30751To Benjamin Franklin from Nicolas Moreau, 28 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society La declaration que notre Roy tres Chrétien a fait faire a la Cour de Londres par son Embassadeur Monsieur Le Marquis de Noailles ou on i voit un traitté d’amitié et de commerce avec les etats unis de l’amerique septentrionale que votre Grandeur represente m’a toujours donné esperance que les Marchandises qui etoient chargée en angleterre sur les navires...
30752General Orders, 28 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief desires that the Officers who did not compose part of the Grand Army last Winter and Spring and who may be unacquainted with the General Order relative to the duties of the Officers of the day as there pointed out will have recourse to one issued on the ninth day of June last at Valley-Forge and govern themselves thereby. The Commander in Chief also begs leave to inform...
30753From George Washington to John Brown, 28 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had, a few days ago, the pleasure of receiving yours of the 9th instant. The Butt of Wine has not yet arrived, but I doubt not, when it does, that it will answer your recommendation. Permit me to return you my thanks for the generosity of your present, and to express my wishes, that Fortune may continue to be as indulgent to you as she has hitherto been. I am &c. Df , in Tench Tilghman’s...
30754To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 28 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I take the opportunity of an express going from General Sullivan to your Excellency for to let you know how far we are advanc’d and in which situation is the detachement you have intrusted to my Care—I am here with General glover’s brigade, and we have all cross’d the River—I hope we schall be at coventry the 31st of the present—General Varnum and his officers having Represented to me that on...
30755From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 28 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will be presented to Congress by Genl Putnam. He arrived from Connecticut the day after I came into the Neighbourhood of this Camp. As I have not received any Resolution of Congress, respecting the Court of Inquiry, which they directed and which was transmitted them, on the subject of the posts in the Highlands, taken last year, I am at a loss in what point of view to consider him. He...
30756From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 28 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours from Lebanon and that from Point Judith. You have my warmest thanks for the great expedition of your Journey and for your exertions since your arrival at Rhode Island. I anxiously wait an account of the Admirals arrival, and of the effect which the appearance of the Fleet had. I wish you success and safety as I am My dear Sir sincerely and Affecty Yrs LS (photocopy), in Tench...
30757To George Washington from Richard Peters, 28 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
Col. Nicola complains that altho’ his Corps might be exceedingly useful in Garrison were he enabled by its Numbers to turn out sufficient Guards yet from the great Inattention of the Officers commanding Regiments or Corps in Camp who repeatedly give Discharges from the Service to Men very capable of Duty in the Invalid Regiment his Number is now very small. I am therefore to request your...
30758To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 28 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
On the 26th I was honored with your Excellency’s Favor of the 22d Instant. When I did myself the Honor to write you last I beleived that you might have been informed of the Resolutions of Congress of the 11th Ultimo directing an Expedition to be prosecuted against the Senecas—As you was not advised of it when your Letter was written I take the Liberty to inclose you Copy of the Resolution. But...
30759From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 28 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning favoured with your Two Letters of the 24 & 26th Instant with the papers to which they referred. I am exceedingly happy to find, that your efforts to prepare for the intended enterprize ag⟨ai⟩nst the Enemy, had succeeded so well—and that ⟨things in⟩ general were in so promising a train. With respect to the Enemy’s force in y⟨our⟩ Quarter, I think your Estimate must be far too...
30760From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 28 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning honored with yours of the 25th. I think you need be under no apprehensions for the safety of your Coast, while the Count D’Estaings Squadron lays off the harbour of New port, as the Enemy will have sufficient upon their hands to prevent their carrying on a predatory War—I took the Liberty of suggesting to the Count, the advantage of sending a Ship of force down the Sound, to...
30761The Commissioners to the Commerce Committee, 29 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour of your Letter of 28 May by Captain Reed. We are rejoiced at the Arrival, even of 49 Hogsheads of Tobacco, and cannot but wish for more. As the Commissioners here, have made a Contract, with the Farmers General, to furnish them with 5000 Hdds, which they have not been able to fulfill, altho they have received a Million Livres upon that Contract, We have ventured to order...
30762The Commissioners to the Foreign Affairs Committee, 29 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour of your Letters of May 14. and 15. We congratulate you on the general good Appearance of our Affairs, and are happy in your Assurances that it is your fixed Determination to admit no Terms of Peace, but such as are consistent with the Spirit and Intention of our Alliance, with France, especially as the present Politicks of the British Cabinet, aim at Seducing you from that...
30763The Commissioners to the Navy Board for the Eastern Department, 29 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have received your Favour of the Eighth of June, by the Hand of Captain Barns of the schooner Dispatch, together with the Packetts, forwarded by the Hon. Council of the Mass. Bay. We, have according to your desire given orders to Mr. Schweighauser at Nantes to furnish the Captain, with such supplies as may be necessary to provide for his Return, and to defrey his Expences there. We have...
30764John Ayres to the Commissioners, 29 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I arived Yesterday in 26 days from Boston, with a packet for Your Excellencys With Positive Orders to deliver the Same with my Own Hands, which should have done with greatest Pleasure, but my Ill State of Health Prevents me that Honour. Therefore have desir’d Mr. Texier, a friend off Mr. Bondfield, to take the Charge, Which he Readily Accepted, and make no doubt will Come Safe to hand. I trust...
30765Sartine to the Commissioners, 29 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Versailles, 29 July 1778. LbC ( Adams Papers , French text of both letter and enclosure). For other contemporary copies of the French text of the letter and regulations, the latter as transmitted and later amended as a result of the Commissioners’ letter of 13 Aug. (below), and for English translations of the two documents made at the same time, see PCC , No. 83, 11, f. 467, 46Q–476. For...
