391To Benjamin Franklin from John Bondfield, 3 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By Letters last post from Bilboa we are advised of the Arrival of a Vessel at that Port from Georgia the Inteligence they bring is very pleasing and being transmitted by many Houses of that City gives it Credit. A detatchment from Comte dEstaings Fleet arrived at Savannah took and destroyd the British Armd Vessels on the Coast and made prisoners at Beaufort...
392To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 4 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This, Sir, will serve you as an instance of some of our transactions here. I keep with me the Original, set by myself in Dutch, which will serve me, when the Ship will be gone, to concert with our friend , a complaint against the present Commander of this road, for having exceded both the intention & terms of the last resolution.— May but heaven send us...
393To Benjamin Franklin from Luke Ryan, 29 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am happy in Informing your Excellency that my heath being perfectly restablished, my Good friend Mr. John Torris has fulfilled his promise, in purchasing for me the fine and Large Cutter of 150 tuns Lately commanded By Captain royer which I have Named the fearnot, mounting 18 Carriage Guns 6 pounders and 20 swivels and about 90 of the Ablest men Crew,...
394From Benjamin Franklin to [Pierre Delaunay?] des Landes, 23 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Not understanding well enough the french language and the technical Terms used in the Description of your Observatory, I cannot form, from the description such an Idea of its Situation and Circumstances, as might enable to me to Answer the Questions you propose to me. But as my Learned and Ingenious friend Mr. LeRoy, Member of the Academy of Sciences, is perfectly...
395From Benjamin Franklin to the Prince de Montbarey, 18 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Monsieur Noirmont de La Neuville has produced to me a Number of Testimonies from American Generals and from the Congress, of his Valour and good Conduct in several important Actions of the War, by which he has acquired great Esteem in that Country; At his Request I have certified the Authenticity of Those Papers; and I beg leave to add, that I am persuaded, if his...
396To 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...
397To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Gardoqui & Sons, 19 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The two enclos’d letters & two more that we forward you under a blank covert have been deliver’d us this day by the Honble. John Adams whose agreable company we have since last saturday, so wish they may come safe to hand. Said Gentn. intends to sett out for Paris to morow. & In hopes of his reaching it soon after a prosperous journey beg leave to repeatt...
398To Benjamin Franklin from the Vicomte de Sarsfield, [2 November? 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Le Vicomte de sarsfield Envoije scavoir des Nouvelles de Monsieur francklin; il le supplie de remettre au porteur de ce billet La Lettre qu’il a Eü La Bonté de Luy promettre. Addressed: a Monsieur / Monsieur francklin / chez Monsieur de / chaumont / A Passy Endorsed: Sir W York’s Memoire Notation in William Temple Franklin’s hand: Notes of no Consequence Our...
399To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander John Alexander, 14 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I expected to have had the pleasure of breakfasting with you allongst with my Brother who is returned & to have beged the favour of you to have delivered the two Memoires Inclosed to Mr De Sartine & Mr De Vergennes which I mentioned to you on Sunday I am most respectfully Dr Sir your Most Obt Humble Servt Notation: Alexander A. J. 14. Dec. 1779. Apparently...
400To Benjamin Franklin from William Churchill Houston, 9 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the Liberty of troubling you with the enclosed Letters to put them in the Way of reaching the several Persons to whom they are addressed, being assurred you will excuse it. A Plan at this Time lies before Congress for establishing regular Packets to France which bids fairer to be attended with Success and Execution than any hitherto attempted or...
401To 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,...
402To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams and Francis Dana, [on or after 11 February 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Adams & Mr. Dana present their most respectful Complaments to his Excellency Dr. Franklin and wou’d acquaint him that as Mr. Adams had invited Company to dine with him on Sunday next, previous to his Excellency’s invitation, to dine with him on that Day, they cannot do themselves the honor of waiting upon him. Addressed: His Excellency Dr: Franklin /...
403To Benjamin Franklin from James Woodmason, 4 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Ten days since I did myself the honour to inform you, that I intended to send you the 12 Rms of Paper by the first Ship for Amsterdam. I have now to acquaint you that I shipped the Paper on the Lady Elizabeth last Week, which I hope will arrive safe I doubt not, but it will give you satisfaction. Mr: Le Taillier who does me the favour of taking the charge...
404To Benjamin Franklin from Ralph Izard, 29 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have written to Captain Jones relative to my having a passage on board of the Alliance. It will be agreeable to me to stay in Paris with my family until she is ready to sail, & I should be obliged to you if you would let me know when you think it proper for me to set out for L’Orient, & what Passengers are to go in her. I have the honour to be Sir your...
405To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 13 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society His Excellency the French Ambassador at the Hague appeared to me to think so ill of sending letters by Post that I durst not venture to forward the within evidence against Captain Landais by that insecure conveyance, and I was unwilling to be at the expence of sending an Express, especially as I am not sure whether Captain Landais has or has not yet left...
406To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Gerard, 7 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Suivant les ordres que jai recu de Mr. J. Torris de Dunkerque de vous donner avis de ce qui me parviendra de Nouveau concernant le Corsaire le Blalk Prince j’ai lhonneur de vous donner avis de sa relache icy aprés avoir eté chassé par deux fregattes Angloises qu’il croit de 36 Canons qui lui ont donné la chasse depuis les sorlingues jusqu’a Belle-isle ce qui...
407To 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...
408To 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...
409To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 21 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress I have received your Excellencies letter of the 16th.— I am exceedingly Sorry that the Alliance is not in the readiness that you Imagined.— I was in hopes to have sent for your Satisfaction the Certificate of the Master Builder here respecting the repairs that are indispensably necessary to render the Ship fit for Service;...
410From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 22 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Columbia University Library; two copies: Library of Congress It gave me infinite Pleasure to hear of your Excellency’s safe Arrival in Spain. I Knowing that the Confederacy had sailed the 28th of Octr., we began to despair of ever hearing more of her. I received your Advice of the Bill drawn on me for four thousand and seventy nine Livres Tournois, at sixty Days date, which I order’d to...
411To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Carroll, 5 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The bearer Mr. Thomas Ridout brother of Mr John Ridout of this city, with whom I believe you are acquainted, has sollicited me to introduce him to you. As I know him to be a young gentleman of modesty, worth, & good Sense, I have taken that liberty. Any civilities, it may be in your power to shew him, I shall esteem as conferred on myself. He proposes to go...
412To Benjamin Franklin from John Diot & Co., 31 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We did our Selves the honnour to Write to your Excellency, The 12th. Instant, to the contents whereof we beg Leave to Refferr. This Serves Chiefly to forward to your Excellency a Coppy of the Journal of the Black Prince privateer, captn. Pattrick Dowlin Commander, come into the road of Brest the 16th. Instant, to Repair. We wou’d have Sent it Sooner to your...
413To Benjamin Franklin from Jean de Neufville & fils, 23 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society May this serve for an introduction with your Excellence for Capn. Moses Grinnell, who saild many years from Boston to our consignment in the employ of Colonel Isaac Sears; and now had the misfortune to fall into the Ennemy’s hands on the Coast of Schotland. He saw here both Comodor Jones and Capn. Cunningham. Your Excellencys directions to procure him or...
414To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 18 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the Liberty of making a Request which I hope will not be considered as improper, if it is I beg you will kindly tell me so & there the matter will end. If it is not your compliance will highly oblige me.— My Wifes Grandfather has written me a very kind Letter of approbation of my marriage & in it he informs of his Intention to go to Grenada to...