46831From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, [c. 26 August 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society If you write to this Mr. Barnes, please to acquaint him that the Reason he had no Answer from me to his Letter was because he did not send word where he lodged. I agree to the 5 Guineas. Written on the back of Thomas Barnes’s letter to JA of Aug. 25, which had been sent care of “Monsieur Franquelen a passis.” That letter, now missing, was written on Aug....
46832John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 26 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Bordeaux, August 26, 1778: Last evening arrived one of Captain McNeill’s prizes, the brig Archangel , taken at latitude 72° N. longitude 25° E. while en route from Archangel to London. A boat from Boston belonging to Basmarein & Co. has arrived but brings no news. Captain Ayres continues to decline; I have sent him to the country but the doctor believes he...
46833James Moylan to the American Commissioners, 26 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <L’Orient, August 26, 1778: Capt. Daniel McNeill arrived here yesterday on the General Mifflin , privateer. He left Portsmouth May 8, cruised the north seas, and captured thirteen prizes there and at the mouth of the Channel. Five he sunk, the rest he sent to America or France; one [the Isabelle ] arrived here. He also has some fifty prisoners. Can they be...
46834Puchelberg & Cie. to the American Commissioners, 26 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <L’Orient, August 26, 1778, in French: We refer to our letter of the 24th and to the arrival of the General Mifflin , Captain Daniel McNeill. McNeill wishes to sell the recaptured French ship [ Isabelle ]. Since his commission and those of his officers conform to Captain Tucker’s, it may be necessary for him to report his captures to Tucker and divide the...
46835To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, [26 August? 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je vous tourmente toujours mon Illustre Docteur mais c’est par contrecoup parcequ’on me tourmente aussi. Je vous ai demandé une lettre de recommandation pour un negociant de St. Brieuc M. De La Lande Robinot qui doit envoyer un vaisseau richement chargé en Amérique. Vous m’avez dit qu’il falloit que vous seussiez quelle sorte d’homme etoit ce négociant. Je...
46836To Benjamin Franklin from Leveux, 26 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Le 10 de ce Mois J’ay eu l’honneur de vous prevenir que deux americains sauvés des prisons d’angleterre s’etoient presentés chez moy a leur arrivée icy et que je leur avois fourni a chacun quatre Louis d’or pour se rendre a Paris. Le 13 du meme mois Le sieur John Murfey cy devant Commandant le Navire le Swallow pris près du Cap francois par la fregatte...
46837To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 26 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives Mr. Porter of Connecticut who was lately at Paris applied to me in distress for Money and said you desired him to do so: I advancd him four Guineas as per the inclosed Receipt relying on his word that you would not object to it. Mr. Leger Capt. Jno. Nicholsons first Lieutenant is arrived here and has no money, the 10 Guineas he...
46838The American Commissioners to John Bondfield, 27 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have before us yours of the 23d Inst. and are very sorry that Capt. Ayres is so indisposed as to prevent his return to America in the General Arnold. We wholly refer the appointmt. of a Master for this Vessel to you and Capt. Ayres and doubt not you will find a good Seaman and a person in whom you can confide. We...
46839To Benjamin Franklin from Georges Grand, 27 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Depuis la Lettre que J’ay eu l’honneur de vous ecrire le 20 de ce mois M. Hancok à attendu les 3 malles qui sont arrivées d’Angleterre sans avoir receu les nouvelles, et les remises qu’il attendait. Dans l’idée que les Lettres de son frere sont intercéptées, il s’est décidé à partir ce matin pour se rendre auprés de Vous, ou Je compte qu’il arrivera dans la...
46840To Benjamin Franklin from de Reine, 27 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Hier a l’hotel De joui j’ai eu l’honneur de vous parler d’un topique de plus merveillieux pour la reunion des os pour toute les fractures. Cette objet est trop interressant pour l’humanité pour être négligé: autant il paroit extraordinaire vérifié par nombre D’Experiance appuyée de certificat les plus autentique. Cependant je vous Supplie, Monsieur le...
46841[Ferdinand Grand]: Memorandum for the American Commissioners, [before 28 August? 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): American Philosophical Society Le Congrés a authorisé ses Comissionaires a emprunter en Europe 2 millions Stl. soit 46 millions argent de france remboursable dans 10 ans a l’interret de 6 pct. tous fraix faits. Les Comissionaires ont en consequence commence par faire imprimer pour 4 millions de promesses. Quoyqu’ils n’en ayent pas encorre fait usage ils ont tout lieu d’esperer que...
46842The American Commissioners to James Smith, 28 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We received your Letter dated Paris Hotel de Saxe Aug. 24. and, altho We are altogether of a different opinion from yours respecting your Right of passing with your Effects Americans being intituled by the Treaty, no more than the Subjects of any other state in Europe in Amity with France, to pass with their Effects...
46843The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 28 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, August 28, 1778: We have several subjects that we must lay before you. One, unfortunately, is money. The nature of the war has necessitated far more emissions of paper currency than would ordinarily have been wise; to limit them Congress has borrowed...
46844John Paul Jones to the American Commissioners, 28 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; draft: National Archives; copy: United States Naval Academy Museum <Brest, August 28, 1778: M. de la Prévalaye, who commands here in the absence of the comte d’Orvilliers, has just told me that he can no longer furnish a guard for the Ranger prisoners detained aboard the Patience . Unable to depend on the Ranger ’s officers, I had arranged for a guard with...
