1To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, [6?]–13 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society <Passy, September [6?]–13, 1778: In order to understand our affairs and to be able to account to our constituents we should decide which expenses we will pay jointly and which separately. I think we should pay jointly for the rent of the house and furniture, hire of coachman, horses, and carriage, wages of maitre d’hôtel and cook, and table...
2Franklin and John Adams to Arthur Lee, 23 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
L : Harvard University Library Mr. A. Lee is desired to sign and return the enclosed if he approves it. Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Lee M.P.D.E.U. / a sa Maison / A Chaillot Endorsed: Recd. from a Commissionaire on my way from Challiot to Paris, between 6 & 7 OC. in the Eveng., containing a Paper of which the enclosd is an exact Copy. A Lee July 24th. 1778. Returned unsignd at 8 OC. next...
3The American Commissioners to American Prisoners in England, [19] September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: National Maritime Museum, Public Record Office, National Archives (two); transcript: Library of Congress <Passy, September [19], 1778: We have not written you for a long time but have been engaged in negotiating a cartel of exchange, and have assurances from England that an exchange will take place. The government of this kingdom has provided a...
4The American Commissioners to Americans Taken on Board of English Frigates, 15 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have received a Letter from Mr. Robert Harrison of the 7 Octr. and another from John Lemon, Edward Driver and John Nichols, of the 12, all Prisoners in Dinant Castle, all professing to be Americans who have been first compelled into the Service of their Enemies, and then taken Prisoners by the French. You are not...
5The American Commissioners to Thomas Read or Any Other Captain of Any Vessel Bound to America, 22 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: National Archives (two), University of Virginia Library Mr. Alexander Fowler with his Wife being bound to America, where he has heretofore resided as an officer in the British Army; and it having been represented to Us, that his Friendship to America occasioned his quiting that Service and has occasioned him some hardships, and...
6The American Commissioners to Sartine, 13 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, August 13, 1778: We are sorry for the delay in answering your letter of July 29. We are of opinion that the regulations are very good but wish to make the following observations. We propose that judges of admiralty in America because of the size of their jurisdictions be permitted to delegate their authority....
7The American Commissioners: Receipt for an Installment of a French Loan, 3 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
DS : American Philosophical Society Nous avons reçu de Monsieur d’harveley Garde du Trésor Royal sept cent cinquante mille Livres The third quarterly installment of a 3,000,000 l.t. loan extended by the French government the preceding November ( XXV , 207–8). The previous payments were made on February 28 and May 19: account XII (described in XXV , 3). Joseph Micault d’Harvelay, keeper of the...
8The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 13 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, September 13, 1778: The Thérèse , whose cargo is assigned to us, has arrived at Nantes. We wish to sell the cargo and reserve the proceeds for a particular purpose. We request and impower you to sell the cargo, transmit an account, and hold the proceeds for our orders. M. de Sartine informs us he has taken...
9The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 29 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have directed the Captain’s Read and Barnes to apply to you for such Cargoes as they can take for America, and for such Necessary supplies as they may demand, which We desire you to do with all possible Expedition and Frugality. We are &c.
10The American Commissioners to Jonathan Trumbull, 22 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two) We received your Excellency’s Letter of May 29. by Capt. Niles with the Dispatches from Congress which you had intrusted him with, in good Order. He had a short Passage of 22 Days, and brought us the agreable News of the Ratification of the Treaties and of their being universally pleasing to our...
11The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 16 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, July 16, 1778: We have ordered Lieut. Simpson, commanding the Ranger , to sea as soon as possible; please furnish him promptly with what he needs. The British prisoners on these ships are to be left behind, in such custody as you advise; we shall try tomorrow to get the ministry’s orders for their lodging.>...
12The American Commissioners to Jonathan Williams, Jr.: Two Notes, 10 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; incomplete draft: American Philosophical Society; two copies: National Archives We approve of the Directions given by you to stop the Reparation of the Arms at Nantes paying the Workmen their Wages, Gratifications and Conduct money according to agreement of which you inform us in your Letter July 3 1778. Mr. Williams is desired to send the...
13The American Commissioners to the President of Congress, 22 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Massachusetts Archives, National Archives (two); two transcripts: National Archives This will be delivered to you by Mr. Jonathan Loring Austin, who was sent the last Year express to France with the News of the Convention of Saratoga. He has resided chiefly in this Kingdom from that time, and has been employed, in...
14The American Commissioners to James Moylan, 27 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We received your Favour of the 12 Instant. You will see by the enclosed to Capt. McNeill, which We leave open for your Perusal, the State of the Affair of the Prisoners. In Case of his being obliged to Sail, before he can receive the Ministers particular orders for their Reception, We desire you would take care of...
15To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 22 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society <Passy, September 22, 1778: In examining our joint accounts I find some articles for which I have paid separately. For future planning I propose we pay jointly for the wages and expenses of the maître d’hôtel, cook, coachman and other servants, the hire of horses and carriage, postage and expresses, and other common expenses. If Dr. Franklin chooses...
