31John Adams to [Franklin and Arthur Lee], 5 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Harvard University Library Mr. Adams has recd. from the Count De Vergennes a Letter containing Information that his Majesty will see Mr. A. on Fryday, and an Invitation from the Count to Messrs. Franklin Lee and Adams to dine with him on that Day. The Letter is addressed to Messrs Franklin Lee and Adams. Notation: 5 May 78 Elicited by Vergennes’ note to the commissioners the day before....
32To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 12 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Mr: Adams presents his Compliments to his Excellency Dr: Franklin, & requests the honor of his Company to dinner on Monday the 16th. inst. at 3. oClock. Addressed: Son Excellence / Monsieur Franklin. / Passy In the hand of Charles Storer. JA issued a nearly identical invitation to WTF ( APS ). Fitzherbert, Oswald, and Laurens attended JA ’s dinner, among...
33From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 4 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. De Neufville, this morning brought to me, a number of Bills of Exchange, drawn upon Mr. Laurens, in the Month of July, amounting to seven or eight hundred Pounds Sterling, and informed me that your Excellency had declined becoming responsible for them and referred him to me. I have enquired of Mr. Searle who informs me there are about twenty thousand Pounds in such Bills now on their Way....
34To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 19 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have the Honour to inform you, that I yesterday drew Bills of Exchange upon your Excellency, in favour of the House of Fizeaux & Grand to the amount of Twenty Seven Thousand Crowns of three Livres Each, to enable them to discharge the Bills of Congress which I have accepted and which are now or will be in a few days payable. The following is the List I...
35From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 14 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Extracts of Letters You was so good as to send me, have been inserted in the Papers, and I should be obliged to You, for future Communications of the same kind. Notwithstanding the flow of Spirits, and the vigorous Exertions of our Countrymen this Year, I am sorry to say I cannot see a prospect of any thing decisive this Campaign. The fatal defect in the plan of the Campaign, in not...
36To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 6 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I congratulate you, on the Return of your Health and thank you for the Extract from Dr Styles, which I have communicated to Mr Searle and Mr Dumas as you desired.— Shall be happy to See, the detail of Arnolds Conduct. As long, as Congress and Courts Martial, inflict So gentle Punishments upon flagrant Criminals, and...
37To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 25 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I have the honor to inclose a Copy of a Letter I yesterday recieved from Corunna. I communicate it to your Excellency in Confidence. The Writer is a particular Friend of yours. He has so good an Heart, and is so amiable a Man, that I would not expose him to the Resentment of any of the Gentlemen, and therefore pray your Excellency to keep his Letter secret....
38To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams: Two Letters, 4 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; (II) copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two), Columbia University Library; press copies: National Archives (two), Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives Since the 25th of August, when I had the honor to write You, this is the first Time that I have taken a Pen in hand to...
39John Adams to Franklin and Jefferson, 20 June 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Let me request of you, to turn your Attention as soon as possible to the Subject of a Treaty of Commerce between the United States of America and Great Britain, and transmit to me, a Project that you would advise me to propose in the first Instance. For my own Part I like the Plan agreed on with Prussia so well, that I must request you to send me a Copy of it, and with such Changes as you may...
40To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 2 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr Adams’s respectfull Compliments to Dr Franklin. Informs him that Monsieur the Comte De Vergennes has appointed him next Tuesday to be at Versailles in order to be presented to the King and Royal Family. Mr Adams will have the Honour to breakefast at Passy with Dr Franklin, at an hour early enough to go to Versailles, which he supposes will be 8 o Clock....
41From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 8 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour of yours of the 29th. of April, and according to your desire, have inclosed a List of the Bills accepted with the Times of their becoming due, and Shall draw for the Money to discharge them, only as they become payable, and through the House of Fizeaux & Grand. I Sincerely congratulate you, upon the noble Aid obtained, from the French Court for the currant Service of the...
42From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 29 April 1779 (Adams Papers)
I had, Yesterday, the Honour of yours of the 24th inclosing a Letter from his Excellency M. de Sartine, expressing his Majestys Desire that the Alliance Should be retained here a little longer. As my Baggage was on board, and every Appearance promised that We should be under Sail in three or four days for America, in a fine ship and the best Month in the Year, this Intelligence, I confess, is...
43From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 26 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I duely received your Excellencys Letter of August 6th, but have been prevented by Sickness and a variety of accidents from answering it Sooner. My accounts have never been mixed, with Mr Dana’s, any farther than this. Mr Dana was here last December, I believe, and was going to Paris. In order to avoid opening an account here, he desired me to lend him, Some money for the Expences of his...
44To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 8 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have the Honour of yours of the 29th of April, and according to your desire, have inclosed a List of the Bills accepted with the Times of their becoming due, and Shall draw for the Money to discharge them, only as they become payable, and through the House of Fizeaux & Grand. I Sincerely congratulate you upon the noble Aid obtained, from the French...
45To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 3 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society The Moments we live in, are critical and may be improved, perhaps to advantage, for which purpose I beg Leave to propose to your Consideration, whether it is not proper for Us to write to Mr Dana at Petersbourg, acquaint him with the Signature of the Preliminaries, inclose to him an authentic Copy of them and advise him to...
