1To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre-François de Boy with Franklin’s Note to John Laurens and Laurens’ Response, May 7 [–on … (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Sent to you the Copy of the Certificate, and too that of the Some Sundry papers, from the War Office who Given to me, because I have Lost’d my Comission from the Hble. Congress, when the ennemies have Taken Brunswick, and too Besides all my things. I shall desire to Go again in your Country, if you Can Employ me, as you will please, very much oblige, to...
2To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Du Mourier with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, 18 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’etais dejà penetré depuis longtems de veneration pour vos connaissances, votre patriotisme & vos vertus. Mr. Nixon Eclesiastique vient de me confier sa position & votre generosité, je luy ay payé sur le champ la lettre de Change qu’il tire sur vous. Mr. Le Mis. de Clarac qui se trouvait chez moy vous la remettra, & recevra de vous le comptant, il a voulu...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Queen Marie-Antoinette, [after 22 October 1781] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Je suis heureux, Madame, de cette Occasion de presenter à vôtre Majesté, les Respects & les Affections de toute les Etats de l’Amerique septentrionale. The day the queen gave birth to the dauphin, Louis-Joseph-Xavier-François: Jour. de Paris , Oct. 23, 1781. The birth, after eleven years of marriage, was the occasion for great rejoicing: the...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, 1 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu votre petite chere Epitre, ma bonne fille, datté a Villeneuve le 27 passée. Vous parlez des bons Amis qui vous soignent bien, des belles Vues que vous avez par vos fenétres, &c. Tout cela me fait du plaisir à entendre; mais je pense continuellement des Fatigues que vous devez souffrir dans une si longue voyage; des mauvaises Auberges, mauvaises...
5From Benjamin Franklin to St. John de Crèvecoeur, 21 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I should have answered sooner your Letter of the 7th. but that it happen’d to mislaid.— Inclos’d I send the Letter you desire for Govr. Hancock. I have now no Acquaintance left in New York Government, but its Delegates to Congress, to whom you mention being already known. Made. la Comtesse d’Houdetot has warmly recommended to me a M. Crevecoeur who had...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Conrad-Alexandre Gérard, 17 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I enclose the Letters for M. Beyerlé. But as by the Note concerning him it seems he has Expectations of being employ’d in our Army, I cannot but be sorry that he should undertake so expensive & hazardous a Voyage with those Views, being persuaded that he will not find such Employment. I am expressly charged not to encourage officers to go over, and therefore can give...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, [12] August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS , AL (draft), and copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives Inclos’d I send you a late Paper rec’d from Rhodeisland. You will see in it the advantages our Troops have gain’d in South Carolina. Later Advices directly from Philadelphia, say, that the Enemy have now nothing left in Georgia, but Savannah; in South Carolina, but Charlestown; nor in North Carolina but Wilmington....
8From Benjamin Franklin to Marignac, 31 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Made Montgomery qui me fait l’honneur de se charger de celle cy, est une Dame Ameriquaine qui n’a d’autre But en venant en Europe, que celui de donner la meilleure Education a son fils unique, qui l’accompagne. M’ayant demandé mon Conseil a ce Sujet, j’ai cru ne pouvoir mieux seconder ses Vues qu’en vous l’adressant. Il seroit inutile de vous recommander...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris: Two Letters, 26 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) AL (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress I have just received your very friendly Letter of the 6th of June past, announcing your Appointment to the Superintendance of our Finances. This gave me great Pleasure, as from your Intelligence, Integrity and Abilities, there is reason to hope every Advantage that the Publick can possibly receive from such an Officer. You are wise in...
10From Benjamin Franklin to Ingenhousz, 2 October 1781[–21 June 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and LS : Library of Congress It is a long time, my dear Friend, since I have had the Pleasure of writing to you. I have postpon’d it too often, from a Desire of writing a good deal on various Subjects, which I could not find sufficient time to think of properly: Your Experiments on the Conducting of Heat was one Subject; the finishing my Remarks on the Stroke of lightning in Italy...
11From Benjamin Franklin to Gourlade & Moylan, 21 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and incomplete copy: Library of Congress I receiv’d the Letter you honour’d me with of the 2d Instant. Mr Williams having seen & approved of the Acct. for the Ballance of which, (6942.13.3) you drew on me in favour of Messrs Pothonnier & Co. I have this Day accepted that Bill, and it will be duly paid.— I have also just received Mr Gourlade’s Letter of the 16th. relating to the...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Palteau de Veimerange, 20 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the Honour of Writing to me the 17th Instant, together with a State of the Effects & Merchandizes which you are collecting at Brest in order to be sent to America. As we have no Agent at Brest, and I have the fullest Confidence in a principal Commissary employed under your Orders, I think it best to continue the...
13From Benjamin Franklin to the Comtesse d’Houdetot, 21 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress It has been a great Mortification to me that I have not been able this last Summer to pay my Respects to my Respectable and dear Friend at Sanois. The Journey has been often talk’d of among us at Madam Helvetius’s, but some obstruction or other has always interfer’d and occasion’d it to be delay’d: I have from time to time enquired concerning your Welfare, and had the...
14From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 28 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society The Bearer, Mr Harrison, is a young Gentleman of good Fortune & Character, a Native of Philadelphia, and extremely well recommended to me by Persons of Distinction there. I beg leave to introduce him to your Excellency & to request for him your Protection and Counsels. He will explain to you his Views in going to Holland, where he purposes to reside some...
