91Meteorological Imaginations and Conjectures, [May 1784] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): Library of Congress; press copy of copy: American Philosophical Society The “dry fog” that blanketed much of Europe during the summer of 1783 had occasioned much scientific speculation, but its cause was as yet unknown. In this paper, written nearly a year after the fog first appeared, Franklin was less concerned with its cause (though he did propose a theory that would turn out to...
92To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, [19 April 1784?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mon Illustre docteur Je comptois bien avoir Lhonneur de vous aller voir ce Soir et de me dèdommager du tems que jai passe Sans aller vous attaquer ou me deffendre aux echcs Mais malheureusement un petit accès de fièvre m’empeche de Sortir. Une autre raison qui me faisoit desirer d’avoir Lhonneur de vous voir ce Soir c’etoit pour vous rappeller que Les...
93To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 20 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Inclosed I have the honor to send you a Letter from the house of Drouilhet advising me of their having drawn upon your Excellency for £s [ l.t. ] 13447.5. s. at 60 days date making the Sum of 54000 Rials de Vn. [Veillon] or 2700 Dollars for the payment of a bill drawn by Mr Morris on me which bill became due since my Departure from Madrid.— I intended to...
94To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Antoine de Rubigny de Berteval, 3 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je suis on ne peust plus reconnoisant de la bonté que vous avez Eut de repondre a La Lettre que Javois Eut L’honneur de vous Ecrire Je suis pleinement satisfait de votre reponse. Le 1e. moment ou mes affaire me permetront de quiter Je nauray rien de plus pressé que daller Vous presenter mon Respect. Jay L’honneur d’Estre avec Une grande consideration...
95To Benjamin Franklin from Claude-Joseph Vernet, 6 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Vous allez voir qu’on me croit un grand saint auprés de vous, puisque des amis de versailles m’onts prié de vous Recommander Mr. Fossard premier huissier audiancier a La Prevôté de L’hôtel, qui desireroit passer en Amerique; luy meme vous expliqueroit ses intentions, et ses desirs; cela occationneroit un mariage entres Luy et Madlle. de Montauville; L’un et...
96To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Trumbull, 5 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I take the liberty to introduce Messrs. Gerrey, and Buckingham, the Bearers to your kind notice to advise means for thier recovering some money due on some French Bills of Exchange, which they lost by accident and were accepted for payment premiture to thier presentation: probably you may put ’em in a way for to assert thier Rights if the evidence they have...
97Franklin’s Case, [c. 1 March 1784] (Franklin Papers)
D and incomplete press copy of D : American Philosophical Society The Patient is now in his 79th. Year. When a Young Man he was sometimes troubled with gravelly Complaints; but they wore off without the Use of any Medecine, and he remained more than Fifty Years free from them. In the Autumn of 1782, he had a severe Attack accompanied with what was thought to be a Gouty Pain in the Hyp, and...
98To Benjamin Franklin from the Baron de Feriet, 11 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. De Feriet a L’honneur de faire part a Monsieur francklin qu’il est convenu avec Les directeurs de la manufacture de st. cloud, qu’on ferait demain tous Les Verres D’harmonica; en conséquence, demain dès six heures du matin, il sera rendu a La manufacture avec tous les modéles, et il veillera soigneusement a ce que les verres soyent faits avec toute...
99From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Mifflin, 12[–13] May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS and AL (draft): Library of Congress; copy: Yale University Library; transcript: National Archives In my last I acquainted your Excellency that Mr. Hartley was soon expected here to exchange Ratifications of the definitive Treaty. He is now arrived, and proposes to make the Exchange this Afternoon: I shall then be enabled to send a Copy.— Enclosed is the new British...
100To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 2 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library Mr Paul Jones has the Honor to accept Doctor Franklin’s kind Invitation for Dinner on Wednesday the 4th. Instant Addressed: A son Excellence / Monsieur Franklin Ministre / Plenipotentiere des Etâts-Unis / en son Hotêl à Passy / près Paris. The Duke of Dorset was also among the “grande Compagnie” dining with BF on this date: BFB ’s journal, entry of Aug....
101To Benjamin Franklin from Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas, 19 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Dans la supposition que vous avez plaisir de lire de temps à autre une relation fidele des affaires ici, je continue de faire passer sous vos yeux mes Lettres au departement, au lieu de les envoyer directement d’ici à l’orient; & aussi parce que cela me procure l’occasion de me rafraichir dans l’honneur de votre souvenir, & de vous faire agréer les...
102Charles Thomson to the American Commissioners, 18 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have the honor of forwarding three comm[issions] which were not prepared in time to go by Mr Jefferson, [and] a duplicate of the instructions he carried with him. I [also] enclose a copy of the Journal of the last session of Congress as far as printed and a news paper containing the Ordinance for putting the treasury into commission and an act...
103To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 23 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Marquis de la Fayette was so obliging as to translate and enforce my two last Letters, which I had the honor to communicate to you of the 6th. and 13th. Current, to the Marechal de Castries, on the subject of the Prize-money due to the Officers and Men who served in the Squadron I commanded in Europe. But, from a Letter written the 29th. of May 1780...
104To Benjamin Franklin from Charles (C.-J.) Le Roux, 19 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Depuis quelques années que je n’ai eû l’honneur ni de vous voir ni de vous écrire, peut-être m’avez vous perdu de vue. Mr. De Gebelin que la Société et les Lettres ont perdu trop tôt m’honoroit de son estimé et de son amitié. Il connoissoit mes ouvrages et particulierement Mon Journal d’Education que j’ai fait autrefois par ordre du Gouvernement pour...
