271To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Donaldson Cooke, 24 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The inclos’d is a letter I recd. from Mr. Bache of Philadelphia in June 1778, and have never had it in my Power to convey it to you sooner— I have come over to Europe in order to receive a Legacy left my father by his sister Anna Cooke of this Place, which I’m apprehensive will cause me trouble before I gett it, as it lies in the Bank of England— Mr Bache...
272To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 24 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society According to the letter your Grand son wrote me last Morning I have obtain’d from the Ministry that the four thousand Compleat Cloathes would be Carried on Board of the frigatte that is ordered to Carry me to America— so that if they are at Rochefort, la Rochelle, l’isle d aix or l’isle de Rhé By the Second of the next month they will be taken on Board— I...
273To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 24 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Two als: Massachusetts Historical Society, American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives; transcript: National Archives I forward the Gazettes to Boston for you, as usual without knowing when they will find a Passage from thence. Your Letter of Sepr. 30th and one from Doctor Lee of Decr. 8th. came to hand two days ago, your prior being May 26 recd. augst. 17th.— I hope you have got...
274To Benjamin Franklin from John Bondfield, 25 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am this Instant honord with your favor of the 14 Curt. The petition of the poor American is perfectly true as there represented some days after his arrival at Bordeaux he was taken ill of the Small Pox, he applied to me to get him into the Hospital they are not receivd into the Hospital in that disorder which I told the poor man. He was with one of his...
275To 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...
276To 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...
277To 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...
278To 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...
279To 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...
280To 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...
281To 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...
282To 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...
283To 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...
284To 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...
285To 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,...
286To 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...
287To 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...
288To 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...
289To 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...
290To 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...
291To 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...