30391James Moylan to the American Commissioners, 8 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Lorient, July 8, 1778: Two of Capt. Tucker’s prizes arrived here on the 6th. I passed them through customs as from Portsmouth, New England. I have not had time to hear from Mr. Schweighauser, but have written to ask whether his authority extends to this port. If so I shall deliver them to his order unless you meanwhile instruct me differently. Friction...
30392To George Washington from Major General Benedict Arnold, 8 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I had the honor of your Excellency’s favour of the 6th and am very happy to hear the Enemy have suffered so very considerably in their march thro’ the Jerseys—I make no doubt this Campaign will be crown’d with success, & that your Excellency will soon enjoy in peace the Laurels you have with so much perseverence, toil & hazard reaped in the Iron field of War. My extreme illness has...
30393To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Francis Barber, 8 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Lt. Col. Francis Barber, 8 July 1778. On 9 July, GW wrote Barber : “I was this afternoon favoured with your Letter of the 8th Inst.”
30394To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 8 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of imparting to Your Excelly the arrival of the King’s fleet; charged by his Majesty with the glorious task of giving his allies the United States of America the most striking proofs of his affection. Nothing will be wanting to my happiness if I can succeed in it; it is augmented by the consideration of concerting my operations with a General such as Your Excellency. The...
30395To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 8 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to refer to a private Letter of yesterday by Gray, in which I acknowledged the receipt of Your Excellency’s Letters to Congress of the 28th & 29th Ulto & 1st Inst. I should have added the 21st Ulto which came to hand the 2d Inst. With some difficulty a Congress was collected yesterday, Your Excellency’s Letters were immediately taken under consideration & the House unanimously...
30396To George Washington from John Cleves Symmes, 8 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wish I may not be thought troublesome, but by the Information I get at this place by other Means than what Your Excellency will see by the Inclosed deposition, I must Conclude the enemy are formidable, tis said that there are 300 Regular troops, 1500 Indians and a Large body of Tories which Compose the enemies force, I need not suggest to Your Excellency the apprehesions of the Inhabitants...
30397To George Washington from Brigadier General William Winds, 8 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am happy in the present Oppertunity of Informing you from the Authority of a Gentleman of Veracity, Who left long Island the Night before last & New York Yesterday: from long Island he saw the Whole of the british fleet leave Middletown & Come into the Narrows, after Which they Divided Into three Divisions, one of Which Landed their troops on Staten Island, another on Long Island, the third...
30398Patrick Henry in Council to Henry Laurens, 8 July 1778 (Madison Papers)
Some Resolutions of Congress & proceedings of the Board of War, have been lately transmitted to me, by which it appears that an Expedition against Fort Detroit is resolved on. In order to effect the purposes of it 2000 of the Militia together with Amunition, provisions, Horses, military Stores, Cloathing &c. &c. are requested to be furnished by this State: I should most chearfully exert myself...
30399The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 9–10 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, July 9–10, 1778: We enclose an order on Desegray, Beaugeard fils & Cie. of Lorient for saltpetre, to be shipped to America as soon as possible. July 10: We also forward Mr. Williams’ order on Mr. Cossoul for articles to be shipped in the same way. > Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 147. In...
30400[July 9. 1778.] (Adams Papers)
July 9. 1778. We wrote the following Letters Inclosed you have an order on Messrs. Desegray, Beaujard Junr. and Co., Merchants at L’orient for 1520 Bags of Saltpetre, which you will please to receive, and ship for America, as Opportunities may serve. We are with Esteem yours &c. July 10. We also forward you herewith an order upon Mr. Cassoul Cossoul , drawn by Mr. Williams for sundry Articles,...
30401James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I heartily congratulate you upon the indubitable Proofs of our Friends Arrival in France. You might imagine that the Congress had received some important Intelligence in the large Packets sent lately from Boston, if I did not acquaint you that they were chiefly for Monsr. Girard who is not yet arrived. A french Fleet having sailed for America, an English One being ready to follow, and a second...
30402To John Adams from Edmé Jacques Genet, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ai mis sous les yeux de M. le Cte. de Vergennes un Extrait de la lettre du general Heath, que j’ai lhoneur de vous renvoyer ci jointe. Vous aurés vu ici que j’en ai dit quelque chose dans le No. 46. des affaires de l’Angleterre et de l’Amérique. Le No. 47. n’attend pour paroitre que les premieres nouvelles qui vous viendront et que vous voudrés bien me communiquer toujours par la poste. Cet...
30403Edmé Jacques Genet to John Adams: A Translation, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I submitted to Comte de Vergennes an excerpt from General Heath’s letter which I have the honor to return enclosed. You will have seen that I have mentioned it in No. 46 of Affaires de l’Angleterre et de l’Amerique . The publication of No. 47 is but waiting for the first news which you will receive and wish to communicate to me as usual through the mail . This periodical pertains entirely to...
30404From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 9 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:149–150 . Adams discussed Great Britain’s shortsighted and self-defeating policy in refusing a just treaty and, as an example of Britain’s self-deception and misunderstanding of America, pointed to a peace proposal, rejected out of...
30405From John Adams to Patrick Henry, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 9 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:153–154 . Adams stated that Lee had attended to Henry’s requests contained in a letter of 5 March (above). He wrote that the ratified Franco-American treaties had been received, approved the actions of the congress, reported the...
30406From John Adams to James Lovell, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 9 July 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:148–149 . Adams announced the arrival of dispatches from the congress, including the ratified Franco-American treaties and letters from Lovell. He commented on the outbreak of hostilities between Britain and France and the relative...
