1From Benjamin Franklin to Genet, [1778 or after] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress All the American Papers will be sent to Mr Genet this Evening. Mr Franklin sends the enclos’d four, for a Beginning. Addressed: A Monsr / Monsieur Genet / Bureau des Interprêtes / Versailles BF and Genet began exchanging newspapers and other information soon after the signing of the alliance: XXVI , 271n. This note could date from this or subsequent years.
2Editorial Note on Franklin’s Accounts, 1778 (Franklin Papers)
For the period covered by this volume we have four new accounts: XIX. Franklin’s Account with Jacques-Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont, June 12, 1777, to May 28, 1784: American Philosophical Society, 18 pp. With the exception of an item for repairs to the packet La Mère Bobie ( XXIV , 3n) dated June 12, 1777, all the entries are dated January 1, 1779, or after. Accompanying the statements of...
M.T. Cicero’s Cato Major, or Discourse on Old Age. Addressed to Titus Pomponius Atticus. With Explanatory Notes. By Benj. Franklin, LL. D. London: Printed for Fielding and Walker, Pater-Noster Row. MDCCLXXVIII. James Logan’s translation of Cicero’s discourse on old age was first printed on Franklin’s press in Philadelphia in 1744 with Franklin’s preface, “The Printer to the Reader.” The...
4Franklin: A List of Names [1778?] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society The list is so heterogeneous that we tentatively suggest its purpose was social. Six of the men listed here were BF ’s colleagues in the Académie royale des sciences: the mathematician Condorcet ( XX , 489n), the chemist Lavoisier ( XXIV , 142n), the philosophe and former government minister Turgot ( XXIII , 479), the marquis de Courtanvaux (a soldier and...
5Marie Silvestre Grand to Franklin and John Adams, [1778?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mde Grand prie Messieurs Franklin et adams de venir prendre le thé cette a près midi chez elle mr le roi y sera et fera la parti du cher papa. Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin Mme. Ferdinand Grand, whose last extant invitation to the commissioners had been in May, 1778: XXVI , 399–400. While the present letter may date from JA ’s return to Paris in...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Bancroft, [1778?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I inclose you a Letter which came to my hands last Evening & wh. needs no Comment from me— Mr. Grand commissioned me to desire that you would this Evening favour him with something which is to be sent to Amsterdam & wh. he shall have an opportunity of sending early tomorrow Morning— Not finding you at home I am constrained to execute my Commission in this...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Madame Brillon, [1778?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society j’avois chargé mr L’abbé de st non d’amenér ce soir chéz moi a l’heure du thé mr charpentiér l’habil méchanicien dont je vous ai parlé pour des présses; il est impossible a l’abbé de venir ce soir, et mr. charpentiér bien empréssé de vous estre présenté, est venu m’apportér la léttre de l’abbé; il vous reméttra ce mot; C’est un homme de la plus grande...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Madame Brillon: Five Social Notes circa 1778 (Franklin Papers)
(I), (II), (III), (IV), (V) AL : American Philosophical Society Mon bon papa, j’éspére que vous viendrés prendre le thé cétte aprés disné; je ne sçaurois vous dire a qu’el point je m’énnuye de ne vous point voir, c’est aussi vrai qu’il est vrai que pérsonne dans les quatre parties du monde ne vous aime autant que moi: L’envie extrésme que j’ai toujours de passér quelques moments avéc vous mon...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Chaumont: Three Memoirs, [1778?] (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) AD : University of Pennsylvania Library; (III) D : University of Pennsylvania Library Liquidation des dettes de L’amerique emprunt Cent millions interest du dit emprunt quatre millions Les 13 provinces Reserveront Chascunes dans leur Continent Cent milles acres de forest sur lesquels il y aura Cent Pieds d’arbres propres a la Construction des vaisseaux, sur Chasque acre. Ces...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Madame Brillon: Four Letters before November 30, 1778 (Franklin Papers)
(I) AL : American Philosophical Society; (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society; (III) and (IV) AL : American Philosophical Society We are grouping together four letters from Madame Brillon, three of them unsigned and none completely dated, which appear to be interrelated and to precede her letter of November 30, below. Fragile as it is, we offer here a chronological reconstruction based...
