31To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Lincoln, 25 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Congress has ordered me to prepare and lay before them a State of the pay Rations and Subsistence of the Officers and Men in the Armies of the different powers in Europe—as these often vary I have no means of procuring the necessary information with accuracy from any books I have seen— I am under the...
32To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 9 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai l’honneur de vous ecrire la presente laquelle vous Sera remise par le Sieur Thomas Connoly Americain Lequel a eu le malheur d’Etre pris dans le navire Le Blear Mc Clanaghan a Son Passage de L’orient a Philadelphie par un corsaire de Guernsey auquel endroit il a été conduit prisonnier. Il a trouvé le moyen de S’echaper & de Se rendre ici, & Comme il...
33To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Dana, 2/12 September [i.e., 12 September 1782] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society Mr: Livingston in a letter of the 22d. of May last, which I have lately received, writes me, “Your salary will in future be paid here, where your Agent will vest it in bills on Doctor Franklin quarterly, upon whom you will draw accordingly. I shall consider myself as Agent for all our foreign Ministers, and transact the business accordingly for you,...
34To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 21 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Yale University Library I arrived here safe the day before yesterday and found that the Ship Marquis de la Fayette Capt Buffington had arrived to my address from Salem with a prize which was bound from New-york to London with 50 hhds of Tobacco. In this Ship are several Brittish Officers some of whom were in Cornwallis’s Army & are under parole from Genl Washington. Some others are...
35To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 11 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society, Library of Congress; copy: Library of Congress On the ninth Instant, from an Investigation of Mr. Grands Accounts, then lately received, I found that after making due Allowance for Loan Office Bills &ca. which might still come upon him, my Drafts (and those which I have directed) would exceed, by Something more than six Millions (exclusive of the Interest...
36From Benjamin Franklin to [John Jay], 16 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society On August 15, Richard Oswald informed Franklin (at Passy) and John Jay (in Paris) that the official copy of his commission to treat for peace had arrived. It was identical in wording to the preliminary version that Shelburne had sent a week earlier. Jay had vigorously objected to that preliminary version on the grounds that it did not explicitly acknowledge...
37To Benjamin Franklin from Balthazar-Georges Sage, [c. 1782?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Sage salue et Embrasse Monsieur francklin, auquel il envoye un ouvrage D’un de ses amis qui l’a prié de Lui offrir. La personne qui lui remettra Ce Billet est un medecin de ses amis qui accompagne Les princes de Carlath qui desirent avoir Lhonneur De Voir Monsieur francklin. Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur francklin / De Lacademie des / sciences It is...
38To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Powel Griffitts, 6 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I arrived here Yesterday from Geneva, where I left young Mr. Bache very well the Day before. He, as well as his School-Mate, Mr. Johnnot were very happy to hear from you: They both appear to be contented with their Situation & what is more Monsieur Marignac seems very well satisfied with their Conduct— He treats them as Friends, & they repay him with...
39To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 12 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the pleasure to acquaint you that we arrived safe here after a quick passage, but not Time enough I fear to undo what had been done wrong in consequence of premature advice, however still much depends upon future contingent Events, if the final arrangement takes place, all may yet be well, shou’d it happen otherwise, without previous information the...
40To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Nesbitt, 7 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d in course the honor of your Excellencys Letter of the 30th Ulto: inclosing one for the Captains Cain Josiah & Deale, which I have deliver’d them.— They are extremely sensible of your Excellencys attention to their request, & beg that you will accept of their most sincere thanks.— Inclosed, I have the honor to transmit you a Letter from them.— I...
41To Benjamin Franklin from the Comtesse de Golowkin, [after November 1782] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai une grace à vous demander, mon Papa, j’ai demain Jeudi une petite Course à faire à la Campagne, ma Voiture ordinaire est caseè, je me trouve dans L’embarras— N’aurès vous pas la bontè extrême pour moi de me prêter votre Diligence (rien que la Voiture sans chevaux:) J’ose vous faire cette demande parceque comme vous avès aussi une Berline il vous seras...
42To Benjamin Franklin from Filangieri, 2 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Translation from ALS in Italian: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I don’t know whether you received my previous letter in which I alluded to what I am now obliged today to explain with greater clarity. I awaited your answer with impatience; but four months have already gone by and up to now I have not had the pleasure of seeing your writing. I flatter myself that this second letter will meet...
43To Benjamin Franklin from Juliana Ritchie, 27 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the honor to thank you in all sincerity—for your great politeness in answering my letter— My poor suffering heart will ever retain a just sence of what I owe to your good nature & kind condesention in that proof of your pardoning my intrusions. Nothing but my state of anxiety—cou’d have induced me to break thro’ all rules of decoram, by impertinently...
44The American Peace Commissioners to Richard Oswald, 7 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS and three copies: Public Record Office; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress (three), Massachusetts Historical Society (three), National Archives, North Carolina State Division of Archives and History; press copy of copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives In answer to the letter you did us the honor to write...
45From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Castries, 31 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives de la Marine If there is nothing improper in the Requests made by Mr Williams in the enclos’d Letter, I beg leave to recommend them to your Excellency’s favourable Attention. With great Respect, I am, Sir, Your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble Servant Notation: R [Repondu] le 8. 7bre. 1782. / [audela ?] 1er 7bre v. la f. du même jour et la lettre ecrite à M Clouet BF...
