651Dumas to the American Commissioners, 27 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief, The Hague La présente est une suite de celle que j’ai eu l’honneur de vous écrire vendredi passé 23e. à l’adresse de Mr. A. Lee à Chaillot près Paris, rue bataille No. 5. Depuis ce temps j’ai fait d’autres découvertes, que j’ai communiquées au Substitut, qui m’en a su gré; et je n’hésite pas de vous en faire part aussi, parce que ce qui se passe en Baviere...
652Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 24 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library; letterbook copy: Yale University Library The absolute prohibition against taking passengers on board the annonyme containd in Mr. Deans Letter of the 29th of May, obliged me to insist that two passengers who came round in the Ship should go on shore, since which orders have arrived from Mr. Beaumarchais and Mr. Montieu that these two officers and Mr. De...
653William Lee to the American Commissioners, 18 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Princeton University Library; copy: Virginia Historical Society; two copies of extracts: University of Virginia Library Yesterday arrived here The Brig Liberty Capt. Herbert with 108 hogsheads of Tobacco on Account of the State of Virginia consign’d to J. Gruel & Co. She left Virginia July 10th runing the fire of 5 Men of War that guards the mouth of the Bay of Chesapeak. The Capt. is a...
654Philip Hancock to the American Commissioners, [after 2 September 1778] (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; (II) AL (draft): American Philosophical Society On the supposition that these memoranda were written on the same day, we are publishing together the petition of Philip Hancock to the American Commissioners and the version Franklin rewrote for him in clear, forceful English. Franklin, like Georges Grand, was moved by the plight of this man of good...
655Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 20 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honnor to address you my last the 15th. inst. advising you the arrival of Two wounded Seamen taken in the Lexington, and by a former I inform’d you on a Seperate slit [slip] of paper of the Taking of the Brigantine l’aimable Reine Capne. Paul Berthelot, bound from Martinico to this port, by the Swan Capn. Wm. Meadows, which carry’d her to New...
656William Carmichael to the American Commissioners, 12 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society In my last I transmitted you an account of the Extraordinary conduct of the Captain of one of the British Ships of war laying in this road. That Ship joind by two others block up the road so as to make it impossible for any vessel to quit this port without being taken by one or other of them. The detention of the vessel formerly belonging to Mr. Hodge...
657Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 25 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am just informed that the amphitrite is at last gone, she sail’d yesterday morning at 7 oClock. I have recd. Letters from Monsieur Du Coudray of the 22d and 23d Instant, by which I find he has sent me 7 officers and their Baggage; He names 4 for the 3 I agreed to take, and afterward 3 more, two of which he says are more necessary than even the Fusils and...
658John Gilbank to the American Commissioners, 17 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have this Moment the honour of your Letter of Novr. 10th: in answer to mine of Octr. 6th: since which time I had the honour to write you Novr. 4th. past, and not receiving an Answer sooner, I yesterday wrote a third time which I imagine you will receive before this. I am by your letter rendred compleatly distressed. Nor do I know which way to turn myself,...
659The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 13 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Two LS : American Philosophical Society; copies: National Archives (two), Library of Congress Though the Dispatches prepared some Time since are not gone, we think it best to write you again, and give you an exact Account of the Situation of our Army and military Affairs to this Time. You were formerly made acquainted that, immediately after our important Victory at Princeton on the 3d of...
660John S. Harmanson to the American Commissioners, 9 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is about 8 Weeks since I arrived here with a resolution of going home to Virginia which I informed Mr. Deane and Mr. Lee of. About the time I got to Bordeaux Capt. Walke of Virginia arrived with whom I concluded to go home, but unluckily for me he has not got away as yet, having been detained some time on Account of a Law Suit with Mr. Barton of this...
661Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 26 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hav this Day Recd. very Extraordinary Oorders from The Intendant of This port Demanding me to Leav this port in 24 Hours he Says This Order is Given in Consequence of A possitiv Order Recd, this Day from the Minester At Parris. I Asked Liberty To heav Down my Ship and Repair her on my Arrival but it has never Bin Granted. On being told That I mus...
662The Massachusetts Council to the American Commissioners, 27 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress We have lately received from the Secret Committee of Congress Seven Letters addressed to You, and they request that We would forward them by the quickest sailing Vessel to France. In Consequence of which We desired the Continental Agent here with all possible dispatch, to prepare one of the Continental Vessels for Sailing....
663William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 28 November 1777[–4 December 1777] (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society I have herewith the honor to convey to you Copy of my last Respects. You have doubtless heard of the glorious Success of the Army under General Gates, upon which I sincerely congratulate you and all the Friends of America. Betwixt the Date of the Gazettes which I had the honor to enclose you, and the 15 October, there were four Engagements, by the last...
664Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas to the American Commissioners, 3 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Algemeen Rijksarchief Ma derniere étoit du 21e fevr. Elle vous portoit, outre les Extraits et dépêches ministrales de Lisbonne, Ratisbonne, Vienne, Berlin, Dantsic et Petersbourg, un autre Extrait de la Lettre de mes amis d’Amsterdam, sur lequel j’espere que vous me favoriserez d’une prompte réponse, par rapport à son double objet, surtout quant aux listes et directions qu’ils demandent,...
665Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 6 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have kept the Duplicates of the Dispatches to this Time in Expectation of a private Hand, that failing I am now obliged to send a Man on purpose, but in the least expensive way. If you have no further commands for him please to discharge him directly; he is not to return Post unless you order him so to do. The minister lately sent orders to stop the Lion,...
666William McCreery to the American Commissioners, [c. 14 November 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A Prize having been lately made between the Mouth of this River, and the Lighthouse call’d Cordovan, by an American Privateer, and a Letter of Marque; which has occasion’d much talk at this place, much censure to me, as part owner of the latter, and many Letters to the English Ambassador; the purport of which I understand, is, that I, as an owner, shou’d be...
667Dumas to the American Commissioners, 3 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (incomplete draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief Ce que vous venez de voir, vous apprendra ce que j’ai fait à Amst[erdam] et que je n’ai point à regretter la peine du voyage. J’ai été de retour ici mardi avant Mr. Van B[ercke]l. Avanthier matin je l’allai voir. Il me dit, qu’après que nous eumes diné ensemble, dimanche passé, il avoit assisté ce jour-là, et le...
668Anthony Ameloo, Franco and Adrianus Dubbeldemuts, and Pieter Willemsen [to the American Commissioners], 30 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives This letter and the one that follows were the commissioners’ first word of an episode that bred controversy for years to come. The Chester , a sloop commanded by William Bray, sailed for the Netherlands the previous April from the Bay of Honduras, carrying produce of the Mosquito Coast. A British privateer stopped her, but let her go when Bray produced evidence that the...
669Reculès de Basmarein & Raimbaux to the American Commissioners, [before 16 May 1778] (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society The house of Basmarein & Raimbaux was going through difficult times. A dynamic man in his early thirties, Basmarein was full of schemes; he had helped Lafayette make his getaway on the Victoire , organized a packetboat service, opened a branch in Charleston, sent more than sixty ships to America in eighteen months. But his losses were tremendous, possibly...
670Dumas to the American Commissioners, 27 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (incomplete draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief Je crois ne pouvoir vous donner de plus agréable nouvelle, que celle de l’arrivée, en bonne santé de votre grand ami le Facteur. Nous avons eu un entretien d’une heure ensemble, lui, le Substitut et moi. Vous pouvez facilement en conjecturer la nature, sans qu’il soit nécessaire de la hazarder sur le papier....
671Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 27 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I was astonished on saturday Evening to find that Mr. DuCoudray had returned to Nantes. As we were late for the Tide (the loss of which would have been the loss of a day) I came away without seeing him: Mr. Peltier tells me he has positive orders from Mr. Demontieu (which are given with your approbation) that if Mr. Du Coudray should come to Nantes to...
672Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 14 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Yale University Library Soon after my last was seal’d I heard of the arrival of the Annonyme and yesterday morning went to painboeuf with Capt. Hynson to examine her. He will write you particularly on this Subject and by his Letter you will be better able to form a judgment, but so far as I am capable of giving an opinion I must say this...
673The Committee of Secret Correspondence to the American Commissioners, 19 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Virginia Library; two copies: National Archives; draft: American Philosophical Society The events of war have not since our last furnished any thing decisive. The enemies Army still remains encamped upon the hills near Brunswick, and still our Troops continue to beat back and destroy their Convoys insomuch that we understand their Horses dye in numbers, and we have reason to...
674Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners: Two Letters, 23 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library I have drawn on you in favour of Monsr. L’Escuyer 22d Augt. at one Usance for 6192. 17. 8 which please to honour; this Draft is for a quantity of tricot and Lining on which I have deducted 11 months Discount having bought it at a years Credit. A Bill was presented to me the 20th Inst. drawn by S. Smith at Plymouth for £12 Sterling; I know nothing of this...
675The Committee of Secret Correspondence to the American Commissioners, 9 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copies: Library of Congress; Yale University Library Captain Hammond having been detained longer than we expected, furnishes us with an opportunity of giving you the information we have since our last received from the Army, thro a Committee of Congress left at Philadelphia; for we have yet had no regular accounts from General Washington. On the 2d....
