1Editorial Note on Franklin’s Accounts, 1783 (Franklin Papers)
The following accounts, identified in previous volumes, continue to apply to the current period: VI and VII ( XXIII , 21); XVII ( XXVI , 3); XIX and XXII ( XXVIII , 3–4); XXV and XXVII ( XXXII , 3–4); XXX ( XXXVI , 3); and XXXI ( XXXVIII , 3). We offer here a summary of entries that have not found a place elsewhere in our annotation but provide insights into Franklin’s private and public life....
2Editorial Note on Promissory Notes, 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Although the hostilities had ceased and most prisoners had been exchanged, American seamen who had escaped from British jails continued to appear at Franklin’s door seeking assistance. When they received it, they either signed or made their marks on triplicate promissory notes that Franklin had printed. Little is known about these men, as their notes were rarely filled in with anything other...
3Editorial Note on Requests to Be Selected a Free Port, 1783 (Franklin Papers)
As soon as the preliminary peace was settled in January, Franklin began receiving appeals from Frenchmen who believed him capable of influencing their government’s selection of free ports for American goods. We summarized those appeals in volume 39, and continue here to summarize the letters he received during the period of this volume. On May 16 a lawyer named Denans from La Seyne sent an...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Jan Ingenhousz, 16 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS and incomplete AL (draft): Library of Congress I have before me your three Favours of Feby. 26, April 4. & 29. the last delivered to me yesterday by Mr. Robertson to whom I shall show the Respect due to your Recommendation. I am asham’d of being so long in Arrear in my Correspondence with you, but I have too much Business. I will now endeavour to answer your Letters, & hope I may be able to...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Ann Ourry, with a Note from ——— Fagan, 16 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Excellency After a Seperation of More than Twelve Years, And immersed as You have been in business of the highest Importance, deciding the Fate of Great and Mighty Kingdoms, Will doubtless find it difficult to recall to Your remembrance the Daughter of Your late sincere & Worthy friend Lewis Ourry: But even tho’ You shou’d not, I well know the...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Reuben Harvey, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply,17 Ma[y] 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the liberty to ask thy advice on the following Matter [ faded: and request(?)] an answer as soon as possible. A Merchant(?) here named Stubbeman who has continued warmly attach’d to America is now loading a Ship call’d the Ann Benjn. Edmonton Master for Philadelphia which will be ready to sail in 20 days; There are about 100 poor Tradesmen &...
7To Benjamin Franklin from the Chevalier de Berruyer and Other Favor Seekers, 18 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As usual, Franklin receives many unsolicited appeals from people, mostly unknown to him, who want to impose on his reputed benevolence. We summarize here those letters which produced no known response. The first category includes people who seek help with financial matters or beg money outright. Others write for information or advice, ask him to forward...
8To Benjamin Franklin from ——— de Franck and Other Offerers of Goods and Schemes, 18 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society With the general armistice in effect and peace virtually assured, merchants continue to come forward with offers of goods or requests for advice on how to establish commercial ventures. M. de Franck of Strasbourg, having heard that the new nation will be commissioning cannons in France, hastens to tell Franklin on May 18 that he will supply the best terms....
9David Hartley to the American Peace Commissioners: Memorial and Proposed Article, [19 May 1783] (Franklin Papers)
(I) Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society (four), William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, National Archives (four); press copy of copy: National Archives; (II) Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society (four), Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, National Archives (four); press copy of copy: National Archives Formal...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 19 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library Mr. Laurens presents his respectful Compliments to Doctor Franklin & thanks the Doctor for his goodness in sending the American News Papers, Mr. L. will convey them to Mr. Adams to morrow. Addressed: His Excellency / Doctor Franklin / Passy.
11To Benjamin Franklin from Viscount Mountmorres, [19 May? 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Lord Mountmorres has the honour to inform Dr Franklin that he leaves Paris on Thursday morning & that if he has any commands for England he shall be happy to execute them. Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Le Docteur / Franklin A Passy.— This undated note is the only trace in BF ’s papers of Hervey Redmond Morres, 2nd Viscount Mountmorres (174½–1797), a...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Price, 19 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This letter will be deliver’d to you by Mr Slaney, a young Gentleman of fortune who has been for some time on his travels and is ambitious of the honour of being introduced to you. I am not personally acquainted with him; but the account given me of him by a friend of his and mine assures me, that he is a Gentleman of the best principles and character. Any...
13From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 20 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Henry E. Huntington Library The Bearer, M. de Bannes is exceedingly well recommended to me by Persons of the first Distinction in this Country. He goes over to America with a View of seeing the Country, & of being serviceable to the Government here, who may here after probably confer on him one of the Counsulships. He appears to be a sensible Young Man, and will I doubt not, make himself...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre Chabrit, 20 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Permettés que J’offre à un homme qui doit donner des Loix au nouveau monde, le premier volume de l’histoire de celles d’un des grands peuples de l’ancien: Je serois au comble de mes vœux, si le législateur de l’Amérique m’avoit Jugé digne de ses conseils. Je suis avec un profond respect, Monsieur le Docteur, Votre très humble et très obéïssant serviteur...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Marie-Julie Rutledge d’Herbigny, 20 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Give me leave to assure Your Excelence of my Gratitu’d Mr le Comte de Vergennes has been So good as to obtain me from his majesty a pension Sur le fond des Eccossois tho’ the Some his very Smale I have the Same Obligasion to your Excelence, and beg youl Continue me the honnor of your protection, perhaps I am the only in france who has the honnor to be...
