601To Benjamin Franklin from Rudolph Erich Raspe, 26 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mesrs Waiz V Eshen, nevews of the Minister of that name, whom Your Excellency was acquainted with at Cassell in Germany, will have the honour to deliver those lines, in testimony of the profound esteem, which animates them for Your Excellency. They have travelled through the greater part of Germany, Sweden, Norway, and England in order to acquire usefull...
602To Benjamin Franklin from Nicholas Davis, 3 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society When I had the pleasure of seeing you in Paris Jany. was two years I was in hopes that I was in the high road to preferment and honour: As you have no doubt Sir long before now had the particulars of the Ship La Seins being taken by an Eng. Man of War in a few hours after leaving Martinico I imagine it would be unnecessary my adding any thing on that...
603To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 10 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Virginia Historical Society I had the Honor of writing to you the 30th. of March & 2d. of April last, requesting the favor of you to apply to the French Ministry for certain Canon, Arms & Ammunition for the State of Virginia; since which, I have not heard any thing from you on the Subject; you will therefore I hope excuse me for desiring to know,...
604To Benjamin Franklin from Margaret Stevenson, 16 March[–11 April 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I receved your kind Letter of Jany 25, verey good of you Indeed to grartfice a poor old woman but old as I am my filings of friendshipe and grattued will allways reemane, i own i was afread of your esteem lessing, and allthoe i never expecte to see you moere If i hear your weel it gives me Pleasuer, morer if you ware hapey for that you cannot be to...
605From Benjamin Franklin to Sarah Bache, 3 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, The Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D. F.R.S. &c . … (2nd. ed.; 2 vols., London, 1817), I , 42–5 I have before me your letters of Oct. 22, and Jan. 17th: they are the only ones I received from you in the course of eighteen months. If you knew how happy your letters make me, and considered how many miscarry, I think you would write...
606From Benjamin Franklin to François Bordot, 11 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I receiv’d your favours of the 27th past containing an Acct. of the taking of a strong English Privateer by the Courageuse. I am much oblig’d to you for the Information & have the honor to be &c. A former admiralty clerk at St. Pierre and Miquelon now interested in an American consulship: XXVIII , 44–5. XXVIII , 625.
607To Benjamin Franklin from Ingenhousz, 9 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since my last of last weak I saw your old femal friend in town. She came to sea me at my lodgings. She is very wel and in good spirits and desires me to send you her best wishes and to acquaint you that she recieved your kind lettre of Jan. last and will answer it in a short time. I will endeavour to bring you the copper for to roast a chicken in by a bold...
608To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 17 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Favour of the 10th. I received the Day before Yesterday, and am glad to hear that the Chevalier is making diligent Preparation for his Departure, for I wish, most impatiently to see him. Every day, now is a great Loss. In a Letter I wrote a few days ago I mentioned Some Reasons for prefering Boston to Delaware. I think there can be no doubt that there...
609To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Montgomery, 26 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I find Myself under the Necessety of Troubling your Excellency to Inform you, that Notwithstanding I have Every time that the foraigne Merchants Established here ware Called by the Governour to Declare of what Nation they ware, always declared and Subscribed Myself a Subject of the Thirteen United States of North America yet Yesterday on A proclamation of...
610To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Priestley, 11 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The bearer of this letter is Mr Hamilton a young gentleman of Ireland, travelling for his improvement. I have had a good deal of his company both in Wiltshire and in London, and think him to be a person who will not disgrace any little countenance that it may be convenient to you to give him. He is a friend of liberty, and a lover of science. I often wish...
611To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Allaire, 10 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress An Offer has been made me, which I think worthy Your Attention, as it may be of Infinite service to the fleets & Armies of America. A person has Applyed to me to furnish any Quantity (not less then 20 lb weight) of Doctr: James’s fever Powders, so well known all over Europe, for fifteen Shill, Ster. an Oz. Each Oz Contains 12 Packages, and the price that James &...
612To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 18 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania My letters under the dates of the 11th. & 15th. Inst— will inform You very fully of the final conclusion of the business I was lately upon, and I make no doubt but the rejection has been lamented by another party concernd fully as much as by me & my friends. The Books You orderd are already Shipd on board the Dutch Ship Anna Maria Captn. Christiaan...