30766The American Commissioners to the Committee of Commerce, 29 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, July 29, 1778: We have received your letter of May 28 by Captain Reed [Read]. We rejoice at the arrival of even 49 hogsheads of tobacco, but wish for more. As we are under contract with the farmers general to furnish 5,000 hogsheads, for which we have already received a million livres, we have consigned this...
30767The American Commissioners to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, 29 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; three copies and one transcript: National Archives <Passy, July 29, 1778: We received your letters of May 14 and 15. We congratulate you on the general good appearance of our affairs and are happy you are determined to accept no peace terms contrary to our alliance with France. We have not received from Congress the authorization we need to remove...
30768The American Commissioners to the Eastern Navy Board, 29 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, July 29, 1778: We have received your letter of June 8 by Captain Barnes of the Dispatch , as well as the packets forwarded by the Massachusetts Council. We have given orders to Mr. Schweighauser to provide for the captain’s return voyage and have ordered our banker to give a month’s pay to him and his crew and...
30769The American Commissioners to the Massachusetts Council, 29 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have received the Honour of your Letter of June 9, by Captain Corbin Barnes of the Schooner Dispatch together with three Packetts, directed to Us. We shall leave the Captain to his own Discretion concerning the Port he may return to. It is at present a Time of Scarcity of News, but We expect hourly important...
30770The American Commissioners to the President of Congress, 29 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; three copies and one transcript: National Archives Mr. Livingston received a Commission from us as first Lieut. of the Boston and made a Cruise in her in which she had the good Fortune to take four prizes. He is now obliged to leave the Ship, but we have the pleasure of a Letter from Capt. Tucker in which he gives us an handsome Character of Mr....
30771The American Commissioners to Thomas Read, 29 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives You will take on Board your Vessell such a Cargo, as you shall receive from Mr. Schweighauser, out of such Merchandises belonging to the Public as he has in his Hands. You will get loaded and to sea with all possible Dispatch and return to such Part of America as you shall judge safest. We propose to send Dispatches by...
30772The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 29 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have directed the Captain’s Read and Barnes to apply to you for such Cargoes as they can take for America, and for such Necessary supplies as they may demand, which We desire you to do with all possible Expedition and Frugality. We are &c.
30773From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 29 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives Yours of May 14. gave me great Pleasure, as it inform’d me of your safe Arrival and Welfare. And I hope that as soon as you have seen your Friends and settled your Affairs, You will return again to Europe, where your Abilities may be greatly useful to your Country. I continue in the same or rather in a more uncomfortable Situation than that in which you left me. If ever...
30774John Ayres to the American Commissioners, 29 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Bordeaux, July 29, 1778: I arrived yesterday in 26 days from Boston with a packet for you which ill health prevents me from delivering personally. Mr. Texier, a friend of Mr. Bondfield, has agreed to deliver it. I trust I shall soon recover and will be glad to serve in my capacity as captain in the continental navy. If not, I will await your orders. P.S....
30775Sartine to the American Commissioners, 29 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Harvard University Library; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress, National Archives; two transcripts: National Archives J’ai recu, Messieurs, La Lettre que vous m’avés fait l’honneur de m’ecrire Le 16 De Ce mois. Sa majesté compte beaucoup sur les secours en vivres que Le gouvernement de la Baye de Massachusset pourra procurer aux isles St. pierre et Miquelon. Les...
30776Philip Hancock: Receipt, 29 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Recu de Messieurs Horneca Fizeaux & Cie. d’ordre et pour Compte de Messieurs Les Commissionaires du Congrés La somme de deux Cent florins Argent Court d’hollande fait a double ne Servant que pour une For this prominent Amsterdam banking house, of which the Grand brothers were behind-the-scene directors, see XXVI , 135 n, 338–9 n. Apparently Horneca, Fizeaux...
30777To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Pelletier, 29 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Quoique ces essais ne contiennent que des idées très simples, l’utilité dont je crois qu’elles pourroient être à vos compatriotes et l’intérêt que leur courage inspire à tous ceux en qui la corruption n’a point éteint les sentimens de la nature, m’engagent à les mettre sous vos yeux. Si elles étoient adoptées, le tems actuel est peut être celui dans lequel...
30778John Emery to Arthur Lee, 29 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library I have at length got the Liberty of Cap. Allen and his Crew who are now here with some more Sailors which have been taken and sett onshore in Spain. I have a schooner here which is a remarkable fine Sailor and these people seem disposed to make a Cruize this Summer before they go home therefore I am preparing to Arm the Vessell as a Privateer. If you can send...
30779General Orders, 29 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Regimental Quarter Masters are to be pointedly exact in having Vaults sunk for necessaries and see that they are regularly covered every morning; They are also to pay strict attention to the Cleanliness of the Camp, seeing that all Offal, putrid flesh and bones are buried. Altho’ this is the particular duty of the Quarter Masters it is expected that the Commanding Officers of Corps will...
30780To George Washington from Colonel Stephen Moylan, 29 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to inform your Excellency by Mr Lott, that I intended coming with the Cavalry to this neighborhood, on my arrival I reconoitred the country and found a great majority disaffected, and taking every oppertunity of Supplying the enemy, yesterday I Sent a party of 80 horse to Bergen, with orders to drive up what Catle they Coud Collect, from that town, to the point, which they have...