676Members of the Drake’s Prize Crew [to the American Commissioners], 16 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society We the subscribers (persons put on board the Drake by Capt. Jones’s order, from the Ranger, to man her, under the Command of Lieut. Simpson,) do hereby testifie, that when a sail was seen on Our Lee quarter at Day Light in the morning of the 5th. May, the Drake (then in tow by the Ranger,) was hail’d from her, and ordered to Cast Off and to make the best of...
677Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 14 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Yale University Library My last informed you of the Steps I had taken in Consequence of the orders you have been pleased to honour me with since which Mr. Ross has returned from Bordeaux. Agreeable to your Directions I have consulted With him and told him what I had done which he does me the honor to approve; but as it appears to him that Mr. Morriss’s instructions are...
678Peter Frederick Dobrée to the American Commissioners, 11 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library My Father in law has just now comunicated me the Honorable Mr. Lee’s Letter of the 4 Instant, which he received Yesterday, together with sundry extracts which would greatly alarm me, was not I consious of my Innocence. I will not take too much upon those precious moments which you so laudably dedicate to your Country, to refute the false accusations contained...
679John Ross to the American Commissioners, 28 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library; copy and transcript: National Archives Permit me to congratulate your Excellenceys, and the Inhabitants of the United States on the happie late Event , of your Embassie at this Court. I cannot doubt of its giving universal satisfaction in America, and I hope that confidence and Friendship will not only be preserved thereby, but the Objects of Advantages in...
680Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 19 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I went to Painbeuf on Sunday and returned hither last Evening. Mr. Peltier and myself went on board the Count de Vergennes and gave the necessary Directions. As I consider Dispatch of the utmost Consequence, I desired that as many Workmen as could be procured should be immediately employed. These are at present Scearce, but as a little more expence is no...
681John Paul Jones to the American Commissioners, 4 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: United States Naval Academy Museum Inclosed I send you Copies of my Letters since the 10th February. As the Port of Brest is so crowded with Shipping that the Ranger was prevented from entering into it I thought it the most expiditious to return here to clean her bottom which is now effected. On surveying the Masts it has been concluded that they...
682Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 17 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook draft: Yale University Library The two last days have been employed in going to Painbeuf (about 30 miles hence) examining the Mercury, and returning to Nantes. I have the pleasure to inform you that what I have hitherto seen is very satisfactory, the Mercury appears to be a very good Ship, 7 Years old, burden 300 Tons (Mr. Peltrier thinks 350,)...
683The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 31 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: National Archives We have the pleasure to enclose to you the Capitulation by which Genl. Burgoyne and his whole army surrendered themselves prisoners of War. This great event might have still been greater had not the operations on Hudson’s river below Albany rendered it apprehensible that Sir Harry Clinton might come to the relief of Genl. Burgoyne as he had urged his way up to...
684Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 18 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library In your instructions to me you mention another Vessell which Mr. Beaumarchais proposes to send to America with Stores, but I can gain no Information of any such Vessell, Mr. Peltrier tells me he knows nothing about it. There is indeed a Ship (the St. Dominique) which Mr. Peltrier bought at the same time that he bought the mercury, and which he is to load on...
685Pierre Rïou to the American Commissioners, 23 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Le Sr. Riou ainé Neg[ocian]t a Brest et Interprette Breveté pour les affaires de Sa Majesté seulement a l’honneur de remontrer tres humblement a Messieurs Les Plenipotentiaires des Etats unies de L’amerique, que Le Corsaire ameriquain Le Hamden de Piscatua sous le commandement de thomas Pickeren Esqr. arivé en ce port y a fait conduire le 6. de ce Mois une...
686Edward Bancroft to the American Commissioners, 3 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Bancroft was beginning to find a spy’s life hard on the nerves. In July, worried because the British kept the originals of some letters he had stolen, he made new financial demands on them. By the beginning of August he was urging Wentworth to look after his interests, “which, till lately, he never shewed much anxiety about, and indeed seemed to be quite...
687Samuel Nicholson to the American Commissioners, 28 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will inform you of Capt. Wickes and self being safe arrived at this port. Capt. Johnson I beleave is still out. On Thursday the 26th. Inst. off Ushant we fell in with an English 74 Gun ship who gave us Chase which Obliged us to bare away and run up this Channell. He was to windward of us and the wind at S.W. Soon after the Chase began Capt. Wickes made...
