1From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 21 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress The Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me Yesterday, gives me the first Information of the Resolution mentioned as taken by the State of Maryland relating to their Money in England. If there is no Mistake in the Intelligence, (which I apprehend there may be) and such a Power as is supposed should come to my...
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society Since my last of the 14th. of Jany. the following Setts of Exchange have issued from my Office Viz To Pennsylvania Dolls 150 setts 36 Dolls. No. 2218–2367 = 5,400 To New Jersey Dolls 50 setts 30 Dols. No. 2026–2075 = 1,500
3From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 24 May 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society Messieurs Galatin & De Serres, two young Gentlemen of Geneva, of good Families and very good Characters, having an Inclination to see America; if they should arrive in your City, I recommend them to your Civilities, Counsel and Countenance. I am ever, Your affectionate Father Addressed: To / Richard Bache Esqe / Postmaster General of the / United States /...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 3 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I seldom hear from you or Sally, but I have lately had the satisfaction of hearing of you, that you and yours were all well the Begining of april last. I send you in a Parcel by this Opportunity some of the Correspondence betwen Ben and me. He was well a few weeks since, and very kindly notic’d where he is, by some respectable People. I continue, Thanks to God, well...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 27 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Mrs. Richard R. Wood, Wawa, Pennsylvania (1957) I have just received yours of may 2. with the Newspapers which you sent by M. Mease. He sent them up from the L’Orient, not coming to Paris himself. I have desired that you might send me the German Newspapers, but I suppose the Letters did not get to hand. Pray take them in, and send them by Duplicates. They will much oblige some of my...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Sarah Bache, 27 June 1780[–12 August 1780] (Franklin Papers)
LS : Mrs. Martin M. Kendig, Chicago, Illinois (1955) I received your pleasing Letters of Nov. 14. Mr. aston whom you recommended to me has been here, and I treated him with the Civilities you desired. I was glad to hear that William, Betsy & Louis, tho’ the two latter are yet Strangers to me, were all well & lively. Will was always lively. Tell me what Improvement he makes in his Learning. He...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Sarah Bache, 16 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letters of Sept. 14. and 25th. You mention the Silk being in a Box with Squirrel Skins, but it is come to hand without them or the Box. Perhaps they were spoilt by the Salt Water & thrown away; for the Silk is much damag’d and not at all fit to be presented as you propose. Indeed I wonder how having yourself scarce Shoes to your Feet,...
8From 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...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Paul Bentalou, 15 May 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Buckskin not belonging to the United States, but to private Persons, I have no authority to order a Passage for you in that Ship, as you desire. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Servant Captain Bentalon, chez Mr. Changeur Negt. rue Rousselle à Bordeaux A captain in Pulaski’s Legion and close friend of his, he was wounded at Savannah,...
10From Benjamin Franklin to John Bondfield, 19 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours offering the Govr. Livingston and mary fearon for the service of the United States. Understanding little about shipping, I leave those Matters to Mr. de Chaumont and Mr. Williams. I have spoken to the former, and given him your letter. He is gone to Versailles to Day, where some Points are to be considered relating to The transport of the Goods, and...
11From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Bond, 16 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., The Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin LL.D. F.R.S. &c. … (2nd ed.; 2 vols., London, 1817), I , 59–60. I received your kind letter of September the 22d, and I thank you for the pleasing account you give me of the health and welfare of my old friends, Hugh Roberts, Luke Morris, Philip Syng, Samuel Rhoades, &c. with the same of yourself and...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Cabanis, [30 June 1780] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from John Bigelow, The Life of Benjamin Franklin, Written by Himself (5th ed.; 3 vols., Philadelphia, 1905), II , 496b–496c Daily expectation of having a printed copy of the enclosed paper to send you (which I did not receive till last night) has made me too long omit answering your kind letter of the 10th of last month. I imagine you may collect from it all that is necessary to be...
13From Benjamin Franklin to ——— Caccia, 8 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Albert M. Greenfield, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1958) I unfortunately mislaid M. Cavalliers Letter, & have totally forgotten the Subject of it, or I should have answer’d it long since. If you can make me recollect the purport of it, I will send you an Answer immediately. I have the honour to be Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Servt. Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Caccia / a...
14From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 17 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Your favour of the 22 past came duly to Hand. Sir J.D. has been here some time, but I hear nothing of his political Operations. The Learned talk of the Discovery he has made in the Escurial Library, of 40 Epistles of Brutus, a missing Part of Tacitus and a Piece of Seneca, that have never yet been printed which excite much Curiosity. He has not been with me and I am...
15From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 31 March[–7 April 1780] (Franklin Papers)
Copies (two): Library of Congress I received by M. Gerard your kind Letter written at Philadelphia. His safe Return has given me great pleasure. As soon as I received yours of Jan 25 from Cadix, I order’d a Credit of 1000 Louis d’ors to be Lodg’d for Mr. Jay and you, by Mr. Grand with his Banker at Madrid. He wrote by the next post. It does not appear by yours of March 13, that you had then...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 16 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Henry E. Huntington Library I received your kind Favour by Capt. Chavagnes, which I communicated to the Minister of the Marine, who was much pleased with the Character you give of the Captain. I have also yours of Nov. 12. by your Grandson, who appears a very pretty promising Lad, in whom I think you will have much Satisfaction. He is in a Boarding School just by me, and was well last...
