391From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 15 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Je vous envoye une Epreuve de La traduction d’une Lettre du Congrès; et je vous prie de mettre au bas que vous ne vous opposez pas à son impression. Cette formalité Est nécessaire: Les censeurs ne veulent laisser paraitre qu’à cette condition, cet ouvrage dont il est bon pour nous que Le public n’ignore pas plus Long-tems Le contenu. Je vous...
392From Benjamin Franklin to [Dufourny de Villiers], 11 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Bibliothèque Publique et Universitaire de Genève There is a great Variety of Paper Money in America, of which some has been counterfeited. I have not here the Register from which the Bills were cut; but if they were shown to me, I might probably be able to tell whether they are genuine or not.— I am glad to hear that a Reconciliation is propos’d between the Faculty and the Society. I...
393From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas White et al., 21 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have but lately received your Letter of the 4th. of January. I am sorry you have been so long detained in that uncomfortable inactive situation. It has been partly occasion’d by hopes that the Court of Denmark would reconsider their proceedings and give us back our Prizes. If that had been the Case your stay might have been serviceable. If by the advices M de...
394From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 23 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress I have acquainted Mr Chaumont that I approved of his accepting the Bills, and that I would provide for the Payment. I observe they are drawn at 2, 3, & 4 Usances.— As to the Cloathing. If the Congress had only demanded so many Suits, without giving particular Directions, we might have taken our Friends Opinions, and let...
395From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 14 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress I desire you would explain to me the Reason or Utility of your Drawing on Mr Chaumont on Acct of the Cloathing, which I do not at present apprehend.— I send you herewith several Letters receiv’d from Boston, and am ever Your affectionate Uncle BF. to J. Williams Feb. 14. 1780 Desiring to know why the Bills were drawn on Mr...
396From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 22 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Ever since September 18, when Franklin had forwarded to Vergennes Congress’ invoices for military supplies and clothing, he had been awaiting the French government’s response. At long last, it came. When Franklin wrote the following letter, he must have just received Vergennes’ promise of a new loan of 3,000,000 l.t. The sum was generous, but did not come close to...
397From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 26 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours of the 16th. with one from Mr. Mazzey. I have known him a long time and have always esteemed him an honest worthy man, and a man of substance. I know nothing of his present Situation but what he writes me. I think he is not well us’d by the Gentlemen in whom he had a Credit. But I am too much embarrassed by the multiplicity of Demands upon me to...
398From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 9 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress I received your Letters with the Samples of Cloths, but the Shirt & Stockings are not arriv’d. Having no kind of Judgment in such Commodities, I can make no Choice. You have the precise & particular Orders of the Committee of Congress relating to the Soldiers Dress, to which you must conform as exactly as possible. I do not...
399From Benjamin Franklin to James Woodmason, [10 January 1780] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I have lately receiv’d yours, without Date, acquainting me that the Paper I ordered is at length finished, & will be sent by the first Ship to Amsterdam, which I am glad to hear. If not already gone, please to insure it, and send me your Account. Present my affectionate Respects to your good Father, and believe me to be Sir, Your assured Friend &...
400From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Wren, 26 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Your great attention to the wants of our poor captiv’d Countrymen, and your kind and charitable Care of Them in their sickness and other Distresses; I have often heard spoken of by such as have escaped and pass’d thro’ this Place, in the strongest Terms of grateful aknowledgements. I beg you to accept among the rest, my sincere and hearty Thanks, and my best Wishes...
401From Benjamin Franklin to ——— Yarnold, 27 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yesterday yours of the 25th. On your Arrival here, when you first mentioned to me your purpose. I gave to you and your friend my candid Opinion that your scheme of becoming military Officers in America could not Answer your Expectation, and I advis’d you to return to England and apply your selves to some Profession more likely to be advantangeous. I wish...
402Chaumont’s Memoir on the Dispute between Jones and Landais: résumé, [after 24 November 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AD : University of Pennsylvania Library <[after November 24, 1779], in French, under the heading “faits entre M. Jones et Landais”: Jones and Landais have been locked in bitter dispute since the Bonhomme Richard collided with the Alliance during their first cruise from Lorient; Jones’s slowness in convening a council of war to terminate the quarrels between Landais and the officers of the...
403Parabole Contre La Persécution, [after February 1780] (Franklin Papers)
Printed by Benjamin Franklin, Passy [1780]: Yale University Library Franklin had never intended that his pseudo-chapter of Genesis (1755), later known as “Parable Against Persecution,” be published. The piece, which he had printed on a slip of paper and hidden in his Bible, was a private joke; his now-legendary recitations were a harmless hoax meant to provoke and amuse the company. When...
