7891From John Jay to Benjamin Franklin, 3 January 1779 (Jay Papers)
I have the Honor of transmitting to You the enclosed Copy of an Act of Congress of the 23 rd Ult o . Being ignorant of the Gentlemen mentioned in it, and all Information respecting them, having been received by Congress prior to my Arrival, I applied to the Secretary for the necessary Intelligence— He this moment sent me a Note on the Subject in the following words—viz t : “M r : Erkelins is a...
7892To Benjamin Franklin from Madame Brillon, 9 [June?] 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je vous ai promis mon chér papa de vous écrire. Jamais je ne manquai a mes promésses; jugés si je commencerés par celle qui est si fort selon mon coeur. Je vais vous rendre compte de la vie que je ménne ici: j’habitte une supérbe térre située au milieu d’un beau pays; le pays seroit guaye [gai] pour toute autre que moi, mais tout m’y rappélle une amie que...
7893To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes, 13 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress; draft: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères J’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer, Monsieur, copie d’une Lettre que le Roi écrit à M. l’Amiral de France; vous y verrez la Jurisprudence qui sera suivie desormais à l’égard des Armements Americains qui se feront dans les Ports du Royaume; elle est conforme aux Principes que j’ai developpés dans la Lettre que je vous...
7894To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 7 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : William L. Clements Library I beg of you not to forget your letter to Mr Fox:— The purpose of my journey to England will be to do the best in my power for things & persons & particularly for my friends.— If you have any other private letters, send them to me. I will deliver them. I hope likewise be personally charged with the answers. I am better this morning and shall certainly set off...
7895To Benjamin Franklin from Henri-Maximilien (Henry) Grand, [before October 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Hy. Grand a lhonneur d’assurer Monsieur le Docteur Franklin de son Respect, & de le prier de vouloir bien le mettre a même de faire reponse a une Dame Angloise qui est venu passer cet Eté a Paris, & qui etant a la Veille de son depart pour Londres desire obtenir un Passeport de Monsieur Le Docteur Franklin. Elle se nomme Le Beillard, & est de la...
7896To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 8 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have had the Honnor of Informing your Excellency the 28th. of last month, that Capt. Stephen Merchant of the Black Prince Cutter Privateer, was to sail in a few days, and in consequence of the Tenor of his Commission and Instructions, he had an Intention to Cruise on the Packet from Dover to Calais & from thence to Dover. I Persuaded him to differ sailing...
7897To Benjamin Franklin from John Jay, 20 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress; AL (draft): Columbia University Library Seven Vessels have lately arrived at Nantes & Lorient from America, two of them directly from Philadelphia, and but one Letter brought by them, has as yet reached me. It gives me Reason to expect others by every Post, as well as to suppose that Dispatches of an important Nature have arrived in them for you. My Correspondent...
7898To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 13 December 1749 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook abstract: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote to him that Lewis Evans has been here yesterday to advise of T. Godfrey’s Decease which I supposed had prevented his coming today the last he had appointed but that to morrow was a new one and that he might apply to my Son for his Charges. Some here would be pleased to see his Experiments [ two words illegible ]. That is, BF ....
7899To Benjamin Franklin from Castries, 5 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society M. de Castries a reçu le Paquet que Monsieur Franklin lui a addressé. Il lui en fait ses remerciements, et le prie d’agreer les nouvelles assurances de son attachement. This letter could also have been written in any year from 1780 to 1784 (during which Castries was naval minister and BF was at Passy). As Castries does not here acknowledge BF ’s letter of...
7900To Benjamin Franklin from John MacMahon, 22 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Give me leave to congratulate you upon the great and long wished-for event, which fixes now the publick attention, and in which you have such an honourable share. The brave and unshaken perseverance of the Americans, joined to your calm and yet active prudence have at last been crowned with their deserved success. No war entred into by France for many ages...
