111Lambert Wickes to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 16 June 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives I received your orders and Instructions by Mr. Bingham, the 14th Inst. but the Shallop with the provisions did not Arrive till this day. We have now got all the provision on board both from the Wasp and Shallop. You may depend on my best endeavours in your Service to prosecute this Voyage with the Most expedition and Advantage in my power. My People, all to two are in...
112From George Washington to Benjamin Franklin, 17 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Inclosed Letter is the one I ask’d you in Philadelphia if you had received. It has undergone another Inspection, as you will find by the Letter which covers it. I hope, tho late, in the third tryal it will get safe, & without accident, to hand. with very great respt and esteem I remain—Dr Sir Yr Most Obedt Hble Servt ALS , owned (1972) by IRoC ; sold by Sotheby Parke Bernet, 13 May 1987....
113To Benjamin Franklin from Lord Howe, 20 June[–12 July 1776] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: British Museum Franklin’s fellow negotiator in London, David Barclay, had written him in March to say that Lord Howe was coming as a commissioner and was as well disposed as ever. After instructions to the Admiral and his brother were signed on May 6, Howe promptly left for America. He touched at Halifax in late June, learned that the General had sailed for New York, and followed him...
114To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Jefferson, [21 June 1776?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society This note has probably far more importance than appears on the surface, because the likelihood is that Jefferson enclosed with it his draft of the Declaration of Independence. The evolution of that document has undergone repeated and microscopic analysis. A number of minor questions remain unanswered, but the general outline is clear. On June 7 the issue of...
115From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Franklin, [21 June 1776?] (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed paper has been read and with some small alterations approved of by the committee. Will Doctr. Franklyn be so good as to peruse it and suggest such alterations as his more enlarged view of the subject will dictate? The paper having been returned to me to change a particular sentiment or two, I propose laying it again before the committee tomorrow morning, if Doctr. Franklyn can...
116Silas Deane to Robert Morris and the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 23 June 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : (duplicate): Library of Congress This letter, in form to Morris but in fact to the committee, is the only one from Deane that Franklin surely saw before his departure for France; it was therefore part of his small stock of information about what would face him in Europe. The letter deals only with the preliminaries of Deane’s mission, because he reached France long after he had hoped to....
117To Benjamin Franklin from Horatio Gates, 23 June 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives This will be presented you by The Chevallier de Kermovant, who left Old France the Sixth of April, and arrived about Fourteen days ago at Stonington by the Way of Cape François; he desires me acquaint you that his Views are truly patriotic, and that he neither Seeks reward, or Honour, but as he shall Merit; he has Letters for you, and Doctor Rush, they probably will...
118To Benjamin Franklin from the Chevalier de Kermorvan, [27 June 1776] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Vous trouverez les trois volumes de depravation, restauration, stabilité de l’ordre légal que m: du bourg m’a fait le plaisir de vous envoyer par moy. Vous voudrez bien me faire la grace d’accepter les autres ouvrages que j’ai recueilli a paris d’après la notte que je demendai a m: du bourg, des livres qui pourroient vous faire plaisir. J’ai remis hier au...
119To Benjamin Franklin from Catharine Greene, 3 July 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Gladly once more Welcom you To your own home though I Lament the occation hope by this you have Recoverd your Health and the Pheteiuge [Fatigue] of So Disagreeable a Tuor and have Resumd the Chearfull agreeable BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. Pray God to Preserve you long a Blessing to your family Friends and Injurd Country. We have Disagreeable accounts from N. York...
120To Benjamin Franklin from Frederick William de Woedtke, 3 July 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Woedtke died shortly after writing this letter. It is part of a series that he addressed to Franklin; the earlier ones have been lost, and another on July 4 is in large part illegible. His French bears out Father Carroll’s comment that the Baron had picked up just enough polish to accentuate his awkwardness. The handwriting is on a par with the spelling,...