53821To Benjamin Franklin from Charles-Eléonor Dufriche de Valazé: Résumé, 3 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society ⟨Paris, Hôtel d’Orléans, March 3, 1784, in French: I have one more thing to tell you, not wanting to take more of your time in person. I had the honor of giving you two copies of Loix pénales; you accepted one, and promised to send the other to Congress. That book alone will not achieve its aim: it calls for a new penal system, but does not specify the...
53822To Benjamin Franklin from Marie-Françoise-Dominique Brouttin Mollien de Sombres, 4 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Jai eu lhonneur Monsieur de vous adresser un memoire pour M. Morel de dunkerque, mon parens. Il y a deux mois en joignant mes prieres aux siennes. Depuis jai eu celui de vous écrire et de vous prier Monsieur de vouloir me mander Sil pouvait ésperer quelque chose? Afin de lui en rendre compte; privé de l’honneur de votre reponce jai etté a passy pour avoir...
53823To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte de Vergennes, 4 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Archives du Ministére des affaires étrangères J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 26. du mois dernier en faveur du Sr. Williams votre Neveu. J’ai le plus grand desir de vous prouver le cas que je fais de votre recommandation; mais pour que je puisse mettre sous les yeux du Roi la demande que le Sieur...
53824From Benjamin Franklin to [Madame Brouttin Mollien de Sombres], [after 4 March 1784] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society That I am sorry I was not at home when she did me the honour of calling on me. That the Appointment of Consuls does not belong to me: but That whenever one is appointed for Dunkirk, I imagine it will be Mr Coffyn, who for seven Years past has constantly served the United States in taking Care of & relieving their poor Prisoners escaping from England &...
53825From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 5 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I received the Letter which your Excellency did me the honor of writing to me, respecting the Necessity of producing legal Proof of the Arrangements made with the Creditors mention’d in Mr. Williams’s State of his Affairs. I am much obliged by the Attention you are so good as to afford this Business...
53826To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte de Sarsfield, [5 March 1784?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Count sarsfield hoped to receive today the Collection of Some of those little pieces which mr franklin had promised to him & which he had forgot yesterday. He cannot help writing again about them to mr franklin. He is So much the more impatient of receiving them that he is very near his departure for the Hague. He Desires mr franklin never to forget his most...
53827To Benjamin Franklin from Paul Strattmann, 5 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai l’honneur, de vous envoyer le catalogue de la bibliotheque de M. le Duc de la Valliere, et de vous prier, d’en disposer éntiérement à vôtre plaisir; les feuillets des vacations, que j’ai joint au tome premier, vous indiqueront les numeros des livres, qui viennent d’être vendus; si j’etois assez heureux, de pouvoir me ranger au nombre de vos serviteurs,...
53828To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 7 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library A few days ago your Friend Mr. Alexander forwarded to me from Virginia your favor of the 2d: November accompanied with a packet for Dr. Cooper of Boston, which I shall forward to him by some private hand, to save expence of postage; having already found that expence from Virginia pretty heavy, for not withstanding your name was on the packet, as a frank, the post...
53829From Benjamin Franklin to Leveux, 8 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Je suis bien reconnoissant, Monsieur, de la peine que vous avez bien voulu prendre pour retirer de la Douane de votre Ville les Effets appartenants à M. Jay, et Je vous prie d’en recevoir mes Remercimens, ainsi que pour tous les Soins que vous avez eu des Prisoniers Americains échapés d’Angleterre. Je serois bien aise de recevoir votre Compte afin de vous...
53830To Benjamin Franklin from Antoine La Sablière de La Condamine, 8 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’avois envoyé la petite rapsodie cy-jointe à l’auteur du journal général de france pour l’insérer dans une de ses feuilles pèriodiques, ce qu’il n’a pas jugé à propos de faire, je ne sçais pour qu’elle raison, ce refus me détermine à prendre la Liberté de vous l’addresser: ce n’est pas, monsieur, que j’attache la moindre prétention, ni la moindre...