404An Arabian Tale, [1779?] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin, L.L.D., F.R.S., &c … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), III , 326–7. It should come as no surprise that Franklin would try his hand at a genre of story-telling so popular during his lifetime: the oriental or pseudo-oriental tale. Ever since Antoine Galland published the first ten volumes of Les Mille...
405Directions for Drawing Out the Tone from the Glass Armonica, [1779?] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): American Philosophical Society When I. Minis Hays catalogued Franklin’s papers at the American Philosophical Society in 1906, he grouped this one among the undated manuscripts from 1779. If he had a specific reason for doing so he did not explain it, and we have found none. We retain his dating, however, because if Franklin wrote these directions during his French stay, then 1779...
406French Loan Certificate, [29 February 1780] (Franklin Papers)
Passy, printed by Benjamin Franklin, [after May 30, 1780]. Form with MS insertions in blanks, signed: American Philosophical Society No 5. Pour 750, 000 livres. Nous Benjamin Franklin Ministre Plenipotentiaire des ETATSUNIS de l’Amerique Septentrionale, en vertu du pouvoir dont nous sommes revetus par le CONGRES desdits Etats, promettons en son nom et solidairement pour lesdits Treize...
407Statement by French Officers and Petty Officers of Jones’s Squadron: résumé, 24 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: University of Pennsylvania Library <November 24, 1779, in French: We, the officers and petty officers of the Pallas transferred to the Serapis and of the Vengeance transferred to the Countess of Scarborough certify that Mr. Paul Jones turned over the Serapis to Mr. Cottineau de Kerloguen in a frightful state, more resembling an abandoned ship than one fit for service. First, he left his...
408Minutes of the Landais Inquiry, [15–24 November 1779] (Franklin Papers)
D (draft): University of Pennsylvania Library [November 15–24, 1779] Minutes of the Enquiry into the Conduct of Capt. P. Landais Present { B. Franklin Esqr M. Le Ray de Chaumont E. Bancroft Esqr. Monday 15th Nov. 79 Capt Landais was acquainted that the following Charges were made against him, viz 1st. Disobedience of Orders.— 2d Not coming in time to the Assistance of the Bonhomme Richard in...
409Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces, 1779 [7 December 1779] (Franklin Papers)
Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces; … Written by Benj. Franklin, LL.D. and F.R.S. … Now first collected, With Explanatory Plates, Notes, And an Index to the Whole . London: Printed for J. Johnson, No 72, St. Paul’s Church-Yard. MDCCLXXIX. (Yale University Library) Benjamin Vaughan began to collect Franklin’s published political writings shortly after American independence had...
410A Turkish Apologue, [1779?] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): American Philosophical Society Abdéllamar was young, strong & handsome. He had studied all the fine Arabian Writers, and was Master of all their Science. He was vain of his Knowledge, and said within himself, Behold, I am a reasonable Being! Why has God given me the Passions and Appetites of Animal Nature? They debase me. I ought to subdue them. God was offended; and said to an...
411Editorial Note on Undated Letters Assigned to 1779 (Franklin Papers)
The number of undated documents we are publishing at the end of 1779 is the largest so far for the end of a year. The reason for such abundance is that after Franklin received news of his appointment as minister plenipotentiary in mid-February, many correspondents henceforth addressed him with that title, providing us with a safe chronological clue of “1779 or thereafter.” Our policy being to...
412Editorial Note on Franklin’s Accounts, 1779 (Franklin Papers)
One new account begins during the period covered by this volume: XXIV. Jonathan Williams, Jr.’s Account with Franklin for Officers’ and Soldiers’ Clothing, January 7, 1780, to May 31, 1781: National Archives, 44 pp. This seems to be a complete accounting of Williams’ expenses incurred in procuring and shipping the congressional order for military uniforms and other supplies. The first two...
413List of Medals Awarded by the United States, 17 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Liste des Mèdailles accordées par Les ètats unis de L’amerique depuis Le Commencement de La guèrre jusqu’en 1780.—six medailles. Noms. actions années. son excèllence Le general wasshington pour La prise de boston 1775. son excèllence Le gènèral gates pour La prise de L’armèe de burgoyne à saratoga 1777. son excèllence Le gènèral wayne. blessè . pour La prise du fort...
414Certificate Condemning Prizes, [before 9 February 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): Historical Society of Delaware I the underwritten, Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America to the Court of France, have perused the Procés Verbaux , or Examinations taken before the Judges of the Admiralty of the Eveché de Vannes, and by them transmitted to me, relating to the following Captures and Ransoms made by the Black Prince Privateer, Capt. Patrick Dowlin...