1To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 12 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Mr: Adams presents his Compliments to his Excellency Dr: Franklin, & requests the honor of his Company to dinner on Monday the 16th. inst. at 3. oClock. Addressed: Son Excellence / Monsieur Franklin. / Passy In the hand of Charles Storer. JA issued a nearly identical invitation to WTF ( APS ). Fitzherbert, Oswald, and Laurens attended JA ’s dinner, among...
2The 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...
3To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 3 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society The Moments we live in, are critical and may be improved, perhaps to advantage, for which purpose I beg Leave to propose to your Consideration, whether it is not proper for Us to write to Mr Dana at Petersbourg, acquaint him with the Signature of the Preliminaries, inclose to him an authentic Copy of them and advise him to...
4The American Peace Commissioners: Commission for William Temple Franklin, [1 October 1782] (Franklin Papers)
DS : Yale University Library; copies: Library of Congress (two), American Philosophical Society, Massachusetts Historical Society The present document, penned by William Temple Franklin on October 1, was most likely signed by Franklin the same day. It was eventually signed by all the peace commissioners, but not without hesitation (on the part of John Jay) and outright hostility (on the part...
5To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 1 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society John Adams arrived in Paris on the evening of Saturday, October 26, after a ten-day journey from The Hague. The first person he sought out the following morning was Matthew Ridley. Ridley gave him general information on the state of the negotiations, and filled him in on Franklin’s health: the Doctor was still weak and had ceased his custom of...
6The American Peace Commissioners to Robert R. Livingston, 20 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives The Proposal inclosed, has been transmitted to us by Mr Bridgen, a Gentleman in London, who has been uniformly a Friend to America, and in a Variety of Ways, and at a great Expence has Served her Cause. It is a Project for introducing Copper Coins into the United States, and Seems to Us to merit the early Attention of Congress, to whom We have the Honour to recommend...
7The American Peace Commissioners to Francis Dana, 12 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS, AL (draft), and copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: Library of Congress We have the Honour to congratulate you, on the Signature of the preliminary Treaty of Peace, between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, to be inserted in the definitive Treaty, when France and Britain Shall have agreed upon their Terms. The Articles, of which We do ourselves the...
8The American Peace Commissioners to Robert R. Livingston, 14 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: American Philosophical Society, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society; transcript: National Archives We have the honour to congratulate Congress on the Signature of the Preliminaries of a Peace between the Crown of Great Britain & the United States of America, to be inscribed, in a definitive Treaty...
9The American Peace Commissioners to Lafayette, [27 November 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Columbia University Library; copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society We have recd. the Letter you did us the Honor to write on the 25th. Inst. Our Country has had early & repeated Proofs both of your Readiness and abilities to do her Service. The Prospect of an inactive Campaign in america, induced us to adopt the opinion, that you might be more useful...
10The American Peace Commissioners: Acceptance of the British Declaration of the Cessation of Hostilities, [20 January … (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society (three), National Archives (three), Library of Congress (two), Public Record Office, Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; press copy of copy: National Archives; transcripts: National Archives (three) When Franklin, Adams, and William Temple Franklin arrived at Vergennes’ office at ten o’clock on the morning of January 20, they learned that...
11Preliminary Articles of Peace: Second Draft Treaty, [4–7 November 1782] (Franklin Papers)
D and copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; two D and copy: Public Record Office; transcript: National Archives As new American and British negotiators were converging on Paris, Franklin’s isolation in Passy posed certain inconveniences. John Adams arrived on October 26 but, as he initially refused to call on Franklin, the latter was evidently unaware of his arrival until Matthew Ridley...
12The American Peace Commissioners to Henry Strachey, 6 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS and three copies: Public Record Office; copies: National Archives (three), Library of Congress (three), Massachusetts Historical Society, William L. Clements Library; transcript: National Archives We have been honoured with your Favor of the 5th. Instant, and as our Answer to a Letter We recieved from Mr. Oswald on the same subject contains our unanimous Sentiments respecting it, We take...
13Preliminary Articles of Peace, [30 November 1782] (Franklin Papers)
DS : Public Record Office; copies: National Archives (six), Library of Congress (three), Massachusetts Historical Society (two), William L. Clements Library; press copies of copies: American Philosophical Society (two); transcripts: National Archives (four) Articles agreed upon, by and between Richard Oswald Esquire, the Commissioner of his Britannic Majesty, for treating of Peace with the...
14To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte d’Albon, 25 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society C’est avec empressement, Monsieur, que jai l’honneur de vous envoier mon ouvrage. L’hommage que je vous en fais vous est dû mieux qu’à toute autre personne. Je m’y suis attaché à défendre Les intêréts d’un peuple opprimé dont vous êtes aujourdhui le representant, comme vous en fûtes le créateur, car, le vrai créateur d’un peuple est celui qui lui donne de...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac All, 3 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did myself the honour of writing to you on my arrival in this Country thirteen Months ago per Mr. Price, Inclosing a Packet from Mr. Samuel Wharton, since when I have not had the pleasure to hear from you. I have now to inform you, that I have with much pain and trouble got a fine Ship built, capable of Carrying Twenty Nine pound Cannon, but at present...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Léonard Appée, 16 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Les Bonté que vous faite regallire [rejaillir] Sur un umbre [nombre] infinie De malhureux Et la justice Du congrés donc vous En nette [êtes] le digne réprésentant me fait prendre la liberté de vous adressé la présante pour imploré Votre protections, de plus Monsieur la justice de ma Cause me fait tout Esperé De Votre imtegrittée je reclâme dont monsieur 3...