53831To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Vaughan, 8 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society An unwillingness to encroach upon your time unless for an object of importance has hitherto witheld me from congratulating you on the late glorious Revolution, in which you have borne a part so conspicuous as to entitle you not only to my gratitude but that of every present & future Inhabitant of these States. The liberty of the Country Secured, I ardently...
53832From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 9 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: National Archives I received a few Days since a Letter from Annapolis dated June 5th. in your handwriting, but not signed, acquainting the Commissioners with the Causes of Delay in sending the Ratification of the Definitive Treaty. The Term was expired before that Letter came to hand, but I hope no Difficulty will arise from a Failure in a Point not essential, and which was...
53833To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Thruffé and Other Favor Seekers, 9 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society During the period covered by the present volume, Franklin continued to receive a steady stream of letters asking for favors, most of them from people he did not know. We summarize them here, beginning with those individuals seeking help with financial predicaments ranging from temporary indebtedness to outright poverty. A particularly dramatic appeal for...
53834To Benjamin Franklin from the Comtesse d’Houdetot, 10 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Rien n’est plus Vray, Mon Cher Et Venerable Docteur que la Guerison De Mr De Breget a Laquelle il Est impossible D’attribuer aucunne cause aparente que L’application Du Magnetisme. J’ay Eû ce Matin une Conversation a fond Sur Son traitement avec un De Ses amis qui n’a pas quitté Son Chevet Depuis le Commencement De Sa Maladie, Et qui m’a Confirmé, que...
53835From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 11 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS : Library of Congress; copy: William L. Clements Library I received duly your Favours of Jany. 28. and March 2.— I find Dr Ross to answer the Character given of him by Mr Dempster, and shall give him the Letters of Recommendation desired.— I have wondered at the long Delay of the Ratification; but a Letter I have just receiv’d from the Secretary of Congress explains it to me....
53836From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Laurens, 12[–13] March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : South Carolina Historical Society; press copy of ALS and transcript: Library of Congress I received your kind Letter by Mr Cholet, with the Pamphlets and Newspapers; and since a Paper of the 5th which came under Cover to Mr Grand. I am much oblig’d to you for these Communications.— Your Sentiments and mine respecting the continual Drafts on Europe coincide perfectly. I have just received...
53837From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 12 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This will be delivered to you by Dr. Ross, who is strongly recommended to me by Persons of Distinction in England, and who, after travelling over a great Part of the World, wishes to fix himself for the rest of his Life in America. You will find him a very ingenious sensible Man, and be pleas’d with his Conversation: and you will therefore excuse my requesting for...
53838To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Milet l’aîné, with Franklin’s Draft of a Reply, and Other Applicants for Emigration … (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Beginning in March, 1784, Franklin was able to send would-be emigrants copies of his “Information to Those Who Would Remove to America,” which he had printed in English and French versions. The draft reply to Milet l’aîné, which he wrote at the top of Milet’s letter and presumably gave to L’Air de Lamotte to translate, is our earliest evidence of his having...
53839To Benjamin Franklin from Nicola Victor Mühlberger, 13 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Sans avoir l’honneur d’Estre personellement Connue de Vous je prend la Liberté de Vous adresser la présente. Je Suis Mühlberger de Dresde Negotient que vôtre Complaisançe a bien voulu a la requete de nôtre Embassadeur Monsieur le Baron de Schönfeld a Paris accorder la recomandation de Mr. Robert Morris Intendent des finances en avril dernr. de quoi je ne...
53840To Benjamin Franklin from Anne Ogle, 13 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Sam: Ridout, my Grandson, purposing to pass a few weeks at Paris previous to his leaving Europe—wishes to have the honor of paying his respects to your Excellency. I therefore take the liberty of using this method for introducing him— I am Sr. your most Obedien Servant Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin / Ministre Plenipotentiaire / des Etats...