7901To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Oswald, 26 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress By a Letter from Mr Dundass, Lord Advocate of Scotland, dated 12th Novemr, he writes that a Nephew of his, Son of the Lord presedent of the Court of Session, Francis Dundas a Captain of the 1st Regimt of Guards is now at London a Prisoner upon his Parole, having Served in Lord Cornwallis Army. And wishes much to be discharged under any Obligations or Conditions of...
7902To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Powell, 25 January 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library The Barer Harts[el]l Greear, is the Man whos Wife is so afflicted by a Sore on hir Arm, of which I spoke to Mr. Franklin in Bethlehem the riting also from our Surgant is hear inclos’d. Have nothing furder to say in behalf of thees People. I belive and hear from thare Neighbours that thay are verry poor having 3 or 4 Children—our Surgant having at pressant two much...
7903To Benjamin Franklin from the Comtesse d’Houdetot, 20 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Celuy qui s’Est Recomandé De Ma part aupres De Vous Mon Cher Docteur Sous le nom De st. Jean Est Le même que Celuy dont j’ay Eû L’honneur de Vous parler sous Le nom de Crevecoeur que porte son pere Dont je suis L’amie Depuis plus De Vingt Cinq ans. Comme Le fils n’habitait pas ce paÿs cy je n’ay de luy aucunne Connaissance personnelle mais j’En ay toujours...
7904From George Washington to Benjamin Franklin, 21 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Credentials with which Mr Wheelock is furnished are so ample, and so fully set for the benevolent purposes of the Institution over which he presides, that I am confident nothing more is necessary for me, than barely to introduce him to you and to recommend him to your Patronage and Friendship—Under them he will be sure to meet with a favorable reception among the Wise and Good. I have the...
7905To Benjamin Franklin from Sir Alexander Dick, 5 July 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It was not till the other day I had the pleasure of receiving your Letter of June the 2d by our freind Mr. Alexander, who had traversd England in his way here. So soon as he arrivd, I communicated the contents to my freind Mr. Swinton, who as well as I have reason to own ourselves extremly oblidgd to you, for the Information you are pleasd to give. He bids...
7906To Benjamin Franklin from Gilbert Tennent, 22 September 1741 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; also transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) I thank you kindly for your Love in Sending me Some of the remarks and of my Sermons on justification as well as the notice you give me of exceptions made against one passage in it (of which I have wrotte an explication in a letter to Mr. Robert Ishburn). Likewise I thank you kind Sir for your favour in...
7907To Benjamin Franklin from Barbeu-Dubourg, 14 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I tank you heartily for your gracious answer. I will address the person to our friend M Grand, and am in some hope the can easily concord together. In the meantime I recommand to your favour and benevolence M Gregoire, who desire to be if not Consul at less reputed friend, correspondent, and in howsoever degree intrusted by the Americans. I am with the...
7908To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 15 May 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This comes with my unhappy Son. How far he may be an Object of your Regard, is left entirely to your own Discretion. I have Nothing else to say in his Favour, but wish he may Merit some of your Good Will, which is all with our best Regards, from Your most obliged Servant Addressed: For / Benjamin Franklin, Esqr. / Craven-Street / London / per S.F: Parker
7909To Benjamin Franklin from Frederick William de Woedtke, 4 July 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’espere que le s. Colonel Allen vous aura remise ma letter par laquelle vous ne savez que trop noter situation, laquelle est la plus épineuse de nos trouppes, comme [ illegible ] que avoire [ illegible ], par [ illegible ] juge [ illegible ] nous [ illegible ] experimenté et que les Generaux [ illegible ] Sulivan [ illegible ] gouverneur [ illegible
7910To Benjamin Franklin from Edme-Sébastien Jeaurat, 13 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society M. Jeaurat de l’Academie Royale des Sciences à l’honneur de rendre ses hommages à Monsieur Franklin et le prie de vouloir bien faire passer à Boston le paquet ci joint pour Mr. Joseph Willard; c’est le volume de la connoissance des Temps pour 1787 que j’envoie à M. Joseph Willard. Notation: Jeaurat 13 Nov. 1784— A distinguished mathematician and astronomer,...
