1From Benjamin Franklin to James Hutton, 1 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy and transcript: Library of Congress You desired that if I had no Propositions to make, I would at least give my Advice. I think it is Ariosto who says, that all Things lost on Earth are to be found in the Moon; On which somebody remark’d that there must then be a great deal of Good Advice in the Moon. If so, there is among it a good...
2From Benjamin Franklin to James Hutton, 12 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; ALS (draft): Library of Congress; copy and transcript: Library of Congress I wrote the above some Time before I receiv’d yours, acquainting me with your speedy and safe Return, which gave me Pleasure. I doubted after I had written it, whether it would be well to send it. For as your proud Nation despises us exceedingly, and demands and...
3From Benjamin Franklin to James Hutton, 24 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Library of Congress My dear old Friend was in the right not “to call in question the Sincerity of my Words where I say Feb. 12. we can treat if any Propositions are made to us.” They were true then, and are so still, if Britain has not declared War with France; for in that case we shall undoubtedly think ourselves obliged to continue the War as long as she does. But methinks you...
4From Benjamin Franklin to James Hutton, 23 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress My dear old Friend has here the Paper he desir’d. We have had a marble Monument made at Paris for the brave General Montgomery, which is gone to America. If it should fall into the Hands of any of your Cruizers I expect you will exert yourself to get it restor’d to us, because I know the generosity of your Temper, which likes to do handsome Things, as well as to...
5From Benjamin Franklin to James Hutton, 7 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress A Letter written by you to M. Bertin, Ministre d’Etat, containing an Account of the abominable Murders committed by some of the frontier People on the poor Moravian Indians, has given me infinite Pain and Vexation. The Dispensations of Providence in this World puzzle my weak Reason. I cannot comprehend why cruel Men should have been permitted thus to destroy...