11To Benjamin Franklin from the Loge des Neuf Soeurs, [before 6 February 1779] (Franklin Papers)
DS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania L∴R∴L∴ Des neuf Soeurs, Est convoquée pour le 6 du 12eme. mois D∴ L∴ D∴ L∴ V∴ L∴ 5778 à 5 heures précises. Pour affaires. Vous êtes prié d’y venir augmenter les douceurs de l’union fraternelle. Et pour le 12. du 12eme mois à 10 heures du matin il y aura reception, conçert à une heure très précises, Banquet, &c. Je suis par les N∴ C∴ D∴ F∴ M∴ V∴ T∴ H∴ et...
12To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Mercier, [before 10 February 1779] (Franklin Papers)
D : University of Pennsylvania Library In the spring of 1777, the commissioners had contracted with Mercier to repair the arms which they had purchased from Montieu. By the summer of 1778, Jonathan Williams, Jr. had become so suspicious of Mercier’s bills that he ordered the work stopped and refused further payments. Mercier, unable to justify his accounts to Williams, then turned to the...
13Franklin’s List of Books Lent, November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Books lent To Mr Le Roy, Adair on Heat Count. Montfort Priestly on Education Abbé de la Roche two Geneva Pamphlets Swedish Ambassador—Carver’s Travels On the last page of his Cash Book (Account XVI, XXVI , 3), BF began to keep a record of the books he was loaning to friends. Despite the November, 1778, heading, later publication dates of some of the works...
14To Benjamin Franklin from John Williams, [November 1778?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By the last Letter I had from Boston I am informed that my Brother had received upwards of £450 that was Due to me on a Bond Debt—and my Wife mentioned that she supposed my Brother had remitted part of that sum to me by the same ship, but I have not yet received any Bills from him since those he sent under your cover, and my Business has been greatly...
15The American Commissioners to Jean-Daniel Schweighauser, 1 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Harvard University Library We have receivd the enclosd from Made [Madame] Gerard Spouse of M. Gerard, Ambassador of this Court to the United States. She is a Lady that we much respect & if by any means you can procure her the satisfaction She requests you will exceadingly oblige Sir yr. most &c P.S. Any expence you may be at shall be thankfully repaid. A M. Schweighauser. American...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas, 1 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Le Porteur de la présente, Mr. Walter Pollard, m’ayant demandé une Lettre de recommandation pour vous, je me conforme à sa requisition avec d’autant plus de plaisir, qu’il m’a été adressé à moi-même de fort bonne part, & que je vois dans ses sentimens, & dans son mérite, tout ce qui est requis pour lui attirer vos bonnes graces & votre protection. Dans une...
17To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 1 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copies: National Archives, United States Naval Academy Museum The inclosed letter for M. de Chaumont will I hope have your approbation. I wish it were possible that the first plan could be pursued—or if it is postponed, it is perhaps a delicate point, but I wish I could have some assurance that the Indien will not be put under the command of another, but...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Anne-Louise Boivin d’Hardancourt Brillon de Jouy, 2 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society L’éspérance que j’avois de vous voir ici mon chér papa m’a empésché de vous écrire pour le thé de samedi; l’éspérance est le reméde de tous nos meaux: souffre t’on, on éspére la fin du mal; est t’on avéc des amis, on éspére y réstér toujours; en est on loin on éspére les allér retrouvér; il ne me réste que ce dérniér point d’éspérance; je vais comptér les...