16To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte de Vergennes: Proposal, [20 May 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society; copy and press copy of copy: National Archives; L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères L’Intention de sa Majesté le Roi T. C. [Très Chrétien] et les Etats Unis de L’Amerique Septentrionale en concluant entr’eux un Traité d’Amitié et de Commerce, aiant été de faire jouir leurs Sujets respectifs de tous les...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Ernst Frederik von Walterstorff, 20 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society M. de Walterstorff presents his respectfull compliments to Dr. Franklin, requesting the honour of his Company to dinner on monday next the 26th. instant at 3 o’Clock.— Addressed: The right honourable / Dr. Franklin / at / Passy. The Danish courtier who was instructed by Danish Foreign Minister Rosencrone to approach BF about the possibility of negotiating a...
18To Benjamin Franklin from John Viny and Family, 21 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hope you will forgive my trespassing on your most valuable moments, but I could not forego the Oppertunity by favor of Mosr Du Chateau, to express my great pleasure in hearing of your Health &c. O Sir, how happy shou’d I be, once more to take you by the hand, but from a Line I read of yours at Cheam I have but little hopes as I am confind, but happy...
19William Temple Franklin to David Hartley, 21 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society (two) After Hartley gave his proposed article to the American peace commissioners on the evening of May 21 (see Hartley’s memorial and proposed article, [May 19]), the Americans withdrew for discussion. Unsure of whether Hartley had the authority to sign it without consultation with his court, they...
20The American Peace Commissioners to Rodolphe-Ferdinand Grand, 22 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society We have received the Letter you did us the honour to write us on the 10th. Day of this Month, containing a brief State of the affairs of the United States in your hands. We see the Difficulties you are in, and are sorry to say that it is not in our Power to afford you any Relief....
21The American Peace Commissioners to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 22 … (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society Mr. Grand, has laid before us, a State of the affairs of the United States under his Care, and the Demands upon him for money to discharge the Bills drawn upon him, are such as to require some assistance from you, if the Demands upon you will admit of it. If therefore, the State of...
22Letter in Support of Pierre-André Gargaz, 22 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society The Bearer Pierre André Gargaz is Author of a very humane Project for establishing a perpetual Peace. This has interested me much in his Behalf: He appears to me a very honest sensible Man, & worthy of better Fortune: For tho’ his Project may appear in some respects chimerical, there is Merit in so good an Intention. He has serv’d faithfully 20 Years...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 23 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du ministère des affaires étrangères I beg leave to recommend earnestly to your Excellency’s Attention the enclos’d Petition and Papers from Mr. Price, an honest worthy American, who was to my Knowledge very serviceable to our Army in Canada, and much esteemed by the Congress. I shall be very thankful if you can procure for him the Order he desires. With great Respect, I am,...
24To Benjamin Franklin from the Baron de Monteil, 23 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Jai lhonneur Monsieur, de vous remerçier de votre attention; flatté du mottif qui vous y a porté, jentrerai tres éxactement dans le désir que m’expliqua mr. votre fils, et au pais ou je vais voir des parents, je me contenterai de parler de vos vertus. Jai lhonneur d’etre avec touts les sentiments de la consideration distinguée, et de Lattachement, Monsieur,...
25To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Moseley and Jean-Joseph Sue fils, 23 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Moseley and Mr. Suë Junr. present their most respectful Compliments to his Excellency Doctor Franklin, and they will do themselves the honour of dining with him on Sunday the 25 Inst.— Possibly the English surgeon Benjamin Moseley (1742–1819), who practiced for many years in Jamaica, was elected to the APS (1775), and returned to London in 1784 or 1785....
26To Benjamin Franklin from John Allen, 24 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the Honnor of writing the 29th. of Last Month to your Excellence, beging, you would be so good as to grant me a Register for the Brign Lovely Aglaé that I Purcheas’d at this Port, being without any Answer, I take the Liberty to request of your Excellence not to forget my just Demand, as my Brig is all Ready, and am only waiting for a favourable...
27To Benjamin Franklin from the Duchesse de Deux-Ponts, 24 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je Vous envoye Mon cher amis de Nouvelle Lecture en Vous priant de me renvoyer Celle que je Vous ait Confiéz Si Vous Nen avéz plus besoin et en vous demandant toujours Le plus grand Secret Sur La Comunication que je Vous fait de Ces feuilles. Je revient de Versaille ous il Ni a rien de Nouveau du moin de Ma Connessance et ous je retournerez a La fin de La...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Elizabeth Holland, 25 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Husband Thomas Holland Was an officer in the Congress Service and Was kild, he left me with three Children in the outmost Distress in boy [body] and mind your Well Knowing goodness will take my Cause into your Serious Consideration and Communicate it to the Congress that I might meet with Such Relief as they Shall think most proper my Husband and me was...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Gabriel Johonnot, 25 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Although I had the Honor of writing your Excellency a few Days since, I cannot omit Embracing the present Occasion, least some Accident may prevent its reaching your Hands before this, of Recapitulating its Contents which Assured your Excellency that Unforseen Circumstances, the Effects of the Reports of the Apprach of Peace for some Months before it took...
30To Benjamin Franklin from the Chevalier de Kéralio, 25 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Notre Céleste amie accepte avec le plus grand plaisir la proposition de son respectable ami pour jeudi prochain, si elle ne lui mene pas ses enfants, ce n’est pas sa faute; elle leur a mandé qu’il leur avoit fait l’honneur de les inviter; mais ils sont à forbach a 90 Lieues de paris, et elle doute qu’ils puissent arriver à temps pour diner; vous ne les...