Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 31 January 1779
From: Digges, Thomas
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
31st. Jany 1779
Altho my letter if opend in France may have a tendency to render you suspected of improper correspondence, I cannot as an Englishman refrain from congratulating you on the favourable turn of our affairs since my last letter of the 23d Inst: Stocks have got up two pr. Ct. within this few days, principally owing to accounts brought from America by the last arrivals from N York; the most flattering of which is the apparent disunion in Congress & partys among the people against that vagrant assembly. The letters of Mr Deane & Gen Lee as publishd in the last weeks papers opens new matters to our Rulers here, & their advocates now see the propriety of ministry being uniformly averse to give up America; for in the next Campaign these cabals in America, among the leading people too, must accelerate the subjugation of the Revolted Colonies. What egregious fools must the Americans have been after suffering such hardships & severe struggles to thus divide among themselves, & give us the only opening left for materially annoying them: we have various accounts & some circumstancial ones of their differences, as well as that the people employd by them in Europe, are pulling against one another, & holding secret correspondencies with people in this Country much against the general interests of their own.— Some heavy reflections are leveled at two Brors. whom perhaps you may know or have seen in Paris, & which appear too bad for my beleif altho I am rather open to suspicion; but when a set of men (unitedly employd in so great a cause) pull one against the other, hold improper correspondencies, cabal about lucrative appointments where self is only in view, & are shy and uncommunicative with each other there must be some thing wrong at bottom & much mischief may be expected from it.
Our Ministers thank God are getting a little more popular, but it may be attributed to good luck— The Islands are in a better situation in point of safety than some late accots. seemd to indicate— The rise of the stocks—some favorable overtures from Holland—the supine state of Spain—but above all the cabals in Congress & different face to affairs in Ama has given room for praise to our Rulers; Fleets too have saild with safety & carried supplies to our extended dominions, and others are preparing. Ld. Shuldham has returned to Spithead with 15 ships, having seen Comm’s Rowley wth 4 of the line & 40 or 50 merchantmen 200 leags. Wtward— A fleet saild from Jamaica abot. the 29 Nov. (forty sail under convoy of 3 armd ships) & all was well there at that time—no word of De-Estaigne— The Embargo & martial Law taken off, two of this Convoy are arrivd the others hourly expected, the fleet was seperated in a gale of wind early in the voyage in wch. one of the armd ships founderd, and another is arrivd single—private letters to men of property on the Island do not paint things in the most favorable light; Eleven transports with troops (part of Grants army from N York) were met near the Island going in, & report says, the other division had arrivd to windward, & that Comr Hotham had joind Barrington. A fleet saild from N York for England about the last of Decr. they were also seperated off Newfoundland the 7th Inst. in a gale of wind two men of war (their convoy) is arrivd & one Transport, the rest about 30 hourly expectd; I am sorry to say there was great want in the garrison, & our American friends who had sided with Govert. were in a very deplorable situation— Clinton was said to be coming home, & Murray is to have that command— There had been an unsuccessful Expedition up the No River meant chiefly to surprise & retake Burgoines captive army as they passd Soward. They had got accots in N York that Campbell had loaded his 2000 Men near Savanah in Georgia & built much upon the success of it—Byron with 9 ships of the line saild abot. the 15th. Decr. after Destaign. it was supposd the Cornwal man of war was lost in the same gale with the Somerset, two are dismasted, & two got to England. A few days ago a report was current that Dominica was retaken & I have yet my hopes about it—there has been no arrivals from the Leward or Windwd. Islands, consequently no accots of their state, of Barrington, or where Destaign is for which we are all exceedingly anxious— The Jamaica Packet taken by an Amn. privateer on the 7th. Inst. has been retaken & carried into Liverpool— We are in some pain about Senegal it is said to be taken by the French, & there is no appearance of retaking it or sending out any succour. A fleet of 7 Transports saild from Corke for the W Indies the 17th. Int. report says one or two of them have been taken & sent into France— A fleet is collecting there for Ama. & the Wt. Indies wch. will sail in abot 3 weeks, ninety to one hundrdd. sail in all, & as yet only one fifty a frigate & sloop of war appointd for their Convoy— The Liverpoole Blues are under order for Jama. & will probably go in this fleet—doubtless some recruits may be sent to America but I think their members will be few if any, so sure are we sir that the Americans are divided in opinions & that the present force will conquer them.— Adml Huges is still at Spithead (supposd he will sail in 10 days) he has 4 of the line and Nine Indiamen and carries out Lord McLoads Regt of Highlanders abot. 900 men and nearly 1100 Recruits for India. Not a word as yet about any cruising fleet to be sent out to the Bay, but it is a likely measure to be adopted. I am sorry to tell you a great many ships have been lately taken by a french Privateer out of Granville calld the Amerique— The french cruisers have been equally lucky in the Mediteranean where I believe there is not at present one man of war of ours, many letters from merchants in Spain paint that trade (i e the Mediterranean) in a deplorable situation.
Keppels tryal still goes on tediously & may last some weeks more he seems to stand on good ground altho he did not beat the french handsomely on the 27 July— it is generally supposd on the close of that business, some moves will take place in the Admiralty if not in the Administration, and I have little doubt but my acquaintance Lord Shelburne will get in as a Secretary tho not prime.— He will come in hostile to America, particularly the independence of it, & I make no doubt will try to deceive old Franklin & Lee in obtaining his purposes by holding out false lights as to granting Independence for a time— I think I would help him in this business were I the go between, for I know a little of Mr Lee, & have seen Dr. F——n. A Member of Parliamt Mr. H——y who has done some business for Dr. F with Lord N, is likely to be soon prosecuted for a book he has lately publishd in favr. of the Americans. It is calld Letters to His constituents, pray have you seen it & what is yr. opinion abot it— I understd the writer means to move something in Parliamt favourable to his friends the Americans—but wants to know the grounds to go upon— do you think he can justify the Rebels in detaining Burgoines army? What reasons do the Americans give at Paris for their detention of that army? Has Mr Deane publishd any thing in America that exposes the offers made by this Admin to purchase french neutrality in this american contest?—Probably by your mixing with some of the Americans at Paris you may get out these facts & you have my direction by Mr. Hunt & in a letter about a bill I some time ago sent you. I would have you attend a little to my hint about Lord Shelburnes intentions— I am sure some good may be gatherd from such attention.— I do not mean by my writing to you to draw you into a correspondence, but I should be glad to hear my letters got safe, & you may depend any thing in my power to do, shall be done with secrecy & honor. Altho there is a pretty general opinion got forth, that the Independence of America should not be given up, & that we should prosecute with vigor another Campaign to subjugate her, yet there are people even among us who wish a settlement of the dispute by negotiation, & I am of opinion there have been some persons lately at Paris tampering with the American Agents on this business— I am sure there are some, & of their own Countrymen too, who are now there for the purpose of informing our Rulers what is going on &ca, &c. I hope they will obtain the rewards such services merit; for sure no man can be overpaid for being an instrument in bringing about so desirable a purpose as peace. With the assent of France cannot there be a suspension of the Treaty between her & America, so as to leave a door open for some negotiation from hence? I should like to know this, for some good might arise from a friend of ours knowing a certain ground to go upon. I am yrs. very truly
P. B——