46From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 8 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress The Congress disregarding the Proposals made by Sir Guy Carleton, and determined to continue the War with Vigour, ‘till a Peace can be obtained, satisfactory as well to the King as to themselves; (as will appear by their Resolves hereto annex’d) but being disabled by the great Deficiency in their Taxes arising from...
47To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 1[–2] January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: University of Pennsylvania Library I do not know how I could employ myself more agreeably on the beginning of the new Year, than by writing to my dear Papa, wishing him many happy returns of it, and that I may live to begin and end many of them with him is my sincere prayer, who knows what a Peace may produce— In Mr Bache’s letter you desire I would continue my histories of the...
48To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Bridgen, 23 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I was much obliged by the honour of your Excellency’s favour of the 25th: of last Month which did not arrive until the 9th. Currant. I feel myself much indebted to you My Dr: Sir for the kind interest you have taken in my affairs in No: Carolina: I fancy nothing will now be done until a Peace is made, which is not far off. On this Account I now beg...
49To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 24 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society; copy: South Carolina Historical Society Mr. Laurens presents his Compliments to Doctor Franklin & requests him to give a place to the Inclosed Letter for Robt. R. Livingston Esqr among his dispatches for the Ship Washington & to inform him whether he will be in time for saving the Courier with other Letters any time to day. Addressed: His Excellency /...
50To Benjamin Franklin from the Board of Trustees of Dartmouth College, 24 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library We could wish to avoid any seeming indelicacy in a matter, that respects your Excellency, by communicating an idea of the repeated and increasing joys, which are handed from breast to breast among the citizens of the empire of this western world— But permit us, Sir, to render a tribute of praise, that Providence has been propitious to honor our nation,...
51From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 26 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Two LS , press copies of each LS , and transcript: National Archives I have just received your No. 15. dated the 9th of August, which mentions your not having heard from me since March. I have however written sundry Letters, viz. of Apl. 8th. & 12th. June 25th & 29th, Augt 12th and Sept. 3d, and sent Copies of the same, which I hope cannot all have miscarried. The Negotiations for Peace have...
52To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Maccatter and Amy Kelly, 12 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We they undernamed, do take the liberty of acquainting your honour of the distress, and Situation of our husbands, whose names are Captain Edward Maccatter Captain John Kelly alias Grumbly, they had the misfortune of being Captured, the former was taken to London, the latter to Dublin, each of them has a property in the hands of a John Torris, who was...
53From Benjamin Franklin to François Steinsky, 23 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Museum, Prague J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la Lettre très obligeante que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 12. Septembre 1781, par la quelle je suis charmé d’apprendre que vous étez arrivé en bonne Santé chez vous. Une longue et pénible Indisposition m’a privé du plaisir de vous repondre plustôt et de vous remercier de l’élégant et beau Présent de la Nape à Caffé que vous avez...
54To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Grubb, 13 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Grubb presents his respectful Compliments to his Excellency Dr. Franklin, & requests him to grant him a passport for England via Callais. Mr. G. ill state of Health is the cause of the demand, & hopes his Excellency will in consequence, order one to be made out Addressed: His Excellency / Benjamin Franklin. / Passy Notation: Mr. Grubb Paris 13th. Jany. 1783
55To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Bouchet, 14 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je reçois une lettre de Mademoiselle Aléxandre, de St Germain, qui me charge de vous demander un paquet, contenant un corps, des Souliers &a, pour Madame Williams, de Nantes. Si vous ne lui avez pas encore fait passer ces objets, je vous prie, Monsieur, de vouloir bien me les envoyer. J’ai l’honneur de vous inviter à y joindre tout ce qui peut vous obliger:...
56To Benjamin Franklin from Juliana Penn, 23 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In consequence of Your obliging Permission, I loose no time in begging Your Assistance & Protection, in the recovery of the rights and Possessions of an unfortunate Family, who have so heavily felt the Misfortunes of this War, and who are likely still to be dreadful Sufferers, if They are not properly consider’d. You, Sir, are so well acquainted with our...
57To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 16 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 394–6. Yours I received by Major Young together with the work of your veritable philosophe , which is full of humanity. I was not before that, at a loss where I should have looked for my veritable philosophe in the present actual scene of public politics....
58Franklin and Jacques Finck: Agreement, [before 1 January 1783] (Franklin Papers)
D : American Philosophical Society Le Mtre. d’Hotel entreroit le 1r. Janvr. 83. et agiroit en cette Qualité de concert avec le Cuisinier actuel pendant 2 ou 3 Mois pour se mettre au fait de la maniere de vivre de M. Franklin, ainsi que de la Depense que cette vie exige. Il aura des Gages à raison de 600 lt. par an. On lui donnera en outre une Gratification, Si on a lieu d’être content de lui,...
59To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 7 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copies: Virginia Historical Society (three), University of Virginia Library I have the Honor to send you herewith, Copy of a Letter from Mr. Robt. R. Livingston Secretary of Congress for Foreign Affairs—of the 18th. of July last, & of an order of Congress of the 2d. of the same Month, to which be pleased to refer. As you inform’d me in you Letter of...
60To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte de Lacepède, 12 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Pendant que vous achevez de fonder un nouvel empire, permettez à un de vos plus profonds admirateurs, de vous parler de tous les sentimens que vous lui avez inspirés. On a du, Monsieur, faire hommage de ma part à vôtre excellence, du premier volume de la physique générale et particulière, que je viens de publier: puissiez vous avoir agréé cet hommage, et...