1Editorial Note on Franklin’s Accounts, 1780 (Franklin Papers)
No new accounts were initiated during the period of this volume. The following accounts cover these months: VI and VII ( XXIII , 21); XII ( XXV , 3); XVII ( XXVI , 3); XIX and XXII ( XXVIII , 3–4); XXIII ( XXIX , 3); XXIV ( XXXI , 3); XXV, XXVI, XXVII, and XXVIII ( XXXII , 3–5); XXIX ( XXXIII , 3). We offer here a summary of entries which have not found a place elsewhere in our annotation, but...
2Editorial Note on Promissory Notes, 1780 (Franklin Papers)
For the period covered by this volume, twelve printed promissory notes survive from escaped prisoners who received assistance from Frankin through his banker Ferdinand Grand. On December 18, Nicholson Broughton received five louis d’or . On December 27, John Hemmenway of Boston signed a note for four louis . Three notes survive from January: on the 13th, Thomas Beeton and Antony Dugat each...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Charles-Guillaume-Frédèric Dumas, 16 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je viens de recevoir les deux Lettres, en date des 6 & 7 de ce mois, que Mr. votre P. Fils a eu la bonté de m’écrire. Je prends la part intime que je dois à votre indisposition, & rien ne peut m’en consoler plus efficacement, que ce qu’il ajoute, que vos souffrances sont déjà beaucoup diminuées, & que dans peu de jours vous comptiez de pouvoir, Sans vous...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 16 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library When I made the agreement with Mr de Chaumont about the Ship I thought it was not possible to have any Difficulty; but he & his Correspondents make a strange demand of receiving the Freight before she Sails from Bordx because the words of the agreement are “ frêt acquit avant le depart ” & the Departure they fix to be from...
AL : American Philosophical Society Dans le tems qu’on passoit dans le compte de M. franklin les parties échues à echoir on passa dans celui datè du 16 Aoust des traites dont M. franklin fils avoit donné la Notte ou qu’on avoit été prendre sur son Livre de Bill Book. C’est à dire les traites de Pothonier & ce. de Lorient du 19 Juillet à 90 Jrs. De 1178.15 5494. 1.11 6000. qui echoient au 27...
6“Dialogue Entre La Goute et M. F.,” [before 17 November 1780] (Franklin Papers)
D : American Philosophical Society; AD (fragment): Library of Congress; printed by Benjamin Franklin, Passy [1784] The gout that attacked Franklin in mid-October was so debilitating that for two weeks he was confined to bed with constant pain and fever, “unable to write or think.” By November 13 the most acute phase of the attack had subsided. He slowly resumed his correspondence and...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, 17 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL and AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Je vous renvoye, ma très chere Amie, puisque vous voulez absolument le ravoir, le Brouillon de vôtre jolie Fable. J’avois la Pensée, qu’en vous offrant une plus belle Edition (que vôtre Ouvrage meritoit bien) sans Ratures & Interlineations, je pouvois vous gagner à me permettre de retenir l’Original; ce que je desirois, parceque j’aime tout ce...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Giambatista Beccaria: résumé, 17 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Turin, November 17, 1780, in Italian: Encouraged by your gracious letter, I am sending you by Monsieur Chantel some of the disconnected pieces I wrote during my painful and interminable malady. If I manage to see through the printing of Elettricismo Naturale which I hope to start in January, I will send you a copy in due time. I have decided to gather my...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 17 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote You by a frd the 14th Inst. which I suppose will reach you before or abot the same time with [ this ]. I mentiond the defection & going over of Genl Arnold to the British. For this noble action He has found many advocates here, & the ministry are mightily elated therewith; putting it upon defection in the American Army, strong discontents &ca...
10To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 17 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives Since my unfortunate return here I have not been honored with any Letter from your Excellency which gives me very great concern as I impute your silence to the Bad State of your Health.— Mr. Gourlade has written me two Letters representing that you have blamed me on account of three Articles, the Slops, Shot, and Medicines...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Madame Brillon, 18 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Il y auroit bien quelques petites choses a redire a votre logique que vous assurés si bonne mon chér papa— Quand j’étois jeune homme distes vous, et que je jouissois plus des faveurs du séxe qu’a présent, je n’avois point de goutte: Donc , on pourroit répondre a cela—quand je me suis jetté par la fenéstre je ne me suis pas cassé la jambe: Donc; vous pouriés...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Paul Marat, 18 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library Je connois vôtre gout pour les Sciences et vôtre amour pour le vrai. D’après la haute opinion que j’ai de vôtre Sagacité et de vôtre impartialité, je ne crains pas de Soumettre à vôtre jugement des experiences nouvelles diametralement opposèes aux idées reçues. Dans le nombre, il en est qui démontrent que le fluide èlectrique n’est pas douè d’une force...
13From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, 19 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress I lately received from America the enclosed Letters, and Resolutions of Congress. Such unexpected Drafts on me give me much Pain; as they oblige me either to give your Excellency the Trouble of fresh Applications, or to protest their Bills, which would be absolute Ruin. But your Excellency will see the pressing...
14To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 19 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Two LS : American Philosophical Society, Harvard University Library Whatever might have been my sense of the Enemies particular aversion for truth in every thing that relates to America, I am obliged to confess, that the fertility of their imagination has far surpassed all my expectations.— My experience when last in Europe, has given this a new force, and taught me, that frequent and...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques-Alexandre Gourlade: Two Letters, 20 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society La faillite de Mrs. Bouffé Pere et fils me force pour Le bien de mes Interets a rester encore icy quatre ou cinq Jours—ce retard ne Sera til pas nuisible aux lettres que vous mavez remis pour M. P. Jones. Me conformant a vos desirs Je vous envois la lettre de M. Moylan qui ne m’est point necessaire en ayant gardé Copie; Je Suis avec respect...
