751John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 9 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am honor’d with your favor of the 30th Ulto accompanying four Passports for our Ships and for which I am obliged to you. I have had no Letters the two Last posts from Nantes but suppose our Vessels are ready for Sea. No Arrivals yet on this Coast from America nor any intelligence Interesting. I have the honor to be with due respect Sirs Your most Obed...
752John J. Pringle to the American Commissioners, 9 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having heard that it is your intention to dispatch some person to England to negotiate an Exchange of Prisoners, I presume to offer you my services on that occasion. Having ever professed the purest attachment to the Cause and Interests of my Country, and ready to embrace every opportunity within my power of demonstrating it, the present will be extremely...
753William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 10 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A glaring Act of Injustice has been done to some American Seamen in this place, which calls aloud for Redress & Retribution.— These unfortunate Men, to the Number of 18, had been carried Prisoners into Great Britain, &, having escaped from their Confinement, repaired to Plymouth, where a Number of armed Cruizers were fitting out.— They entered into the...
754Sartine to the American Commissioners, 11 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress J’ai l’honneur, Messieurs, de vous prevenir qu’il sera envoyé incessamment à Nantes une Fregate du Roi chargée d’escorter de ce port à l’Isle d’Aix, les Bâtimens destinés pour les Colonies Françoises d’Amerique. Si ceux qui sont chargés pour les Etats unis, veulent profiter de cette Escorte pour se joindre au Convoi de l’Isle d’Aix, il leur sera accordé la même...
755John Adams to Arthur Lee, 12 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress, National Archives We duly received the Letter which you did us the honor of writing on the 9th of Feb. accompanyed with a Letter from Mr Pringle, herewith you have the Draught of an Answer to that Gentleman, which you are requested, if you approve of it to subscribe and forward. As Mr Lee is best acquainted with the Places, Persons...
756From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee: Two Notes, 18 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) LS : Harvard University Library; copies: National Archives, Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I have the honor to communicate to you herewith Copies of Resolutions of Congress, of Sept. 11. Sept. 14. & Oct. 22. I shall endeavour strictly to comply on my Part with the Commands of Congress contained in the latter; which are at the same time perfectly agreable to my...
757From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee: Two Letters, 13 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives; transcript: National Archives; (II) LS : Harvard University; copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives A severe Fit of the Gout, with too much Business at the same time necessary to be done, have prevented till now my answering yours of the 21st past. I did not imagine there would have been any...
758John S. Harmanson to Franklin and Arthur Lee, 24 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. George Kindall a Neighbour of mine, being bound to France, & not provided with Letters to Paris, I have taken the Liberty to request the favor of Your Civilities shoud he visit Paris— I hope you’ll excuse this Liberty, & also the Liberty to inform you that as I am situated on the Eastern Coast of Virginia oposite to Sandshoal [Island?] abt. 20 Miles...
759From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee: Two Letters, 27 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) copies: Library of Congress “The offer you make of Sending me Copies Sealed and authenticated of all the Papers in your Hands” is very satisfactory; and as you Say they are but few, I suppose it may Soon be done. I imagined when I desired you to Send me the Originals, that they were a great Many, and at present of no Importance to you; and therefore not worth copying. I assure you...
760From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 3 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Historical Society of Pennsylvania As I had no Knowledge of the Gentleman, & he said he had lived in Virginia, I referr’d him to you, imagining you might know something of his Character, and whether it would be proper to give him the Pass he desires. If upon conversing with him you apprehend it may be safely done, I would do it on your...
761From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 3 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library I did write to the Gentlemen at Nantes concern’d in fitting out the Vessels for America, offering them the Alliance as a Convoy and order’d her to Nantes accordingly. They did not chuse to accept that offer Knowing, as I Supose, her Weakness, but Sail’d for Brest, to go with the french Convoy without waiting her arrival and would probably...
762From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 9 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Merchants alluded to in my Letter to your Brother, were Mr. Bayard, Mr. Monthieu, and M. Chaumont. The Terms I understood to be those proposed by Virginia. I have the honour to be with great respect, Sir Your most obedient and most humble servant An obvious mistranscription by the copyist.
763From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 17 September [i.e., August 1779] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I this day communicated to Mr. Le Comte de Vergenes the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me, relating to the Accession of Spain to The Treaty. His Excellency was pleased to say that he would Speak about it to Mr Le Count d’aranda, who would probably write to his Court for Instructions concerning it. With great Regard. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most...
764From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 12 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Harvard University Library Mr Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr Lee, and sends all the Journals he has; but, as he has not yet had time to read them, he prays Mr Lee to return them when he has perus’d them.— Addressed: The honble A Lee Esqr / Paris. Notation: Sepr. 12. 1779 Lee did so later that day with a note saying, “Mr. Lee presents his Compts. to Dr. Franklin & returns the...
765From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 30 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Virginia Library; copy: Library of Congress I received but Yesterday Morning just as I was going out of Town; the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me dated the 26 Inst. respecting my supplying you with Money for your Support in Spain. As I cannot furnish that Expence, and there is not, in my Opinion, any likelihood at present of your being received at that Court, I...
766From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 9 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have received no Answer relative to the Proposition you mention. Perhaps without waiting longer for an Answer, thro’ Versailles it might be as well for you to apply directly to the Spanish ambassador for the Information you desire. With much Respect I have the honour to be Sir, Your most obedt. humble servant In response to Lee’s of the previous day.
767From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 31 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Amherst College Library I have not at present any Public Money in my hands; and all that I can expect will be necessary to pay Congress Drafts, and other indispensible Orders and Engagements. I have the honour to be, with very great Respect Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant Addressed: To / The honourable Arthur Lee Esqe. / Paris. / [ in another hand: ] a lhotel notre Dame /...
768From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee and Ralph Izard, 19 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; copy: Library of Congress I received last Night the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me, relative to your having a Passage in the Alliance. It was unnecessary to use Arguments with me, to shew the Propriety of that Measure. Mr Lee may remember that I mentioned it to him some Weeks since; and receiving no Answer I imagined he had other Views. The Ship is...
769From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 24 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Virginia Library; copy: Library of Congress I request you would send me by the Bearer, my Grandson, the original Treaty of Alliance which I have a present Occasion to see. And if in assorting your Papers you have separated such belonging to the Publick as may be useful here, and are not necessary to you, I request you would send them also, either now or before you leave...
770From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 23 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letters you did me the honour of writing to me, the 23th. Inst: informing me of the Passport I had before given you being expired and desiring another. Inclosed I have the Honour of sending it to you. With great Respect, I am sir, your most obedient and most humble Servant Actually the 13th, above. We have not located the passport. The present letter...