31From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis du Chilleau, 9 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Person who proposes to have the honour of presenting this to your Excellency, is Mr. Langford Lovel, a Gentleman of Excellent Character and much respected by all that know him, and as he has some Property in the Island under your Governement, I beg leave to recommend him to your Excellency’s favourable Notice & Protection. With great Respect I am Sir, Your...
32From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, 8 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Anne and Paul Fenske, Rapid City, South Dakota (1981); copy: Library of Congress I received duly your several Favours of Oct. 18. 22. 25. 28. 29. & Nov. 2. Your Reasons for the speedy Depart of the Squadron, are good. I am glad the Affair of the Deserters is so well got over, as appears from your Extracts. I am exceedingly well satisfied with the Conduct of your Government and with the...
33From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, 27 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: National Archives, Library of Congress I received yours of the 10th. Instant. I Shall be glad to learn how the taking of the Dutch Ships has been accommodated. We have yet no News of the alliance: but suppose she is cruizing. We are more in Pain for the Confederacy, who Sailed the 28th Oct. from the Capes of Deleware. There is some Hopes that She went to Charlestown to take in Mr....
34From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, 27 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours of the 15th with Letters from Commodore Jones and Capt. Conyingham. I would write to them and send to Capt. C. a Letter I have from his wife for him, but suppose the Ship has left Holland. I Send you one of our latest papers from America containing an Account of the Conquest of the Iroquois County by our army under general Sulivan, and some other...
35From Benjamin Franklin to Fleury, 26 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am sorry you were disappointed in meeting me at Versailles. In all your Billets except that of yesterday you omitted mentioning where you Lodged, otherwise I could have acquainted you that I should not be at court on the Day you Expected me. I suppose you will acquaint the Congress or General Washington with your Reasons for desiring a Prolongation of your furlow....
36From Benjamin Franklin to Fleury, 29 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Having as yet had no Medal struck here, I am not acquainted with any Artist of that sort. If you can find one, and bring him to me, I will endeavour to agree with him to get it done as soon as may be; but I cannot imagine it possible in so short a time as you mention. I cannot state any certain Sum till I have talked with the artist. I thought to enquire of Mr. Tillet...
37To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes, 19 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress J’ai reçu, M, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’h. de mécrire le 15. de ce mois. Comme La distribution de celle du Congrès qui y étoit jointe, ne presente aucun inconvenient, je l’ay addressée à M le Noir, pour qu’il y mette Son permis. J’ay prié en même tems ce magistrat d’en faire le renvoy à la personne que...
38To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 3 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief Mes dernieres sont du 25, 28, 29, & 31 Oct. & 2 Nov. Celleci ira demain par voie de Rotterdam. Voici copie de la permission de mettre à terre les blessés prisonniers de la commission expediée par le Commodore en conséquence au L. Col. Wuibert; & de la convention entre les Commodores, Américain & Anglois. Notre Ami m’a...
39To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 5 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief Yr. Favour of the 29th. is just received, & the packet for the Commodore will be forwarded this very night, as were formerly yr. other Letters for the same, & for Capt. Landais without any Loss of time. The Commodore is not yet quite ready to sail. They say it will be so in the week to come; & then the day depends from the...
40To Benjamin Franklin from Th.M. Laënnec, 10 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Le corsaire des états unis le prince noir a conduit au port d’audierne sous le département de l’amirauté de quimper un Brigantin anglais dont il S’etait emparé. M. Diot Dèpositaire du corsaire a du prevenir Votre excellence de cet èvenement. Mais les officiers de nôtre Siege qui ont Scellé la prise et interrogé les prisoniers aïant omis de vous adresser une...
41To Benjamin Franklin from Beccaria: résumé, 16 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: American Philosophical Society; four drafts: American Philosophical Society <Turin, December 16, 1779, in Italian: Mr. Chantel gave me your very gracious letter and told me about the audience— most gratifying to me—with which you honored him. I am sorry that for the present time I do not have the energy I could wish to thank you properly in writing. To make up for it, I shall try...