17To Benjamin Franklin from the Baron d’Arendt, [10 October 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Baron Arendt, qui est arrivé icy de L’amerique par Londres & la Nouvelle York, ayant eù le malheur d’avoir été pris par Les Anglois souhaite avoir l’honneur d’assurer ses respects a Son Excellence Mr. Le Docteur Franklin pour Lui remettre une Lettre de La part du Mr Robert Morris, et se presentera demain le Vendredi chés Lui vers Le Midi. Le Baron a...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Chalut and Arnoux, 6 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Les abbés de Chalut et Arnoux ont lhonneur d’assurer Monsieur franklin de leur attachement respectueux, et de lui demander s’il n’y auroit point d’indiscretion de le prier de leur preter les deux premiers Volumes des memoires de la Chine. Si leur respectable ami peut leur rendre ce Service, les deux abbés Le prient de le leur faire sçavoir, et ils feront...
19To Benjamin Franklin from the Abbés Chalut and Arnoux, 14 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Les abbés de Chalut et Arnoux assurent de leur amitié leur respectable ami. Ils lui envoyent quatre lettres de recommandation pour M. le Chevalier Neuvenham. Ils sont à ses ordres dans toutes les choses qui dependront deux. Mille amitiés au cher petit fils. In the hand of Guillaume Arnoux. The first names of Arnoux and Jean Chalut have been supplied to us by...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Chalut and Arnoux, 17 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Nous assurons notre respectable ami de notre estime et de notre amitié et nous lui envoyons un exemplaire de l’ouvrage que M. l’abbé de Mably vient de donner au public. L’auteur en fait hommage au patriarche de la raison et de la liberté. Il nous tarde d’aller Celebrer le retour de la paix et l’independence de l’amerique avec notre ami. Nous faisons des...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Deacon M. Auer, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, 21 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Rien n’est plus genereux, que l’Action, que Vous venez de faire, Monseigneur! La pauvre Veuve Hoeklin se croit heureuse. Elle a reçu un Billet que Son Excellence, Votre Beaufils aye accepté 200 Pound de Mons. Schneider a Germantown. Mons. Richard Bache a ecrit lui meme. Mais a cette heure nous sommes en peine. Permettez donc, je Vous supplie, de Vous...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Franklin Bache, 1 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai Reçue votre lettre du 10 Septembre elle m’a fait un très grand Plaisir parcequ’elle a mit fin a vôtre long silence car j’etois en peine de vous n’ayant point de vos nouvelles. J’ai regardé vôtre silence à Legard des livres dont je vous ai parlé comme vôtre Consentement et comme Mr Marignac craignoit qu’on ne les vendit il les a acheté. Je suis très...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Franklin Bache, 30 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je vous ècris ne voulant pas perdre courage de ce que vous ne m’ècrivez pas il y a longtems que je n’ai eu de vos nouvelles, les dernieres que J’ai eu etoient par Mr Pigott. Je vous prierai si vous ne pouvez m’ècrire a cause de vos affaires de me faire ècrire un mot par Mon cousin car Mr Marignac et moi Sommes fort en peine ne recevant point de vos...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Franklin Bache, 15 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote this pacquet as soon as possible Because My Cousin told me that there was an opportunity of sending them and as Mama Desires it all in english I wrote them with much of dificulty by that means I hope to make some Progress in the english language. I hope you have received the picture and the letter I sent you. I shoud be very happy if I had my...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Franklin Bache, [on or after 3 October 1782] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu Par Mr Griffiths la lettre de mon cousin du 18 Septembre avec le livre que vous avez eu la bonté de m’énvoyér. J’en ferai un bon usage et je veux en apprendre plusieurs Morceaux me conseille de faire je vous envoye vôtre portrait fait de ma main d’après la gravure que vous m’avez envoyé la paix ne se fait pas et c’est ce qui me fait beaucoup de...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 30 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer of this, Mr. Benjamin Morris, is the youngest Son of your old Friend Mr. Samuel Morris, lately deceased; he visits Europe upon a plan of Business; I believe him to be a deserving young Man; as such, and from the regard I have for his Family Connections here, I beg leave to introduce him to your Friendship & Civilities,—I am ever Dear Sir Your...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 26 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The other day Sally and myself had the pleasure of writing you per packet— I have only to add that we continue in good Health, and in the enjoyment of many Blessings—you have our best Love & Affections, & constant Wishes & Prayers for your health & Happiness— I am ever Dear Sir Your dutiful & Affectionate Son Addressed: His Excellency / Dr. Benjamin...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache: Three Letters, 27 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
(I), (II), and (III) ALS : American Philosophical Society Give me leave to introduce to you Mr. Stuart, Brother to my particular Friend Colonel Walter Stuart; this young Gentleman has resided some time in America, and has gained the esteem of all his Acquaintanc; as a Person deserving your Notice & Civilities, I therefore recommend him to you. I am Dear Sir Your affectionate Son Addressed: His...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 1 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We were happy in hearing from you by the Eagle Frigate; you honored me likewise by her with an Introduction to the Prince De Broglii & Count De Segur; these Gentlemen set off immediately for Camp, but as probably they will spend the Winter here, I hope to have an opportunity of shewing them every Civility in my Power—the latter strikes me, as a very amiable...
30To 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...