Addressed: A. Monsieur / Monsieur F——n / at Passey
Notations: Mr Digges / 30 Jan. 79


Title: The American Commissioners to Sartine, 1 February 1779
From: American Commissioners,Franklin, Benjamin,Lee, Arthur,Adams, John
To: Sartine, Antoine-Raymond-Gualbert-Gabriel de

Sir
Passy Feby 1. 1779
We have the Honour to inclose to your Excellency, a Letter We have this day recd from Nantes, together with a Representation from Mr
The Congress have not as yet appointed any Consuls in any of the Ports of this Kingdom, and they have not invested Us with Power to appoint such officers. We expect that Consuls will arrive soon however from America. But in the Mean Time We think it our Duty, to inclose these Representations to your Excellency, and to request your Advice thereupon, and your Interposition for the Relief of the subscribers of the Petition to Us, if there is nothing improper in it, which We submit to your Determination, and are with the highest Consideration, your Excellencys most obedient &c
His excellency, M. De Sartine.


Title: Wine Cellar Inventory, [1 February 1779]
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

[February 1, 1779]

Etat du Vindans la Cave Fevrier 1. 1779
Bouteles

  Vin de chairaisse148

Vin rouge de Bordeaux venue dans des Caisses
  85

Vin blanc de Bordeaux venue dans des Caisses
  34

Vin rouge de Bordeaux l’année 1761
  15

Vin rouge de Bordeaux mis en bouteille à Passy
  159

Vin blanc de Champagne venu dans des Caisses
  21

Vin blanc de Champagne mousseu
  326

Vin de Bourgogne rouge
  113

Vin rouge d’ordinaire
  209

Vin blanc d’ordinaire
  10

Vin inconnu demi bouteille
  12

Rum
  48

Eau de vie d’Andaille
  58

1 Piece de Bordeaux rouge
2 Pieces Vins ordinaire

Notation: Livre de Cave


Title: Cornic, Veuve Mathurin & fils to the American Commissioners, 1 February 1779
From: Cornic, Veuve Mathurin, & fils
To: American Commissioners,Franklin, Benjamin,Lee, Arthur,Adams, John

