61From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Digges, 15 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress In Answer to yours relating to Capt. Cook, this may inform you that I sent Copies of the Enclos’d to all the American Cruizers then in the Ports of france and spain with orders to our Agents to communicate them to others that might touch there. I also sent it to holland to be printed in the Dutch Papers, as a means of making it more generally known to our Cruizers at...
62From Benjamin Franklin to John Bondfield, 14 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I request that you would enquire into the facts represented in the enclos’d Petition, and if you find them true, that you would defray the reasonable Expences of the poor Man’s sickness, and make a Present to his friend of Two Guineas as a small Acknowledgment of his Hospitality and kindness. I have the honour to be, sir, &c. From Bondfield’s reply of Feb. 25 we...
63From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 14 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have this Moment received your favour of Jany. 28. I had written to you the 20th. of the same Month, and enclosed a second passport for Morlaix. I hope to hear of its being come to hand, tho’ it was not when you wrote. I have written also lately to Mr. Hartly and Mr. Digges on the subject of our Prisoners.— I shall give Orders this Day for the sending away in the...
64From Benjamin Franklin to Landais: Certificate, 14 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I do hereby certify whom it may concern, that the stay of Capt. Landais till this Time in Paris, has been occasioned partly on account of the enquiry into his Conduct in the late Cruise and partly as there has been no good Opportunity to My knowledge for his going sooner to america. BF and Landais probably met on the morning of Monday, Feb. 14, as had been arranged:...
65From 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...
66To Benjamin Franklin from Gourlade & Moylan, 14 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You will have received advice by the last post of Cap: Jones’s arrival in the Alliance the 10th. inst.— We woud have had the pleasure of giving you that agreeable intelligence sooner, had we not gon down to Groix, (where that Vessel yet remains wind bound) on the notice Cap: Jones gave us of his being much indisposed, but from wch we are happy to tell you,...
67To 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...
68From Benjamin Franklin to Puchelberg & Co., 13 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress This is to request that you would cause to be delivered to the king’s Officer in your Port, who has the Charge of sending over English Prisoners in Exchange for french, all the English Prisoners now confined there, who have been brought in by American Vessels, and particularly those brought in by the Black Prince. I have the honour to be. Gentlemen. For the past year...
69From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 13 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Enclosed is the Order Your Excellency required of me in the Letter you yesterday did me the honour of writing to me, relating to the English Prisoners brought into L’Orient by the Black Prince, & other american Privateers. I beg leave to mention to your Excelly. that there are still remaining in the English Prisons 410 Americans, some of whom have languish’d there...
70To Benjamin Franklin from John Bondfield, 13 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The arrival of Mr Jay Messrs. Girard and other gentlemen passengers on board the Frigate L’Aurore from Martinico at Cadiz releives the suspence we were under for the fate of the Confederacy you will undoubtedly have Letters by this days post from Cadiz. Don Gaston & Cordova would be united the 20th the active Barcelo sooner than fly run his vessels under...
71To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 13 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress I had the pleasure of writing to your Excellency on my arrival at Corogne.— Having refreshed my people and shunned a Gale of Wind in that Port I Sailed again the 28th. Ulto.— I took a turn to the Westward of Cape Finistre in hopes of intercepting some of the Enemies Ships, but without Success, and meeting with Mr. Haywood in...
72Chaumont’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...
73From Benjamin Franklin to Landais, 12 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress You are pleased to blame me for your long stay in Paris. I have not heard of any Opportunity you have had of going to America, and if you had been there you must have waited as long for the Arrival of the Alliance before you could have had the Court martial you desire. There seems then to have been no time lost. When you desired me formerly to order your Things to be...
74To 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...
75To Benjamin Franklin from Lewis Littlepage, 12 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You will (I doubt not) be surpris’d at an address of this kind from a person unknown; but my situation will I hope be a sufficient apology. I arriv’d yesterday in this City from Virginia in pursuit of Mr. Jay, who generously offer’d me his patronage in America, but an ill state of health not permitting me to go to him at Philadelphia I prevail’d on my...
