to destroy it I could give you adequate intelligence. I was involved in this business but quit, aware that I was doing wrong. Fifteen whaling ships, manned primarily by Americans who would gladly return...
54Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 30 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am happy in sending you the agreeable News of Genl. Bourgoynes surrender with his whole army to our victorious arms. Mr. Austin will give you all particulars. His being charged with the delivery of the dispatches, as well as the importance of many verbal accounts he may furnish, are the reasons for my not desiring the Dispatches for a less expensive way...
55John Paul Jones to the American Commissioners, 28 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; draft: National Archives; copy: United States Naval Academy Museum <Brest, August 28, 1778: M. de la Prévalaye, who commands here in the absence of the comte d’Orvilliers, has just told me that he can no longer furnish a guard for the Ranger prisoners detained aboard the Patience . Unable to depend on the Ranger ’s officers, I had arranged for a guard with...
56Samuel Nicholson to the American Commissioners, 12 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will informe You of my Arrival here this Day with only the Duke De Shasell and Brigg two Friends of our Convoy, the other ships not being ready, but I am in hopes the greatest part of them will Joyn us here in the course of this Week; on my Joyning the Fleet I Salluted the Commodore and Imediately Waited on him with my French Captn: to whome he gave...
57Titus Ogden to the American Commissioners, [after] [6] July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Lorient, [after] July [6], 1778: On arrival at the beginning of April I consigned my ship and cargo to Mr. Moylan, who showed me his authorization as your agent, and I conceived the highest opinion of his abilities. When the Boston and her prizes appeared, I was astonished to have a foreigner, Mr. Puchelberg, who speaks no English and is little known here,...
58Abraham Whipple to the American Commissioners, 15 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library <Paimboeuf, June 15, 1778: I should be glad of orders about my prisoners. The old masts are being repaired; new ones are very expensive, and I shall be as frugal as possible. I could carry home clothing and arms if I knew the quantity and size of bales; the ship will be graved and ready in twelve days. My midshipmen have...
59Daniel Blake and John Lloyd to the American Commissioners, 19 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives Being informd that some malicious person, or persons, have been, and are still endeavoring, by the most infamous means, to deprive Mr. J. D. Schweighauser of his good name, and being apprehensive that the intention is to prejudice him in the estimation of the Honorable Commissioners, we think it an act of Justice due to injurd Merit, to acquaint you, that we have...
60Dumas to the American Commissioners, 20 November 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief; copy: National Archives <The Hague, November 20, 1778, in French: Returning here, I learned from our friend that the Provincial Assembly by majority vote has resolved against providing convoys and in favor of the Admiralty’s advisory. Amsterdam has inserted a formal protest, which it demands be published, because the...