181C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 3 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
Après le départ de ma Lettre du 30 Oct. j’allai souhaitter un bon voyage à notre Ami, qui reviendra Mardi prochain ce soir. Mr. Baker Secretaire de l’Amirauté d’Amsterdam avoit fait une visite de commande à Mr. le Pensionaire Van Berkel. Celui-ci, sentant qu’on vouloit le sonder, prit le parti de s’expliquer trés fortement. “Monsieur, lui dit-il, que l’Amiraute prenne garde au Pré-avis qu’elle...
182C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 4 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Notre ami et moi nous nous proposons de faire faire un nouveau pas à sa Ville, plus grand encore, que les derniers qu’elle a faits; et nous espérons, s’il plait à Dieu de le bénir, et à vos ennemis de continuer à maltraiter cette Republique pour faire notre jeu bon, qu’il pourra nous conduire au grand et dernier, qui opereroit l’union parfaite des deux Soeurs. Pour cet effet, il faut garnir...
183Poreau, Mackenzie & Cie. to the American Commissioners, 7 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS or ALS : American Philosophical Society <Dunkirk, July 7, 1778, in French: When some Americans and others appealed to us for support, we asked you for a privateer’s commission. The Captain you chose seemed deserving and trustworthy, but found the vessel too small for his large ideas of glory. A more powerful one would have cost more than twice the thirty to forty thousand livres we were...
184C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 20 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
I returned here Wednesday morning and, after dinner, learned from our friend that the act of despotism, described in my last of 13 November, had been consummated in the Provincial Assembly after a three-hour session. Also, the preliminary advisory together with its concluding provision, described in my letter of the 10th, has been resolved by a plurality. The City of Amsterdam has inserted a...
185Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 30 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Library of Congress (two), National Archives, Massachusetts Historical Society; transcript: National Archives J’ai reçu Messieurs, la réponse que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’adresser concernant les arrangements a prendre avec les regences barbaresques pour la sûreté du pavillon américain dans la méditerrannée. Je pense...
186John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 23 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since the Letter I had the Honor to write you the 17th Inst. the Liberty Captain Reed arriv’d at this Port from Edenton which place he left the 7 July. He brings no confirmation of the French Fleets arrival such report prevaild but gives it only as french report. As per my last the Cutter General Arnold is all ready and attends the arrival of your...
187Joseph Wharton, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 26 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Paris, September 26, 1778: In order to lessen the scarcity of salt in America and to benefit myself I propose to send several cargoes of it from Portugal this coming winter. As you informed me there is no congressional resolution against direct trade from Portugal to the United States, I ask passports for the vessels I may load there. Because of the...
188Dumas to the American Commissioners, 7[–15] May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief <The Hague, May 7[–15], 1778, in French: I showed your letter of the 30th to the Grand Facteur, who urged me to delay presenting your communication to the Grand Pensionary; Vergennes had written that it was premature and might be construed as French pressure. I disagreed but had to comply. May 8: The Grand Pensionary was told...
189John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 12 November 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <La Rochelle, November 12, 1778: I concluded agreements with Mr. Schweighauser for the public freight of the two ships [the Governor Livingston and the Chasseur ] which will proceed to Paimboeuf next week. We, like the merchants of Nantes, have applied for a convoy. These two ships will be very valuable; an application from you should insure the convoy. We...
190C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 1 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
De retour ici Mardi au soir, j’allai voir notre Ami. Il me dit qu’il n’y avoit encore rien de fait, mais que, malgré tout ce qui se pourroit passer encore le lendemain, les choses finalement iroient bien. Je compris son idée. Il me dit aussi, que le crédit excessif de Sir J. Y. auprès d’un grand personnage se manifestoit de plus en plus; et qu’il n’y avoit plus moyen de douter, que ce dernier...