1From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 12 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 5th. Instant. I approve of the Orders you have given relating to the Subsistance of the Prisoners. It will be well to put them into the first Cartel that shall arrive at Morlaix, or go from any Port near you, taking a Receipt from the Captain, as for so many Persons—Prisoners made by the Americans. There were seventeen left in the Prison...
2From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 26 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 16th. respecting Capt. Pickles. I should be happy if I could supply every American’s Wants to the Extent of their Wishes. But tho’ they feel their own Difficulties, they are insensible of mine, and imagining that I have a Mint of Money at command, they set no bounds to their Expences and Expectations. The Number of Such...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 11 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have received your favour of the 7th. inclosing your Account, and advising me of your Drafts upon me for the same, which I shall duly honour. I have already furnish’d Mr. Robert Beverly Chew, with as much Money as I could afford, considering the Numbers that apply to me. You may if that will be acceptable furnish him with another Gunea. But not a farthing more to...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 6 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your respected Letter of the 28th. past and shall duly honour the Bills you mention to have drawn for the 4444 Dollars.— I delivered your inclosed to M. Laurens, who will write to you. What Goods he intends to go in the Active are at Nantes, viz, some Chests of Arms & some Medecines, which he thinks will not be a Quantity to make the relanding of the old...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Daniel Schweighauser, 3 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have received your Favour of the 19th. past. It may be as you observe very reasonable that Capt. Barnes should have the Gratification he demands, and also that the Col. Armand should have the Passage paid of himself and Servants, but as I have no orders relating to such Advances, I cannot meddle with them. I approve of your assisting Capt. Williams [ and ] the two...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 21 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress I received your favour of the 12th. Instant inclosing the Bills for 4444 Dollars. As it clearly expresses that it is drawn on public Account, and not on the private Accot. of Mr. Laurens, I have no scruple against paying it with the Approbation of his Son, tho’ not endors’d by him. I enclose that Approbation, with a little Instrument which I request you would...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 19 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your esteemed Favour of the 15th. I have no Directions to give relative to the Sailing or Destination of the Brig Active, but wish to be inform’d when you think of dispatching her, as I may write by her. No Orders nor even a Letter relating to the Ship Alliance are come to my hands; I therefore suppose she naturally falls under your Care as...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 19 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of an ALS and copy: Library of Congress In reading over again your Favour of the * Inst, I perceive a Question which I did not before observe, and omitted to answer in mine of the 17th. viz. Whether I will pay your Disbursements for the Brigantine Active? You do not mention to what Sum they may probably amount; I have no Orders to make such Payments; and I daily expect Mr. Palfrey,...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Daniel Schweighauser, 17 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 8th. Inst. inclosing Letters from America & thank you for your Care in speedily forwarding them. I have since received another acquainting me with the Cargo of the Active, and desiring to know if you may draw on me for what may be wanting to compleat her Cargo back. I have also received a Letter from the Admiralty Board relating to...
10From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 25 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, Yale University Library This is to request you would Ship all the Stores you have in your Possession belonging to the Public of America, whether in the Arsenal or elsewhere, on board such Vessel or Vessels as shall be pointed out to you by Mr. Jonathan Williams. I have the Honour to be Sir, Your most humble Servant. B.F.
11From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 7 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress This is to request you would write to Messrs. DeSegray & Company to forward the Saltpetre by land to L’Orient, where M. Williams will be ready to receive it & ship it with other Goods in his Hands for America. By doing this immediately you will much oblige me. With great Esteem I have the Honour to be,
12From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 24 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yesterday the Honour of your Letter of the 19th. Instant, where in you mention my having paid your former Accounts of Disbursements on the frigate Alliance and other Vessels, which you suppose was done with the approbation of Congress. The Congress have never yet had the Opportunity of giving their Opinion of those Accounts, and if they had Approved of...
13From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 10 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress On Tuesday the 8th. Instant, sundry Bills drawn by you upon me, amounting to upwards of 30,000 l.t. were presented at my House, and an immediately [immediate reply?] urged. Being that Day at Versailles, and not returning till late in the Evening, I gave my answer the next Day that having no Advice of the said Bills and not knowing on what account they could be drawn,...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 29 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I daily received yours of the 15. Instant. By a Letter from Mrs. Gourlade and Moylan dated the 10th. I am assured that they never refused to continue supplying the Alliance with the necessary Provisions: Therefore a Charge from your Correspondent at L’Orient on that Account, will not be rightly brought against me. In my last I mentioned that I might possibly in the...
15From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 19 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress In order to have the old arms, conveyed to America in the cheapest manner, I request you to have the Gun Barrells Locks Bayonnetts & Iron or brass furniture of them closely packed in small Cases so as to take up the least Room possible. The Cases may be the exact length of a Gun Barrell & being about a foot broad & deep they...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Daniel Schweighauser, 24 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I last Night received your respected Letter of the 20th. Instant; inclosing one from Capt. Landais to which the Within is an Answer sent open for your Perusal. I should make no Objection to your Supplying the Alliance with such Provisions as might be necessary for the present Subsistance of the People that are on board her, many of whom are exchanged Prisoners, honest...
