1From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 8 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives I received your Favour of the 1st Instant. My Sentiments of Esteem for you have been always uniform, ever since I had the pleasure of knowing you. I never had the least doubt of your Integrity, and Zeal for our Cause, in which I know you have been HIGHLY serviceable. My intrusting the enclos’d important Letter to your Care, is an additional Proof of the Confidence I...
2From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 29 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives Yours of May 14. gave me great Pleasure, as it inform’d me of your safe Arrival and Welfare. And I hope that as soon as you have seen your Friends and settled your Affairs, You will return again to Europe, where your Abilities may be greatly useful to your Country. I continue in the same or rather in a more uncomfortable Situation than that in which you left me. If ever...
3From Benjamin Franklin to [William Carmichael], [2 June 1779] (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete copy: Library of Congress … Copies of the Letters, Votes &c relating to that Amiable and excellent young Man. He was mighty well received, at Court, and has a Regiment given him. Ever Since his arrival he has been industrious in moving or projecting Something or other for the Advantage of America. I am Sorry to hear of Dissensions in Congress, You are now one of that Body, and will,...
4Instructions to William Carmichael, 27 January 1780 (Jay Papers)
You will proceed to Madrid with convenient Expedition, and and if M r . Gerard with whom you set out should travel too very deliberately I advise you to go on before him. The Propriety of this however will depend much on Circumstances, & must be determined by your own Discretion. And I [ illegible ] On delivering my Letter to Mr. Galvaise, it would be proper to intimate to him that I presumed...
5From John Jay to William Carmichael, 21 February 1780 (Jay Papers)
Your favor of the 15 th Inst, was delivered to me last Evening. I congratulate you on your safe arrival, and hope the agreeable circumstances of your present Situation will compensate for the fatigue & trouble you experienced on the way to it. It gives me pleasure to hear the French Embassador has been so obliging, & am glad to find from your letter that your Attentions to him at least keep...
6From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 22 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress I received with great Pleasure yours of the 25. of January, and shall write to you fully by the first good Oportunity. I cannot recollect the Name of the Correspondent you mention but I have ordered a Credit of 24000 Livres Tournois to be lodged in Madrid for M. Jay and you, which I suppose you will divide in Proportion to your Appointments. Inclosed are the...
7From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 31 March[–7 April 1780] (Franklin Papers)
Copies (two): Library of Congress I received by M. Gerard your kind Letter written at Philadelphia. His safe Return has given me great pleasure. As soon as I received yours of Jan 25 from Cadix, I order’d a Credit of 1000 Louis d’ors to be Lodg’d for Mr. Jay and you, by Mr. Grand with his Banker at Madrid. He wrote by the next post. It does not appear by yours of March 13, that you had then...
8From John Adams to William Carmichael, 8 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment, the Honour of your Letter, from Madrid of the 29 of February as I suppose, altho the month is not mentioned. I thank you, Sir for commencing a Correspondence which I have Sometime wished to begin. I wrote to Mr Jay at Madrid the 22d of February, and wish to know if he has received the Letter. It is certainly proper, that those who are intrusted abroad, Should maintain a...
9From John Adams to William Carmichael, 12 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had, two days ago the favour of yours without a date, and thank you for the History of Sir John Dalrimple, whose Memoires would be sufficient to put me upon my guard, if I knew no more of him. He has seen the Imperial Ambassador. Pray, do you discover any of the Sentiments of the Austrian Family where you are. The old Rivalry, between that and Bourbon, the old Friendship and alliance with...
10From John Jay to William Carmichael, 16–17 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
On coming to this Place last M ^ my Arrival here I unexpectedly ^ found that M rs . Jay had been and still was very much indisposed. The Col. had written for me, but neither his Letter, nor mine from Aranjues to M rs . Jay, had ever come to Hand. She is now ^ somewhat ^ better tho far from well, having more Spirits than Strength, and rather an Exemption from Constant pain, than Health. In this...
11From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 17 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Your favour of the 22 past came duly to Hand. Sir J.D. has been here some time, but I hear nothing of his political Operations. The Learned talk of the Discovery he has made in the Escurial Library, of 40 Epistles of Brutus, a missing Part of Tacitus and a Piece of Seneca, that have never yet been printed which excite much Curiosity. He has not been with me and I am...
