1To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 26 October 1785 (Jay Papers)
This will be delivered to you by M r . Houdon, the Statuary of Paris who was agreed with by M r Jefferson and my self, at the Request of the Government of Virginia, to come over & take the Bust of General Washington, in order to make his Statue for that State. He has made the Bust, which is much admired by the Connoisseurs here, and will show it to you. He goes to New York, partly with a View...
I received your very kind Letter of the 16th, congratulating me on my safe Arrival with my Grandsons, an Event that indeed makes me very happy, being what I have long ardently wish’d, and considering the growing Infirmities of Age, began almost to despair of. I am now in the Bosom of my Family, and find four new little Prattlers, who cling about the Knees of their Grand Papa, and afford me...
3The American Commissioners to John Jay, 18 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
We received by the last Packet the favor of your letter of Jan ry. 14. in which we have the agreeable information of your having accepted the appointment of Secretary for foreign Affairs. Besides the general interest we feel in this event as members of the Union which is to availed of your services, we are particularly happy that a channel of communication is opened for us with Congress in...
4From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 8 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I received by the Marquis de la Fayette your kind Letter of the 13th of December. It gave me great Pleasure on two Accounts, as it inform’d me of the Public Welfare and that of your, I may almost say our, dear little Family; for since I had the Pleasure of their being with me in the same House, I have ever felt a tender Affection for them, equal I believe to that of...
5From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 15 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society I have just seen in the English Newspapers that you and your Family are safe arrived in New York, which gives me great Pleasure. I send you herewith some of our latest News Papers. Mr Hartley is at length recall’d, having remain’d here Six Months without doing or proposing any thing towards the Commercial Treaty....
6To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 15 September 1784 (Jay Papers)
I have just seen in the English Newspapers that you and your Family are safe arrived in New York, which gives me great Pleasure. I send you herewith some of our latest News Papers. M r Hartley is at length recalled, having remained here Six Months without doing or proposing any thing towards the Commercial Treaty. Mess rs . Adams & Jefferson are here, and we go on together very well. Permit me...
7From Benjamin Franklin to John and Sarah Jay, 13 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Library of Congress My dear Friends, I find I shall not be able to see you again as I intended. My best Wishes however go with you, that you may have a prosperous Voyage and a happy sight of your Friends and Families. Mr. Jay was so kind as to offer his Friendly Services to me in America. He will oblige me much by endeavouring to forward my discharge from this Employment. Repose is...
8From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 29 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Columbia University Library Mr Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Mr Jay, and sends a rough Draft of a Letter to Mr Adams, which he prays Mr Jay to correct to his Mind, and then permit the Bearer to copy it fair in his House, that it may receive his Signature, as Mr F. must send it away early to-morrow morning. He requests to know how the Family does, fearing there may be...
9From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 30 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library Yesterday late in the Evening arrived here an Express from Congress with the Definitive Treaty ratified, which I enclose with the Resolutions, Proclamation, and the President’s Letter. The Congress anxious that the Ratification should arrive within the Term stipulated, dispatch’d it seems three Expresses, by different Vessels, with authenticated Copies. This...
10To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 30 March 1784 (Jay Papers)
Yesterday late in the Evening arrived here an Express from Congress with the Definitive Treaty ratified, which I enclose with the Resolutions, Proclamation, and the President’s Letter. The Congress anxious that the Ratification should arrive within the Term stipulated, dispatch’d it seems three Expresses, by different Vessels, with authenticated Copies. This came by the French Pacquet Boat;...
11From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 6 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. Marion Brawley, Oakley, South Carolina (1959); press copy of ALS , copy, and incomplete copy: Library of Congress I received your kind Letter of the 26th past, and immediately sent the inclosed to Mrs Jay, whom I saw a few days since with the Children, all perfectly well. It is a happy Thing that the little ones are so finely past the Small Pox, and I congratulate you upon it most...
12To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 10 September 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have received a Letter from a very respectable Person in America, containing the following Words viz. “It is confidently reported, propagated and believed ^ by some ^ among us, that the Court of France was at bottom against our Obtaining the Fishery and Territory in that great Extent in which both are secured to us by the Treaty; that our Minister at that Court favoured, or did not oppose...
13From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, [before 18 July 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress Mr. F. submits it to the Consideration of Mr. Jay, whether it may not be adviseable to forbear, at present, the Justification of ourselves, respecting the Signature of the Preliminaries; because That matter is, at present, quiet here; No Letter sent to the Congress is ever kept secret; The Justification contains some Charges of...
14From Benjamin Franklin to John and Sarah Jay, 9 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
L : Columbia University Library Dr. Franklin regrets exceedingly that his Health does not permit him the honour & Pleasure of waiting upon Mr. & Mrs. Jay, according to their obliging Invitation.— He hopes Mr. & Mrs. Jay will condescend to indemnify him for the Loss he sustains, by honouring him with their Company at Dinner on Saturday next.— The Dr. would be happy to see Mr. Murowe at the same...
15From Benjamin Franklin to [John Jay], 17 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have just receiv’d the Enclos’d from Mr E. Bridgen of London. Please to return me his Letter. I long to finish my private Affair you are so good as to assist me in, & shall be glad to receive the additional Provisions you intended, that I may copy the whole, for I think my present Situation more hazardous than those about me seem to imagine. With sincere...
