52801To Benjamin Franklin from Henrietta Maria Colden, 14 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society After congratulating your Excellency, on having established the United States of America on the Basis of Civil, Religious and Commercial Liberty; permit me to Sollicit your Protection of my Infant Sons, Natives of New York, who owe their Allegiance to the New Republick.— After the Death of my Husband Richard Nicholls Colden (eldest Son of Mr Alexander...
52802To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 14 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief J’ai reçu des mains de Mrs Wheelock la Lettre dont il vous a plu m’honorer; avec la juste sensibilité que j’aurai toujours pour toutes les marques que vous voulez bien me donner de votre précieux souvenir. Il y a effectivement trop longtemps que nous ne nous étions donné signe de vie, & que nous n’avons qu’indirectement des nouvelles...
52803To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis du Saillant et de Saint-Viance, 14 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je viens De Comettre unne Etourderie Dont je vous prie De Recevoir mes Excuses. Mr. gatellier ma Envoyé trois Exemplaires De son ouvrage pour vous Les faire passer, jay Cru que La Lettre qui Etoit De Dans Etoit pour moy, & dans Cette idee je Lay ouvertte, jespere que vous voudres bien avoir De Lindulgence pour unne fautte involontaire je vous Le Demande Et...
52804To Benjamin Franklin from Dom ——— Gauthey, 14 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Vous avez eu sansdoutte la complaisance de lire le prospectus sur la propagation du son dans des tuyaux que Monsieur Dufourni de Villers, eut la bonté de vous remettre au Musée le 6 du présent, et j’aime à croire que le projet d’une Experience de cette nature, quelqu’en soit l’issüe, n’a put manquer d’interesser un vrai savant, puis qu’elle tend à fixer nos...
52805To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte de Sarsfield, 14 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr De Sarsfield a lhonneur de faire bien des Complimens a Monsieur franklin Et le prie d’avoir la bonté de luy envoyer la lettre de recommandation qu’il a eu celle de lui promettre En faveur De lady Juliana Penn dont un des fils va passer En pensilvanie. Addressed: hotel de sarsfield} a Monsieur / Monsieur franklin ministre / plenipotentiaire des Etats /...
52806To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Boillat et al., 15 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Peter Boillat, Represents to your excellency the Circumstance in which I find myself with four Other Americans, I was Capt and have Served with honour during the War, in the Service of Congress, where I have been Severely Wounded, I have Served ever with Zeal my Country, And took the Command of the Privateer Called the Lawrens of Twelve Guns, I was taken...
52807To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 15 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I had the honor to receive, altho Somewhat Late the Communications you made to me of the Treaty signed the 30th of Novr. with G. Britain. Your Letter remained more than three weeks in the hands of this Ministry, If I may be Allowed to Judge from its Date & Delivery. I am Infinitely sensible for the Communication which you did me the honor to make of this Important...
52808To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-François Joly de Fleury de La Valette, 15 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la lettre que Votre Excellence m’a fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 9. de ce mois avec l’état des Lettres de change tirées de l’Inde et de l’Amérique, pour le service de la Marine qui appartiennent aux Américains et dont le paiement est reculé d’une année, en vertu de l’arrêt du Conseil du Roi du 26. fevrier dernier. S’il étoit possible de...
52809To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 15 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A very respectable planter of Antigua writes to desire of Mr Manning, “as a particular favor, that he would procure for his son a letter to Dr Franklin, as he is desirous he should know one of the first characters this age has produced.” The young gentleman, Mr Mackinnen, who presents you with this letter is the person alluded to, and though he is...
52810Antoine Court de Gébelin to the American Philosophical Society: Extract, 15 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Extracted from ALS : American Philosophical Society Le 6. de ce mois, notre Societé litteraire connue sous le nom de Musée de Paris a donnè une brillante fete pour la paix: le Dr Franklin l’honora de sa presence: il y avoit l’élite des Academies, des Ambassadeurs, de Paris: 400. Dames plus brillantes les unes que les autres: les lectures en vers & en prose commencerent un peu après 5 heur. Le...
52811From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 16 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me respecting the Means of promoting the Commerce between France and America. Not being myself well acquainted with the State of that Commerce, I have endeavoured by Conversation with some of our Merchants to obtain Information. They complain in general of the Embarrassments...
52812To Benjamin Franklin from William Bache, 16 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I embrace this opportunity of letting you know that Papa is going to Passy to wait upon you home to Philadelphia; My Sister is going to boarding School to Miss Beckwith; there is a refugee Rowgally taken and brought in here. Bob says he is very glad to hear that you are in A good State of health. There are two French Frigates going out to Fight two British...
52813From Benjamin Franklin to the Earl of Buchan, 17 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; press copy of ALS : Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I received the Letter your Lordship did me the honour of writing to me the 18th past, and am oblig’d by your kind Congratulations on the Return of Peace, which I hope will be lasting. With regard to the Terms on which Lands may be acquired in America, & the Manner of beginning new...
52814From Benjamin Franklin to William Jones, 17 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I duly received your obliging Letter of Nov. 15: You will have since learnt how much I was then and have been continually engag’d in public Affairs, and your Goodness will excuse my not having answered sooner. You announc’d your intended Marriage with my much respected Friend Miss Anna Maria, which I assure you gave me great Pleasure, as I cannot conceive a Match...
52815From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 17 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; copy: Library of Congress I received with great Pleasure my dear & respected Friend’s Letter of the 5th Instt. as it inform’d me of the Welfare of a Family I so much esteem & love. The Clamor against the Peace in your Parliament would alarm me for its Duration, if I were not of Opinion with you, that the Attack is rather against the Minister. I am confident none...
