49111To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 16 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft) and transcript: National Archives I wrote to you from the Texel the 29th of Novr: and the 13th of December— I left the Texel in such haste that I had but time to write a Line to Mr De Neufville with another of which the inclosed is a Copy to Mr: Dumas who I trust has agreeable to his promise transmitted to you every necessary information...
49112From Benjamin Franklin to Lafayette, 18 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress Being unavoidably detained from going to Versailles to Day as I intended, I must beg of you when you present those Officers to M. De Vergennes, to say for me what I should have said if I could have been present, that I have been made well acquainted with their great Merit and the high Reputation they have acquired in...
49113From Benjamin Franklin to the Prince de Montbarey, 18 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Monsieur Noirmont de La Neuville has produced to me a Number of Testimonies from American Generals and from the Congress, of his Valour and good Conduct in several important Actions of the War, by which he has acquired great Esteem in that Country; At his Request I have certified the Authenticity of Those Papers; and I beg leave to add, that I am persuaded, if his...
49114To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 18 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society When the Black Prince returned here from his first Cruise in Sepr., they Brot. 9. Prisoners, which are in our Jail at the Disposall of your Excellency; 8. of them are Irish born, good men & acquaintances to Capt. Ryan. They have his promise to be Taken out for his first Privateer.— Now that Mr. Ryan has one, they all Tease him to be admitted on board of the...
49115To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 18 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the Liberty of making a Request which I hope will not be considered as improper, if it is I beg you will kindly tell me so & there the matter will end. If it is not your compliance will highly oblige me.— My Wifes Grandfather has written me a very kind Letter of approbation of my marriage & in it he informs of his Intention to go to Grenada to...
49116To Benjamin Franklin from John Dixon, 19 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the liberty to enclose under cover to your Excellency a letter for my Father who lives at Hull in Yorkshire, the old Gentleman has under his care William Royle my son in law, a youth, Nephew to the late worthy William Hunter Esqr. formerly joint postmaster General of North America with yourself;— He was sent to England when a child to be cut for the...
49117To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Gardoqui & Sons, 19 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The two enclos’d letters & two more that we forward you under a blank covert have been deliver’d us this day by the Honble. John Adams whose agreable company we have since last saturday, so wish they may come safe to hand. Said Gentn. intends to sett out for Paris to morow. & In hopes of his reaching it soon after a prosperous journey beg leave to repeatt...
49118To Benjamin Franklin from Gourlade & Moylan, 19 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The privateer Sloop Black prince under American Colours, put into this harbour some days since; she saild last from Dunkirque, and during a Cruise of eighteen days in the English Channel, (in consort with the Black princess) she made several captures and deposited Forty eight prisoners here. We take the liberty of mentioning this circumstance to you, that...
49119To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes, 19 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress J’ai reçu, M, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’h. de mécrire le 15. de ce mois. Comme La distribution de celle du Congrès qui y étoit jointe, ne presente aucun inconvenient, je l’ay addressée à M le Noir, pour qu’il y mette Son permis. J’ay prié en même tems ce magistrat d’en faire le renvoy à la personne que...
49120From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 20 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am much obliged by your kind Letter, informing me of the good Disposition of the Commissioners for the Sick and wounded. I believe they would do in all things what is humane, just and honorable, but I have not so good an Opinion of the Lords of the Admiralty, from whom Mr. Hartley had never been able to obtain a Yes or a No on the plain Question whether the written...
49121To Benjamin Franklin from Baron Friedrich Melchior von Grimm, 20 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Dartmouth College Library Le Baron de Grimm, Ministre Plénipe. du Saxe Gotha prend la liberté de recommander aux bontés de Monsieur Franklin le porteur de ce billet, Monsieur Loehr de Leipzig, jeune voyageur très instruit et très aimable. Il ne croirait pas avoir rempli l’objet de son voyage, s’il quitait ce pays ci sans avoir eu l’avantage de voir et de connaitre Monsieur Franklin. Le...
49122To Benjamin Franklin from Jean de Neufville & fils, 20 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society On the refusal of Mrs. Hope & Co: the owners of the vessel in favour of who’s Captn. a Bill was drawn agreeing with the inclosed Copeÿ, theÿ have apply’d to us, we have promis’d them that we Should directlÿ write about it, as we had no orders, nor were acquainted with the drawer; so we make bold to applÿ to ÿour Excellencÿ; and in case she might think...
49123To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis d’Auzoüer, 21 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je suis bien Mortifié de ne point recevoir de réponce a la lêtre que jay eu lhonneur décrire a votre éxcellance, il y a environ six semaine; par laquelle je vous supliois de vous rapeller que dans le Courant de jeuillet 1778. Mde dauzoüer dont le nom de famille est o caroll proche parante de Mrs o caroll de marillane vos amis a eu ainsi que moy lhonneur de...
49124To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Rinquin, 21 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library En l’absence de MM. les officiers de L’amirauté de Morlaix, j’ai l’honneur d’adresser a Votre éxcellence, les pieces Concernant la prise du navire le jacques et thomas, faite par le Corsaire Le prince noir, Capitaine actuel Patrick Dowlin, avec le rapport de relache du Capitaine de la princesse noir et les interrogatoires de deux otages: comme on ne ma...
49125To Benjamin Franklin from ——— de Rayber, 22 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ay l’honneur de recourir à votre Justice, et vous la demander dans la situation malheureuse ou je me Trouve. Au mois d’aoust dernier J’offris mes services au Commodore Guillin agent des affaires de la Caroline du Sud, apres avoir vû mes Brevets, Certificats de Service et démission au Service du Roy, les petits Talents qu’il m’a reconnu, ont fait agréer...