12From John Jay to William Carmichael, 27 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
It is with great Reluctance that I can ^ ever ^ prevail upon myself to tell you that what ^ any thing ^ you do is not right ^ in my Opinion im ^ proper, and especially when my tell g
13From John Jay to William Carmichael, 29 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
Perhaps an opp y may offer of send g you this before you leave aranjues. I wish it may. I assure you it was far from my Intention to give you Pain or Uneasiness by my Letter of the 27 Inst. It w d have given me less Trouble and more pleasure to have talked the Matter over with you after your Return, but a Letter was necessary to suspend the Conference w h . I understood was to have been held...
14From John Jay to William Carmichael, 2 October 1780 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . yours Le Guerre just now ^ this afternoon ^ gave me a Letter from you dated to Day enclosing a Bundle ^ parcel ^ of Bills which I dare say are right—those from of Nesbit and Williams I return en enclosed as you desire— As to the Residue of the Letter it w d
15From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 27 January 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress I have before me your Favours of Oct. 25. Nov. 5. & Dec. 21.— I do not know whether the Duke de Crillon whom you recommend, is come to Paris. That Letter came while I was ill, & I have not since heard any thing of him. But I will enquire for him of the Prince, to whom it was not till yesterday that I was able to pay my Respects & to thank the...
16From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 12 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour by M. Cabarrus, & should have been glad if I could have rendred him any Service here. He appears an amiable Man, and expert in Affairs.— I have also your obliging Letters of the 28th of February and the 12th & 30th of March. I thank you much for your friendly Hints of the Operations of my Enemies, and of the means I might use to...
17From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 24 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress On looking over your Letters I am asham’d to find my self so much & so long in your Debt. I thank you for making me acquainted with Mr. Sonnerat. He appears a very amiable Man, and is full of Intelligence & Information. We are all much obliged to Count de Montmorin, for his friendly Assistance in our Affairs. Please to present him my thankful...
18From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 23[–25] January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress It is a long time since I have written to you; but I am not the less sensible of your obliging Attention in writing frequently to me. I have now before me your several Favours of Sept. 15, Oct. 23, Nov. 8, & Jan 11. Your Communications are always agreable, and I beg you would continue them, and continue also to excuse the Want of Punctuality in Correspondence of an...
19From John Jay to William Carmichael, 3 August 1782 (Jay Papers)
The Copies brought by M r De Clonard of your Letters of 28 May & 10 8 June, gave me the first & only notice I have had of their originals, neither of which ever came to my Hands—nor have I rec d . the one you mention to have written on the 17 June. The above two Copies, a Letter of 3 d . July (also brought by M r De Clonard) ^ & another of 9. July, ^ being the only ones from You that have...
20From John Jay to William Carmichael, 14 August 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have this moment rec d . a Letter from His Ex y . the Count de Montmorin, in w h . he mentions your having communicated to him my Letter to you of the Ult., and also favors me with his Sentiments on the Subject of it. As that Letter was written by me in a public Capacity, to you in a public Capacity, and on public Business, I endulged the Expectation of rec g an Answer to it from You. When...
21From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 15 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Henry E. Huntington Library; press copy of LS and transcript: National Archives I am much concern’d to find by your Letter to my Grandson, that you are hurt by my long Silence, and that you ascribe it to a suppos’d Diminution of my Friendship. Believe me, that is by no means the case; but I am too much harassed by a Variety of Correspondence together with Gout and Gravel, which induces me...
22From John Jay to William Carmichael, 28 January 1784 (Jay Papers)
Your letter of the 12 th . October: was delivered to me in England at a time when I was so ill, as to write only to M rs . Jay— That Circumstance and the Constant Expectation of receiving the Letter you intended to write when the Appraisement you was making of my Effects should be finished, but which I have not yet rec d ., are the Causes which have delayed my writing to you since.— It is not...
23John Adams to William Carmichael, 22 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letters you did me the Honour to write me from Madrid the 15. Jan. and the Feb.— I am very glad that M r Barry and M r Fitch are pleased with your Civilities to them: But I never knew any Thing of M r Fitch’s Note, nor of the Watch, nor did I ever introduce either of them to you, with a Thought of their making you presents. and I agree with you that presents upon Such...
24[From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 16 August 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 16 Aug. 1784 . An entry in SJL under this date has a line drawn through it followed by: “[recalled the letter.]” The canceled entry reads: “[Aug.] 16. Mr. Carmichael at Havre on the subject of Limosin. See copy.” It is possible that this letter dealt with TJ’s having been cheated by a porter at Havre (see TJ to William Temple Franklin, 18 Aug. 1784 , note.]
25From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 26 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have received your kind Letter of the 11th. Inst. with one from the Cte. de Campomanes enclos’d, wch. I shall answer in a few Days. Your Namesake is gone to England; but I think he wrote to you before he went. I expect him back in 4 or 5 Weeks.— I suppose he acquainted you that Mr. Jefferson is arrived. He has brought Commissions joining him with Mr...