17From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Daniel Schweighauser, 20 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received duly your favour of Nov. 11. inclosing Capt. Samson’s Receipt for the Packets & Bills of Lading. This with your subsequent of Nov. 27. containing your accounts are now before me. I approve of your Charitable Care of the sick man Edward Slade and the poor Girl. Please to inform me if you know, how they came in to Europe. Is the Girl incapable of doing any...
18From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 30 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Last I had the honour of receiving from you was without date, But it contain’d your additional Explication or Reason in support of the second one per Cent. with which I acquiesce. I do not find that you have yet rectified the Charge of 5. per Ct. on more than one of the Cargoes of Tobacco. I now send the remainder of the Dispatches for Capt. Samson, wishing him a...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 29 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Please to furnish Capt. Elisha Hart with the Same sum you advanced to the Officers Prisoners, who came over in the first Cartel with the approbation of Mr. Adams, taking his Promissory Notes for the Same per triplicate, payable to the President of Congress, or his Order. I have the honour to be, Sir
20From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 24 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I duly received your favour of the 18th. the Letter addressed to Mr. De sartine which I Omitted mentioning before was also deliver’d. The extracts you send me are of Letters, which were written, to check the Extravagant Demands of Officers, Such as that of Wm. Morris, and Others; money having been taken upon our account at divers Ports of france by Americans and...
21From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 17 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have now before me your favours of july 31. & Aug. 19. Your testimony with Regard to Mr. Wam. Lee, is fully Sufficient to remove the Suspicion of his Sharing in your Commission. I mention’d it not as a Charge against him, but as an Excuse for you; 5 per Cent being, as I understood more then double of what is usual. I could wish I had nothing to do with mercantile...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 13 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Bearer M. De Guio having been an officier in The American Service and brought Prisoner into England, I request you would procure him a Passage to Boston if convenient in the Mercury Packet. He will pay the Captain for his passage on his arrival there; having considerable arrearages of pay due to him. I have the honour to be, Sir &c. Jean de Guio, a Canadian to...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 12 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I yesterday received your favour by Mr. Schorndorff with the Packets for Mr. De Vergennes and myself. I have acquainted the Minister with The Opportunity of writing by the return of the Mercury, and shall not unless he desires it, keep her here Longer than may be necessary on her own Account. I have a Letter also from The Navy Board of Boston; but as they make no...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 9 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress It appearing on the Examination of Mr. Ross’s Accompts, that the Committee are very considerably indebted to him, I conceive you may Safely Settle with him the accts. you have with the Committee agreable to Orders received by him from Robert Morris Esq. I have the honour to be &c. Ross had represented in Nantes Morris’ firm of Willing & Morris, and the orders...
25From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 29 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received duly yours of the 24th. Instant with regard to the American Prisoners returned, I refer you to mine of the 25th. in which I mentioned, that I wish’d them to be treated both officers & Seamen with the same kindness that was shewn, with the Approbation of Mr. Adams to those of the first Transport.— But as to the Payment of any Wages which they may say is due...
26From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Daniel Schweighauser, 25 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received duly the Letters you did me the honour to write me of the 10th. Instant, and another of the 20th. The Objection I made was not to your Commission of 5. per Cent for the general Business, tho’ I am informed that is higher than the Custom; but as I understand, it was settled so with you by Mr. Lee, I had no Intention to propose an Alteration, leaving that to...
27From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 21 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours of the 5th. Inst. acqg. me with your Drafts on me for 91,414 l.t. 16. 10. I shall pay them as they appear,— except so much of them as are founded on the Commn. of 5 per Ct. charged in your Accts. on the Delivery of the tobaccos, which I cannot allow being well informed that one per Ct. in such Cases is the Usage and fully sufficient. I request...
28From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 15 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete copy: Library of Congress I have before me your favour of the 27th. past, & the 1st. & 6th. of May. In these Letters there are several Things upon which you ask my direction, such as the Demand of the Mate and Seamen of the Brigt. Morris, the Propriety of Sending away the Same Brig without Convoy or detaining her till the next, and the Affair of the Swedish Captain’s not having...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 21 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I duly received yours of the 8th inst. I approve of the Assistance you have afforded the American Prisoners. You will consult with M. Adams and take his Directions for what may be farther necessary. I have accepted your late Bills for Livs, and am with great esteem &c— Missing. The prisoners had recently arrived on the cartel ship Milford , and on April 22 JA oversaw...
30From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 8 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have before me your favour of the 3d. inst. I am glad to hear of the Arrival of the Prisoners, & doubt not of your finishing the Exchange as soon as possible. You will, no doubt, answer the Letter of the Commrs. in acquainting them as they desired with the Particulars of the Treatment the English Prisoners have received here. I will endeavour to send you by next...