151John Adams to Franklin and John Jay, 10 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society Inclosed is Copy of a Letter from the Baron de Thulemeier and Copy of a Project of a Treaty transmitted to me by order of the King of Prussia: I should be glad if your Excellencies would examine it, and write me your objections, and proposals of alterations, which I shall immediately communicate to his Majesty through his Minister. I presume too...
152To Benjamin Franklin from Feriet, 17 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. De Feriet a L’honneur de faire mille complimens a Monsieur Franklin, et de lui apprendre que tous Les Verres sont arrivés en bon ètat. Le porteur de ce billet veut bien se charger de rapporter a versailles le Sécrétaire dans lequel L’harmonica était monté, et qu’il est nécessaire D’avoir ici pour accorder Les Verres. Dès que le tout Sera transporté ici,...
153To Benjamin Franklin from La Condamine, 12 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Que je vous sçais gré, monsieur, d’avoir bien voulu prendre la peine de me répondre, malgré les grandes et importantes occupations dont je vous suppose environné! Vos travaux littéraires et politiques m’avoient inspiré pour vous, monsieur, de profonds sentimens de respect et d’estime; vous venez d’y ajoûter ceux de l’amour et de la reconnoissance; je vous...
154To Benjamin Franklin from Andrew Huntington, 19 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society I ought to begin my request by asking pardon for troubling you—but I trust you will be pleased to pardon me when you are rightly informed of my case— In Octor. 1778. there was a large number of French Prisoners Released from confinement at New York, and Landed at this place in order to be sent to Boston— They were in the most destressed circumstances...
155To Benjamin Franklin from Paul Strattmann, 5 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai l’honneur, de vous envoyer le catalogue de la bibliotheque de M. le Duc de la Valliere, et de vous prier, d’en disposer éntiérement à vôtre plaisir; les feuillets des vacations, que j’ai joint au tome premier, vous indiqueront les numeros des livres, qui viennent d’être vendus; si j’etois assez heureux, de pouvoir me ranger au nombre de vos serviteurs,...
156To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Vaughan, 8 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society An unwillingness to encroach upon your time unless for an object of importance has hitherto witheld me from congratulating you on the late glorious Revolution, in which you have borne a part so conspicuous as to entitle you not only to my gratitude but that of every present & future Inhabitant of these States. The liberty of the Country Secured, I ardently...
157To Benjamin Franklin from Franz Anton Mesmer, [14 May 1784] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Bibliothèque Nationale Vous êtes à la tête des Commissaires que le Gouvernement a envoyés chez M. D’Eslon pour obtenir la révélation de ma découverte, et en constater l’efficacité. Quand Mr. d’Elon S’est approché auprès de moi et quand J’ai jugé à propos de lui laisser entrevoir quelques parties du Système de mes connoissances, J’ai exigé de lui Sa parole d’honneur, qu’il ne rendroit...
158To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [17 May 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library In Case the Arret for our free ports Has not Yet Come to Your Excellency’s Hands, I Have the Honour to Send You one Which I Have just Now Got— Most Respectfully and Affectionately Yours The day Calonne sent Lafayette 24 copies of the May 14 arrêt concerning free ports. Lafayette had tried to influence the government’s selection by writing to Calonne,...
159To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Beaumont, 28 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Jai L’honneur de vous prévenir qu’après avoir presenté le Sr. Schaffer à Monsieur le Marquis de La fayette, ce Seigneur la recû avéc Bonté; et lui a offert de le remener avéc lui en Amérique; cette circonstance est unique dans Son Espéce et trop intéréssante pour le Sr. Schaffer pour qu’il n’en profite avéc joie. J’ose me flatter que votre Excéllance ne...
160Franklin’s Journal, [26 June 1784–27 July 1784] (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete AD supplemented by WTF ’s edited transcript: Library of Congress. Mr. Waltersdorff called on me, and acquainted me with a Duel that had been fought yesterday Morg between a French Officer, and a Swedish Gentleman of that Kings Suite, in which the latter was killed on the Spot, and the other dangerously wounded:— That the King does not resent it, as he thinks his Subject was in the...
161From Benjamin Franklin to the Comtesse d’Houdetot, 9 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Vicomte Foy, Paris (1957) J’ai reçu, ma chere Amie, votre Lettre infiniment obligeante, et depuis ce temps Je n’ai fait que songer au charmant Projet d’aller à Sanois, passer quelques Jours avec vous. Je souhaiterois de tout mon coeur être en état de l’exécuter; mais plus J’y pense, et plus il me paoit impraticable: car Je me sens moins en état de marcher que la derniere fois que J’eus le...
162From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 29 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Columbia University Library Mr Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Mr Jay, and sends a rough Draft of a Letter to Mr Adams, which he prays Mr Jay to correct to his Mind, and then permit the Bearer to copy it fair in his House, that it may receive his Signature, as Mr F. must send it away early to-morrow morning. He requests to know how the Family does, fearing there may be...
163To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 11 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received some days ago a Letter from the Cte de Campomanes in answer to the one which your Excellency put into my hands for him; As I had in prospect an occasion of sending it by an extraordinary Courier I have taken the Liberty to detain this Letter until the moment of the Departure of the Courier— The packet would have cost your Excellency an...
164From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, 29 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), III , 466. I received your kind letters of the 16th and 20th instant. I thank you for your philosophical news. We have none here. I see your philosophers are in the way of finding out at last what fire is. I have long been of opinion that it exists every where...