7911To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 15[–22] August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and AL : American Philosophical Society; copies: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, National Archives, Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives Tho I cannot procure the Signatures of the Committee of foreign Affairs at this Moment nor the Resolve of Congress respecting Bills to be drawn on you to the amount of one hundred thousand Dollars passed 2 or 3 days ago,...
7912To Benjamin Franklin from Barbeu-Dubourg, 21 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Dubourg’s inventiveness seems to have been his chief, if not his only, qualification as an entrepreneur. When he learned that the commissioners’ negotiations with the farmers general had broken down on the issue of shipping, he returned to the “grande affaire” that he had mentioned in an earlier letter, that of forming a company to bring the tobacco to...
7913To Benjamin Franklin from Castries, 17 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Archives de la Marine Vos preposés, Monsieur, ont été chargés jusqu’a ce moment de traiter par Eux memes les objets qui regardent Le service des Etats unis de L’amerique, cette disposition doit etre suivie relativement au batiment qui Se trouve a rochefort et qui parait Exiger des reparations. Il en est de meme pour Les munitions qui sont deposées a Brest. Le gouvernement ne peut Se...
7914To Benjamin Franklin from Jan Ingenhousz, 14 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I was not able to finish as soon as I expected the book I intend to publish, I find my self obliged to spend the winter in this capital, where I enjoye far more satisfaction and happiness then I can ever enjoye in the place, where I am destined to reside. Tho I have not had the pleasure of hearing directely from you, I had now and then the satisfaction...
7915To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Galloway, 23 April 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will be deliverd to you by Mr. Nicholas Biddle, to whom I wish to render acceptable Service, not so much from a personal Acquaintance with him, as from the general Good Character and Esteem he has deservedly acquired among all those who have had any Knowledge or Experience of him. He is warmly recommended to me, as an Active, sensible, prudent,...
7916To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, [23 March 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Il faut Mon illustre confrère que je vous importune encore il fait un temps si terrible que je ne puis vous aller voir. C’est un usage dans L’Académie que quand il arrive quelque chose d’agréable à un academicien comme d’être nommé à un nouvel employ à une nouvelle dignité L’académie lui députe plusieurs de ses membres pour lui faire compliment sur cette...
7917To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache: Three Letters, 27 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
(I), (II), and (III) ALS : American Philosophical Society Give me leave to introduce to you Mr. Stuart, Brother to my particular Friend Colonel Walter Stuart; this young Gentleman has resided some time in America, and has gained the esteem of all his Acquaintanc; as a Person deserving your Notice & Civilities, I therefore recommend him to you. I am Dear Sir Your affectionate Son Addressed: His...
7918To Benjamin Franklin from Loyseau, 17 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mon intention en vous demandant des Renseignemens pour envoyer avec quelque Sureté des aciés dans Le continent de L’amerique, a d’abord eté d’ouvrir un débouché de plus a La Manufacture a la quelle je m’interesse, mais encore je me Suis proposé d’offrir aux etats unis un Moyen d’avoir a Mellieur Marché qu’en angleteré des aciers dont ils doivent faire une...
7919To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 20 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I now fulfil a part of the promise I lately made you, of a communication upon the subject of natural history & philosophy. Arthur’s seat you know to be a considerable hill in the neighborhood of Edinburgh. While I was in that city, my excellent friend Professor Dugald Stewart informed me, that Dr. Hutton (one of the philosophical society of that place) had...
7920To Benjamin Franklin from Madame Brillon, 4 March [i.e., April] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Je vous dois mil remercimens mon bon papa de votre joli billét et de votre lettre aux auteurs du journal de paris, mais je vous en devrés deux mil, si vous y joignés l’avis a Ceux qui veulent passer en amérique, j’éspérois aller vous le demander aujourd’hui et m’etablir pour six ou sept mois a passy mais mon pauvre mari a la goutte aux deux jambes, et la...