391To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 25 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Les deux imprimés ci-joints vous feront connoître que vous avez été ponctuellement obéi. Je vous félicite de toute mon ame de l’heureuse arrivée de nos dignes amis Mrs. Jay & Carmichael. Ce dernier m’a fait la faveur de m’écrire; & je prends la liberté de vous adresser une réponse pour lui, ne sachant de voie aussi sure pour la lui faire tenir.— Je lui fais...
392To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 25 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress I am honored with your Excellencies letter of the 19th.— I feel your reasons for Urging frugallity, and as I have not hitherto been among the most extravagant Servants of America so you may depend on it my regard for you will make me particularly Nice in my present situation. It will give me very great pleasure to be able to...
393To 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...
394From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Digges, 26 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I comply’d readily with your late Recommendations, placing faith in the Declaration of the Parties, that the Transaction was bonafide intended, for the Purpose mentioned, getting home their Property. If this should be extended to cover an illicit Trade, it will when discovered effectually put a Stop to such Operations. I see by some thing in a late paper from that...
395To Benjamin Franklin from Fleury, 26 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Marquis De la fayète goes to america, & I Remain behind him, with grief, but determined to follow him.— I writte to Congress, & general wasshington, to ask a prolongation of furlough; if you did not think improper, to interfere by your friends, or by writting to congress, in my favour, I could expect they would grant to me, what the king of france, has...
396From Benjamin Franklin to Fleury, 26 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am sorry you were disappointed in meeting me at Versailles. In all your Billets except that of yesterday you omitted mentioning where you Lodged, otherwise I could have acquainted you that I should not be at court on the Day you Expected me. I suppose you will acquaint the Congress or General Washington with your Reasons for desiring a Prolongation of your furlow....
397From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 26 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have just received your favour of the 11th. Instant. I am much oblig’d by your immediate Application to The Board of sick and hurt after the Receipt of mine of Jan. 20th. and Very glad to hear that another Cartel is soon to sail from Plymouth with 100 Americans. The English Prisoners to exchange for them, will be ready at morlaix.— And I am authoriz’d to repeat what...
398From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bennett Lloyd, 26 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have just receiv’d your favour of the 18th. Instant. I had before answer’d another that contain’d much the Same matter. I hope that Answer is come to hand before this time. I can now only repeat, that your present Circumstances and those of your family well considered, I must approve of your endeavouring to get home in the manner you find safest and cheapest . And...
399From 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...
400To Benjamin Franklin from John Williams, 26 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I am exceedingly obliged to you for the Trouble you have taken in informing my Nephew of the enjurious Report, of my being in England, a Creature to Administration. Could I have Submitted to such an infamous Character, I might have received considerable Rewards from the Ministers of England before I left it, instead of lossing what I had been acquiring...
401To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 26 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Yale University Library I have just received your kind Letter of the 23 Inst. My preceeding Letters will have explained the Affair of the Bills. They were drawn to fall due at 2.. 3.. & 4 Usances because M. de Chaumont so directed, & I suppose he directed so because he imagined it would facilitate the negociation. I can however avoid negociating...
402To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 27 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer of this Thomas Kearl, of Norfolk in Virginia being desirous of returning to his natif Country, apply’d to me to know how he could proceed, I advised him to go to Paris, and from thence to Nantes or Lorient, and tol’d him that he might call on your Excellency to know wether there are any vessells at the above ports bound to America, being well...
403To Benjamin Franklin from William Bingham, 28 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society No Event of material Importance to merit your Notice or Attention, has happened in this Quarter since the Date of my last— I have not been honoured with any of your Favors since your Residence in France, not withstanding the many official Letters that in the Course of public Business I have had occasion to address you— I am entirely ignorant of the...
404To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Keiser, 28 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Parmi Les prisonniers faits par des corsaires ou autres batimens Américains amenés & detenus dans ce port, il s’est trouvé jusqu’ici plusieurs qui auroient desiré aller à bord de quelque batiment appartenant aux Etats-unis, & ne pas retourner en Angleterre. Les etrangers surtout comme Les Danois, hollandois, portugais, &c. pris à bord des vaisseaux anglais...
405To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 28 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In the answer you favoured me with dated feby 12, you Say that I am pleased to blame you. I beg you Pardon, it dont became me to blame, but I may Say that I have been detained here by Your Excy Order, and ask for a passage for America. I ask at the Same time your order for my Staying here all that time, Since you have in your hand the first order you gave...
406To 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,...
407French 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...
408To 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...
409To Benjamin Franklin from Joshua Johnson, 29 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honour of your two favours of the 29 Decemr. & 22 Instant to the contents of which I have paid every attention. It is with pleasure I hear from you that this Country has granted America the Aid you solicited, as every general good extends to Individuals I doubt not but Maryland will receive its proportion of the benifit, tho’ the small supply...
410To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 29 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In Consequence of the Assent that Your excellency was pleas’d to honor My Request with, I’ll Beg your obliging help positively to fix My ideas on some Affairs Relating to our Army, in which I had the happiness of Acting as one of Your Agents at the Court of Versailles. From Both Ministers of the War and of foreign Affairs I Got the Most positive Assurance...
411To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 29 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives I have found not only the Original of the Treaty of Alliance, but that too of the separate & secret Act, both which I have now the honor of sending you. They were seald up together with my Copies which made them escape my observation before. I have the honor to be with the greatest esteem & respect Sir Yr. most Obedt. Humbl...
412To 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...
413To Benjamin Franklin from Jean de Neufville & fils, [February? 1780] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We most kindly thank you for your agreable last favour, we have duely noted its contents, we hope your Excellency hath been Satisfied with our Account of the American Squadron, and will always be so with what She Causes to pass throw our hands. We doubt not butt your Excellency hath received the Account of Comodor JP. Jones Esqr. arrivall at the Coruña...
414Parabole 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...