15From Benjamin Franklin to Edmund Burke, 15 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and two copies: Sheffield Central Library; two copies: Library of Congress I received but a few days ago your very friendly Letter of August last, on the Subject of General Burgoyne. Since the foolish Part of Mankind will make Wars from time to time with each other, not having Sense enough otherwise to settle their Differences, it certainly becomes the wiser Part, who cannot prevent those...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Court de Gébelin, 7 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: Library of Congress I am glad the little Book prov’d acceptable. It does not appear to me intended for a Grammar to teach the Language. It is rather what we call in English a Spelling Book , in which the only Method observ’d, is, to arrange the Words according to their Number of Syllables, placing those of one Syllable together, then those of two Syllables, and so on.— And it is...
17From Benjamin Franklin to Fizeaux, Grand & Cie., 5 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the Honour of Writing to me the 30th past. I have no doubt of obtaining such an Order from the Ministry respecting the Money in your Hands, as you apprehend to be necessary. In the mean time, as that Money was granted to the United States on my Application, and I am under more than equivalent Engagements on their Account...
18From Benjamin Franklin to [Antoine-Jean Amelot de Chaillou], [11 September 1781] (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete copy: Library of Congress Departure without paying them a very considerable Sum, due for Goods purchased of them by him for the State of South Carolina; and they have desired me to certify, that the said Capt. Gillon was duly authorised by that State to purchase Goods for the public Service thereof. In Compliance with their Request, I beg leave to acquaint your Excellency That I...
19From Benjamin Franklin to William Jackson, 6 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS and transcript: National Archives; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received and answer’d two of your Expresses Yesterday Morning, and in the Evening I recd. a third Letter from you, all dated the 2d Inst. In this last you tell me, “that I must be sensible I cannot have the Disposal of the Money, as it was obtained without either my Knowledge or Concurrence by Col. Lawrens,...
20From Benjamin Franklin to John Bondfield, 30 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 21. Inst. and return accepted the two Bills it enclos’d. In perusing your Account sent me the Beginning of March last, I observed considerable Sums advanced to Americans. The Advances for the Relief of poor distress’d Seamen I will pay, but the others to Officers and Gentlemen, I cannot allow, having no Orders to justify...
21From Benjamin Franklin to J. Rocquette, T.A. Elsevier & P. Th. Rocquette, 21 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honor of writing to me the 11th. Inst. The List of Bills it inclosed is not particular enough for me to examine whether they have or have not been already accepted: to enable me to do this it is necessary I should be acquainted with the Person’s Name in whose Favor each Bill is drawn. You may rely on my taking the greatest...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, 16 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives We have News here that your Fleet has behaved bravely; I congratulate you upon it, most cordially. I have just received a 14. 5. 3. 10. 28. 2. 76. 202: 66. 11. 12. 273, 50. 14. joining 76. 5. 42. 45. 16. 15. 424. 235. 19: 20. 69. 580. 11. 150. 27. 56. 35. 104. 652. 28. 675. 85. 79. 50....
23From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 16 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Columbia University Library; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received yours by Major Franks, which I shall answer fully per Saturday’s Post. The Letters you sent me of Capt. Gillon & Mr. Searle, give me, as you expected, abundance of Chagrin. I am afraid that Gillon will loiter at Corunna as he did at Amsterdam, and sell the Goods of the United States as he did those of the...
24From Benjamin Franklin to John Temple, 15 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received my old Friend’s Letter with Pleasure, as it inform’d me of his Welfare and safe Arrival on the Continent, and of the Welfare & continued Regard of my Friends in England.— Thanks to God I still enjoy Health and good Spirits, tho’ the English News writers have thought fit to kill me several times in their Prints. It must at last be true that I...
25From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 13 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Bristol Rhode Island Historical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress I received yours of June 20. It gave me great Pleasure, as it inform’d me of the Welfare of yourself and the dear Family. I am glad Ben’s Profile got safe to hand. I assure you it is very like him. He is well. I have read Mr. Wharton’s Pamphlet. The Facts, as far as I know them, are as he states them. Justice, is, I...
26From Benjamin Franklin to Clifford & Teysset, 8 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 31st. past, and I immediately apply’d to M. de Chaumont, representing to him the ill Consequences that must attend the Return of those Bills to America protested. He took the Matter into Consideration, and it is but this Instant that I have received his Answer, which I inclose. As I think with you...
27From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, 29 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I have just receiv’d yours of the 24th.—which I read with Pleasure. This serves to recommend to your Notice and Civilities the Bearer Dr Foulke, a young Physician of Philadelphia, of excellent Character, who travels for Improvement in his Profession. I recommend him earnestly to your Civilities, and request you would introduce him to...
28From Benjamin Franklin to Mallet, 7 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and L (draft): Library of Congress J’ai reçu, Monsieur, Votre Lettre du 2. de ce mois. Je n’ai aucune connoissance du nomme William Williams qui se dit mon Neveu; et Je ne puis prendre sur moi de lui faire aucunes Avances jusqu’a ce que Je sois sure qu’il est réellement dans le Cas d’en attendre de moi. A cet effet J’enverrai la Lettre qu’il m’a écrite à un habitant de Boston qui porte le...
29From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 7 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Massachusetts Historical Society Dr Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr Adams, and sends such of his Trunks as can be got at; W.T.F. in whose Chamber it is suppos’d there may be more, being gone to Paris; and having with him Mr F’s Carriage prevents his waiting on Mr Adams immediately as he would otherwise wish to do; but Mr F. requests the Honour of Mr Adams’s Company at Dinner...
30From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Huntington, 13 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; press copy and transcript: National Archives; incomplete copy: Library of Congress I duly received the two Letters your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me both dated the 19th. of June, together with the Letter address’d to the King, & the three Commissions with the Instructions relative to the Negociations for Peace. I immediately went to Versailles, and...