511To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquise de Lafayette, [August 24 or 26] 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mde. De La fayette offre ses tendres hommages, a monsieur franklin, elle a fait sa commission pour Mr. D’aguesseau, qui La assurée que Laffaire de m. Alexander, seroit jugée la semaine prochaine. Mde. De La fayette prie monsieur franklin de recevoir Lassurance des voeux bien sinceres, quelle forme pour Le suçcés dune affaire qui L’interesse. Elle Lui...
512To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Mallet, 2 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je prends la liberté de vous donner avis qu’un jeunhomme d’ici ma présenté hier un M. qui dit vous appartenir comme neveu, né à Boston, quil est Suivant un passeport délivré à Cherbourg le 24. May dernier, marin, venant des prisons angloises par le Paquebot le prince Indien et quil se nomme William Williams. Il dit vous avoir Ecrit hier et ce jour. J’ai...
513From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 12 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Since my last of the 6th. Inst. there have been several Arrivals in France from America. I have Letters from Philda. of the 20th. June, tho’ none from Congress. The Advices are, that General Green has taken all the Enemy’s Out Posts in So. Carolina & Georgia, and that their Possession in those Provinces is reduc’d...
514Certification of a Deed, [12 October 1781] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society I the underwritten do hereby certify, that the within Writing appears to me to be a genuine Deed, being in all the Forms customary in Philadelphia, where it purports to have been executed. Based on a certificate d’Autun himself had drafted in French for BF to use as a model. It began by asserting that the signature of John Miller, “un des Juges de paix pour...
515To Benjamin Franklin from Silas Talbot, 4 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Excellency will by the date hereof that it comes from a prisoner, and which is the cause of my present address, therefore on the Confidence of your favor, beg leave to inform you, that in October last being then in, and having the Command, of the arm’d Ship of War, called the Genl. Washington, in which Vessel had the Misfortune to be Captured by his...
516To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Johnson, 12 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Ridley is about returning to France in prosecution of his private Affairs and impowered to transact some Business for this State your Acquaintance with him in France must have given you favourable Impressions of him— I have known him a long Time and he is one of the very few for the promoting whose Views I would request your Countenance. I am dear Sir...
517From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 6 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your respected Letter of the 28th. past and shall duly honour the Bills you mention to have drawn for the 4444 Dollars.— I delivered your inclosed to M. Laurens, who will write to you. What Goods he intends to go in the Active are at Nantes, viz, some Chests of Arms & some Medecines, which he thinks will not be a Quantity to make the relanding of the old...
518To Benjamin Franklin from John Bondfield, 30 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is with concern we have by this mornings post the Confirmation of the Capture of the Marquis de la fayett. The loss sustaind by America by the nessessity they are under for the Goods shipt by that Vessel engages me into using this first opportunity of tendering you a considerable party of Broad Cloths with other nessessary furniture as linings & trimings...
519To Benjamin Franklin from John Shaffer, 8 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I make No doubt but you Exelency have heard of the Ill treatment I met with. I was arrasted by A Mr Dotun Le sage At Paris for a sum of money wich he pretents I owe him And it is Very Clear that I have sufred and lost Near 72 thousand Livers and do Not owe him A Sheling. I was arrested in the most Cruel manner my arms tyed and Put in to a dunjen for Near 24...
520To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 30 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I now remain without any reply to my Letters of the 4th & 18 Sepr, at which I am rather surprised, I find however that Major Cowley concerning whom I wrote has obtained his Parole by which it appears the Black Princess acted under a French Commission he being released as such— The Commissioners of Sick & Hurt sent for me a few days ago & informed, that they...