52816To Benjamin Franklin from the Chevalier Du Bouchet, 17 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Colonel DuBouchet, Deputy adjutant General to the french army in america, has the honor to present his Best Respects to his excellency doctor franklin. He is Very sorry to have Been hindered By Business to Wait upon his excellency, and to Give him the agreable information of the perfect state of health of all his relations and friends in philadelphia; he...
52817To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 17 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress; copy: South Carolina Historical Society I beg leave to refer to my letter of the 6th Instant by the hands of Mr. Storer—to speak in the current stile, Government is still a float. In the moment when it was thought an Administration would be formed, the prospects of the Coalition have been dashed— The K. it seems has been the stipulator, insisted upon keeping the Lord...
52818To Benjamin Franklin from Louis-Marie Marion de La Brillantais, 17 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Nous avons l’honneur de vous remettre Ci-jointe une requête qu’adressent à votre excellence d’infortunés Americains, victimes de la guerre. Leur objet est de repasser dans leur patrie Sur le Navire Le Pacifique que nous venons d’armer dans Notre port, pour l’amérique Septentrionale. Nous Sommes bien fachés que leurs blessures et le Complettement de Notre...
52819To Benjamin Franklin from Antoine-Alexis-François Cadet de Vaux, 19 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai passé hier trois heures avec M. Robillard, chevalier de l’ordre du Roi, chirurgien majeur de l’armée francaise en Amérique. Il a Vu votre hémisphere en homme Instruit et me parait avoir rapporté de ce pays là des observations faites pour intéresser le lègislateur du nouveau monde. J’ai présumé que vous le Verriés utilement et Je lui ai proposé de le...
52820To Benjamin Franklin from Sir Edward Newenham, 19 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Now that the long wished-for point is finaly Obtained by the Spirit of the United States, in whose cause I have always been warm & never varied, I must Again in the most Earnest Manner press your Excellency to have Mr John Christopher Hornbostel appointed Consul for those states at Marsailles; he justly merits it to my own Knowledge and I think I have...
52821To Benjamin Franklin from Patience Wright, 19 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society With the pleasing prospect of peace I Expected To See you arive in London with Public Entry and all my Romantick Ideas fullfilld this Winter.— But to My Mortification another Year longer before Bag and Bagage is Exported to Hannover — We are Framing parliment Laws for traid and other Delays To Fill up the History of this Kings Reign— The honour the American...
52822From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Laurens, 20 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Princeton University Library I received your Favour of the 6th Instant, with a Copy of the Bill for the provisional Establishment of Commerce, & Mr Day’s Tract. I am much oblig’d by your kind Attention in sending them. I am glad you happen to be on the Spot to say what ought to be said respecting the pretended Loyalists. Setting them in their true Light must be of great Service. The...
52823To Benjamin Franklin from John Bourne, 20 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Indulge me with this and I shall trouble no more. Establish no priest craft in the Land. Curtail the power of Executors viz a person Dies posess’d of Effects, left in the hands of Executors; let there be two Courts, an upper and a lower the lower Court to take Cognozience, & the Will to be Register’d, the Executor with an examiner to give in a just...
52824To Benjamin Franklin from Luigi Pio, 20 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. de Pio a L’honneur de renouveller Les assurances de son respect à Monsieur Franklin, Ministre Plenipotentiaire des Etatsunis de l’amerique Septentrionale, et de lui dire, qu’il tient à sa disposition douze Exemplaires de l’ouvrage de Mr. le chevr. Filangieri de Naples, qui a pour titre “Science de La Legislation” Mr. de Pio attend les ordres de Mr....
52825From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 21 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Robert J. Walker III, Jupiter, Florida (1969) The Bearer Mr John Darby, of excellent Character & Connections in England, and in very capital Business, goes over with a View of Visiting America; & may perhaps finally settle there.— I beg you will do every thing in you Power to render his stay as agreable as possible, by shewing him every Civility and Attention and by affording him your...
52826From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, [c. 21 March 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 227–8. You mention that I may now see verified all you said about binding down England to so hard a peace. I suppose you do not mean by the American treaty; for we were exceeding favourable in not insisting on the reparations so justly due for the wanton...
52827Franklin’s Answers to Five Questions about Trade, [on or before 21 March 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Retranslation: reprinted from Nina N. Bashkina et al. , eds., The United States and Russia: the Beginning of Relations, 1765–1815 ([Washington, D.C., 1980]), p. 179. Question 1: Are all the nations of Europe, including those of the North, allowed to trade freely and safely with the United States of North America, to land on their coast, to frequent their ports, harbors, etc.? Answer: Yes....
52828To Benjamin Franklin from James Moylan, 21 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Dispatches for the Ministers of Foreign affairs & Finances have come safe to my hands, and agreeable to your directions I have deliver’d them to the Captain of the Frigate bound to America, who promised to take particular care of them. With the utmost respect I have the honor to be Honor’d Sir Your most obedt. & most hle Servt Addressed: A Monsieur /...
52829To Benjamin Franklin from Patience Wright, 21 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By the Desire of Some of the honest membrs in Parliment this Inclosd proposals for a very useful paper (which is much wanted at this time)—the news papers are So undr the Direction of the Party of george—that no truth Comes out to inform the People—the people grone undr the tyrant and by assistance from America will through Such useful papers open the way...
52830To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes: Three Letters, 22 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : American Philosophical Society; draft: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; (II) LS : Library of Congress; draft: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; (III) draft: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères J’ai l’honneur de vous envoÿer, Monsieur, Copie de la réponse que j’ai reçue de Mr. le Mis. [Marquis] de Castries relativemt. à la Saisie faite sur les...