31The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 10 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères <Passy, April 10, 1778: Mr. Adams, appointed by Congress to replace Mr. Deane, has arrived and will wait on you as soon as he recovers from his voyage. He came on a continental frigate, which took a prize with a cargo valued at £70,000. Congress is detaining Gen. Burgoyne and his army for a breach of the convention, and has more than 10,000...
32The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 6 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Messieurs Franklin, Lee and Adams present their respectful Compliments to his Excellency le Comte de Vergennes, are extreamly sensible of his good Offices in obtaining the King’s Orders relating to the Presentation of Mr. Adams to his Majesty on Friday next, and will do themselves the Honour of waiting on his Excellency on that Day agreable to his...
33The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 9 February 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two); translation: American Philosophical Society <Paris, February 9, 1779: For nearly six months Captain Mc-Neill of the privateer General Mifflin has been embarrassed with a lawsuit concerning a French ship he recaptured from the British after it...
34The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 16 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, May 16, 1778: We received this morning your letter of the 13th about the Boston , and assure you that she is an American warship maintained at the expense of Congress. The King’s reply to the farmers general will, we assume, accord with international usage.>...
35From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 3 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministere des affaires étrangères; transcript: National Archives I have the Honour to transmit to your Excellency by Order of Congress a Resolution of theirs, dated the 11th. of May last, which is in the Words following, Viz, “Resolved, That Doctor Franklin be instructed to express to the Court of France the constant Desire of Congress to meet their Wishes; That these States...
36From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 21 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have receiv’d the letter you did me the honor to write me yesterday; and am extreamly sensible of your Excellency’s Confidence in communicating to me, the destination of the Armament under M. Le Chevr. de Ternay and M. Le Comte de Rochambau, and the probability that the Ships will winter in North America. I assure your Excellency, that scarcely any News I ever heard, gave me more...
37American Commissioners to Vergennes, 28 March 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
We have the honour to enclose an extract of a letter from the Commissioners of the United States of America to your Excellency dated Augst. 28. 1778, Copy of Your Excellency’s answer dated 27 Septr. 1778. and copy of M. de Sartine’s letter to your Excellency of the 21st. of Sept. 1778 all relative to a proposed negotiation with the States of Barbary. Not having any particular authority or...
38From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 14 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Permit me to introduce to your Excellency the Bearer Mr Nesbitt a very respectable American Merchant settled at L’Orient. He will himself have the honor of communicating to you the Business he is come to Paris upon, and I request your Excellency will give him a favourable Audience & that support which the nature of his Case seems to merit. With great Respect...
39La Vauguyon to Vergennes: A Translation, 15 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have received, M. le Comte, the dispatches that you did me the honor to send. Mr. Franklin’s letter arrived as I expected, but I convinced the emissary, in accordance with my promise to you, to suspend the démarche he had been prescribed without revealing my motive. I indicated to him that it seemed wiser to me to explore deeply again the dispositions of our friend from Amsterdam and ask for...
40From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 27 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor now to inclose to your Excellency a copy of the letter from Congress to the king which I delivered yesterday. This copy was sent to me by Mr. Jay the Secretary of Congress for Foreign affairs. I also accompany it with a copy of the letter of Credence which I had the honour of delivering to the King, not having furnished you with a copy on that occasion. I am with sentiments of...
41The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 26 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, September 26, 1778: Last evening we received your letter of the 24th and shall observe the rules prescribed by M. Necker. We also received your letter of the 25th; article 16 of the treaty of commerce applies to Mr. Izard’s goods as they were shipped before...
42Otto to Vergennes, 10 January 1786 (Jay Papers)
Mr. Jay’s political importance increases every day. Congress appears to be directed only by his promptings, and it is as difficult to obtain anything without his cooperation as to have a measure he has proposed rejected. The indolence of most of the members of Congress and the ignorance of some others account for this Superiority. People find it far easier to ask the opinion of the Minister of...
43From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 22 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received this day the letter which your Excellency did me the honour to write me on the Twenty first Day of this Month. I thank your Excellency for the Confidence, which induced you to communicate this letter to me, and the continuance of which I shall ever study to deserve. When your Excellency says that his Majesty’s Minister at Congress, has already received Orders to make...
44From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 8 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress As Baron de Holtzendorff has thought fit to trouble your Excellency with a Memorial to me, relating to his affairs and complains highly as I understand of the Congress & of me, I beg leave to acquaint you with a few Circumstances in our Vindication, most of which I have from himself in one of his former Papers. Mr. Deane soon after his Arrival here, is said to have...
45The American Commissioners: Memorandum for Vergennes, 1 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères In the several Memoires which Mr: Deane had the honor of presenting previous to the arrival of his Colleagues, the history of the dispute between the United States of America and Great Brittain was brought down to the Time of presenting the Memoires, the situation and resources of the United States justly stated; and Conjectures as to the...