42To Benjamin Franklin from Wilhelm Augustine von Steuben: résumé, 11 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Cüstrin, February 11, 1780, in German: I have received and thank you for your letter of November 21. I am sad to announce that my dear wife has been taken by God at age 73. Please forward the enclosed letter to my son.> Or Küstrin, on the Oder. For BF ’s letter, actually Nov. 27, see XXX , 617–18n. Mary Dorothea von Jagow (1706–80) married the senior von...
43To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges: Two Letters, 15 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; (II) ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Bearer of this Letter, Mr Fabroni, has obligingly given me an oppertunity to send the inclosd to You.— He is a young Gentleman of distinguishd worth from Italy, and has been some time travelling with His ingenious Friend & Companion Mr Fontana. They mean to spend a few days at Paris on their return...
44To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 8 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I cannot imagine what has prevented my hearing from you for these two month relating to the Cartel. I therefore send you a copy of a letter from the board of Sick & Hurt to me of Novr 15 1779 wch is the place where we left off & where we stick now. I wish I cd expedite things but it is not in my power. You see where the matter has been Stopt these two...
45To Benjamin Franklin from Madame Brillon, 16 [November] 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Je vous assure mon bon papa que je méttrai toute mon attention a ne pas trop donnér pour les siffléts; s’ils n’ont guérre couttés a ma bourse, ils ont couttés chérs a mon coeur et votre léttre me prouve bien plus encore que mon éxpérience et mes refléctions, que j’ai souvent payés bien chérs de mauvais sifléts: j’ai cru par éxemple que lorsque j’aimois on...
46To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 28 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library I have received your Favour of the 22 Instant with the Judgement of the Mifflins Prize Goods, and Mr Coulougnac’s Proposals about furnishing Cloth &c. Agreeable to your desire I have conversed with him and find that he realy can furnish at good Prices, but he has no great Quantity by him at present. I have taken some Patterns...
47To Benjamin Franklin from Sartine: Two Letters, 21 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) Copy: Library of Congress J’ai reçu, Monsieur, avec la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 13. de ce mois, celle que vous avez écrite à l’agent des Etats unis à l’Orient et je me suis empressé de lui faire passer le Commissaire de la Marine dans ce port. Je doute qu’elle soit arrivée assez promptement pour que cet Agent ait remis au Capitaine du Navire Anglois...
48To Benjamin Franklin from Stephen Lee, 1 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Pursuant to an Order given by you, to Mr. Jones, in consequence of a Letter I presumed to write you, I entered On board the Bon homme Richard as Secretary, to Mr. Jones, the 19th. day of March last, in which Employment, I continued ’till the 1st. day of August with an Assiduity approved by all; when Copying a Memorandum for Mr. Jones, and not having it...
49To Benjamin Franklin from Edmund Jenings, 6 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I Know not, whether your Excellency has received a Copy of the King of Great Britains Speech to his Houses of Parliament, and as it will be at least a Matter of Curiosity, I take the Liberty of inclosing One herewith.— It was brought to Ostend by a Pilot of Dover. Give me leave to inform your Excellency, that I have been in this City about two months,...
50To Benjamin Franklin from Jean de Neufville & fils, 25 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society How favourable matters stood here in regard to the American Comodor, we had the honour to mention to your Excellence; we convey however to night to Mr. Dumas a copey of the last resolution taken by the states in this respect during the Absence of the French Ambassador from the Hague; of which however we hope he will prevent the effect; it contains the same...
