13831Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 4 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library As it was absolutely necessary to have Ballast for the Ship and neither the Flints or Copper arrived nor any appearance of their arriving (except about 30.000 w [cwt.] of the latter) for some time I have bought 40.000 w of Bar Lead at 23 l.t. Per cwt.[?] and about 30 Ton of Salt. I have in doing this been as saving as I possibly could, and even now shall be...
13832Gourlade, Bérard frères & Monplaisir to the American Commissioners, 6 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Connecticut Historical Society We have the satisfaction to inform you of the arrival in this Road of two Continental fregattes one the Rolly of 32 Guns Capn. Thompson the other Alfred Capn: Hindman of 20 Guns. Both sailed from Portsmouth the 22d. of August last. They have brought under our Island of Groix two Jamaica Men belonging to London taken at the mouth of the channell one the...
13833Lambert Wickes and Samuel Nicholson to the American Commissioners, 6 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We your humble petioners beg leave to inform you of the distressed Situation of our Brother Officers now Prisoners in England, particularly John Nicholson Esqr. and his Officers who was taken in the Sloop Hornet in the Service of the United States of America and Thomas Norwood and Nine Men that was put on Board of one of our late prizes, who was taken and...
13834Samuel Nicholson to the American Commissioners, 21 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society On my leaving St. Malo I wrote You giveing You an Account of the Sailing of the Reprisal and Dolphin. Capt. Brown Arrived here in the Dolphin the Night before last, and Agreable to his Orders from Capt. Wickes, Under french Colours, and to the Address of Monsr. Peltier as Comeing from St. Austatia, but haveing no Clearance from that Place or any other...
13835[Ferdinand Grand]: Memorandum for the American Commissioners, [before 25 September? 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AD : University of Pennsylvania Library This document, on the evidence at hand, cannot be precisely dated. It was written to help the commissioners draft the one that follows, their memorandum of September 25 to the Bourbon courts, which they had been considering for almost a month. On August 29 Arthur Lee received a letter from John Berkenhout, a close friend from their student days together...
13836The Committee of Secret Correspondence to the American Commissioners to France, 24 October 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copies: Library of Congress; National Archives The Congress having Committed to our Charge and Management their Ship of War called the Reprisal, Commanded by Lambert Wickes Esqr. carrying sixteen Six pounders and about one hundred and twenty Men, We have allotted her to carry Doctor Franklin to France and directed Capt. Wickes to proceed for the...
13837Samuel Nicholson to the American Commissioners, 9 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I this morning recd. Orders from Capt. Wickes to furnish him with an Inventory of the Sloop Dolphin. I am now about to furnish him with one, wherein I shall mention every thing belonging to her; I beleive she will not fetch much more with her Cannon &c., therefore wou’d advise keeping them and sending them to Nants, as they are very scarce and hard to...
13838Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 1 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Yale University Library Mr. Montaudouin set of this Morning with my Letters relative to the Captures made by Capts. Weeks Johnson and Nicholson since which the prize master who has come in here has arrivd to town. There is but one prize arrived at painbeof and her Cargo is not known her papers being distroyed. She has Cork and hides betwen Decks but we are yet unacquainted...
13839Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 5 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received two of yours of the 25th. by Mr. Defrancy who I am sorry Came so late, as our Sales were compleat before his Arrival. I have strictly attended to your proposals and shall give you as full an Answer as in my power. As to Cruizing in the sound for the Baltick Ships I am afraid that will not do, as neither me nor my officers are acquainted with...
13840Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 10 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Intention of this is to ask your Interest in favour of a poor american Sailor who I am afraid will otherwise be executed for Murder. The Fact as it was related to me by his Captain is this. The deceased and the prisoner were going asshore in the Boat with only one oar which the Deceased was sculling with, and being a little in Liquour he fell overboard...
13841The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 2 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Two LS : American Philosophical Society; three copies: National Archives On April 17, 1777, Congress renamed the committee of secret correspondence the committee for foreign affairs, and we adopt the new title at the beginning of this volume. The commissioners, however, did not learn of the change for months to come, because they received no word from the committee until September. The present...
13842John King to the American Commissioners, 9 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Agreeable to my Promise I beg leave to inform you that I shall leave this place in about Nine Days, and will with pleasure take charge of any Letter’s &c. that you may send to America. I have met with no person inclinable to advance their Credit in behalf of the State of Virginia, except Messers. J. Gruel & Co., who have undertakeing for £6000 Sterling and...
13843[Ferdinand Grand]: Draft Contract for the American Commissioners, 1 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Nous soussignés en vertu de nos pouvoirs donnons ordre et pouvoir á Mr. [ blank in MS ] de nous procurer au mioeux possible et le plus promptement que faire se pourra quatre flutes de Guerre Comme Celle qui se construit en hollande. Nous nous engageons en Consequence de fournir les fonds et les avances necessaires à sa requisition; nous en rapportant á tout...
13844Samuel Nicholson to the American Commissioners, 3 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My last to you was last Saturday, in which I gave you an Account of Capt. Wickes and selfs safe Arrival at this place, since which have heard of Capt. Johnson being safe arrived at Morlaix. We are waiting for your Orders to know what to do with regard to fitting our Vessells again. We have Just heard of the Arrival of three of our Prizes at Nantes, Mr....
13845Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 26 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hav this Day Recd. very Extraordinary Oorders from The Intendant of This port Demanding me to Leav this port in 24 Hours he Says This Order is Given in Consequence of A possitiv Order Recd, this Day from the Minester At Parris. I Asked Liberty To heav Down my Ship and Repair her on my Arrival but it has never Bin Granted. On being told That I mus...