16To Benjamin Franklin from James Searle, 20 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I feel a conscious remissness in not having paid my respects to you much Sooner since my arrival at this City. I have no other Apology to offer but that I delayed it from post to post in expectation I might receive some Authentic news worth communicating to you from America, but hitherto I have waited in Vain. This apology is upon perusing it again but a...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques-Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont, 21 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress It was not only Franklin who was threatened with financial ruin, in his case by the impending arrival of bills of credit drawn on him by Congress. His landlord Jacques-Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont was on the verge of bankruptcy, largely as a result of his heavy holdings in devalued American currency. Catastrophe...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 21 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Your suspicions relative to some Bills mentiond in Yr. last were well founded from the then appearances. I was satisfyd the Transaction was a fraudulent one till I had it cleard up by the only person who coud clear it up ie the friend of the man whose property they were. They were slipt into his hand at a first & watchd interview by our friend,...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 22 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress M. De Chaumont m’ayant procuré par pure bonne Volonté des Etoffes pour l’Habillement des Troupes Americaines, me demande aujourd’huy que je lui assure le Remboursement en France des Lettres de Change que je lui ai promises sur le Congrès, et dont je ne doute nullement qu’il y sera fait Honneur. J’ai l’honneur de...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes, 22 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; draft: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères J’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer, Monsieur, un Mémoire qui m’a été adressé par le S. Rasquin; vous y verrez des Plaintes contre M. Williams qui refuse de tenir le Marché qu’il doit avoir fait avec ce particulier pour des Pieces d’Armes à feu. Je vous prie de vouloir bien vous faire rendre Compte des...
21“The Deformed and Handsome Leg” and “La Belle et la Mauvaise Jambe,” [before 23 November 1780] (Franklin Papers)
(I) AD : Pierpont Morgan Library; incomplete AD (draft) : American Philosophical Society; (II) Passy, two imprints in French by Benjamin Franklin, [1781?] and [1784] This lesson in personal happiness may have been written down at the urging of a young man who evidently spent many hours at Franklin’s bedside during his recuperation. Twenty-three-year-old Cabanis had worked with Franklin on the...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, 23 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society La Raison humaine, ma chère Fille, doit être une Chose bien incertaine, puisque deux Personnes sensées, comme vous et moi, peuvent tirer des mêmes Premisses, les Conclusions diamétralement opposées & contraires. Elle me paroit une Guide aveugle, cette Raison; et qu’un Instinct bon & sûr nous vaudroit beaucoup mieux. Tous les Animaux inferieurs ensemble, ne...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 23 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress Mr de Chaumont informs me that it has been agreed between your Excellency and him, that I should write you a Letter, requesting your Assurance of Payment here of the Bills I am to draw in his Favour upon the Congress for 500,000 Livres, in case they should not be paid in America. He has accordingly furnished me with...
24Franklin: Receipt for Chaumont to Sign, 23 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Received of Benjamin Franklin Esquire Minister in France of the United States of America, a Set of Bills of Exchange drawn by him on the President of Congress for Four hundred Thousand Livres Tournois, being on Account of Cloth sold to him by me for their Use. And also another Set of Bills of Exchange drawn as aforesaid, for One hundred Thousand Livres...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Claude-Marie Guyétand, 23 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Permettez moi de vous présenter un faible ouvrage que je vais publier, dans lequel j’ai osé placer votre nom. Ce Sont mes premiers vers; ils Sont dédiés à la liberté, ils ont droit de vous plaire. J’ai dit un mot de la grande révolution du nouveau monde, c’est à Son auteur que j’en dois l’hommage. Je suis avec un profond respect, Monsieur, Votre très-humble...
26[To Marat], 24 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague; copy: Library of Congress I received your obliging Invitation to attend your curious Experiments, on some Day between the 21st & 30th of this Month: But as I am laid up with the Gout, and see no Prospect of being able to go to Paris within that time, I can only return you my Thanks. If you have any Description of those Experiments written, I should be...
27From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 24 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excelly. did me the honour of writing to me the 22d. Instant, concerning the Complaint of the Sieur Rasquin against Mr. Williams, together with the Exposition des Faits as stated by the said Rasquin, which I return inclosed. In September last I received a Letter from the same Person with...
28From Benjamin Franklin to Walter Williams and Helenus Scott, 24 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letters you did me the Honour of writing to me on the 27th. of Last Month, and beg you will accept my Thanks for your good Will to the American Cause. Having the most positive orders from Congress not to give the smallest encouragement to any Persons whatever to go to America with Expectations of military Preferment, (the Army of the United States being...
29To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 24 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society The Letter which your Excellency did me the Honour to write me on the thirteenth is recieved, and I have accordingly accepted the Bills, and shall draw upon your Excellency about the Time they become payable, for Money, to enable me to discharge them, provided I should not succeed in my Endeavours to borrow it here. I...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Harmon Courter, 24 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Your favours of the 15th. & 18th. Instant together with sundrie inclosed came duly to hand for which am much Oblidged, the proposals from Dunkirk will not suit on acct. of its being too great a distance from this to travel— For the offer of Mr. Chaumont am much Oblidged, my men would not be willing to go to Bordeaux, as sundrie small vessels are here from...