16From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 4 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 396. Mr. Oswald’s courier being returned, with directions to him, to make the independence of America the first article in the treaty, I would wait on you if I could, to discourse on the subject: but as I cannot, I wish to see you here this evening, if not...
17From Benjamin Franklin to [John Jay], 16 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society On August 15, Richard Oswald informed Franklin (at Passy) and John Jay (in Paris) that the official copy of his commission to treat for peace had arrived. It was identical in wording to the preliminary version that Shelburne had sent a week earlier. Jay had vigorously objected to that preliminary version on the grounds that it did not explicitly acknowledge...
18To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 16 August 1782 (Jay Papers)
Inclos’d is a true Copy of the Extracts from Gen. Carleton’s Instructions given to me by M r Vaughan from Lord Shelbourn. You will see that the Instruction I mention’d as given to M r Grenville is acknowledged and recited. Is it not probable therefore that M r Oswald may have the same? and if he has, and will execute it by making ministerially in Writing the Declaration intended, perhaps the...
19From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 24 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Royal Archives, Windsor Castle The Prince de Massaran, being so good as to desire carrying a Letter to you, I sit down to write you a few Lines, tho’ I hope soon to see you. Enclosed I send a Copy of one of Mr. Deanes Letters. I shall show you more when you come. In consequence of a Proposition I sent over, the Parliament of Britain have just passed an Act for exchanging American...
20To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 24 April 1782 (Jay Papers)
The Prince de Masseran, being so good as to desire carrying a Letter to you, I sit down to write you a few Lines, tho’ I hope soon to see you. Enclosed I send a Copy of one of M r . Deanes Letters. I shall shew you more when you come. In consequence of a Proposition I sent over, the Parliament of Britain have just passed an Act for exchanging American Prisoners. They have near 1100 in the...
21From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 23 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library I wrote a few Lines to you from Passy to go by the Post of this Day, pressing you to come hither as soon as possible. I have just mention’d it to M de Vergennes, who is of Opinion it will be proper to leave Mr. Carmichael there, that it may not seem as if we abandon’d that Court. As I understand a Courier is just setting out from hence for Madrid, I add this...
22To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 23 April 1782 (Jay Papers)
I wrote a few Lines to you from Passy to go by the Post of this Day, pressing you to come hither as soon as possible. I have just mention’d it to M de Vergennes, who is of Opinion it will be proper to leave M r . Carmichael there, that it may not seem as if we abandon’d that Court. As I understand, a Courier is just setting out from hence for Madrid, I add this Line, to inform you of this...
23From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 22 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Royal Archives, Windsor Castle I have undertaken to pay all the Bills of your Acceptance that have come to my knowledge, and I hope in God no more will be drawn upon us, but when Funds are first provided. In that Case your constant Residence at Madrid is no longer so necessary. You may make a Journey either for Health or Pleasure without retarding the Progress of a Negociation not yet...
24To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 22 April 1782 (Jay Papers)
I have undertaken to pay all the Bills of your Acceptance that have come to my knowledge, and I hope in God no more will be drawn upon us, but when Funds are first provided. In that Case your constant Residence at Madrid is no longer ^ so ^ necessary. You may make a Journey either for Health or Pleasure without retarding the Progress of a Negociation not yet begun. Here you are greatly wanted,...
25From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 16 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Boston; copies: Columbia University Library, Henry E. Huntington Library, Library of Congress, National Archives I have received your several Favours of Jan. 30. Feb. 11. and March 1. and propose to write fully to you per next Post. In the mean time this Line may serve to acquaint you that I have paid duly all your former Bills drawn in favour...
26To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 16 March 1782 (Jay Papers)
I have received your several favors of January 30 th . February 11 th . and March 1 st . and propose to write fully to you p r . the next Post. In the mean time, this Line may serve to acquaint you that I have paid Duly all your former Bills drawn in favor of M r . Cabarrus; and that having obtained a promise of six Millions for this year, to be paid me Quarterly, I now see that I shall be...
27From Benjamin Franklin to [John Jay], [after 14 February 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Your Comparison of the Keystone of an Arch is very pretty, tending to make me content with my Situation. But I suspect you have heard our Story of the Harrow. If not, here it is. A Farmer in our Country sent two of his Servants to borrow one, of a Neighbour, ordering them to bring it between them on their Shoulders. When they came to look at it, one of...
28To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 14 February 1782 (Jay Papers)
If you are anxious to see a Series of new electrical experiments directed to establish many a principle hitherto unknown, I Shall do myself the pleasure of Summitting them to your judgment. Your Comparison of the Keystone of an Arch is very pretty, tending to make me almost content with my Situation. ^ But ^ I suspect you have heard our Story of the Harrow. If not, here it is. A Farmer in our...
29From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 19 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS and incomplete copy: Columbia University Library; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives, Henry E. Huntington Library In mine of the 15th. I mention’d my Intention of writing fully to you by this Days Post. But understanding since that a Courier will soon go from Versailles, I rather chuse that Conveyance. I received duly your Letter of Novr. 21. but it found me in a very perplexed...
30To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 19 January 1782 (Jay Papers)
In mine of the 15 th . I mention’d my Intention of writing fully to you by this Days Post. But understanding since that a Courier will soon go from Versailles, I rather chuse that Conveyance. I received duly your Letter of Nov r . 21. but it found me in a very perplexed Situation. I had great Payments to make for the extravagant & very inconvenient Purchase in Holland together with large...