361To Benjamin Franklin from Sartine, 7 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress J’ai reçu, Monsieur, avec la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 6. de ce mois, celles qui y etoient jointes par M. Le Duc de la Vauguyon et M. Jones: Je les ai fait remettre au Courier que M. Le Cte. de Vergennes a expedié à La Haye. J’examinerai le Memoire que M. d’argent, Deputé du Commerce pour la province de picardie vous a recommandé; et je...
362To Benjamin Franklin from Sartine, 15 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress J’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer, Monsieur, avec la lettre de M. de la Villehelio Administrateur à Nantes, celle de la De. de St. Maurice, mére de la Delle. Des Bois enlevée de St. Méen par le Sieur Lock, avec le quel elle se disposoit a passer en Angleterre, sur la promesse que lui avoit faite ce Prisonnier de l’Epouser. Vous verrez, Monsieur, que M. De la Villehélio,...
363To Benjamin Franklin from Sartine: Two Letters, 29 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress; (II) copy: Library of Congress J’ai eu l’honneur, Monsieur, de vous écrire le 14 du mois d’octobre dernier relativement au nommé françois Vermeille et quelqu’autres marins qui reclament les parts qui leur reviennent dans les quatorze prises faites par le Corsaire Americain la Revange pendant une croisiere de trois mois, vous...
364To Benjamin Franklin from Stephen Sayre, 21 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer, Capn Hodgson, wishes to be known to your Excellency, & may want some assistance, in his way to America— He will explain his Situation particularly Capn. Grenel, who comes with him, also merits any aid & civility that can be due to our best Friends. Give me leave to request, once more, that the Comn. for a Letter of Marque may be sent by the...
365To Benjamin Franklin from George Scott, 1 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Servant went yesterday to Versailles about a passport. The Count de Vergennes received him very politely, said he could not get ready to return by him, but would give it you today, so I now take the liberty to send my Servant for it. It will be Friday before I can depart. I wait for some letters from Messrs. Crommelins which I expect by Thursdays post; I...
366To Benjamin Franklin from George Scott, 7 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I return you my best thanks for the trouble you took for me in the procuring me my passport— I find I cannot depart until Wednesday— I purposed to have gone this evening, but, on application at the Bureau, my servant found all the places taken. A thought has occurred to me, which has induced me to take the liberty (before my departure) to ask you a...
367To Benjamin Franklin from George Scott, [28 January? 1780] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did myself the pleasure to give you a call yesterday but was not luckey enough to find you at home. I purpose to depart for Lyons &c in 2 or 3 Days & have been today with Mr. Frin to consult about a pass; he says it is necessary but may be attended with a delay of a Week or 10 Days, unless I had good friends to assist me— In Short he advised me to ask the...
368To Benjamin Franklin from William Smith, 4 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society With the greatest Submission I make Bould to Acquaiante you of my present Unhappey Situation. Sr: I am a Subject of Amaraca— Bowrn in Balltamoore in Mareyland; was tacken twice in Amaraca; and once by a Cutter Belonging to Mr: Doubray of Guransey have been Wondd: Twice in the Servise and when the Bonemme Ritchard Capt. Joans fitted out from Leorant I...
369To 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...
370To Benjamin Franklin from William Strahan, 31 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am just now informed by a very intelligent Friend, on whose Judgement and Veracity I can securely depend, that Mr Adams is lately arrived in France from Boston, in his way hither, vested with full Powers from the Congress to propose Terms of Reconciliation with Great Britain; and that in this Negotiation you had no Concern. You must know, whether there is...
371To Benjamin Franklin from John Stuart et al., 14 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society We Humbly beg to Express to Your Excellency Our Gratitude for the Liberty granted us for to Serve with Capt. Ryan on Board of his Cutter the Fear not. We Solemny Promise to Your Excellency to be faithfull in Our Services to the Brave Capt. Ryan & To be ever true to Our Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America, which we Now make in the Hands of your...
372To Benjamin Franklin from John Sweaney, 11 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This is to Acquaint you of a person who is a Native of america Propperly beloning to Bostong saild out of Nubery the 7 of June 1779 in a Privetire Caled the sivellusige of fourting Guns Beloning to Mr Tracey Capt Gibings Commander & Was taking in a Prize beloning to the side ship & Carred to England and put in Prisson ware I made my Escape & Came out in a...
373To Benjamin Franklin from Cradock Taylor, 11 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg leave to inform your Excellency of my unhappy situation; the Vessel I expected a passage in to Martinico is now Stop’d as they are inform’d of the English fleet being at Gibraltar & for me to go to Bordeaux without money is a thing impossable. I hope your Excellency will be so kind as to take my case into consideration & afford me some small...
374To Benjamin Franklin from Cradock Taylor, 7 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg leave to inform your Excellency that at the time of the exchange of the English prisonors (as I would not except of my exchange as an English man) my allowance has been stop’t & since that time I have Subsisted on this small sum you were so kind as to give me. I inform’d you in my last of my intentions of going to Martineco & inclos’d you the Capts....
375To Benjamin Franklin from Cradock Taylor, 24 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg leave to Acquaint your Excellency that there is a Cartel arived at Merseillis some time ago & I Yesterday was inform’d that the Govonor of Manorca was made acquainted with my intention of returning to my Native Country & that he has made such interest here that Mr. Lumbard the Commandant of Marine intends to deliver me up. I amediately wrote to him...
