1To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques-Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont, [before 15 June 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society M. de Chaumont à L’honneur de rèprèsenter à Messieurs les Ministres plènipotentiaires du Congrès que les Marchandises d’Europe seront à des Prix Excessifs en amerique pendant la Guerre, si on n’ouvre pas aux Nègociants un moyen d’aprovisionner L’amerique à meilleur Compte. Fait Une aune de Drap qui coute en Europe 20 l.t. revient en amerique à 80 l.t. a...
2Franklin’s List of Papers relating to the Alliance, [before 26 June 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AD : University of Pennsylvania Library List of Papers. N° 1. Letter from the Navy Board. Dec. 21. 1778. mentioning the Orders to Capt. Landais to obey the Orders of Mr Franklin 2. Second Letter from the Officers of the Alliance complaining of Capt. Landais Feb. 2. 1779. Note, Another in stronger Terms was receiv’d & sent to America. 3. Another from Ditto complaining of Short Allowance March...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Grand, [before 23 April 1780?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Hy. Grand’s most respectfull Compliments wait on Doctor Franklin sends him according to his father’s request the inclosed Letter, to which he will be pleased to honour him with an answer as soon as possible. What his Excellency May have determined relative to his Account will also be very agreable as Mr. Grand will loose no time in winding of it up in...
LS : American Philosophical Society <[before March, 1780], in French: I feel sorrier every day that my suggestions of two years ago were not accepted. Had we been allowed to attack under the American flag the English sailing in the Mediterranean, as I proposed, we would have destroyed their commerce. If Sartine had given me the twelve hundred deserters for which I had asked, I would have...
5Editorial Note on Franklin’s Accounts, 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Two new accounts begin during the period covered by this volume: XXV. Account of Postage and Errands, April 1, 1780, to May 31, 1783: American Philosophical Society, 237 pages. A collection of monthly statements and bills which are all marked as having been paid by order on Ferdinand Grand. For the months under consideration in this volume the statements, in French, were submitted by the cook,...
6Editorial Note on Promissory Notes, 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Now that Franklin was distributing printed promissory note forms to prisoners receiving assistance, we will no longer publish individual promissory notes as sample documents. Instead, in this and subsequent editorial notes, we will take notice of each person, the date on which he received a loan, and the sum. Printed forms survive from thirteen escaped prisoners for the months covered by this...
7Invitation to the Fête Apollonienne, [before 23 June 1780] (Franklin Papers)
D : American Philosophical Society Fête Apolloniene à St. Cloud le 27. juin 1780 On partira à 7. heures du matin en Batelets. Musique Militaire Sur l’Eau à midi, assemblée académique jusqu’à une heure et demie. Il y sera fait lecture de divers morceaux d’Eloquence et de Poësie. Il y aura exposition de differens ouvrages de Peinture, de Sculpture, d’Architecture et de Gravure. A deux heures Le...
8To Benjamin Franklin from the Abbé Arnoux, [before May 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society L’abbé Arnoux prie Monsieur franklin de lui donner une lettre de Recommandione auprès de quelques uns de ses amis de Neuport de providence ou de Rhodisland pour M. Petry Secretaire de l’armée françoise aux ordres de M. de Rochambeau, et sous Lieutenant d’infanterie. M. petry est très honnette, et on ne scauroit dire trop de bien de son esprit et de son...
Printed invitation: American Philosophical Society L∴ R∴ L∴ des Neuf Sœurs, Est convoquée pour le Lundy 1er . du 3e . mois de D∴ L∴ D∴ L∴ V∴ 5780. à 11 heures précises. Le très cher et très Illustre f ∴ Paul Jones y assistera. Vous êtes priés d’y venir augmenter les douceurs de l’union fraternelle. Il y aura Lectures, Banquet et Concert . Je suis, par les N∴ C∴ D∴ F∴ M∴ V∴ T∴ H∴ & affectionné...
10From Benjamin Franklin to King Louis XVI, [March 1780] (Franklin Papers)
L : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania M. franklin attendoit L’arrivée de la fregatte La Confederation, pour envoyer a Philadelphie des Munitions de guerre, et L’habillement Complet de quinze mils Soldats, qui en Sont absolument Depourvus. Cette fregatte etoit destinée a porter M Gerard en france, elle a été dematée de tous Mats Sur le Banc...
11To Benjamin Franklin from American Gentlemen in France, [March 1780] (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; draft and transcript: National Archives The Glory acquired to the American Arms and the injury done to the Common Enemy of France and America, by the Squadron lately under Commodore Jones have afforded us very great Satisfaction, and this would be sensibly increased in our minds and advantageously Communicated to our Countrymen on the other side of the Atlantic,...
12To Benjamin Franklin from François-Louis Teissèdre de Fleury, March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Obliged to joign immediately My Regiment at Brest I can not possibly Receive Myself, the Medall, which you was so good, agreable to the dezire of Congress, to have struck for me, but my father will be proud to Receive it in my absence. If you thought proper to send it, (with a Letter for me) to Mr. L’abbé gibelin, hotel de sabran, Ruë fauxbourg st. honoré;...
13From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 1 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; two copies: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the Honour of writing to me the 25. & 28th past. I am glad to learn that you can take a Quantity of the Cloathing and Arms: and that you can accommodate the 4 Gentlemen I had mentiond to you. M. De Sartine desires also a Place for a Passenger that goes on some Business from him: I make no doubt of your...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Pierre Landais, 1 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I receiv’d the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 28th. past. Inclos’d I send you the certificate I gave you the last time I saw you to justify your stay in Paris till the Time of its Date, You left it on my table. As I do not understand that Capt. Jones has refused to deliver your Things, or that any Application has been made for them, an Order to him...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques-Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont, [1 March? 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society M. de Chaumont a L’honneur d’envoyer a S. Ex. la depesche cy Jointe de M. Dumas, et La Lettre de M. Landais pour Scavoir Ce que S. Ex. veut qu’il Reponde. M. De Chaumont Croit que M. Jones n’a lair de Chercher a estre employé en france que pour pouvoir dire en amerique qu’il ne Couroit pas après Le Commandement de L’alliance. Notation: M. de Chaumont. On...