105To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 1 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: National Archives (London), William L. Clements Library; transcript: National Archives I have the honour to inform you that I have transmitted to London, the ratification on the part of Congress of the definitive treaty of peace, between Great Britain and the united states of america. I am ordered to represent to you, that a want of form appears in the first paragraph of that...
106To Benjamin Franklin from George Washington, 2 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copies: Library of Congress, Bibliothèque Municipale, Nantes Washington here announces that his former aide David Humphreys has been elected by Congress to serve as the secretary of the new commission to negotiate commercial treaties. His election crushed Franklin’s hopes for a diplomatic career for his grandson William Temple Franklin. On August 15 Temple...
107To Benjamin Franklin from Jacob Duché, Jr., 21 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the Liberty of addressing your Excellency on a Subject, in which I am sure you will find your Philosophy as well as Humanity not a little interested. The eldest Daughter of Mr George Meade, a respectable Merchant & Citizen of Philadelphia,—a young Lady of about 15 Years of Age, has now been above Six Months in England, under the Care of some of the...
108To Benjamin Franklin from Charlotte de Cheminot, 4 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Madame de cheminot presente ces civiliteé a monsieur francklin et prend la liberteé de luy mender que demain Lundy 5 d’avril elle profitera de la permission quil a bien voulu luy donner daller dejeuner chez luy elle ŷ menera messieurs le roy gudin quointin qui sont penetree de cette marque de bonte de monsieur francklin. Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur...
109To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 9 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; ALS (draft): National Archives I arrived here the 26th of June, my first business was to present myself at Aranjuez where the Court then resided. I had in some measure engaged before my departure from Spain to return before the Royal Family left that residence. So far I have fulfilled my engagements— On this Acct I set off from Paris more abruptly than I...
110To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Price, 6 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been long intending to write to you, and I feel ashamed that I have not done it Sooner. Your letter wch: was brot: me by Mr Bingham gave me great pleasure. It inclosed a case for an air Balloon and a print wch:, in conformity to your desire, I deliver’d to the President of the Royal Society. Soon after Mr Bingham’s arrival, Mr Daggs brot: me your...
111From Benjamin Franklin to Morellet and Drago, 13 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of copy: American Philosophical Society Notte en reponse à celle des Negociants Morellet et Drago. Dans tous et chacun des Etats-Unis de l’Amerique, Il y a des Tribunaux de Justice établis, qui sont également ouverts aux Citoyens des dits Etats, et aux Etrangers qui pourroient étre dans le Cas d’y avoir Recours. Les Affaires s’y decident, legalement et promptement. On conseille aux...
112To Benjamin Franklin from Anne Johnson Clarke, 2 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Permit me again to take up the pen (after many years being deprived the pleasure of writing to You) to inquire after your health, and to give You some account of myself since I last wrote to You. I have long wish’d for a proper opportunity to pay my Duty to You, even at this distance and yesterday Mrs: Woolford call’d to inform me a Relation of Hers was...
113To Benjamin Franklin from Charles-Eléonor Dufriche de Valazé: Résumé, 3 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society ⟨Paris, Hôtel d’Orléans, March 3, 1784, in French: I have one more thing to tell you, not wanting to take more of your time in person. I had the honor of giving you two copies of Loix pénales; you accepted one, and promised to send the other to Congress. That book alone will not achieve its aim: it calls for a new penal system, but does not specify the...
114To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Percival, 11 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I cannot omit the favourable opportunity, which the Tour of my young Friend Mr. White affords me, of paying my respects to you; and of requesting your acceptance of a Vol. of Moral and Literary Dissertations, which I have just published. Your approbation of my little Work, I should deem a distinguished honour: But whatever opinion you may form of it, I hope...
115To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Morel Dufaux, 12 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society If real Services rendered to the Subjects of the united States in the most Critical times when no Soul durst to Employ himself for, fearing blame, can Entitle to Claim of the protection of your Excellency, I flatter I have an undoubtfull right to it. Those Important Services I have already mentioned in a memoir I had presented to your Excellency but having...
116To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 4 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I have not recd any letters from England—but I hear that a continuation of the Amern bill is passed. That is all the news that I hear— My leg has been very bad again. I now write in bed. I have been confined for these last four days almost entirely to my bed & mattrass. The pain now begins again to abate.— Your ever affecte Addressed: To Dr Franklin / &c &c &c / Passy...
117To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Banks, 23 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library After the Storm which has agitated the Royal Society since Christmas with no Small degree of Violence We have drop’d into a flat Calm. It seems as if the debates have exhausted the annual supply of genius or at least skimmd off the Cream of it as nothing very interesting appears either in Presence or Prospect. The best papers we have had is Dr. Blagdens...
118To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, [on or before 20 June 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By Major Depontiere I wrote you a short Letter the other day, it was at the very instant of my moveing, I had neither pen or wafer, I hope you will excuse the appearance it made, I thought you would be happy to hear I was well even if it were wrote in Greek Characters. My little Richard is most amaizingly recovered since we came out here and the whole...
119From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 2 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Scriptorium (1990); copies: William L. Clements Library, National Archives (London); transcript: National Archives I have considered the Observations you did me the honour of communicating to me, concerning certain Inaccuracies of Expression and suppos’d Defects of Formality in the Instrument of Ratification, some of which are said to be of such a Nature as to affect “the Validity of...
120To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens: Two Letters, 4 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : American Philosophical Society; (II) Copy: University of South Carolina Library Permit me to introduce at Passy, Mr. Parker a young Gentleman of an exceeding good character Son of John Parker Esquire a respectable & valuable Citizen of the State of South Carolina. Mr. Parker who is studying the Law, means to improve the next vacation by a Visit to Paris & is, as all the World are,...