61From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 10 June 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour of your Letter from Paris of the fifth of this Month, in which you inform me that by Advices from America, your Ennemies are determined to impeach your Attachment to our Country and her Cause, and in which you request my Opinion on that Point from the Knowledge I have had of your Conduct, while We acted together in Commission. At the Same Time that I lament the Necessity of...
62From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 3 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library I did write to the Gentlemen at Nantes concern’d in fitting out the Vessels for America, offering them the Alliance as a Convoy and order’d her to Nantes accordingly. They did not chuse to accept that offer Knowing, as I Supose, her Weakness, but Sail’d for Brest, to go with the french Convoy without waiting her arrival and would probably...
63John Adams to Arthur Lee, 12 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress, National Archives We duly received the Letter which you did us the honor of writing on the 9th of Feb. accompanyed with a Letter from Mr Pringle, herewith you have the Draught of an Answer to that Gentleman, which you are requested, if you approve of it to subscribe and forward. As Mr Lee is best acquainted with the Places, Persons...
64From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 28 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
The Bearer, is first Lt. of the Boston—was sent by the Navy Board at Boston to S. Carolina and thence to France Commander of the Dispatch: but was taken. I think our Rule has been to lend Lts. of the Frigate’s twenty Guineas, but considering Browns unhappy Circumstances on Account of Cloaths, and knowing his long Attachment to our Cause and his uncommon Merit, I wish he could have more but...
65From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 19 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Harvard University Library Mr. Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr. Lee, and acquaints him that M. Bertin (the Minister) requests his Company at Dinner on Tuesday the 26th Inst. at Chatou. Mr. F. also reminds Mr. Lee of their being expected at Dinner to day, at M. Chalut’s (Fermier General) Place Vendôme. Addressed: A Monsr / Monsieur Lee / à Chaliot Endorsed: May 19. 1778 Invitations...
66From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 3 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Historical Society of Pennsylvania As I had no Knowledge of the Gentleman, & he said he had lived in Virginia, I referr’d him to you, imagining you might know something of his Character, and whether it would be proper to give him the Pass he desires. If upon conversing with him you apprehend it may be safely done, I would do it on your...
67From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 13 June 1779 (Adams Papers)
Since my Letter to you of the 9th. looking over the Answer to the Letter inclosed in it, I find it, of more importance than I was aware, and least it should be lost with me, I now inclose you a Copy of it. It will be Evidence, of some against some Misrepresentations, which have been made, and may be repeated, as injurious to the French Court as to you. I have the Honour to be, with great...
The delegates of the United States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to all who shall see these presents send greeting. Whereas a trade upon equal terms between the subjects of his most Christian majesty the king of France and the...
69From James Madison to Arthur Lee, 28 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed text (Richard Henry Lee, Life of Arthur Lee , II, 328–30), inaccurately dated 1778. Addressed to “The Hon. Arthur Lee, Esq.” An extract, copied from the original and correctly dated, is item No. 1533 in a catalogue of the John Clark Company, Cleveland, Ohio, for January 1916. I received your favour of the 16th inst. between nine and ten o’clock last night, the post having been delayed...
70From James Madison to Arthur Lee, 25 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Harvard University Library). Cover missing. About one-third of the last four lines on the left-hand side of the first page of the manuscript, and about the same fraction of the last four lines on the right-hand side of the second page of the manuscript, are missing. The bill which you lately inclosed to me was duly honored, and the contents of it are in my hands subject to any order which...
71The Committee of Secret Correspondence to [Arthur Lee], 30 November 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: University of Virginia Library On November 29, 1775, Samuel Chase brought before Congress a proposal to send ambassadors to France. John Adams seconded the motion, and a vehement debate ensued. A number of alternatives were advanced, and one finally gained approval: to appoint a five-member committee of secret correspondence for the purpose of opening communication with friends of...
72From John Jay to Arthur Lee, 26 January 1780 (Jay Papers)
As a Knowledge of the Measures you may have taken ^ acquire ^ ^ taken ^ and the Information you may have gained relative to the o ^ acquired relative to the ^ in pursuance of your objects of your Commission ers Plenipotentiary from the un
73From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 2 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We received duly yours of Feb. 14. from Nantes; and one since from Bourdeaux, dated, by Mistake, Jan. 29. We are glad to hear you were got so far well on your Journey. The Farmers General since your Departure, have been again in Treaty with us for Tobacco. We offer’d (rather rashly, I think) to deliver it in France at 8 sols. They offer’d us 5. Interim we...
74John Watson and John Swain to Franklin and Arthur Lee, 17 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society With submission I shall take the Liberty of Acquainting Your honour that thair is two of us that is in this Prison that Was taken the 15th of October 1777 in the west indians And Sent to England whare we was condemed to prison And thair confind for Eleven months Before we could make our Escape from Fortain prison in England which after we Maid our Escape...
75From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 9 June 1779 (Adams Papers)
Your Favours of June 2d and 5th are now before me: that of 29 March, I have answered if I ever received it, for I have answered every one received from you, but not having my Papers at Hand cannot be particular. Thank you for the Manuscript and the Pamphlet. Am happy to hear from you and from all others, so agreable a Character of the Chevalier de la Luzerne, and M. de Marbois the last of whom...
