71From Benjamin Franklin to Mesny, 11 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have received two Letters from you relating to some Books you put into my Hands some years since to be sent to America. A severe Indisposition has prevented my answering sooner. I sent one of the Bundles to Nantes, to be forwarded by some Ship from thence; and having never heard that the Books arrived, I suppose the Ship was lost or taken. I was thereby...
72To Benjamin Franklin from ——— St. Clair, 11 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai ete favorisé d’une lettre de Monsieur Joly qui m’a fait part d’une conversation qu’il a eu l’honeur d’avoir avec votre Excellence a mon sujet. Les mesures que le Prince De Robecq prenait pour mon elargissement m’a fait croire qu’il etait inutile d’importuner votre Excellence davantage a cet egard: mais une lettre daté du Burau de la guerre dont on m’a...
73The Marquis de Lafayette’s Note Containing Vergennes’ Proposal, [11 September? 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AD and copy: Library of Congress Vergennes had advised the American commissioners against delaying negotiations over the issue of Oswald’s commission. As he wrote to La Luzerne, in politics one should yield on form when satisfied with the substance. Franklin agreed. When Jay continued to object, Vergennes and Lafayette proposed to him a solution that might expedite matters: having Oswald write...
74To Benjamin Franklin from Williams, Moore & Co., 11 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania We beg leave to trouble your excellency respecting the departure of three Privateers—the Revolution, Buccaneer, & Cicero, the Property of Messrs Cabots of Beverly. These Vessells have lain long in Port, stopped by the Orders of the Commandant, & were sinking a very large Sum to the Owners, perhaps more than they Could well bear, having from 100 to 130...
75To 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,...
76To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 12 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania In the present letter Lafayette confirms that Vergennes secretly sent Gérard de Rayneval to England for a meeting with Shelburne. Jay had heard this news on September 9, the day he and Oswald were forging a compromise about the language of Oswald’s commission. Suspecting that the purpose of Rayneval’s mission was to arrange a peace with France at...
77To 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...
78From Benjamin Franklin to Lafayette, 13 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am oblig’d to you for communicating M. de Viemerange’s Letter, which I return. I wish you would continue your Application to the Marquis de Castries to provide Means for the Embarkation of the Goods: It is impossible for me to do it.— I believe Mr Jay did not suspect your knowing of Mr Rayneval’s Departure; he only wonder’d that you did...
79To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 13[–14] September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS and L : University of Pennsylvania Library; AL (draft): New-York Historical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives I have nothing to add to mine of the 5th instant, but to congratulate you on the safe arrival of two Vessels from Holland, having on board the goods left by Commodore Gillon, & to present you in the name of Mr Paine with three copies of a late work of his, addressed to...
80To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Nesbitt, 13 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the liberty to request that your Excellency will furnish me with a Commission, to Command a Letter of Marque , for Captain Thomas Bell, formerly Commander of the Luzerne, now of the Renette, bound from this Port to Philadelphia;— I must likewise trouble your Excellency for Copy of the Instructions, and Bond that is given on receiving a Commission,...