17From Benjamin Franklin to Delleville, 15 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 10th. Instant, relating to the seven Americans who had Escaped in a boat from England, and arriv’d on your Coast. I beg you to accept my thankful Acknowledgements for the hospitality you have shown them—. I hope they will be allow’d to sell the Boat to furnish themselves with necessaries. Monseigneur...
18From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Digges, 25 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours inclosing a very obliging Letter from Mr. President Banks. The Congress cannot be said to have ordered the Instructions I gave, tho’ they would no doubt have done it, if such a Thing had been mentioned to them. It is therefore not proper to use any farther Endeavours to procure a Medal for them. I do not indeed perceive that one is intended for me as...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Digges, 15 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress In compliance with your Recommendation, which I very much respect, I have given the Passports desired by Captains Mitchel and Carpenter. All these Businesses give me trouble for which I charge nothing; I hope there fore that the Gentlemen will in return do some thing on my Recommendation, and that is, to let me see their Names in the list of Subscribers for the Relief...
20From Benjamin Franklin to John Diot and Co., 23 May 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the honour of yours (without date) but enclosing three Papers from the Admiralty, relating to a Prize called the Betsey. As none of her Papers have been produced, and the only Person of her Crew that was brought in, was missing when he should have been examined, I find no Grounds to go upon in condemning her. This Vessel is the Third brought in, without...
21From Benjamin Franklin to [Dumas], 31 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Boston Public Library; transcript: National Archives I wrote to you yesterday relating to the Affair of your Letter to Mr Carmichael that you might know exactly the Truth of the Transaction. On Reflection I think it proper to add, that what I wrote was for your Satisfaction only; and that as the making it publick would give infinite Pain to a very worthy Man, Mr. F. Grand, who would then...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, 5 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives The Gentleman whose Name you wish’d to know in one of your late Letters, is M. Westhuysen Echevin & Conseiller de la Ville de Harlem. I shall probably [send an order?] to that Place for some of the Types, of which you have sent me the Prices, before I leave Europe. I think them very good and not dear....
23From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, 23 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I am Much pleased with the Account you give me, of the Disposition with which the Proposals from the Empress of Russia have been received, and desire to be informed from time to time of the progress of that interesting Business. I Shall be glad to hear of your perfect Reconciliation with the Because a Continuance of your Difference will...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas: Two Letters, 29 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) Copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I did receive the Letter you mention to have enclos’d for Mr. Carmichael in yours of the 25th. of february. I had before received a Letter from him Dated at Cadiz, acquainting me that he was just Setting out for Madrid, and desiring I would send him a Credit there for 200 Louis. Mr. F. Grand, our Banker here had undertaken...
25From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas: Two Letters, 22 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) copies: Library of Congress, National Archives I received duly yours of May 23. June 2, 6. 8. and 15.— Inclosed you have a Letter for the Gentleman you recommended to me. He seems to be a man of Abilities. The Words before I leave Europe , had no Relation to any Particular immediate Intention, but to the General one I flatter myself with, of being able to return and spend there...
26From Benjamin Franklin to Octavie Guichard Durey de Meinières, 23 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society It is certain that Mr. Franklin has promised Madame Helvetius that he will accompany her on Wednesday next to the Pavillions de Chaillot. He has long desired to pay his Duty there, but was afraid to encounter the keen and fine Reproaches of Made de Meinieres, which he had before experienc’d, and which his Conscience told him he deserved. He resolved,...
27From Benjamin Franklin to Duvivier, 4 May 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society J’ai montré les Epreuves de la Medaille à plusieurs Personnes, qui les ont trouvées bien, a l’exception des Lettres qui composent l’Inscription dans l’Exergue. Elles sont si irregulieres, que je vous prie de les corriger s’il est possible. J’ai l’honneur d’etre A M. du Vivier, Graveur du Roi aux Galeries du Louvre See Vote about the Medals—
28From Benjamin Franklin to the Eastern Navy Board, 15 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I acquainted you in a former Letter, that there were great Misunderstandings between Capt. Landais and the other Officers of his ship. These Differences arose to such a Height, that the Captain once wrote me, he would quit the Command rather than continue with them. Some of them leaving the Ship, that Disturbance Seem’d to be quieted. But there has Since arisen...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Fizeaux, Grand & Cie., 23 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your respected favours of the Instant with your Acct of Expences relating to the Cases of Characters &ca. which I have desired M. F. Grand to discharge in my Behalf, and am much obliged by your Care in forwarding them to Rouen. Plese to Accept my Thanks and belive me to be with sincere Esteem. Gentlemene Y. m. o. and M. h. S. These were the eight boxes of...
30From Benjamin Franklin to John Fothergill, 19 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin (2 vols., London, 1817), I , 64–5. My dear old friend, Dr. Fothergill, may assure Lady H. of my respects, and of any service in my power to render her, or her affairs in America. I believe matters in Georgia cannot much longer continue in their present situation, but will return to that state in which they...