46Enclosure: Draft of Peace Negotiation Articles, 13 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Answer of the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, to the Articles to serve as a Basis to the Negotiation, for the Re-establishment of Peace. The United States of America, have no Objection provided their Allies have none to a Treaty with Great Britain, concerning the Re-establishment of Peace in America, or to another concerning the Re-establishment of Commerce, between...
47From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, 19 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress I lately received from America the enclosed Letters, and Resolutions of Congress. Such unexpected Drafts on me give me much Pain; as they oblige me either to give your Excellency the Trouble of fresh Applications, or to protest their Bills, which would be absolute Ruin. But your Excellency will see the pressing...
48From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes: Two Letters, 13 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress; (II) copy: Library of Congress I have communicated to Mr Lee the Letter your Excellency did me the honour to write to me of the 8th: Instant, relative to the Money placed in the Kings Treasury for Acct of Mr Stevenson; and also the Copy of the Letter to M. De Sartine which it enclosed: Mr Lee having no...
49From Benjamin Franklin to [Vergennes], [after 14 February 1779] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress M. Franklin se trouve dans une Position aussy facheuse que penible, & a la quelle les Circonstançes du Comerçe ajoutent beaucoup; en ce que le peu d’Envoys qui echappent aux Ennemis, ne lui parviennent pas, ou ne lui sont d’aucun Secours: Si ils sont en Tabacs, Les Fermiers Genereaux les reclament avec raison; & si ce sont des ris, ou tout autre Denrée, M. De...
50From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes: Two Letters, 24 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Mr: Carnes, an American Merchant settled at Nantes, who has already presented your Excellency with a Petition requesting un Arrêt de Sur-seance , informs me that it cannot be complied with unless he first obtains the Consentment of a third of his Creditors; that in order to do this, his Presence is necessary at Nantes; but that...
51Benjamin Franklin and Arthur Lee to Vergennes, 10 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour to acquaint your Excellency, that Mr. Adams, appointed by the Congress to replace Mr. Deane in the Commission here, is safely arrived, and purposes to wait upon you as soon as recovered a little from the Fatigue of his Voyage. The Ship in which he came is a Frigate of 30 Guns, belonging to the Congress. In her Passage she took a large Ship from London to New York, with a...
52From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 16 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have just recieved a Letter from Nantes brought in a Ship from New London. I inclose your Excellency a Newspaper inclosed in it, and an Extract of the Letter, which is from a Gentleman who is a member of the Assembly and one of the Judges at Boston. This is all the News I have. I hope your Excellency has more by the same Vessel. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( Arch. Aff. Etr., Paris, Corr. Pol....
53From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, [before 2 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): American Philosophical Society J’ay eu L’honneur avec Messieurs les deputés des etats unis d’amerique de Representer a vostre excellence que le Retard des decisions en france sur Les Reprises faittes sur les anglais par les vaisseaux de guerre americains Les eloignoit des mers D’Europe, Nous avons ajoutté a Cette Consideration d’autres encore plus importantes. Il est de mon devoir,...
54From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 22 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Mr. de Veimerange acquaints me that a Part of the Supplies sent to America in the Rusée, have been taken by the Enemy, and that if it is thought proper to replace them, Orders should be speedily given for that Purpose. I therefore beg leave to mention to your Excellency that the Replacing those...
55The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 24 January 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives <Passy, January 24, 1779: We received your letter of the 20th enclosing M. de Sartine’s answer relative to the convoy we requested. We do not understand his reference to the four vessels supposedly mentioned by us and fear he has been misinformed. On December 29 we asked for a convoy. You asked...
56Franklin and John Adams to Vergennes, 12 November 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, November 12, 1778: In view of the magnitude of the alliance between France and the United States, we conceive it would be highly pleasing to our constituents to have a portrait of His Majesty to be kept where Congress sits; if you are of opinion this would give no offense, we request your kind offices to...
57The Commissioners to Vergennes, 17 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
We herewith communicate to your Excellency a Resolution of Congress relative to the Treaties, which we request may be laid before the King. Thereby his Majesty will perceive the unfeigned Sentiments of that Body, as well as those of the whole American People, whose Hearts the King has gained by his great Benevolence towards them, manifested in these Treaties, which has made so deep an...
58From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, 10 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me, dated the 1st Instant, together with the Papers accompanying it, containing the Correspondence with Mr Adams. I have taken some Pains since to understand the Subject, and obtain Information of the Facts, from Persons lately arrived, having...
59The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 7 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
To His Excellency Count de Vergennes, Minister & Secretary of State for foreign Affairs: At the time the American War began there was very little real Money in that Country, the same having been constantly drawn out as fast as it came in to pay for British Manufactures and Importations of foreign Goods by the British Merchants, with the Duties and other Expences occasioned by their Monopoly....
60From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 18 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I was much obliged by the Readiness with which your Excellency favour’d my Request of a Sauf Conduit for Mr Bondfield, and I beg you to accept my thankful Acknowledgements. Permit me to ask another Favour of the same kind for my Nephew Mr Williams, who I am confident will make Use of it for the Advantage of his Creditors. With great and...