51To Benjamin Franklin from Baron Friedrich Melchior von Grimm, 20 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Dartmouth College Library Le Baron de Grimm, Ministre Plénipe. du Saxe Gotha prend la liberté de recommander aux bontés de Monsieur Franklin le porteur de ce billet, Monsieur Loehr de Leipzig, jeune voyageur très instruit et très aimable. Il ne croirait pas avoir rempli l’objet de son voyage, s’il quitait ce pays ci sans avoir eu l’avantage de voir et de connaitre Monsieur Franklin. Le...
52To Benjamin Franklin from William R. Boyd, 5 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I who is Confind here send these few lines to inform you how I came to be Confin’d. On the 18th. Octr. I Desartd from a Merchantman in Loriont call’d the Breton after sarving four months in the said ship. When I came to Nantz I ship’d with Capt. Smith being in hopes to get to my Natural Country. Likewise 4 more came with me from the said Ship and having a...
53To Benjamin Franklin from George Mitchell, 6 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Excellency will I hope pardon the Libbertey I take in troubiling yough with a letter but As it is of Sum consequence to mee I hope Your Excellency will look over it in a more feavourable light. I have a Brother at Boston who has oft wright for Mee to Gover to him and Except of part of his Fortune which I have often tryd for Since my detention In france...
54To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 30 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society I Receiv’d only the 15th Decemr. the copy of a letter from Capt Jones to your Excellency, dated on board the ship of War Serapis, at anchor without the Texel Octor. 3d. 1779 (but not certifyed by your Excellency, as you did me the honor to tell me you wou’d do) of which letter you told me the copy was in a newspaper. I beg to know in which, for I had never...
55To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 16 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Phillip Mazzei Esqr is lately arrived here from Ireland after having been captured on his passage from Virginia hither, and long confined by the Enemy. He tells me he is charged with public Business of an important Nature on the Subject of which he is ordered to consult with you. Being under some Embarrasement on accot of the Refusal of the Merchant on whom...
56To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 12 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress; copy: Archives de la Marine On the 23d. day of September 1779 in Sight of Flamborough Head on the East Coast of England I discovered a Fleet under British Colours and made the Signal for Chase with the necessary preparation for Battle.— The Bon Homme Richard of 40 Guns which I then commanded in Person came up with and Hailed the largest Ship of the fleet. The...
57To Benjamin Franklin from ——— La Hure: Bill for Clothing, [15 November 1779] (Franklin Papers)
DS : University of Pennsylvania Mémoire Pour Monsieur franklin Pere Du 19. fevrier 1779 La façon d’un habit Complet de drap de Vigogne 17 l.t. fourni 3 aus. drap de Vigogne à 90 l.t. 270 ” ” 4. aus. ¾ Satin pour doubler à 8.5 39 3 9 ⅞ toille de Coton pour défaut
58To Benjamin Franklin from Le Ray de Chaumont, [after 8 January 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society M. de Chaumont a L’honneur de proposer a S. E Monsieur franklin d’aller faire unne visite ce matin a M. Le Comte Dorvilliers qui a Si Bien accueilli nos freres americains. M. franklin voudra Bien dire a quelle heure il partira Si la proposition luy Convient. When the comte d’Orvilliers ( XXVI , 236n), the recently retired former commander of the great...
59To Benjamin Franklin from Marie Del de Sanlecque, 16 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Il m’a été assûré que vous desiriés vous procurer des caracteres pour l’Impression. C’est d’après cette annonce que je prends la Liberté de vous offrir ce qui me reste de fontes. 1º En une fonte de petit Romain-Romain pezant 415. L 2º en une de cicero-Romain pezant 711. 3º en une autre de cicero-Italique pezant 260. En tout 1386 Ces trois fontes, Monsieur,...
60To Benjamin Franklin from Landais: résumé, 9 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Paris, January 9, 1780, in French: Please certify to be a true copy the following extracts of J.P. Jones’s letter to you dated the Texel, Oct. 3, 1779. I am sorry to trouble your excellency again but thinking it necessary, I hope it will be granted.> Landais gives a French translation of several sections of Jones’s letter, beginning with “When the Fleet...