16To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 1 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having been very much chagrined with the delay of the Cartel I writ some time ago a very pressing letter to the admiralty earnestly requesting them for the sake of humanity to quicken the ceremonious forms of office. They have sent me notice of their compliance & that another vessel is under sailing orders; probably by this time sailed. They add in their...
17To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Du Marquet and Other Applicants for Emigration, 1 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The first applicant for emigration during the months covered by this volume, whose letter is printed below, is torn between his patriotism and a desire to provide his children with an upbringing appropriate to their birth. On March 4 a discalced Carmelite friar named Father Paulus writes in Latin from Saint Peter’s Church in Marseilles, wishing to emigrate...
18From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Lafayette, 2 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I receiv’d with Pleasure the Letter you honour’d me with of the 29th. past, and am infinitely obliged by the zeal and Assiduity with which you have forwarded our affairs at Versailles. The 15000. Arms and Accoutrements are a great article. I had written to Capt. Jones that Besides the 122. Bales of Cloth, we hoped for that quantity Arms which it was suppos’d he might...
19To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 2 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr Adams’s respectfull Compliments to Dr Franklin. Informs him that Monsieur the Comte De Vergennes has appointed him next Tuesday to be at Versailles in order to be presented to the King and Royal Family. Mr Adams will have the Honour to breakefast at Passy with Dr Franklin, at an hour early enough to go to Versailles, which he supposes will be 8 o Clock....
20To Benjamin Franklin from Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas: Two Letters, 2 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief; (II) AL : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief The Letter I send you a Copy herewith I have just received. The Autor of it having always professed himself a friend to the American cause, though not a more powerfull one than many others, deserves to be managed; & therefore I shall write to...
21From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 3 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This is to authorize & require you to receive & accomodate in your Ship as Passengers the honourable Arthur Lee & Ralph Izard, Esquires, late Ministers of the Congress at the Courts of France & Toscany. I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant Notations in different hands: Dr. Franklin’s order for our Passage / March 3d. 1780 Two weeks earlier BF had agreed to...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 3 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I recd your favrs. of the 2d. & 9th. Feby very safely, and by a Country man (Capn. Ben Carpenter of the Cartel ship lately from Boston to Bristol) I take the opportunity to forward you a letter from Mr DH which will explain the state of the Cartel; I am in hopes before I seal my letter to also get one from Mr Hodgson; & not unlikely one from Mr Banks...
23To Benjamin Franklin from John Jay, 3 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, Columbia University Library On this Day I gave the House of Messrs. Jaques, Louis And Laurt. Le Couteullx of this Place, a Set of Bills on you for two Thousand five hundred and Sixty four Livres Eighteen Sols and ten Donrs. [deniers] payable ninety Days after the Date. I am Dear Sir with great Regard & Esteem your most Obedient Servant For this firm’s prior...
24To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 3 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft) and transcript: National Archives I had the Honor to write to your Excellency the 21st: & 25th: Ulto.— We have hitherto had no Assistance from the Port and I now hope to get the Alliance ready with out them.— The Arms for the Continent if I am to take them on board the Alliance will be wanted soon as they cannot so well be Stowed after we begin...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Mancet & Cie. and Other Offerers of Goods and Schemes, 3 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A number of people had concrete goods to offer the Americans and some others hoped Franklin would collaborate with or promote their pet project or plan for the new republican states. The Brest shipowners Mancet & Cie., whose letter is published below, want permission to give Franklin’s name to their new privateer. Also in the maritime line comes a project...
26From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Bancroft, 4 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress You will see by the enclos’d that a Demand is made of replacing the Things belonging to The Serapis which Comme. Jones borrowed from her and took on board the Alliance when he changed ships. I request you to manage this affair with him in your usual Prudence. I am ever, my Dear friend, Yours most affectionately. When Jones, on BF ’s orders, turned over his prize, the...
27From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Huntington, 4 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS and AL (draft): National Archives; copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives M. Gerard, under whose Care I understand the Dispatches from Congress to me, were forward’d, is not yet arrived here, and I have not received them. I cannot therefore at present answer any thing that may be contained in them. He is however expected next Week, and I may afterwards have time to write...
28To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, [4 March 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I am for the last time Going to Versaïlles, My Good friend, and Any Command from You on this occasion will be very well Come— As I am in a great hurry for My departure, Be so kind as to let me know if You want me to Come to Your lodgings to Morrow at ten o’clock or if you choose Better to Call here. If it is equal to you, I’d thank you for your dispatches...
29To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Briqueville de La Luzerne and Other Favor Seekers, 4 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Franklin received a large number of requests for favors during the four months covered by this volume. Heading them chronologically is Briqueville de La Luzerne’s plea for Franklin’s help in obtaining his release from jail, which we publish below. A prisoner of another kind, captured at war, tries to obtain his freedom on March 20 through the intercession...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Lewis Littlepage, 4 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You will I hope excuse my neglect in not sooner answering the letter with which you honour’d me and returning thanks for your generous and friendly advice I only waited to do it in person; but my journey has been daily pospon’d for the company of an American Gentleman, ’till I beleive we have both declin’d it. I am sorry to have no American papers for your...