51Michel Lagoanere & Cie. to Silas Deane, 18 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Nous avons reçu les lettres que vous nous avés fait l’honneur de nous ecrire le 2 Xbre, 20 janvier, 17 et 20 fevrier dernier. M. hodge nous a remis la premiere dans une des siennes de Bilbao ou nous croyons qu’il est encore. Vous verrés Monsieur par la coppie cy-inclus des deux lettres que nous lui avons ecrit au dit lieu qu’aprés vos ordres et ceux qu’il...
52The Committee of Secret Correspondence to Silas Deane, 2 October 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Haverford College Library; letterbook copy: National Archives We have this day received from the Honorable Congress of Delegates of the United States of America the important papers that accompany this letter being, These papers speak for themselves and need no Strictures or remarks from us, neither is it our business to make any. You will observe, that in case of the absence or...
53Arthur Lee to Franklin and Silas Deane, [on or after 18 February 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I thank you for your Letter of the 12th. I wish the news may be true. I found a Letter here from London of the 2d. which says, that Ships are actually sent for the ten thousand Germans, which with three thousand british they expect to have very early in America. That they hope for great advantages from dissentions in Pensylvania. That Burgoyne’s destination...
54From Benjamin Franklin to Silas Deane, 7 December 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society On December 4, after writing the letters from Auray printed above, Franklin and his grandsons set out for Nantes, and reached Vannes late that evening. The journey, as Franklin described it, was not relaxing. “The carriage was a miserable one, with tired horses, the evening dark, scarce a traveller but ourselves on the road; and to make it more comfortable...
55Arthur Lee to Franklin and Silas Deane, 30 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; two LS : University of Virginia Library; copies: Harvard University Library, South Carolina Historical Society More mature deliberation and fuller lights upon the subject, have satisfyd me that I was wrong in receding from my opinion against the admissibility of the 12th. Article in the proposd commercial treaty. I shoud therefore think myself neglectful of...
56From Benjamin Franklin to Silas Deane, 4 December 1776 (Franklin Papers)
Translation: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères When Franklin wrote this letter he was, as far as we know, ignorant of Deane’s activities since leaving Bordeaux the previous June. Those activities were multifarious, as might be expected of a man who was the agent for a consortium of American merchants under contract with the secret committee as well as the representative of the...
57Arthur Lee to Franklin and Silas Deane, 6 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and copy of a second version: Harvard University Library; copy and transcript of the second version: National Archives In my last of the 28 June I mentiond my having been robbd of my Papers, and having retreivd them in a few hours. Whether in that time they were read I cannot ascertain, but I think if they who had them, had examind them, they woud on no account have restord them. In my...
58From John Jay to Silas Deane, 10 March 1781 (Jay Papers)
I had Yesterday the Pleasure of rec g yours of the 23 d Ult o . Much Time has elapsed since the Date of my last Letter advising you of the arrival of the Papers about which you enquire. It is true that I have in the Interim rec d . several long and acceptable Letters from you, and that I have not replied to any of them. I do not wonder that you thought my Silence very singular; I should have...
59From John Jay to Silas Deane, 26 October 1780 (Jay Papers)
At Length your first Letter contrary to my Expectations, has arrived been deliverd to me ^ arrived ^ , and my Attentions to the object of it shall not be wanting— I have also rec d . your Favor of the 18 th : Sept r . since which more of my Letters than one have I hope reached you, this being the fourth— I have read considered and reconsidered the Facts & reflections you communicate, & am...
60The Committee of Secret Correspondence to Silas Deane, 7 August 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Maine Historical Society; letterbook copy: National Archives The above is a Copy of our last, which went by the Dispatch Captain Parker. The Congress have since taken into consideration the heads of a Treaty to be proposed to France, but as they are not yet concluded upon, we cannot say more of them per this conveyance. You will see by the Newspapers which accompany this, that the...