1Arthur Lee to Franklin and John Adams: Two Letters, 7 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) LS : American Philosophical Society I have been informd that Dr. Bancroft is soon to go to England, charg’d with a Comission from us, or which concerns the trust, which is jointly repos’d in us. I beg the favor of you to inform me whether this is true. I have the honor to be, with the greatest esteem & respect Gentlemen, Your mst. obedient Hble Servt. Addressed: Honble. B....
2Arthur Lee to Franklin and John Adams, 9 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the honor of forwarding you a Letter just receivd. As I know the Gentleman who offers himself to be unexceptionable as to character & abilities he has my approbation, & I hope will meet with yours. I have the honor to be with the greatest respect & esteem Gentlemen Yr. most oblid. Humble Servt Notation: A. Lee Feb. 9. 1779— The preceding letter.
3Arthur Lee to Franklin and John Adams, 10 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I perceive by the letter you have sent me that Mr. Deane’s claim is ascertaind by marks, and therefore have signd the letter. But I think enquiry shoud be made after those goods which were bought with the public Money in Holland, and which those now given up were supposd to be. I am unwilling to sign the Letter to Capn. Jones, because it does not contain the...
4Arthur Lee to Franklin and John Adams, 28 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Your Letter informing me of the Alteration of your Intention, not having reached my House till some time after the Hour you had appointed for setting out for Versailles, I was gone before it arrived. I informed Count Vergennes, that you were coming, & we waited till 5’ O’Clock under no small Embarressment, especially myself, to conceive what detained you....
5Arthur Lee to Franklin and John Adams, 22 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: University of Virginia Library M. Monthieu calld on me yesterday, but I was too ill to see him. I suppose it was to urge the payment of his demand, which I am by no means yet satisfyd is due. The Papers he has given in, instead of vouching it, render it suspected. The only true & sufficient Voucher is the receit which Mr. Williams did give, or ought to have given to M. Peltier duDoyer at...
6Arthur Lee to Franklin and John Adams, 8 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having not seen the Letter of Mr. Williams to which one of those sent me is an Answr. I cannot form any judgment of it. As there are no marks mentiond by which Mr. Deanes claim to any of the Goods in the possession of the public Agent can be ascertaind—as all the Goods in question, were, when received, declard to be on account of the public; & as I perceive...
7Arthur Lee to Franklin and John Adams, 20 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My fever not being yet sufficiently removd to permit me to come to you; I write to you to submit the absolute necessity there is of informing the Minister without delay of the State of our Finances & that the Supply we have askd is immediately necessary. It is possible they may wait for such information before they put the intention we are told they have of...
8The 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...
9The 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...
10The American Commissioners to Cornic, Veuve Mathurin & fils, 2 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) We have written Instructions to Mr J. D. Schweighauser of Nantes to dispose of the Cargo of the Brig Morris Captain Gunnison, and to settle with you any demand you may have for Disbursements &c on her Account. We are &c In JA ’s hand.
11To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 3 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I enclose you a letter received Yesterday from Dr. Berkenhout, the Author of those which were communicated to you the Year before last on the same Subject. If you think any use can be made of it for the public Good, I shall be glad to be informed of it. One of those, which I sent you before with the Answer I proposed giving to it, I have searched for and...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 24 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; ALS (draft): Harvard University Library Mr Monthieu’s Accounts & papers were at Passy when I saw them last. The public Accounts were there also & if they do not remain there still, I apprehend Mr Grand has them, the large one being signd by Mr. Deane which he therefore wished to keep. But I am confident you had a copy of it, & that he will tell you the...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 21 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives Yr. Grandson delivered to me between 12 and 1 O’Clock on the 19th. your letter dated the 18th., in which you desire I will send by the Bearer all the papers I have belonging to this department. I have no papers belonging to the department of Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Versailles. But if you mean Sir, the...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 2 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Harvard University Library; two copies and transcript: National Archives Mr. Montieu was informd by us all, that it woud be necessary for him to shew the receits from the Agent Mr. Williams, of the Articles chargd in his Account, before it coud be finally settled. He went down to Nantes where Mr. Williams & his Burau were. Instead of receits specifying the number, colour & condition of...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 18 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives I this moment had the honor of receiving yours of this days date; containing Copies of the Resolutions of Congress of Septr. 11th. & 14th. and October 22d. I shall do myself the honor of paying my Compliments to you on your appointment tomorrow about 12’O’Clock. Nothing can be more agreeable to me than your intention...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 6 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Deane in his public Letter has declared, that he receivd a resolution of Congress recalling him & appointing another Commissioner in his place, on the 4th of March. As I woud not wish to charge him with having conceald this from both his Colleagues, and by that means imposd himself upon them & the Court of France, as still a Representative of the United...
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 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...
19The 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.
20The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 5 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have, the Mortification to be informed, that our Answer to your Letter, requesting Us to join, in your Request to the Ministry for a Convoy has never reached you. We have the Honour to Send you a duplicate of that which We wrote you on the Eleventh Ulto. and send forth with. We also inclose Copy of our other Letter...
21The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 26 January 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) <Passy, January 26, 1779: We received your letter of January 21 yesterday. You ask which ports are free pursuant to the treaty. As yet none have been specifically designated. All French ports are open to all American vessels, and it would not be politic to apply for any further distinctions,...
22The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 11 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) : Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have this Moment received the Letter, which you did Us the Honour to write to Us, on the Seventh of the present Month, and We hold ourselves obliged to you for giving Us an opportunity of uniting our Endeavours with yours, to obtain a Sufficient Convoy for the Vessells bound to America for the whole Voyage. It...
23The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 9 February 1778 [i.e., 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) We have the Honour to inclose, you, a Letter just received from his Excellency the Comte De Vergennes, containing as We Suppose the final Answer of his Exellency, the Minister of Marine, to the applications, for a Convoy. We wish you may be able to derive Advantage from it: & are with great...
24The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 27 [i.e., 28] November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We are desired by the Ministry to inform ourselves as precisely as possible, at what Time the Vessells bound to America will be ready to Sail.—it is Said that upon a former Occasion the Convoy was obliged to wait a long Time, an Inconvenience that it is wished may be avoided upon this occasion. We beg your earliest...
25The American Commissioners to Marie-Nicole Grossart de Virly Gérard, 7 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives We had the honor of receivg. yr. commands relative to the Portraits taken & carried into Guernsey. We have accordingly written to Mr. S——r at Nantes, who we hope may be able to recover them. As soon as he shall inform us of the success of his endeavors we shall acquaint you with it. We have the honor &c. French minister Gérard’s wife. In Arthur Lee’s hand. Schweighauser.
26The 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.
27The 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...
28The 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;...
29The 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....
30The American Commissioners to William Hamilton and John Welch, 11 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
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...