688René-Etienne Henry Vic Gaiault (or Gayault) de Boisbertrand: Memorandum for the American Commissioners, 5 September … (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, Harvard University Library; copies: University of Virginia Library, National Archives <September 5, 1778, in the third person, in French: At the beginning of May, 1776, Dubourg and Penet asked him to join the U.S. army; he was then a lieutenant colonel in the French cavalry. He would carry dispatches about the ministry’s attitude toward the...
689John Ross to the American Commissioners, 12 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library I did myself the honour to address you on the 26th. and 28 Ultimo. Being since without the favour of any of Your’s, Permit me to repeat my request of being informed by you Honorable Gentlemen What has been done with those books and papers carryed off from hence by Mr. Wm. Lee. Yesterday I heard, and not before , of a very timely precaution he took on the day of...
690Isaac Van Teylingen to the American Commissioners, 12 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Le Navire le Chester, et sa Cargaison, dont la proprieté sans aucune restriction ou dubieté quelquonque appartenoit aux Negocians Hollandois, aiant eté pris par un Corsaire Americain, et conduit à Charlestown, Les proprietaires ont pris La Liberté de s’addresser le 30me. d’octobre a vous Messieurs, et aiant eté Honorés d’une Reponse Claire et satisfaisante...
691Pierre Rïou and Thomas Pickerin to the American Commissioners, 23 December 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society <Brest, December 23, 1778, in French and in the third person: Thomas Pickerin, captain of the Hampden , recaptured La Constance , took it into Brest, and, in accordance with the marine ordinance of 1681, addressed himself to Rïou within twenty-four hours. Captain Moodey of the prize ship was in attendance, and two Frenchmen from on board the ship were also...
692Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas to the American Commissioners, 18 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook summary: Algemeen Rijksarchief, The Hague J’ajouterai à l’incluse pour Mr. G——— Grd. (que je laisse ouverte, pour que vous la lisiez aussi), quelques anecdotes, qui pourront plus ou moins vous servir. On m’a assuré qu’il se forme en Zélande (l’une de ces Provinces), une Compagnie de Marchands pour négocier directement avec le Continent de l’Am....
693The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 6[–9] October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society, Maine Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) Since ours to you by return of the Packet from New Hamshire and duplicates by Mr. McCreary from Maryland, we have not written, nor have we received any of your favors during the last two months, except a letter of old date (Apr. 29th) signed by Mr. Deane and Doctr. Lee. Capt....
694The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 1 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: American Philosophical Society, Library of Congress, National Archives As we wish the subject of this letter to be well attended to and understood, we shall confine ourselves intirely to the business of such french Gentlemen as have returned without getting employment in north america and particularly those of Monsr. du Coudray’s Corps. Whatever may be the Clamour excited by...
695John Ross to the American Commissioners, 2 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library Previous to the shipping any of the Property purchased at Germany &ca. and collected to Hamburgh under my care and direction on Account of the United States, I consulted You on the propriety of having it Insured Round here and I doubt not youl Recolect Your opinion on that point Vizt. “that it was Customary for all Nations to run the Risque of what was for...
696Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 16 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: American Philosophical Society, Archivo General de Simancas, British Library, Harvard University Library, Library of Congress, National Archives (two), South Carolina Historical Society This letter announced to the commissioners a shift in French policy toward Wickes’s ships. The government, in response to British...
697John Ross to the American Commissioners, 6 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I had the honour to address you on the 29 Ulto. on the business of Mr. Thomas Morris late Commercial Agent now deceast, and tho not as yet favoured with your answere, doubt not Your attention to those measures, Proper to command possession and a liberty of Inspection into those Books and papers now under Seals. The Ship La Brune under the direction and command of...
698William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 5 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Not being favor’d with any of your Dispatches since the Arrival of Doctr. Franklin (except a few Lines under Date of the 7 June) I have become very apprehensive of the Fate of the many Letters that I have from Time to Time done myself the honor of writing, and which have generally been addressed under Cover to Messrs. Delaps at Bordeaux. Your not...
699John Gilbank to the American Commissioners, 15 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am sorry to be under the necessity of troubling you so often on so disagreable a subject and have no Apology but that to offer for again taking up your Attention. I have had the honor to write you several letters stating my uncomfortable Situation, and flattered myself I had given reasons sufficient to induce a compliance with my requisition in those I...
700Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 29 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library; letterbook copy: Yale University Library I yesterday drew on you two Drafts at one Days Date the first in favour of Messrs. Montaudouins for 1000 l.t. the second in favor of the Chevalier de la motte d’aubigné for 3000 l.t. 4000 l.t. which please to Honour. My Last informed you of the order I had given for 8 large anchors, as to the price these will cost I...