76To Benjamin Franklin from Sartine, 12 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress J’ai l’honneur, de vous prevenir que le Paquebot Anglois l’heureux armé en Parlementaire vient d’arriver au Port de l’Orient, et comme le nombre des Prisonniers qui sera remis en Echange au Capitaine de ce Batiment ne sera pas égal à celui qu’il a apporté en France, J’ai pensé que vous pourriez profiter de cette occasion pour renvoyer en Angleterre les Prisonniers...
77To 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...
78To 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...
79To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 10 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote you on a matter of business by Capn. B——t [Belt] the 28th. ulo. & hope as the interest of himself & five or six other Countrymen is nearly concernd, the prayer of his petition has been complyd with. I have many applications of a similar nature; & I rather encourage them, from seeing the advantages that must arrise to the Country for which they...
80To 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...
81To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 10 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been ever Since, January 15th, waiting for the favour of your answer, to the letter I had the Honour to Send you the Same day; and for the Copy of the letter from Monsieur de Sartine to you, in Consequence of which, you Ordered me to come to Paris, which you was so obliging to tell me you would Sent me, as I do want it for to write my justification...
82Certificate 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...
83From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Digges, 9 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have just received yours by Capt. Belt I shall Comply with his request as he is recommended by you. I have written largely to Mr Hartley by Mr. Barber and before to Mr. Hodgson about the American Prisoners and the Cartel.— I am concern’d for Capt. Manley, who is a brave and useful Officer, and desire you to supply him with Necessaries to the amount of 25. Guineas....
84From Benjamin Franklin to Patrick Dowlin, 9 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours of the 27th. past, I congratulate you on the success you have had against our Enemies of which I had the pleasure of hearing before, by the Copy of your Journal sent me by Mr. Diot. The Prisoners you have brought in will soon procure us the Liberty of as many of our Countrymen, Who have long been confin’d in the Goals of Great Britain. It is there...
85From Benjamin Franklin to Rinquin, 9 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letters you did me the honour of writing to me the 21st. of January and The 2d. of this Instant; with The Proces Verbaux relating to The ships the Jacques Thomas, and The Camden, both of which I judge from the Said Procés to be good Prizes; as also those which were ransomed and for which William Hillier and Robert Story were Hostages. At the Request of...
86From Benjamin Franklin to John Torris, 9 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I send you herewith the Judgments of the Sloop Providence, the Brig. James and Thomas and The Ship Camden also that of the Two Ransomers for the Brigt. success and The Brig. Samuel.— The Proces verbaux relating to The Brig. Owners adventure, and the Brig. Betsey which you mention are not yet come to my hands. As soon as I have receiv’d and perus’d them, I shall send...
87To Benjamin Franklin from ——— de Chantereyne, 9 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Jai lhonneur de prier votre excellence de voulloir bien me faire passer le jugement de Confiscation de la Prise La Providence, faite par le Corsaire Americain Le Black Prince, dont la Procedure vous a eté adressée par notre Amirauté de Cherbourg par la voye de M. Du Coudrey. Jenvoye à la bourse de Paris les affiches pour la vente que jai eté autorisé à...
88To 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...
89To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Priestley, [before 8 February 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Having so good an opportunity of conveying a letter safely to you, I thought it might not be amiss to give you a general idea of my present situation, not with a view to any particular request or proposal, but only thinking it right, that a few of my best friends should know it in confidence , as it is possible that something or other may occur to them which...
90From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Priestley, 8 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress Your kind Letter of Sept. 27. came to hand but very lately, the Bearer having staid long in Holland. I always rejoice to hear of your being still employ’d in Experimental Researches into Nature, and of the Success you meet with. The rapid Progress true Science now makes, occasions my Regretting sometimes that I was born so soon. It is impossible...