165From Benjamin Franklin to Mason Locke Weems and Edward Gantt, Jr., 18 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and transcript: Library of Congress On receipt of your Letter, acquainting me that the Archbishop would not permit you to be ordain’d unless you took the Oath of Allegiance, I apply’d to a Clergyman of my Acquaintance for Information on the Subject of your Obtaining Ordination here. His Opinion was, that it could not be done; and that if it were done you would be requir’d to Vow...
166To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Webb, 15 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I took the Liberty of writing to you by the favour of your Grandson sometime since —and It is only from very urgent Reasons that I am induc’d again to trouble you, which I hope you will be so good to pardon. I have not ever mentioned to you myself, any other part of my unfortunate History, but that of being intirely deprived of the Society of my amiable...
167To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Price, 21 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The bearer of this, Mr Lewis, is an honest tradesman, and an attendant at the Meeting-House in Newington-Green. I cannot resist his desire that I would give him a line to introduce him to you. He has always been a warm favourer of the American cause, thinks of you with veneration, and wishes just to See you. Any notice, therefore, that you may think fit to...
168From Benjamin Franklin to Leveux, 8 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Je suis bien reconnoissant, Monsieur, de la peine que vous avez bien voulu prendre pour retirer de la Douane de votre Ville les Effets appartenants à M. Jay, et Je vous prie d’en recevoir mes Remercimens, ainsi que pour tous les Soins que vous avez eu des Prisoniers Americains échapés d’Angleterre. Je serois bien aise de recevoir votre Compte afin de vous...
169To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Thruffé and Other Favor Seekers, 9 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society During the period covered by the present volume, Franklin continued to receive a steady stream of letters asking for favors, most of them from people he did not know. We summarize them here, beginning with those individuals seeking help with financial predicaments ranging from temporary indebtedness to outright poverty. A particularly dramatic appeal for...
170To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Bridgen, 10 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society At the request of Mr Champion I forward the Accompanying Book to your Excellency. Our Mutual & Worthy friend Mr Laurens leaves Bath this day for Falmouth to go with his Son for New York. May Heaven protect them and spare your Excellency’s long and useful life is the prayer of Dr Sir Yr: Excellency’s obliged & Faithful Notation: Edward Bridgen. June 10....
171To Benjamin Franklin from Sears & Smith, 18 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We beg leave to address your Excellency upon a piece of Business, we have by accident become engag’d in, & to ask your Interest to get redress from the Court of France, if it is practicable.— The last Summer we engag’d in a Voyage to the Coast of Africa, in full Expectation that we could effect it by bartering away the Cargo we sent there, for Gold Dust,...
172To Benjamin Franklin from Graf von Brühl, 29 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I presume to trouble you with an Application for a Letter of Recommendation in favour of Mr Biederman Dr of Law in the University of Leipzig who in the Course of last year set out for America in the Capacity of Agent & Manager of the Concerns & Interest of many of our principal Manufacturers & Merchants. If you should be inclined to comply with my Request,...
173To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 27 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Barclay desired me to deposit in the Consuls Office my last public Accounts as settled with you. I shall be much obliged if you will please to transmit the Originals to him where they may be always open to public Inspection. I am most dutifully & Affectionately Yours. I return you Doctor Priestlys Paper which I have read with much pleasure. Addressed:...
174Certification for Jacques Le Maire de Gimel, 30 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : University of Pennsylvania Library I do hereby certify whom it may concern, that Col. Lemaire came from Virginia to France in the Year 1778, with Letters of Recommendation to me from Patrick Henry Esquire then Governor of that State, by whom he was employed to procure Arms and military Stores here for the Use of their Army; which Commission, as far as I have ever heard, he executed with...
175To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 29 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society The Baron de Reishack, has several times said to me that his Court expected that Congress would announce formally their Independence, and asked me, if any Step of that Sort had been taken. That I may be able to give him an Answer, I must request of your Excellency to inform me whether you have made the annunciation directed in the first Article of the...
176From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 29 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d yours of the 2d Inst. dated at Blackfriars. I had but just receiv’d the Wheels you mention. The Ice had prevented their coming up the River. I shall write to Mr Viney as soon as I can. In the mean time please to acquaint him that they came to hand well and that I like them.— I enclose a Specimen of a new Work by the Author of L’Ami des Enfans,...
177Charles Thomson to the American Commissioners, 13 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania In pursuance of the Orders of the Committee of the States, I have the honor to transmit to you the copy of a letter signed T. Gilfillan, dated London the 19 feby 1784 with a copy of an inspection roll of Negroes taken on board certain vessels at anchor near Staten Island on the 30 of November 1783, to be made use...
178Extracts of Henry Mackenzie’s Journal, [29 April 1784–2 May 1784] (Franklin Papers)
AD : National Library of Scotland Went to see Dr Franklin. — His House elegant & excellently situated at Passy on an Eminence commandg a View of the River & the Country beyond it.— In good health & a green old Age, except that he has the Stone wh [which] however does not trouble him except when he is driven in a Carriage. Wears now his own thin grey Locks wh look very venerable.— Walks every...
179To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 13 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I should have called on you before my Departure if I had not been detained so long in Paris, that I expected to find you in bed and I was determined not to Stop myself ’till I came hither. The inclosed from my Father in Law will give you an Idea of his Business & Situation. I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you in about 15 days in the mean Time I remain...
180Franklin and John Jay to Thomas Mifflin, 16 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: National Archives; press copy of ALS : Library of Congress We duly received the Letters your Excellency did us the honour of writing to us the 14th of January by Colonel Harmar & Lieut. Col. David Franks, with the Ratification of the Definitive Treaty, the Proclamation, & the Recommendatory Resolves of Congress. On the Arrival of Col. Harmar, we immediately wrote to Mr Hartley,...