376To Benjamin Franklin from John Taylor, 2 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I find myself under very great difficulty how to address you on a matter of private concern, when your time is so much taken up with public business but presuming on the many former instances of kindness you have shewn me, I hope to meet your forgiveness, if I act improperly by requesting your opinion on an affair of great moment to myself & large family....
377To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 7 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have seen with Mr. Coffyn the Petition, addressed to your Excellency by one Wam. Power a Prisonner of the Black Prince Taken on Board of the Good Will, who promised to Serve the Privateer for his Freedom the remainder of the Cruise. This Petition, I am told, is signed by many more such Prisonners— Their Leader Wam. Power has appeared yesterday before Mr....
378To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 18 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society When the Black Prince returned here from his first Cruise in Sepr., they Brot. 9. Prisoners, which are in our Jail at the Disposall of your Excellency; 8. of them are Irish born, good men & acquaintances to Capt. Ryan. They have his promise to be Taken out for his first Privateer.— Now that Mr. Ryan has one, they all Tease him to be admitted on board of the...
379To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 15 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have Sent to Mr. Coffyn the Particulars of the first fine Success of the Black Prince & Princess, which He has handed to your Excellency. They made both, 6. Ransoms for £2997. St. & 9. Prises, three of which, are Safe arrived in Morlaix, Brest, & Cherbourg; and as the Channall was found pretty Clear, we have good expectations to hear Tomorrow that the 6....
380To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 27 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I This Moment receive the Petition to Your Excellency from Our Surgeon Boutey. Was this restless man a Good Subject, he certainly wou’d not have troubled Your Excellency on a Matter which he well knew, was not in my power to perform untill I had received from Morlaix the Accounts of the Sales of the prises, the amount of Same, & the remainder of the...
381To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, [before 7 December 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): Library of Congress This letter is one of the many fragmentary or undated Vaughan manuscripts which have challenged our editorial skill. Although we include it here, as belonging to the general period before Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces was published, it was most likely written just after Christmastime, 1776, when Vaughan arrived in Paris bearing an early...
382To 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...
383To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte de Vergennes, 19 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress Jai lhonneur de vous envoyer, M, un mémoire qui m’a eté présenté par M. le Bon. [Baron] de Holzendorf; vous y verrez que cet officier forme quelques repétitions à la charge du Congres; je vous prie de vouloir bien les examiner, et si elle vous paroissent justes, je vous prie de les appuyer de vos bons offices....
384To Benjamin Franklin from Louis-Pierre Dufourny de Villiers, 8 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Une Personne que je désirerois obliger, m’a consulté sur l’employ qu’elle pourroit faire de Papiers-monnoye des Etats-unis d’Amérique dont elle a pour une somme considérable. En faisant une grande diminution elle a trouvé un acquéreur: mais celuy cy veut s’assurer que les Papiers proposes ne sont pas contrefaits et sur ce qu’on luy a dit que l’Etalon (ou...
385To Benjamin Franklin from Veuve Wahrendorff et fils and Other People with Goods and Services to Offer, 8 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society During the period of this volume Franklin continued to receive offers of a variety of goods and services either to aid the American war effort or to benefit Franklin himself. The earliest letter, published below, comes from a supplier in the Baltic port of Wismar who has for several years supplied the English Navy with peas and proposes now to do the same...
386To Benjamin Franklin from Dennis Walsh, 28 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In the month of June 76 a Vessel came to Tenerife under English Colors called the Friendship commanded by a Thomas Newell well known in that Island to have been in the employ of Mr Rose of S. Carolina. He gave out that owing to the disputes subsisting between England & America he had coverd his Vessel under the names of Gildart & Bussigny of Liverpool,...
387To Benjamin Franklin from Claude-Henri Watelet, 3 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr Watelet a l’honneur de presenter ces sentimens d’attachement et de Respect a Monsieur franklin. Il le prie de lui faire savoir s’il veut bien recevoir avec bienveillance le commandant de la fregate du Roy l’oiseau qui se trouvant á Paris desireroit l’avantage de le voir et de conferer avec lui de quelque objet qui l’interesse. Mde. le comte me charge de...
388To Benjamin Franklin from Franklin and Samuel Wharton: Memorial to Congress, 26 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
DS : National Archives This memorial from Franklin and his long-time partner in western land ventures Samuel Wharton recapitulates the history of their efforts to establish a legitimate title to lands they had purchased in the unsettled area south of the Ohio River. Their enterprise originated in 1768 as an attempt by a group of Pennsylvania merchants, the “suffering traders,” to obtain land...
389To Benjamin Franklin from James White and Other Would-Be Emigrants, [c. 12 November 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The intriguing letter from James White, published below, is a sample of the appeals Franklin received between November, 1779, and February, 1780, for help in emigrating to America. We have dated it [ c. November 12, 1779] because on that day White sent a covering letter to an unnamed person in Amsterdam (Jean de Neufville, no doubt) asking him to convey his...
390To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas White et al., 4 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy: Library of Congress Upon our arrival in this port on the 14th: of Septr. we wrote letters to yourself, Mons. Chaumont & Captn Landais by the following post, but having received no answer to either, remain very uneasy, our instructions being to wait your advice upon all emergencies. The King of Denmarks order for delivering up the Union & Betsey arrived the 15th. of October & the...