53841From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 15 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society We have lately received a Letter from the Secretary of Congress, of which I enclose a Copy, accounting for the Delay of the Ratification; & we have sent a Copy of it to Mr. Laurens, who being on the Spot can easily negociate an Agreement to extend the Term if necessary; but I imagine it can hardly occasion any Difficulty, since the Ratification will...
53842To Benjamin Franklin from the Abbé André Morellet, 16 [March] 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society On January 26, Franklin wrote a critique of hereditary nobility in general and of the Society of the Cincinnati in particular, couched as a private letter to his daughter, Sarah Bache. After keeping that essay secret for “some Months,” he asked Morellet to make a translation, which the abbé returned with the present letter. In response to the concern that...
53843From Benjamin Franklin to Morellet, 16 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Your Sentiments and mine, my dear Friend, are exactly the same respecting the Imprudence of showing that Paper; it has therefore, tho’ written some Months past, never been communicated to any one but your self, and will probably not appear till after my Decease, if it does then. You see how much I confide in your Friendship and Discretion. The...
53844To Benjamin Franklin from Anne-Louise Boivin d’Hardancourt Brillon de Jouy, 16 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Monsieur gosséc qui vous reméttra cétte léttre, mon cher papa et auqu’el je prends beaucoup d’intérest a déja eu l’honneur de vous voir, ou monsieur votre fils l’année derniére il vient de négotier des papiers que vous avés trouvés bons, et compte repasser incéssament en amérique ou il a été déja employé, il voudroit avant son départ avoir l’honneur de vous...
53845To Benjamin Franklin from Morellet, [after 16 March 1784] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Voilà Monsieur la copie de la traduction que vous aves lüe avec les retranchemens que nous sommes convenus d’y faire. Je crois même que vous féres encore bien d’en retrancher encore les deux endroits que j’ai renfermés entre des lignes. Vous saves avec quelle facilité on saisit icy toutes les occasions de nuire. Pour moi je voudrois avoir tous les jours des...
53846To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 17 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I recd yours of the 11th Instant as also a preceeding Letter inclosing Dr Wrens Diploma, which I forwarded to him immediately, as I have also that to Dr Withering & shall discharge the Draft in his favor when presented— Church Bells are sold by weight ½ [1s. 2d.] per lb. or £6..10.8 per Cwt. [hundred weight] when wanted, the weight of the Tenor Bell must be...
53847From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 19 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You will forget me quite, my dear old Friend, if I do not write to you now and then. I still exist, and still enjoy some Pleasure in that Existence, tho’ now in my 79th Year. Yet I feel the Infirmities of Age coming on so fast, and the Building to need so many Repairs, that in a little time the Owner will find it cheaper to pull it down and build a new one....
53848From Benjamin Franklin to La Condamine, 19 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; LS : Bakken Museum I receiv’d the very obliging Letter you did me honour of writing to me the 8th Inst. with the Epigram &c. for which please to accept my Thanks. You desire my Sentiments concerning the Cures perform’d by Comus, & Mesmer. I think that in general, Maladies caus’d by Obstructions may be treated by Electricity with Advantage. As to the...
53849From Benjamin Franklin to ——— Mazue, 19 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I received your Favour of the 27th. past, proposing the Cultivation of the Vine in America. Our People conceive that it is yet too early to put such a Project in Execution. Labour is too dear there, and the Culture of Wheat more profitable & certain; in Exchange for which either directly or indirectly, we can procure the Wines of Europe. I cannot...
53850To Benjamin Franklin from Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas, 19 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Dans la supposition que vous avez plaisir de lire de temps à autre une relation fidele des affaires ici, je continue de faire passer sous vos yeux mes Lettres au departement, au lieu de les envoyer directement d’ici à l’orient; & aussi parce que cela me procure l’occasion de me rafraichir dans l’honneur de votre souvenir, & de vous faire agréer les...