49126From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 23 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I beg leave to introduce Mr. Alexander by this Line to your Excellency, and to request that you would favour him with a few minutes Audience. With the greatest Respect, I am, your Excellency’s m. o. and m. &. Undoubtedly Alexander John Alexander, who had asked BF to deliver memoirs to Sartine and Vergennes; see his letter of Dec. 14, above.
49127From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan: Two Versions, 24 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) Two AL (drafts): American Philosophical Society; (II) ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Your intelligent Friend has I think been misinformed. It does not seem to me at all probable, that Propositions of Peace are coming to England from America. You began the War, and it belongs to you to propose putting an End to it, which you will do when you think...
49128To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 24 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Espérant que toutes mes précédentes vous sont bien parvenues, j’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer ci-joint copie d’une Lettre, qui m’a été communiquée par Mr. N——, que j’avois prié de se procurer quelques lumieres ultérieures sur les ouvertures faites à Mr. Jones au sujet des prises saisies à Bergen & restituées aux Anglois. Je ne sais qui est l’Ecrivain, mais...
49129To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 25 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have the Honor of informing you of our arrival at this Place this Day in the frigate l’Aurore from Martinico to which Iland the officers of the Confederacy thought proper to proceed in Consequence of the loss of all our Masts & the Damage our rudder received on the Edge of the Bank of New-foundland. We Left Martinico the 28th. of December & have a most agreable...
49130To Benjamin Franklin from John Jay, 26 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Columbia University Library; copies: Columbia University Library, Library of Congress You have doubtless been amused this month or two past with various Conjectures about the Fate of the Confederacy. She left Chester (on the Delaware) the 18 Octr. bound for France, was dismasted and split her Rudder the 7 Novr off the Banks of Newfoundland. On the 23d following, the officers of the...
49131From Benjamin Franklin to Auzoüer, 27 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you honour’d me with of the 21st. Instant. It is long Since I had any News of Mr. Carrol. I only know that he is a Member of the Congress; but I hear nothing of his Coming to france. Probably he was not willing to undertake so hazardous a Voyage with his family in time of war, nor to leave them behind in case he did come over.— Be pleased to...
49132From Benjamin Franklin to John Diot & Co., 27 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your obliging favour of the 12th. Instant inclosing the journal of the Black Princess, and two paroles. You may depend on my giving prompt Dispatch in judging the Prizes as soon as the Papers come to hand.— The prisoners are by the king’s Regulation of the 27th. sept. 1778. to be kept in his Prisons till exchanged, at the Expence of the United states, to...
49133From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, 27 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: National Archives, Library of Congress I received yours of the 10th. Instant. I Shall be glad to learn how the taking of the Dutch Ships has been accommodated. We have yet no News of the alliance: but suppose she is cruizing. We are more in Pain for the Confederacy, who Sailed the 28th Oct. from the Capes of Deleware. There is some Hopes that She went to Charlestown to take in Mr....
49134From Benjamin Franklin to Gourlade and Moylan, 27 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 19th. Instant, acquainting me with the arrival of the Black Prince, with her Prisoners, for wich I am much obliged to you. The Prisoners are in our disposition as to the Exchange being taken under American colours and Commission and they ought to be confined in the king’s Prisons till exchanged, agreable...
49135From Benjamin Franklin to Moses Grinnell, 27 [January] 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours of the 21st. Instant. I am distress’d by the vast Number of Calls upon me for money, by American Prisoners and others, and it is impossible for me to furnish every one with what they desire. If six Louis will be of any service to you this Line will authorize Mr. Scheweighauser to furnish you with them, on your Note for Repayment to The Treasurer of...
49136From Benjamin Franklin to Philip Mazzei, 27 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; copy: Library of Congress I received the Letters you have done me the honour of writing to me desiring an Advance of 200. Louis. The Reasons you offer to shew the Safety with which I might trust you with that Sum are good; but some unexpected Drafts on me, lately received, and the Engagements of various kinds that I am under, disable me from complying with such...
49137From Benjamin Franklin to Jean de Neufville & fils, 27 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received duly the Letters you did me the honour of writing me, of the 10th. and 20th. Instant. The Accounts were very properly sent to Mr. De Chaumont; who has no doubt given such orders as are necessary relating to Supplies for Capt. Jones at L’orient, if any are wanted there. I know nothing of the Drawer of the Bill of which you sent me a Copy; nor do I know that...
49138To Benjamin Franklin from Patrick Dowlin, 27 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I left Dunkirk the 21st. of last Month, upon my Cruize all hands Well, hard Weather, came to the Landsend of England, and on the 26th. of Decr. and 27th. do. took 3 Valuable Prizes, which are Safe Arrived in France besides four Ransoms, I have put into the Prison of Port l’Orient 43 Prisoners, which I hope yr. Excellency will Approve of as they may be a...
49139From Benjamin Franklin to [John Robertson], 28 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours of the 17th. Instant, relating to your son. He was here the and I assisted him with some money, five Louis to help him forward to you. He set out for Nantes I suppose immediately, and I hope he is safe with you before this time. I am, sir &c. BF had recently confused his name with “Robinson”; see BF to Hodgson, Jan. 20, and XXX , 488n. Missing. His...
49140To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 28 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote you under dates the 11. 12. & 14th by a friend Mr. B——r, whom I am now under dayly expectation of seeing. The Bearer of this is an honest Captain of a Ship from my own neighbourhood, & one of a respectable & numerous family. He has a ship & means to push homewards with Her, & from my recommendation is inducd to be a supplicant to you for such...