26From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 11[–15] October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS and copy: American Philosophical Society I have just received the honour of yours of the 25th past, and shall communicate it as you desire to my Colleagues, tomorrow. I think you did right in mentioning to the Minister the Nature of our Commission, &c. In my last I sent you a Copy of our Letter to the Count d’Aranda. Herein I inclose his Answer, in order to keep you fully...
27[From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 2 November 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[Paris, 2 Nov. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “Wm. Carmichael. Madrid. Inclosing letter—news, adjournment Congr. Separn. Commee. E. Ind. trade—ask sentiments of Span. court on navigation of Missisipi.” Not found; enclosure not identified.]
28Enclosure: Floridablanca to William Carmichael, 24 November 1784 (Washington Papers)
The King has not only condescended with pleasure to permit the extraction of the Jack Ass which you sollicit on acct of General Washington But further his Majesty desirous that this Commission should be executed to the entire Satisfaction of so distinguished a personage, has ordered me to look out for & place at your orders two of the best of those Animals, in case that an accident should...
29[From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 15 December 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 15 Dec. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “Mr. Carmichael. à Havre to know if it is stopped at Havre.” Not found; “it” refers to a copying press mentioned in TJ’s entry for a letter to John Holker, this date, written just above the entry for the letter to Carmichael.]
30[From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 30 January 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 30 Jan. 1785 . Entry in SJL reads: “W. Carmichael. State of American affairs viz. impost—Conn. established it when 12. shall have done the same—cession of territory by Virga. and N. Cara. probability of further cessions—act of Congr. in nature of Magna charta—purchase of 6. nations—this enables to open land office which will pay domestic debt. Impost will pay forign debt—principles...
31[From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 17 April 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 17 Apr. 1785 . Entry in SJL reads: “Mr. Carmichael. Acknolege receipt of his of Mar. 29. and Apr. 4. Papers relative to Algrs. sent to Congress—books. Send me note of what will cost, except those which are at common prices and which may be bought—account of Virga. act for surrendering citizens committing offences in other countries. Made principally to restrain our people as to Span....
32To Thomas Jefferson from William Carmichael, with Enclosures, 27 June 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I received on the 15th. May the Letter you did me the honor to address me the third of that month and should sooner have replied to it, had I not expected to avail myself of a private conveyance from hence, by which I might write with greater security, than I can do by the Post. It is with the greatest satisfaction that I find you are disposed to cultivate an intercourse, which for the reasons...
33[From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 3 May 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 3 May 1785 . Entry in SJL reads: “Wm. Carmichael. Receipt his of Apr. 19. Rh. isld. passed impost imperfectly.-N.Y. double duties on British bottoms-not passed impost. Georga. brought in bill for impost-Moultrie Govr. S.C. Reed of Pensva. dead-Indian purchase said to be to meridian of falls of Ohio but I doubt it. Mr. A. minister at Lond. Smith Secretary of legation-Dr. F. leave to...
34From George Washington to William Carmichael, 10 June 1785 (Washington Papers)
It is with grateful pleasure I sit down to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 25th of March covering a triplicate of your letter of the 3d of December (which is the first that has been received), & a copy of the Count of Florida Blanca’s note to you. I feel myself under singular obligation to you sir, as the mean of procuring two Jacks of the first race, to be sent me; but my...
35From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 22 June 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of April 4. came to my hands on the 16th. of that month and was acknowleged by mine of May 3. That which you did me the honour to write me on the 5th. of April never came to hand till the 19th. of May, upwards of a month after the one of the day before. I have hopes of sending the present by a Mr. Jarvis who went from hence to Holland some time ago. About this date I suppose him to...
36From John Adams to William Carmichael, 29 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
M r Samuel Watson, a Citizen of the United States of America and Settled at Charlestown South Carolina as a Merchant Sailed from thence about two Years ago on board a Vessell bound to the Havannah and nothing has been heard of him or Vessell Since, till lately, a Gentleman from the Havannah has reported that a M r Watson from Charleston was taken in the Bay of Mexico and carried into...
37From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 18 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of June 22. with a P. S. of July 14. Yours of June 27. came to hand the 23d. of July and that of July 28. came to hand the 10th. inst. The papers enclosed in the last shall be communicated to Mr. Adams. I see with extreme satisfaction and gratitude the friendly interposition of the court of Spain with the emperor of Marocco on the subject of the brig Betsey, and I am...