30407To John Adams from Edmé Jacques Genet, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Here inclos’d I have the honour to return you the letter you trusted me so obligingly. I’m in great impatience to get a printed copy of the Treaties. If you find it in the papers receiv’d by way of Brest, be So good as to Send it me, along with the other news you’ll think fit for publication. My Number 48 is ready, and I expect only the Treaties and such news as you are pleas’d to see...
30408Francis Coffyn to the Commissioners, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I beg leave to refer you to the letter I had the honor of writing to you yesterday. This cheafly Serves to inclose a Certificate from the officers of the Admiralty Court of this Town, which I hope will in Some measure obviate the bad impression Poreau’s false insinuations may have occasion’d; however as I am determined to fill the measure to the brim, I shall take the liberty to send you...
30409Richard Grinnell to the Commissioners, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I would Inform you that on the 28th of August Last I a Rived heare from London I had att that time Just obtained my Discharge, from the Belile Belle Isle man of war of Seventy four Guns. I was Impressed on board of her at Sea and without asking my Leave they made mee a mid Shipman on board. A few days after faling in with I Reland I Tok o the oportunity by a fishing boat to write to London to...
30410Peter Amiel to the American Commissioners, 9 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Messrs. Poreau & Mackinzy of this place haveing wrote a Letter to Doctor Franklin; in which they have atempted to injure Mr. Coffyns character, as I hope to be at Passy on Sunday next, beg it as a favor you’d suspend your Judgement till then, when I will lay before you every Particular that came to my Knowledge. I am with the greatest Respect Honorable...
30411Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 9 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Dunkirk, July 9, 1778: I refer you to my letter of yesterday. This is to enclose a certificate from the admiralty court, to counter to some degree Poreau’s insinuations against me. Tomorrow I send three other certificates and if they are insufficient will furnish whatever further proof you require; meanwhile Mr. Amiel will give you particulars.> Published...
30412Richard Grinnell to the American Commissioners, 9 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Dunkirk, July 9, 1778: I arrived here last August after serving on the Belle Isle , 74, as a midshipman impressed at sea; a London merchant got me my discharge. I went to Nieuwpoort, and told Mr. Nesbitt that I wanted to be commissioned in Paris and then sail for Brazil to destroy the London fleet there. He put me in touch with Mr. Coffyn, who took my...
30413To Benjamin Franklin from Jean Bochard de Champigny, 9 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je ne comprends pas ce qui peut empêcher votre Excellence de m’honnorer d’une réponse au sujet de mes foibles ouvrages dont en vain j’attends d’Elle depuis quelques mois les vingt et un Ducats qui manquent pour complèter sa souscription. Cela ne m’empeche cependant pas à m’acquitter de mon devoir, et je lui joins ici le troisieme volume de ma Traduction de...
30414To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Deplaine, 9 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ay lu avec plaisir mon cher frere dans l’année 2270 de lauraguais page 387 article de philadelphie, l’etonante revolution que L’amerique septentrionale doit a l’interet que tu prends au bonheur de l’humanité. Une douzaine d’années ont amené un evenement que l’auteur ne voyoit que dans un temps fort reculé. J’admire le prophête et encore plus le genie...
30415To Benjamin Franklin from John Rutledge, 9 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard University Library Mr. Gillon, intending to pay his respects to you, requests a line of introduction which I take the liberty of giving him. This State having resolved to equip three Frigates, appointed him to the command of them with the Title of Commodore. He is about setting off for France to procure them, and I hope will meet with no difficulty in the business. You will...
30416From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Francis Barber, 9 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was this afternoon favoured with your Letter of the 8th Inst. While you are at Elizabeth Town, I wish you to obtain the best intelligence you can from time to time of the Enemy’s situation and of any movements, they may seem to have in view. For this purpose you will employ the persons you mention, or such others as you may judge necessary. Whatever expences you are at, upon this occasion,...
30417To George Washington from John Brown, 9 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I being a Small part Concern’d in a prize Ship Arived at the port of Boston with a Cargo of Maderia wine and haveing lately ben told that Good wine was not to be bot at or near Your Camp, have taken the Liberty to present You with a Butt Qt 157 Gs. which was picked out by Collo. More, as the Best in the whole Cargo which Consisted of about 29,000 Gallons the Same was well Cassed up and...
30418From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 9 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday met yours of the 6th on the march to this place, at which, the front division of the Army arrived in the morning. They halt this day and will march again at one OClock tomorrow Morning. The other divisions follow at a days distance. I am glad to hear that every thing will be ready at Kings ferry to transport the Army and hope that measures will be taken to keep the passage open...
30419To George Washington from Brigadier General Peter Muhlenberg, 9 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Josiah Parker of the 5th Virginia Regt returnd to Camp, since the temporary Arangement of the 1st 5th & 9th Regiments made by Your Excellencys Order, so that there is at present no Command for him, except he should supersede Colo. Richd Parker, who now Commands the Regt who has made the whole Winters Campaign, & takes great pains to put the Regt in good Order—Colo. J. Parker wishes to...
30420To George Washington from Brigadier General William Winds, 9 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
At this Critical Juncture I Cannot Delay a Moment In transmiting to your Excellency, Every Interesting piece of Intelligence, that Comes to My Ear, leaving it to you to Compare them with Accounts you may recieve through Other Hands & Make a proper Digest of the Whole. Two Men returned last Night to this place from Staten Island, one of them was Yesterday in New York, they had two Days to...