613From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, [11 May 1779 or after] (Franklin Papers)
AL and AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Vous m’avez dit, ma chere fille, que vôtre Coeur est trop sensible . Je vois bien, dans vos Lettres, que cela est trop vraie . D’etre fort sensible de nos propres fautes; c’est bon; parceque cela nous mêne de les eviter en futur: Mais d’etre fort sensible & affligé des Fautes d’autres Gens,—ce n’est pas bon. C’est à eux d’être sensible là, &...
614To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 18 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): National Archives; copy: United States Naval Academy Museum I have this moment Anchored here. M. de Chaumont will communicate to you the Object of my present destenation as well as inform you where I mean to anchor about Ten days hence to receive your final Orders.— I have had a most disagreeable Task to compose Affairs on board the Alliance— The two principal Officers Lieutenants...
615To Benjamin Franklin from Gioanni de Bernardi with Franklin’s Note for a Reply: résumé, 20 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Turin, March 20, 1779, in Italian: The reputation acquired throughout Europe by the glorious thirteen American colonies, their success and wise legislation, have aroused in me a desire to see this new republic with my own eyes and offer it my services as a jurist. The best way I can think to accomplish this is to turn to you. I realize that you know...
616To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 25 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will be presented you by Mrs Richards who with her Children, is coming hither to meet & continue with her Husband.— Mr. Richards has been here some time past, & has been employed by Mr Johnson & myself in our ’Counting Houses, as his Intention is to continue in the american Business in this Place, or perhaps to settle with his Family in america, we...
617To Benjamin Franklin from Woestyn frères, 20 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Les vœux que toutte la france forme pour l’heureux accomplissement des soins qui vous occupent et le desir qui nous anime de contribuer en notre particulier et par nos foibles moiens à reduire nos énnemis Communs, nous à determiné de faire construire au havre de grace, une frégatte pour la Course de 24 canons de 8 lb. de balle et de Suplier Son Excéllence...
618From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 27 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Archives de la Marine I have at the Request of M. De Sartine postponed the Sending the Alliance to America, and have order’d her to proceed immediately from Nantes to L’Orient, where she is to be furnished with her Complement of Men, join your little Squadron and act under your Command. The Marquis de la Fayette will be with you soon. It has...
619To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 26 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am much obliged to you for the kind Notice you were pleased to take of my little Fellow.— I may be partial but I think him the finest Lad I ever saw, and I shall take care to give such an Education & to impress his mind with such principles as will, I hope, prevent his being unworthy of the Blessing you were pleased to bestow upon him.— I had a Brother...
620To Benjamin Franklin from Becker & Saltzmann, 20 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Pandant la Guerre en Allemagne, qui heuresement vient d’estre finie, nous avons fait Speculation pour livrer des Uniformes a une partie de l’Armée de notre Souverain, de laquelle nous restent environ quatre mille Uniformes, ne pouvant plus les emploÿer, l’Idé nous est venue, d’envoÿer une Uniforme Complette a Votre Exellençe pour Vous offrir le tout...
621To Benjamin Franklin from Louis-Casimir, Baron de Holtzendorff, 28 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You have been so Kind as to forward some Letters, from your country, to London, which I had the honour to give you when I arrived; therefore I do myself the pleasure to send you hereby three other ones, I received Lately from carolina I can’t tell by which way, hoping you will be so good again as to forward them too. As for the rest, I’m flattring myself,...
622From Benjamin Franklin to Landais, 4 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I receiv’d yours of the 26 past, relating to the Refitting of your Ship. Your Reasons for not mixing french seamen with the American seem to be good. On the Representations of Dr. Winship to the same Effect, who came from you and expressed your Mind to me, I laid aside the thought of applying to the Minister for a proper Number of them, to enable you to make a Cruize...
623To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 2 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: University of Virginia Library I have recd. your favor of this days date in which you mention a complaint from the House of Penet Da Costa Freres & Co. that the Arms prepar’d in consequence of an agreemt. with me thro’ my Br. were refus’d because they were not furnish’d at the time agreed.— This complaint on the face of it gives its own answr. since...
624To Benjamin Franklin from Matthew Ridley, 4 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Being much taken up with preparations for my departure to America has prevented me makeing you my congratulations, earlier, on your appointment as sole Commissioner from the United States of America, to the Court of Versailles— Tho’ late, I trust you will not think me less sincere.— My Wishes are, that you may long live to enjoy your appointment; that you...
625From 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...