46845To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre-Joseph Odolant-Desnos, 28 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Comme pere d’une famille particuliere et de plus pere d’un grand peuple pour le bonheur duquel, dans un âge tres avancé vous avés fait tant de sacrifices particuliers, j’ose esperer que vous voudrés bien user d’indulgence pour un pere malheureux qui cherche de tous cotes un enfant cheri qui ne lui a jamais donné jusqu’à ce moment que des sujets de...
46846To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 28 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (letterbook draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief Les Lettres que j’ai reçues, et les Dépêches que j’ai pu voir depuis quelque temps, ne me disent rien de plus que ce [ que ] publient en même temps les Gazettes, et surtout celle de Leide, qui est la meilleure, et laquelle je suppose que vous voyez regulierement. J’ai craint, depuis ma derniere du 18, d’abuser...
46847John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 29 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Bordeaux, August 29, 1778: I have received your letter of the 19th commissioning the purchase of 56 pieces of cannon. I suspect it will be November before I can collect them. I presume they are for naval use; let me know where to send them. I am without instructions for the General Arnold ; the delays cause very heavy expenses which are charged to me....
46848To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Guigon, 29 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Agde, August 29, 1778, in French: I am sending you a modest work on engineering and make bold to congratulate your country on its alliance with France, that generous protector of the weak. May America prove a faithful daughter!> He signs himself Maître de Chapelle de la Cathédrale d’Agde.
46849To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Hill, 29 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai recu de Mr. Franklin la somme de Cinq Cent Livres a Compte, de ce qu’il me doit de Memoire que je luy ai donné, Notation: Hills Rect for 500 Livs A tailor who had been serving the members of the commission for at least a year; he appears sporadically throughout WTF ’s Accounts (see XXIII , 19), and F. Grand’s Accounts with the Commissioners ( XXIV , p....
46850The American Commissioners to Sartine, 30 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have just received a Letter from Brest relating to the insecure State of our Prisoners there a Copy of which We inclose and request your Excellencys Aid in Securing them more effectually, till they can be exchanged. We also beg Leave to remind your Excellency of the Passport we desired for the English Cartell ship...
46851John Paul Jones to the American Commissioners, 30 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; draft: National Archives; copy: United States Naval Academy Museum <Brest, August 30, 1778: My friend M. de la Porte, intendant, has now agreed to furnish a vessel and send the Ranger ’s prisoners to England, if you consent. This offer is too generous to refuse. The guard will be discontinued unless you procure an order from the minister. As for the...
46852To Benjamin Franklin from François Teissedre de Fleury, 30 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je viens d’etre informé par un de mes amis a qui je m’etais adressé pour qu’il me procurat s’il lui etoit possible des nouvelles de mon fils n’en ejant [ayant] pas eu depuis un fort longtemps, il me mande par le courrier d’aujourdhui qu’il a appris qu’il avoit ete fait prisonnier avec pleusieurs autres officiers francais sur la delavare, et conduits a St....
46853The American Commissioners to Horneca, Fizeaux & Cie., 31 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two), University of Virginia Library <Passy, August 31, 1778, in French: We send by Mr. Whitall a book of promissory notes and interest coupons, for 205,000 florins payable on January 1, 1788. You will fill in the blanks in each with the number and date of delivery, likewise the counterfoils, and keep an exact record. Sell the notes...
46854The American Commissioners to Musco Livingston, 31 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We are favoured with yours of the 24, and are not able to give you any certain Directions concerning the Duties upon C. Tucker’s Prizes. We have heretofore taken a great deal of Pains concerning the Subject of Prizes, and the Duties which must be paid upon them. Mr. Schweighauser of Nantes has obtained, as We...
46855The American Commissioners to James Moylan, 31 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, August 31, 1778: We are pleased to hear from you of the good success as well as the adventurous and patriotic spirit of Capt. McNeill. When the prisoner exchange we have been promised is accomplished, his prisoners can be exchanged for a like number of our suffering countrymen. We will inform you when the...
46856To Benjamin Franklin from John Holker, 31 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je prends la liberté de vous recommander encore la Maison de Mr. Le Couteulx de Cadix: leur Scituation, leur richesse, la considération dont ils jouissent en Europe et Surtout a la Cour d’Espagne, avec leur façon de penser pour la noble cause, mérite réellement votre attention. Mr. Le Normand leur associé doit vous remettre cette lettre et vous me flaterés...
46857To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 31 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives; copy: United States Naval Academy Museum Since my return here I have written several letters to Doctor Bancroft, to none of which I have yet received any Answer, tho’ the first was dated the 14th. and left Brest by the next mornings Post. This has made me Apprehend that he is absent from Paris as I know he purposed going to...
46858To Benjamin Franklin from Barbeu-Dubourg, [August? 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Je prens la liberté de vous recommander encore diverses affaires dont j’ai eu l’honneur de vous parler. 1° Celle de M. Coder qui est tres interessante et qui requert celerité. 2° Celle des toiles a voiles et autres marchandises que l’on offre de fournir aux prix courants soit au Congrés, soit aux armateurs particuliers, et de recevoir en payement des...
46859To Benjamin Franklin from Charles-Armand Flöbergue de la Motte de la Rocatelle, [August? 1778]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Toul, [August?, 1778], in French: On the 28th of last June I addressed a memorandum to Congress and to M. Washington and sent the packet to M. Williams to forward. He did not reply, and I have heard nothing from America; the packet, I fear, was lost. I send you enclosed the same memorandum, in which I propose to head a school to teach young Americans all...
46860To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, [August? 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I send you Dr. Forster’s Observations made during a voyage round the World and I have marked the page wherein he explains the formation of Those Ilands I spoke to you of and That are hardly higher than high water mark. I have marked equally The page wherein he speaks of that curious observation They made aboard a ship at Tahity where they saw the fire...