19To Benjamin Franklin from ——— de la Corbière and Other People with Ideas to Propose, 2 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society On the day that de la Corbière is offering a plan for the joint sailing of eight frigates, a lawyer from Quimper, named Girard, suggests that the Americans select the little port of Benaudet in lower Brittany as one of the free ports allowed them by the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. They will need another ample harbor, of course, and an outlet for their...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Ed. O’Reilly and Other People with Goods to Offer, 2 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Offers for goods of various kinds continued to pour in during the winter of 1778–79. The earliest, published below, comes from an Irish doctor in Montpellier who has heard about a great bargain in stockings. On November 10, the Parisian firm of Desgranges & Cie., on the rue St. Honoré, informs Franklin that they are able to furnish 200,000 soldiers’ shirts,...
21To Benjamin Franklin from R. Parsons, 2 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Permit me (for the last time I shall ever presume to trouble you) to acquaint you that I have it now in my Power th’o upon very distressing and disagreable terms to obtain my liberty—My Landlord who I inform’d you Sir, in a former letter had seized all my cloaths &c: has at last come to a resolution to suffer me to depart for England— My declining health,...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Sr., 2 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your recommendation of mr. Holker as Well as His own Worth, intitiles him to every Civility & assistence in my power, in full faith & Confidence in your recommendation I have Undertook to Indorse his Bills to a Large amt. They are Public Bills & doubtless will be honourd I have 2½ per Cent for the Business but 10 per Cent would be no Indusement Without your...
23The American Commissioners to John Ross, 3 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Justin G. Turner, Los Angeles (1959); AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have received yours of the twenty seventh of October, inclosing a Copy of a Resolution of Congress of the 11th August 1778. We shall pay the strictest Attention and Obedience to this Resolution of Congress and to all others, as far as shall be in our Power; and Shall be...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Rodolphe-Ferdinand Grand, 3 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archivo General de Simancas Nous devons des remerciemens à la personne qui nous a fait remettre, par vôtre canal, la notte que nous avons reçu contre Conyngham; & nous devons l’assurer de nouveau, qu’etant penetrés de respect pour S. M. C. rien ne nous peine plus que des plaintes de sa part contre nos Gens. Elle aura vû par les papiers que vous avez remis dans le temps de notre Part a S....
25From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Niles, 3 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am sorry for your Misfortune. On showing this Line to Mr Bondfield, he will supply you with what may be necessary to forward your Return, in which I wish you better Luck, being, with Regard, & Goodwill, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur le Capitaine Niles / Ameriquain / chez M. Bondfield / Negociant / à Bordeaux...
26Dumas to the American Commissioners, 3 November 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief; copy: National Archives <The Hague, November 3, 1778, in French: Our friend has warned Mr. Baker, the secretary of the Amsterdam Admiralty, that if the Admiralty’s preliminary advisory serves to weaken the protest to the English court he will communicate the action to the entire business community. Such an action would...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 3 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief Je n’ai pu refuser, il y a quelques jours, à un ancien Ami, très galant homme, une Lettre de présentation pour Vous, qu’il m’a demandée instamment. C’est Mr. Huet Duplessis, Médecin François revenant de St. Eustache avec sa famille, pour passer le reste de ses jours dans sa patrie. Samedi passé je me suis fait un devoir,...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Walter Pollard, [c. 3 November 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society The Gentleman, who was concerned in the Business which Mr: Dumas has hinted in his Letter to his Excellency, is sorry to say, that it was written only with the friendly Intention of introducing Him at Passy; for his Satisfaction would have been greater, had He been recommended, not by his Friends alone, or by any formal Declaration of his Principles, but by...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel Roberdeau, 3 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Le Chevalier Mauduit Du Plessis by whose hands I received your introductory favr. last year is also the Bearer of this to acknowledge the service you did your Country, as well as the honor confered on me in that Instance. To be more particular in commending the good and brave conduct of this worthy Officer would be to sanctify the repeated acts of Congress...
30The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 4 November 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two) <Passy, November 4, 1778: We have at last seen M. Bersolle’s accounts. According to the resolutions of Congress, all captured vessels of war belong to the officers and crew, who in fact receive a bounty for every man and gun on board. Congress never intended to be accountable for further expense on account of these prizes. Every...