46To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 27 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I embrace the opportunity, by Mr: Bingham, to enclose to your Excellency, Copy of a Letter from Mr: Jefferson, by which it appears that we are joined in some affairs which will give me the Occasion to visit Paris once more, and reside there for some little time at least. As Mr: Jefferson will not probably arrive before the latter End of August, and...
47To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 4 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society Yesterday was presented to me another Bill of Exchange for 1100 Guilders, drawn on Mr Laurens 25th. Feby. 1780. I have, as usual, asked time to write to your Excellency, to know if You can be responsible for the payment: if not, they must be protested, for there is no Money to be had here. Indeed if there was a...
48To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 29 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had, Yesterday, the Honour of yours of the 24th. inclosing a Letter from his Excellency M. de Sartine, expressing his Majestys Desire that the Alliance Should be retained here a little longer. As my Baggage was on board, and every Appearance promised that We should be under Sail in three or four days for America, in a fine ship and the best Month in the...
49From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 27 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I had last night the honour of your Letter of the 22d and I most heartily congratulate the French Court and Nation, on the acquisition of a Dauphin. The Ships which the South Carolina, was to have taken under her Convoy, are Still here. I am told, that the Ships are the best that are to be had: that they are to be sold at a reasonable Rate, so reasonable that the difference, between the...
50From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 30 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have already accepted Bills drawn upon Mr. Laurens, to the Amount of Thirty four Thousand three hundred and fifty Eight Guilders. How many more will arrive I know not. I shall inform your Excellency from Time to Time, as they appear, and I accept them. This Republick is in a violent Crisis. If a certain Party prevails, We Shall raise no Money here. If they do not We shall raise very little....
51To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 29 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Samuel Andrews, formely of Boston lately of Demarara, is going to Paris upon Business, respecting a Vessell taken by the French and carried into Martinico. He will lay before you his Papers, and hopes for your Countenance, in the Prosecution of his Appeal, altho he claims as a Dutchman. I have the Honour to recommend him to your Excellencys Notice. I...
52To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 3 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society Mr Adams has the Honour to inform Dr Franklin that the American Ministers for the Peace, are desired by the British Minister to meet him at the Hotel du Parc Royal, Wednesday, at Eleven, for a Conference concerning the Definitive Treaty. Addressed: A Son Excellence / Monsieur Franklin / Ministre Plenipotentiaire / des Etats Unis...
53From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 24 March 1779 (Adams Papers)
I had the Honour of a Letter from, your Excellency at Nantes, but as I was setting off for this Place could not then acknowledge it. I Staid, no longer at Nantes, than just to look about me, before I determined to see Captain Landais, that I might know, the state and Prospects of his Frigate. As you was so good as to desire Mr. Schweighauser, to consult with me, and Mr. Schweighauser wrote to...
54John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 20 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
The Day before Yesterday the Baron de Thuilemeyer the Envoy to their High Mightinesses, from the King of Prussia, did me the Honour of a Visit, but as I had Company, he stayed but a short time. As I accompanied him to the Door, he whis told me, that he had Something to Say to me from the King, and desird me to name an Hour, when he might call upon me again. I told him his Hour should be mine,...
55John Adams to Franklin and John Jay, 20 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society The Day before Yesterday the Baron de Thuilemeyer the Envoy to their High Mightinesses, from the King of Prussia, did me the Honour of a Visit, but as I had Company, he stayed but a short time; As I accompanied him to the Door, he told me, that he had Something to Say to me from the King, and desird me to name an Hour, when he might call upon me...
56From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 5 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
Commodore Jones is just arrived from Philadelphia with Dispatches. Those directed to the Ministers I opened. one contained nothing but Newspapers and Proclamations. The other contained a Letter to “the Commissioners” and a Sett of Instructions. The Letter bears Date the 1. of November the Instructions the 29 of Oct r. — a remaining Packet is directed to you alone, but probably contains a...
57To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams: Two Letters, 13 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society I had Yesterday the Honour of yours of the third of this Month. C. Landais had So much diffidence in Some of his Crew, that he could not think of carrying home any of the most culpable of the Conspirators, especially as he was so weak handed. The naval Code of the united States, has great occasion for Amendments in many Particulars, without...
58From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 14 May 1779 (Adams Papers)
The Day before Yesterday, We arrived here, in two Days from Nantes, all well. There is a Frigate now turning into this Port, which is said to be Le Sensible, and if this is true, I hope, it will not be a long Time before We get to sea. The Chevalier de La Luzerne I hope is sensible of the Value of every Moment in the last half of the Month of May towards a Voyage to America. If We wait untill...
59To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 17 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society The Day before Yesterday, were brought to my House, Fifty one Bills of Exchange, amounting to 40958 B. f. [Banco florins] all drawn on the 22 June 1781 at Six months Sight, on the Honble Henry Laurens Esqr, in favour of Mr John Ross. This is a Pheenomenon which none but you Philosphers can explain, at least, I can think of but one Hypothesis, which...
60John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 2 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I duely received the Letter, you did me the Honour to write me, on the Subject of a Treaty with Prussia and have communicated it to the Baron de Thuelemeier. The King agrees to take the Treaty with Sweeden for a Model and if your Excellencies have any Alterations to propose I should be obliged to you for the Communication of them. The Baron waits the further Instructions of the King, before he...