47491From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 20 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress Your very obliging Letter communicating the News of the important Victory at York, gave me infinite Pleasure. The very powerful Aid afforded by his Majesty to America this Year, has rivetted the Affections of that People, and the Success has made Millions happy. Indeed the King appears to me from this and...
47492From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson and Thomas Mifflin, 27 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Amherst College Library Enclos’d is Bill of Lading and Invoice of the Books you order’d, which I wish safe to hand, and am, Gentlemen Yours and the Company’s most obedient Servant P.S. On looking over your Letter I see that I am desir’d to add other Books if the List does not amount to your Money. Now that I have receiv’d the Invoice and find it amounts to so little, I shall look out for...
47493From Benjamin Franklin to Meÿer, 20 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me dated the 9th. Instant. I am quite unacquainted with the affairs of the Ranger, and never had anything to do with the Payment of Shares of her Prizes to any Person whatever: I cannot therefore understand Mr. Schweighhauser’s referring you to me; but I will write to him about it. I have the honour to be, Sir...
47494From Benjamin Franklin to John Walsh et al., 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am sorry to understand by your Memorial of the 16. Past, which came to hand but Yesterday, that you are still in that uncomfortable Situation on board the Brigantine in Brest Road, having understood that Orders had been long since given for taking you on Shore. I write again this Day to the Minister of the Marine, to obtain a Renewal of those Orders; and I hope in...
47495From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 24 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library Being desirous of thoroughly understanding M. Monthieu’s Accounts, which I am much press’d by him to settle, I request you would please to send me by the Bearer all the Papers you have relating to it.— I should be glad also to have Mr Grands first Accounts, with Mr Deane’s Remarks upon them— I have the honour to be Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant...
47496From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes: Letter and Memoir, 15[–16] February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the Honour of writing to me the 6th. Instant, enclosing an Aperçu of the Situation of the Congress Account for the Year 1781. On considering that Account this Day, there seems to me an Error in stating one of the Sums, viz. that of 2,216,000. l.t. I have therefore drawn a...
47497From Benjamin Franklin to Taverne Demont Dhiver, 28 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am honor’d with yours of the 22 Inst. applying for two Commissions. I should have a Pleasure in complying with your Request; But it is not in my Power, till I shall have receiv’d fresh Orders from Congress. I have the Honor to be, Sir &c.
47498From Benjamin Franklin to Jean de Neufville & fils, 4 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me on the 29th past, relating to certain Bills drawn on Mr Lawrens and requesting to know if I will engage to reimburse you, if you in his Absence, accept & pay them. As I have received no Orders nor any Advice relating to any such Bills, know not by whom they are drawn, whether for...
47499Standing Queries for the Junto, 1732 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Benjamin Franklin, Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces , ed. Benjamin Vaughan, (London, 1779), pp. 533–6; also draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1727 Franklin “form’d most of my ingenious Acquaintances into a Club for mutual Improvement, which we called the Junto.” An important inspiration for it was the deep influence which Cotton Mather’s...
47500From Benjamin Franklin to John Bondfield, 4 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress This Morning some Bills drawn by you were presented to me amounting to 19800 livres which I declin’d accepting for want of advice. The Person who brought them was hardly out of the house before I found on my table unopened yours of the 29th past which advises of those Drafts. I immediately Sent after him, but he was not overtaken; and not knowing from what house in...