31From Benjamin Franklin to Sir Charles William Blunt, 9 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your favour by Mr. Luard and I am obliged to you for introducing me to the acquaintance of So agreable a Man. He has settled his affairs here, as I understand, to his satisfaction.— My services were not necessary this Court being well disposed to do what was requested. You may be assured however, that I did him no Injury.— You gave me great Pleasure in the...
32From 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...
33From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Digges, 9 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I thank you for your favours of Oct. 8. and 12. and for the news Papers. I wrote fully to our friend Mr. B. about the Coppers. I hope you will soon be freed from the Trouble you have with the Prisoners by their Exchange, I can now only add that I am, with great Esteem Dear Sir, &c. XXX , 490–4, 490n, 525–7. Edward Bridgen had sent two samples of copper for possible...
34From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 9 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS , copy, and transcript: Library of Congress I received your Favour of Oct. 26. containing Copies of sundry Letters you had before sent me, which you apprehended had not been receiv’d. For the same reason I send you herewith Copies of several I have sent to you. I am sorry my Proposition of Exchanging in Holland was not attended to. It would have prevented a good deal of Misery to those...
35From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, 9 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress I have received several kind Letters from you which I have not regularly answered. They gave me however great Pleasure, as they acquainted me with your Welfare, and that of your Family & other Friends: and I hope you will continue writing to me as often as you can do it conveniently. I thank you much for the great Care & Pains you have taken in...
36From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Vaughan & Son, 9 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your favour by Mr. Luard and would on your Recommendation have gladly rendred him any service in my Power but he has found no Difficulty in settling his affairs to his satisfaction. I rejoice to learn that you and all the amiable family of the Vaughans are well, which may God continue. I am ever, with great Esteem Gentlemen y. m. o. h. S. XXX , 512n.
37To Benjamin Franklin from Madame Brillon, 9 [November] 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Si je le voulois bien mon bon papa j’aurois le droit d’éstre un peu fâché contre vous; me voici sans reproches a ma troisieme épistre, et de vous pas un souvenir, pas le moindre petit mot. … Mon ésprit est de mauvaise humeur en vérité; pour mon coeur il vous aime tant qu’il vous éxcuse encore; il dit, ce papa si bon aura eu des affaires—peut éstre un peu de...
38To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 9 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The person whom you lately wrote to me to supply with necessarys for releiving his distresses in confinement, was servd as well as He could be by Agents on the spot & much to his satisfaction & wish. He got away with others of his Company (among them the owner of two bills for 60 and 36 Ds. lately forwarded to you for acceptance by a private hand) on...
39To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 9 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We were thinking But of winter quarters for the troops, and preparing every thing for our Return to paris, when an extraordinary Courier Brought us the order of Being Ready to March at a Moment’s Warning— I Need not telling you how surpris’d I was of this Unexpected Resolution that I know to have been taken on a sudden By the Ministry, and I seize the...
40Intelligence from Madrid and Other Places, 9 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
D : National Archives The number of intelligence items Franklin’s friend the chevalier de Kéralio gathered for Franklin during the four months covered by this volume is more than twice that collected during the preceding four months. The fifty-seven items noted below eventually were forwarded to Congress and are presently in the National Archives. As is our practice, we print the first of...
41From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon: Letter and Printed Bagatelle (“The Whistle”), 10 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) AL : The Rosenbach Museum & Library; AL (draft) American Philosophical Society; (II) Passy, printed by Benjamin Franklin, April, 1780 For once, one of Franklin’s bagatelles has left a trail of dated evidence long enough for us to follow it from first draft to the printing press. The piece, which has come to be known as “The Whistle,” was originally penned as an answer to the twice-weekly...
42From Benjamin Franklin to Lafayette, 10 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress My Answer to the Questions, contain’d in the Letter You have honour’d me with, must be very short. I can only Say, that I know nothing before [ about ] the Order you mention, and I now know nothing of the Reasons.— I can therefore give no Opinion having no Materials on which to form it. A Vessel from North America arrived at Cadiz reports that Count d’Estaing’s fleet...
