1Franklin and John Adams to John Paul Jones, 10 February 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two) <Passy, February 10, 1779: As the change in command of the Ranger might be subject to misinterpretation, we hereby certify that your leaving that ship was with our consent and at the express request of M. de Sartine, who desired to employ you in some public service. That Lt. Simpson...
2John Adams and Arthur Lee to John J. Pringle, 12 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress, National Archives (two) We have received your Letter of Feb. 9. offering your Services to the public by going to England to negotiate an Exchange of Prisoners, We have considered this Subject and judging it necessary to send some Person upon this Business, We have determined to accept of your Proposition, and We desire you to...
3The American Commissioners to John Gilbank, 26 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) We have received your Letter of the twenty first of this Month, and in Answer to it, We assure you that We cannot indorse your Bills, as you propose. We are your humble servants In JA ’s hand.
4Franklin and John Adams to Arthur Lee, [28 December 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Yale University Library Dr Franklins & Mr Adams Compts to Mr Lee & inform him Mr Monthieu is here, and being bound to Nantes is desirous of settling his account. Beg Mr Lee to come, directly if he can, and bring, any of Mr Monthieus Papers if he has any. Addressed: Mr Commissioner Lee Endorsed: F. & A. about settlg Montieu’s accts. In JA ’s hand. The Monday preceding Lee’s comments on...
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have received your Letters and wish it was in our Power to do more for officers in your Situation than We do, altho that amounts in the whole to a large Sum of Money. But as We have already lent you as much, as We have been able to lend to other officers of your Rank and in your Circumstances, we cannot, without a...
6The American Commissioners to John Bondfield, 30 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives We have the Honour of your Letter of the twenty third of this Month,— We are not able to inform you with Precision concerning the Convoy having not received an Answer to our last application to the Ministry on that Subject. Yet We hope that a Convoy will be appointed to Sail forthwith from Nantes. We...
7John Adams and Arthur Lee to Ralph Izard, 13 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) We had the Honour of your Letter of Yesterdays date, on the same Day, informing Us of your having drawn a Bill upon Us, for five hundred Louis D’ors. We have the Honour to inform you that the Bill, being presented to Us, was accepted the same day by, Sir your most obedient &c BF , opposed to...
8Franklin and John Adams to Vergennes, 12 November 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, November 12, 1778: In view of the magnitude of the alliance between France and the United States, we conceive it would be highly pleasing to our constituents to have a portrait of His Majesty to be kept where Congress sits; if you are of opinion this would give no offense, we request your kind offices to...
9The 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...
10The American Commissioners to John Ross, 29 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have received your Letters of the fifteenth and Twenty-fourth of December, with their Enclosures, and once more assure you, that We have no Authority, to do any Thing in your Affairs, untill you have Settled your Accounts.— Whenever you Shall be ready to lay your Accounts before Us, We shall be ready to receive them...
11John Adams and Arthur Lee to William Lee, 13 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) The Letter which you did Us the Honour to write Us on the 15 December, We have received.— As We have heard nothing further of the Congress in Germany, which you inform Us was talked of, We presume that no such Measure will take Place. However, whether there be a Congress or not, We cannot comply...
12Franklin and John Adams to Arthur Lee, [27 November 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Pierpont Morgan Library Dr Franklin and Mr Adams present their Compliments to Mr Lee, and request that the Journey to Versailles may be postponed to Sunday at 8 O Clock in the Morning for several particular Reasons besides the bad Weather.— Addressed: The Hon. Mr Lee / Chaillot Endorsed: F. & Adams Notation: Recu La Lettre une de mieur a pré [une demi-heure après] que Monsieur Leé a etté...
13John 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...
14The American Commissioners to John Gilbank, 10 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have receivd your Letter of October the Sixth, and wish it was in our Power to do more for officers in your Situation than We do, altho that amounts in the whole to a large Sum. But as We have already lent you as much Money as We have been able to lend to other officers of your Rank and in your Circumstances, we...
15Franklin and John Adams to William Temple Franklin: Instructions, 20 November and [20–21 November 1778] (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ADS : Cornell University Library; copy: Delaware Historical Society Instructions to W T. Franklin You are to go by the shortest Road to Dieppe, and make all the Dispatch possible. At Dieppe enquire for Mr Baron, Merchant there, and take his Advice whether to go off to the Ship, or to acquaint the Captain with your Arrival send him the Letters you have for him, and desire him to...