13846The Massachusetts Council to the American Commissioners, 27 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress We have lately received from the Secret Committee of Congress Seven Letters addressed to You, and they request that We would forward them by the quickest sailing Vessel to France. In Consequence of which We desired the Continental Agent here with all possible dispatch, to prepare one of the Continental Vessels for Sailing....
13847Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 12 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library; letterbook copy: Yale University Library Mr. Morriss returned from Painbeuf yesterday morning, I immediately went to him to repeat in person what I had before written to him. He told me that no person in Europe had power to controul him, that therefore the orders I had, were without sufficient Authority, and ’till he could see powers from Congress superiour to...
13848Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 14 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Yale University Library Soon after my last was seal’d I heard of the arrival of the Annonyme and yesterday morning went to painboeuf with Capt. Hynson to examine her. He will write you particularly on this Subject and by his Letter you will be better able to form a judgment, but so far as I am capable of giving an opinion I must say this...
13849Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners: Two Letters, 23 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library I have drawn on you in favour of Monsr. L’Escuyer 22d Augt. at one Usance for 6192. 17. 8 which please to honour; this Draft is for a quantity of tricot and Lining on which I have deducted 11 months Discount having bought it at a years Credit. A Bill was presented to me the 20th Inst. drawn by S. Smith at Plymouth for £12 Sterling; I know nothing of this...
13850Henry Johnson to the American Commissioners, 16 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Public Record Office Your agreeable favours of the 9th Inst. was handed me by Capt. Bell with the different packets and letters to morrow morning shall sail God willing. I forward by Capt. Bell my accounts I find a Ballance. I find in favour of the Congress which I shall give Credit if I find no Errors. If any shall settle the same with the Agent in America. As everything has gone...
13851Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 18 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library In your instructions to me you mention another Vessell which Mr. Beaumarchais proposes to send to America with Stores, but I can gain no Information of any such Vessell, Mr. Peltrier tells me he knows nothing about it. There is indeed a Ship (the St. Dominique) which Mr. Peltrier bought at the same time that he bought the mercury, and which he is to load on...
13852Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 24 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your favour of the 19th. Instant which in some Measure has given me releaf in respect to Complying with orders from the Minester at Paris, which will be Strictly attended to, on my part, but am very Sorry our Necessities obliges us to Submit to our present hard Fate. However hope you will Contrive to get me away as soon as possible, as I Can...
13853The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 1 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: National Archives This will be delivered to you by Colo. Ewing of Baltimore in Maryland, who goes to France on affairs of commerce, and whom we recommend to your civilities as a Gentleman of worth, who has in arms contended for the liberty of America. We are &ca. Signed All the indications are that the Colonel carried the committee’s important dispatch of the day before, and that...
13854Thomas Morris to the American Commissioners, 11 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have duely received your esteemed favours of the 2d and 3d Instant the Contents of which requiring no immediate answer, the present may serve to acquaint you with the safe arrival here of the Schooner Jenifer in 35 days from Baltimore. This Vessell has brought sundry dispatches for you from Congress, and the Bearer Captain Hammond will have the pleasure...
13855Montaudoüin to the American Commissioners, 28 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçû la lettre dont vous m’avéz honoré le 21 de ce mois. Je ne crois pas qu’aucun particulier veüille entreprendre d’acheter, d’armer pour son compte le batiment en question, et de le livrer a ses risques dans quelque port de vôtre pais. On ne trouveroit pas d’assurances solides pour une telle entreprise, et les particuliers sont imprudens quand il...
13856Samuel Nicholson to the American Commissioners, 11 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am just Setting off for St. Mallo where Mr. Williams thinks I had better spend about 3 Weeks, in order to be out of the way and give time for our new ship to be built. I Shall have Capt. Tanner here to overlook as much as is needfull, or we dare appear in. He is an Experienced man in Ship building and A Compleat Draughts man. I shall send you the draught...
13857William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 6 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society Herewith you will please to find Triplicate and Copy of my two last Letters to Mr. Deane; but as they are addressed to him in an official Capacity, I have thought proper to place them under your Notice, and shall in future do myself the honor of directing my Letters in the like manner, as I am informed by my last Dispatches from Congress, that you are...
13858——— Boilau and Gilles de Lavallée to the American Commissioners, 12[–14] February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Boylau prie Messiers Dean franklin de faire remettre au porteur l’echantillon d’habit fusils sabre bonet &c, &c. qu’il a laissé chez eux. Il obligeront leurs tres humble Serviteur Donner au porteur si il vous plait toutte les choses apertenant a monseur Boileau. Addressed: A Messieurs / Messirs Dean & franklin / Equrs / a lhotel dHambourg / rue Jacob...
13859The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 30 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS and duplicate: American Philosophical Society; copies: National Archives (two), Library of Congress We have delayed sending this Packet from a daily expectation of hearing from you, as some letters from France make mention of a quick Sailing Vessel by which we were to receive despatches. Tho’ it must be agreeable to you to hear frequently from us, yet as our Letters by being taken might be...
13860Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 13 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Take this Opertunity to Inform you Of the proceadings of the Commissary of this port Which Seam very odd to me as I have Recd. no Instrucktions from you. He Sent for me to Day and told me I must Get my Ship Cleaned and put Every thing on bord As fast as possible and then Departe the port Immediately. He further Informd me he Should Send persons to See...