43From Benjamin Franklin to Landais, 10 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Having not yet received from Commodore Jones, what he may have to offer in support of the Charges he makes against you, I find it proper to postpone for a few Days the hearing of your Defence, and I do therefore here by desire you to Stay in Paris till Monday next. When I hope the Hearing may take place. I am, Sir Your most obedient and most humble servant. Because...
44To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 10 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am in hopes this will be either handed you or put into some foreign post by Capt. C———m, who not liking his late lodgings, left them with three others & came to me a day or two ago. I have done every thing in my power for him both at the former place & here, & He will be off this nights tide to R——m in a Dutch vessel. His plan is to push for D——n——k &...
45To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 10 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This letter will be delivered to Your Excellency By Mr. Smith who in compagny with Mr. Watts came from Virginia on commercial Business in which they have for a partner a good friend of Mine Bre [Brigadier] General Scott— Those two Gentlemen I Beg leave to present and most particularly to Reccommend to Yr Excellency that they Might apply themselves to You on...
46To Benjamin Franklin from John Dalton et al., 11 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This Comes to Inform you that A Number of us Americans on the 3d of this Instant broke out of Mill Prison in England and Six of us had the good fortune to Take a boat and Crossed the Channel of England to France and arrived the 8th Instant and now we are taken up upon Suspicion of being Englishmen and put into Jail and we humbly beg that you may Relieve us...
47To Benjamin Franklin from Jean de Neufville & fils, 11 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We begg leave to give your Excellency our most sincere thanks for the contents of her most obliging favour of the 29h. October; we are happy for our American frinds that no bills will be payd in a manner that they or the states could be losers by; the Captors of the vessell which we mentiond have already attempted to receive money in England on some letters...
48To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Loring Austin, 12 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the Honor of addressing your Excellency by two different Opportunities, which hope have reached your Hands; I am very sensible that your Excellency’s Attention is engrossed with important Concerns for your Country, yet permit me to express my Remembrance for Civilities received, by wishing you a long Continuation of Health & Happiness.— My late...
49To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 12 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My little Grandson Samuel Cooper Johonnot will have the Honour of presenting this to you. Mr Adams kindly indulges him with a Portion of that Care which he gives to his own Sons who are nearly of his Age. He goes to France with a View to acquire the Purity of the French Language in Speaking and Writing. Young as he is, he has learned long ago to repeat and...
50To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Palmer, 12 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; ALS (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society In the beginning of August last, I took the liberty of troubling you with a few Lines by my Nephew, Joseph Palmer, Passenger on board the Mercury Packett; Since which I have heard nothing from him, or the Vessell.— I then mentioned the flattering hopes we had of Success at Penobscutt, but were sadly...
51To 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...
52To Benjamin Franklin from Madame Brillon, 13 [November] 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Je ne vous écrirai qu’un mot aujourd’hui mon bon papa, j’ai plusieurs choses indispensables a faire, moins agréables sans doutte que de causér avéc vous; mais le devoir avant tout, ou je ne serois pas la digne fille de mon papa: Oseroisje encore vous rappeller que vous m’avés promis de m’écrire, qu’il y a 16 jours que je vous ai quitté et que je n’ai entendu...
53To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 13 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library This will be delivered to you by Mr Jeremy Allen a Merchant in this Town of Good Reputation, and of a very ancient and respectable Family among us, and for whom I have a particular Regard. He goes to Europe chiefly upon a Plan of Business, and I take the Liberty to introduce him to your Excellency, not only as my own Friend, but as one who has the highest...
54To 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...
55To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 14 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Friend and neighbour Mrs Wistar has been to request Mr Bache would write a few lines to introduce Mr. Ashton to you, as he is not at home I take that liberty, Mr Ashton has been in partnership with Mr John Gibson, and bears the Character of a very worthy good man, it will not be long before he will return and I hope will bring us the pleasing accounts of...
56To 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...
57To Benjamin Franklin from François d’Ivernois, 15 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai eu deux fois l’honneur de vous voir à Paris, et je l’ai apprécié en Republicain; mais lors meme que je n’aurais pas joui de cet avantage, je ne m’en adresserais pas moins à vous. La liberté a des droits sacrés sur Monsieur franklin, et si ma patrie ne l’eut pas intéressé, il ne l’aurait pas choisie pour le berceau de son petit fils. Puisse-t-elle...
58To 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
59Minutes 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...
60To 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...