16The 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...
17The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 1 February 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives <Passy, February 1, 1779: We received yours of January 28. We are unhappy that we cannot give you effectual relief. The power to appoint consuls rests wholly with Congress; we can only appoint agents to execute our orders. Congress, a few days before it received news of the Treaty, empowered us to...
18The American Commissioners to Sartine, 30 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives In Answer to your Excellencys Letter of the Twenty fifth of this Month, We have the Honour to inclose, four Papers, with Blancs to be filled as your Excellency may have occasion. These Requests being all the Protection in our Power to give, We hope will have the desired Effect and We have the Honour to be &c In JA ’s hand.
19The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 4 January 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) <Passy, January 4, 1779: We acknowledge your undated letter, and refer you to ours of the second of this month. We cannot furnish Gilbank with more money; perhaps our protest of his bills will convince him. We have applied for the convoy with the greatest possible urgency. We approve your...
20The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 9 February 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two); translation: American Philosophical Society <Paris, February 9, 1779: For nearly six months Captain Mc-Neill of the privateer General Mifflin has been embarrassed with a lawsuit concerning a French ship he recaptured from the British after it...
21The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 13 January 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress, National Archives (two) <Passy, January 13, 1779: We received yesterday your letter of the seventh and one from the comte de Vergennes, a copy of which is enclosed. We wrote his Excellency today requesting the convoy be sent to Nantes. We regret the convoy will not be able to go all the way to America, and hope it will continue...
22The American Commissioners to Horneca, Fizeaux & Cie., 9 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Being informed that some Goods which you had purchased for Mr Simeon Deane, and sent to Nantes for a Conveyance, were there by Mistake suppos’d to belong to the Congress, and accordingly taken & sent over on their Account, we hereby request that you would replace those Goods for the Acct of Mr. Deane, charging us with the Amount, and that you would...
23The American Commissioners to Francis Coffyn, 12 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives Your favours of the 15 Octr. and 1st of November We have recd with their Inclosures. And We approve of your Conduct and the Reasons of it, excepting Mr De la Plaine.— As he is not in the service of the united States We cannot justify, putting the united States to Expence for his assistance. You will please to draw upon...
24The American Commissioners to Alexander Gillon, 2 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society (two), Library of Congress, National Archives We duly receiv’d the Honour of yours of the 25th. past, informing us of your Safe Arrival at Brest, on which We congratulate you. We have had no Advices from America Later than the Beginning of November; nor any thing interesting Since the Departure of Count D’estaing from Boston, the 4th of that Month;...
25The American Commissioners to Benjamin Gunnison, 14 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives We have written to Mr John Daniel Schweighauser of Nantes, to receive your Cargo and dispose of it; but he writes us that he is apprehensive you will require a Letter from us to you. This is therefore to authorize and direct you to deliver, the Cargo of the Morris to Mr....
26The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 24 January 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives <Passy, January 24, 1779: We received your letter of the 20th enclosing M. de Sartine’s answer relative to the convoy we requested. We do not understand his reference to the four vessels supposedly mentioned by us and fear he has been misinformed. On December 29 we asked for a convoy. You asked...
27The American Commissioners to the President of Congress, 7 November 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, South Carolina Historical Society, National Archives (two); two transcripts: National Archives <Passy, November 7, 1778: We enclose copies of our declaration concerning articles 11 and 12 of the Treaty of Commerce, correspondence with M. de Sartine on rescues and recaptures, and correspondence regarding negotiations with the...
28The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 25 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) : Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies, National Archives In Answer to your Letter of the Seventeenth Instant, We desire you would Ship to America, all the Goods belonging to the united States, of any Sort.—and consequently to write for no more Workmen, but dismiss, immediately, all that remain if any. We can give you no Directions about the Articles “entreposed” for the...
29The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 11 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress, National Archives We embrace this first Opportunity, to enclose you a Copy of a Letter, We have just had the honor of receiving from his Excellency Mr. De Sartine. We wish you may find Advantage in the Convoy and have the honor to be with very great Esteem & Respect, Gentlemen, &c Of the same date, below.
30The 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...