38IV. The American Commissioners to William Carmichael, 12 September 1785 – 11 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
M r. Barclay will deliver you this letter in his way to Morocco. We have appointed him to this negotiation in hopes of obtaining the friendship of that State to our country, & of opening by that means the commerce of the Mediterranean, an object of sufficient importance to induce him to accept of the trust We recommend him & Col o. Franks who goes with him to your attention & assistance, and...
39VIII. American Commissioners to William Carmichael, 12 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Barclay will deliver you this letter in his way to Morocco. We have appointed him to this negotiation in hopes of obtaining the friendship of that State to our country, and of opening by that means the commerce of the Mediterranean, an object of sufficient importance to induce him to accept of the trust. We recommend him and Colo. Franks who goes with him to your attention and assistance,...
40From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 18 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour of the 29. Sep. came safely to hand: the constant expectation of the departure of the persons whom I formerly gave you reason to expect has prevented my writing as it has done yours. They will probably leave this in a week, but their route will be circuitous and attended with delays. Between the middle and last of November they may be with you. By them you will receive a cypher by...
41From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 25 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I did myself the honour of writing to you on the 18th. inst. Since that date it has become probable that Mr. Lamb and Mr. Randall will set out for Madrid before Mr. Barclay will be ready. You will probably see them between the middle and last of November. I took the liberty of solliciting Count d’Aranda for passports for these gentlemen, which might protect their baggage from being searched....
42From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 4 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of writing you on the 18th. of October and again on the 25th. of the same month. Both letters, being to pass through the post offices, were confined to particular subjects. The first of them acknoleged the receipt of yours of Sep. 29. At length a confidential opportunity arrives for conveying to you a cypher ; it will be handed you by the bearer Mr. Lambe. Copies of it are in...
43From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 8 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a copy of a letter of mine to Mr. Grand which will explain to you a difficulty which arose as to a bill of exchange to which your name was subscribed. Considering myself as no ways authorized to direct the funds of the U.S. in France I had originally refused to intermeddle at all. But Mr. Grand would not pay at all then. I thereupon have undertaken to advise him till I can...
44From George Washington to William Carmichael, 19 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
One of the Jacks with which his Catholic Majesty was pleased to present me, has arrived safe; & the enclos’d to his Minister is a testimony of my gratitude for this singular mark of his royal notice—I pray you Sir, to do me the honor of presenting it. I hesitated a while, whether to express my sense of this obligation at first, or second hand; but considering the value of it, I determined on...
45From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 13 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of receiving on the 1st. inst. your favor of Dec. 17. I had before that, in a letter of Dec. 8. explained to you the cause of the bill not being paid which appeared here in your name, so far as I had been obliged to meddle in it. My letter to Mr. Grand which I inclosed to you, will have shewn you that I advised him to follow what had been his practice as to your bills. I do...
46From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 5 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
A visit of two months to England has been the cause of your not hearing from me during that period. Your letters of Feb. 3. to Mr. Adams and myself, and Feb. 4. to me had come to hand before my departure. While I was in London Mr. Adams received the letters giving information of Mr. Lamb’s arrival at Algiers. At London we had conferences with a Tripoline ambassador now at that court, named...
47From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 20 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 5th. of May by Baron Waltersdorff. Since that I have been honoured with yours of Apr. 13. May 16. and 18. The present covers letters to Mr. Lamb and Mr. Randall informing them that the demands of Algiers for the ransom of our prisoners and also for peace is so infinitely beyond our instructions that we must refer the matter back to Congress, and therefore praying them...
48From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 22 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of June 16. July 15. 18. and 31. I have the honour now to acknowlege. I have been for a month past so closely employed that it has been out of my power to do myself the pleasure sooner of writing to you on the several subjects they contain.—I formerly wrote you the reason why Mr. Grand had not paid your bills, that is to say, the want of a letter of advice. As to the notary’s...
49From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 22 September 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson’s Compliments to Mr. Carmichael and begs the favor of him to convey the inclosed letters. He has recieved his letter of the 4th. of Septr. and is in hopes that one which he had written to Mr. Carmichael on the 22d. of August will have answered some of his enquiries. An indisposition likely to continue some time will necessarily retard his answer to the rest. He begs Mr....
50From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 26 December 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
A note from me of the 22d. of Sep. apprised you it would be some time before I should be able to answer your letters. I did not then expect it would have been so long. A dislocation of my right wrist three or four days before that has disabled me from writing till lately, and I now write in great pain and only in cases of necessity. I am to acknolege the receipt of yours of Sep. 29. Oct. 3....