16Franklin and John Adams to Ferdinand Grand, 1 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, American Philosophical Society <Passy, October 1, 1778: Pay to John Adams 6,000 l.t. and charge the same to the commissioners’ account.> This letter only exists as copied in the account books of JA and WTF . It is published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VII , under Oct. 1; it also appears in Account III described above, XXIII , 19.
17The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 27 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We recd. yours of the 22d Inst. acquainting us that Capt. Reed in the Baltimore has bro’t from 40 to 50 hhds. of Tobacco consigned to you by the Committee of Commerce. We have advice of the same from the Committee, who let us know that the Qty. is 49 hhds. which they have order’d to be sold and the Money held at our...
18The American Commissioners to John Bondfield, 19 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have considered your plan and think it will be proper to send it to Congress for their Approbation. We desire you will purchase and ship on public Account in the best and cheapest Manner 28 Iron Cannon of 24 pound Ball and 28 of 18 lb. You will be so good as to send one set of Bills of Loading to us and another to...
19The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 1 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; three copies and transcript: National Archives <Passy, October 1, 1778: We have received your letter of September 27 and its enclosure. Our instructions from Congress do not empower us to conclude treaties with the Barbary states but we request your help in obtaining passes from them for American...
20The American Commissioners to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, 29 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; three copies and one transcript: National Archives <Passy, July 29, 1778: We received your letters of May 14 and 15. We congratulate you on the general good appearance of our affairs and are happy you are determined to accept no peace terms contrary to our alliance with France. We have not received from Congress the authorization we need to remove...
21The American Commissioners to James Smith, 26 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives On the 28 of the last Month We had the Honour of writing to M. the Comte de Vergennes, concerning your Goods, and in the same Letter, We requested that some Mode might be prescribed by which Americans, well affected to their Country, might pass through this Kingdom in their Way home with their Effects Duty free. The...
22The American Commissioners to Dumas, 10/16 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): University of Virginia Library; two copies: National Archives We have received yours of the 2d Instant, with the Declaration sign’d by Mr. Van Berckel, and his explanatory Letter to you, which give us much pleasure, as they show the good Disposition of that respectable Body, the Burgomasters of Amsterdam towards the United States of America, and their Willingness, as far as may...
23The American Commissioners to Ralph Izard, 26 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives Last Evening We had the Honour of an answer from the Comte de Vergennes to our Letter respecting your Goods. We inclose a Copy of it to you and believe it will be adviseable for you to wait on Mr. de Sartine. Perhaps he may not at first recollect the Article of the Treaty, as Mr. De Vergennes appears not to have done....
24Franklin and John Adams to Genet, 23 October 1778 [i.e., on or after 24 October 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress Messrs. Franklin and Adams present their Compliments to Mr. Genet, with Thanks for communicating the Papers, which they will read and consider, and furnish him with such Notes upon them as may occur. In BF ’s hand. We presume BF dated this letter erroneously, for it is in response to Genet’s of the 24th to each of the commissioners. They were as good as their promise;...
25The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 17 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: National Archives <Passy, July 17, 1778: We enclose a resolution of Congress about the treaties, and request that it be laid before the King. It will show him how he has won the hearts of that body and of the American people by a beneficence that time will never efface.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 298. See also the...
26The American Commissioners to Abraham Whipple, 13 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: National Archives (two), Yale University Library <Passy, July 13, 1778: We have ordered Capt. Tucker to join you for your cruises and homeward voyage; leave as soon as possible.> Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 160–1.
27The American Commissioners to Van Berckel, 29 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): National Archives <Passy, October 29, 1778: Some of your propositions can only be discussed in a personal interview. We wish you or someone authorized by you might meet one of us at Aix-la-Chapelle or any other place you may judge more convenient. We also leave to you the selection of fictitious names to be used when meeting.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VII . In Arthur...
28The American Commissioners to John Bondfield, 27 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have before us yours of the 23d Inst. and are very sorry that Capt. Ayres is so indisposed as to prevent his return to America in the General Arnold. We wholly refer the appointmt. of a Master for this Vessel to you and Capt. Ayres and doubt not you will find a good Seaman and a person in whom you can confide. We...
29The American Commissioners to Sartine, 30 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: National Archives (two); incomplete copy: Archives nationales <Passy, October 30, 1778: We are honored by your letter of October 26 and grateful for the prompt release of some of our countrymen imprisoned at Dinan. We have received another petition from prisoners at Brest; it appears that there are ten of them, only four of whom we had...
30The American Commissioners to Sartine, 22 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, July 22, 1778: We have received your letters of July 15 and 18. Niggins and Selby are unknown to us, but unless something appears to invalidate their story please grant their request. We are sorry for the dispute between two officers of the Boston and some French crewmen. Captain Tucker has sent us his account of the...