76From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 10 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have sometimes complained, that having no Place appointed for the public Papers, nor any Person to keep them in order, was an Inconvenience and Interruption to the public Business; I have added , that to have the Papers in my Chamber, as they are in disorder, and many Persons going to them at Pleasure, taking out Some, and removing others, was un equal upon me, as making me in a Sort...
77From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee: Two Letters, 27 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) copies: Library of Congress “The offer you make of Sending me Copies Sealed and authenticated of all the Papers in your Hands” is very satisfactory; and as you Say they are but few, I suppose it may Soon be done. I imagined when I desired you to Send me the Originals, that they were a great Many, and at present of no Importance to you; and therefore not worth copying. I assure you...
78From James Madison to Arthur Lee, [7] May 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Harvard University Library). The cover is missing. JM addressed the letter to “The Hon. A. Lee, Esq.,” according to the version, wrongly dated “May, 1778,” published in Richard Henry Lee, Life of Arthur Lee, LL.D . (2 vols.; Boston, 1829), II, 331–32. In Arthur Lee’s handwriting, in the right-hand margin of the manuscript’s second page, appears a notation, obviously relating to the price...
79From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 4 April[?] 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Mr. Deane communicated to me his Intention of setting out for America immediately as a Secret, which he desired I would mention to no body. I comply’d with his Request. If he did not think fit to communicate it to you also; It is from him you should demand his Reasons. This Court has an undoubted Right to send as Ministers who it pleases and where it...
80From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 21 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Harvard University Library; draft: Library of Congress We have received your favours from Victoria and from Burgos. The Congress sitting at Baltimore, dispatch’d a Packet to us the 9th. of January, containing Accounts of the Success at Trentown, and subsequent events to that Date, as far as had come to knowledge. The Vessel was obliged to run up a little River in Virginia to avoid some...
81From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee: Two Letters, 13 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives; transcript: National Archives; (II) LS : Harvard University; copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives A severe Fit of the Gout, with too much Business at the same time necessary to be done, have prevented till now my answering yours of the 21st past. I did not imagine there would have been any...
82From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 12 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
Congress forced Us, into a situation, which obliged Us to venture upon a Piece of Indiscipline, in order to Secure a tollerable Peace, So that you may well Suppose We are anxious to know how it is received among you, and what is to be our Fate. Whether We are to be approved, excused, justified or censured. The most curious and inexplicable Part of the History is Franklins joining in the...
83From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 31 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved your’s of the 26th, and that of the 15th. of this Month. I inclose a Copy of the Letter You desire. Mr. Garnier is gone into the Country, and I have not seen him since I arrived here. Mr. Iz. however has seen him and will give You a satisfactory Account of what he says. If I were to apply to the other Gentleman, You know what would be the Consequence. It would fly very soon to...
84From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 10 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor of yours of August 7th. yesterday. The letters inclosed are sent to their Destinations. I have long since taken such measures, as depended upon me, and continue to do all that Decency will permit, to induce the States to send a Minister to Congress. I am convinced it will not be done before next Spring. To give You a compleat detail of the Reasons of this would cost a tedious...
85From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 25 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favour of April 12th. is yet unanswered. With nothing at all to do, I am as busy as ever I was in my Life. Whether any good will result from it time must discover. I have undertaken to inform Congress, a little more particularly than they are want to be informed, of Some Things that have passed in Europe, which will ultimately affect them: but I find it is in vain to put my Eyes out...
86The Continental Congress: Instructions to Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee as Commissioners to France, [24 … (Franklin Papers)
Attested copy: Harvard University Library This document was long in the making. On August 27 Congress expanded the committee that was drafting the proposed treaty of commerce with France, and ordered it to draft also instructions to the commissioners who were to carry the treaty. The committee reported the instructions on September 10. On the 24th, a week after Congress approved the treaty, it...
87Antoine-Raymond-Gualbert-Gabriel de Sartine to the American Commissioners, 5 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library <Versailles, July 5, 1778, in French: As I need Captain Jones for a certain expedition, I would like him to remain here. If this does not prove inconvenient, please leave him at my disposal, and give the command of his vessel to his second.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 265.
88Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 15 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This letter speaks of preparations for a major American naval move, Wickes’s cruise in the Irish Sea. The commissioners had summoned him to Paris in mid-March, and out of their consultations had come the plan for the cruise. The tiny squadron was to consist of the Reprisal and a cutter, renamed the Dolphin , which had been intended for a packet and was now...
89Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 12 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will be handed you by Mr. Joseph Fichet Armeture De Le Scarboucle of 22 Guns 6 pounders, which is now at this port and is thought to be one of the fastest Sailing Ships belonging to France, she is now out of repair or would answer our purpose very well. She is very Old and will want a very heavy repair. As the Gentlemen intends rebuilding said Ship...
The undersigned, Councilor Pensionary of the City of Amsterdam, has the honor to inform all the gentlemen who find themselves duely commissioned by the congress of the United States of America, that he finds himself authorized by the burgomasters of the city to declare in their name that, assuming the said congress will not enter into any agreement with the English commissioners that would be...