Messieurs
a morlaix ler. fevrier 1779.
Comme vous serez sans doutte jaloux d’apprendre tout ce qui peut arriver dans ce Port d’Interressant à la Nation des Etats Unis de l’amérique nous avons l’honneur de vous Informer qu’il vient d’arriver dans ce Port un petit Batiment anglais nommé le Pappillon chargée d’huille de moruë, et moruë: prise faitte le 16. du passé par le corsaire particullier La marquise de la fayette parti de Bordeaux le 10. dto. qui a resté en croisierre, comandé par le capitaine Patt. Barry.
Comme nous sommes chargés des ordres de l’armateur de ce Corsaire nous allons faire les suittes et diligeance nécessaire pour y faire mettre les scellés des juges de l’amirauté, faire le Déchargement en magasin de sureté, et faire faire l’Inventaire dans la plus grande Exactitude, et de la même maniere que nous avons déja operé dans cette guerre, et dans les precedentes si vous desirez un Etat de la cargaison lorsque les impressions seront faits nous vous en enverrions.
Nous avons l’honneur d’etre avec Respect. Messieurs Vos très humbles et Très obeissans Serviteurs
Vve. Min. Cornic & Min. FILS

Addressed: A Messieurs / Messieurs les commissaires / Des Etats unis de l’amerique / Septentrionale / A Passi
Notation: Vve. Min. Cornic et Min. fils Morlais ler. fr. 1779.


Title: The American Commissioners to Alexander Gillon, 2 February 1779
From: American Commissioners,Franklin, Benjamin,Lee, Arthur,Adams, John
To: Gillon, Alexander

Sir
Passy feb. 2 1779
We duly receiv’d the Honour of yours of the 25th. past, informing us of your Safe Arrival at Brest, on which We congratulate you. We have had no Advices from America Later than the Beginning of November; nor any thing interesting Since the Departure of Count D’estaing from Boston, the 4th of that Month; otherwise We should communicate it to you as you desire. We have the Honour to be
M. Gillon


Title: The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 2 February 1779
From: American Commissioners,Franklin, Benjamin,Lee, Arthur,Adams, John
To: Schweighauser, Jean-Daniel

Sir
Passy. february 2. 1779
We communicated your Letter of the 19th past to M. Paulze one of the farmers general who manages the Tobacco Affairs of that Company; he said he would write to their Officers not to make unnecessary difficulties, but to receive the Tobacco rejecting only what was absolutely spoilt. And with Regard to the saltpetre, that he would apply to the Committee to whom that Affair appertain’d, and endeavour to regulate that Matter for us, as to make it eazy. We have the Honour to be
M. Schweighauser


Title: John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 2 February 1779: résumé
From: Bondfield, John
To: American Commissioners,Franklin, Benjamin,Lee, Arthur,Adams, John

<Bordeaux, February 2, 1779: Capt. Jason Laurence of the schooner General Arnold arrived here yesterday by a Dutch ship; he had been put on board by the Jersey privateer that captured him. He informs me his ship belonged to General Arnold and was the first launched in Philadelphia since its recapture. He left there on November 4, carrying packets for you and others as well as tobacco and bills of exchange, all of which he destroyed when taken. This captain reports greater unanimity than ever in Pennsylvania. The three frigates burned by the British are under repair. No vessels from Europe have arrived in Philadelphia yet, and none are bound for here, although many are preparing in Chesapeake Bay. European goods are scarce and expensive, salt being £7 10 s. the bushel. Affairs in the east appear as favorable as can be expected; with those in the south he is unacquainted.
Numerous privateers are off Bordeaux; four sturdy frigates could clear them away. Insurance, even when available, carries sixty per cent in interest costs.>


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Margaret Gibbes and Margaret Stevens, 2 February 1779
From: Gibbes, Margaret,Stevens, Margaret Emma
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Calais Febr. 2d 1779
Mrs Gibbes, & Miss Stevens, present their best Compliments to Dr. Franklin, they intended to have done themselves the pleasure of waiting on him, before they left Paris, to have taken their leave, but was prevented by Mrs G’s being very much indisposed, they therefore take this opportunity, of sincerely wishing that Dr. Franklin may long enjoy his health, & that happiness, which he with such amiable goodness, delights to communicate to others: Mrs Gibbes, & Miss Stevens beg their best Compliments to Mr. Adams, & Mr. Franklin.—

Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin / á Passy / pres de Paris
Notation: Gibbes Fevr. 2. 1779.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from the Abbé Guillaume-Thomas-François Raynal, 2 February 1779
From: Raynal, Guillaume-Thomas-François, abbé
To: Franklin, Benjamin

a paris le 2 fevrier [1779] rue de provence, près larue d’artois, maison de M Trouard.
Jeudi 4 du mois, vers les onze heures du matin, une societè tres aimable doit prendre du thè de Russi chès l’abbè Raynal. Monsieur franklin est suppliè par toute la compagnie d’honnorer ce petit dejeunê de sa presence. On demande la meme faveur a monsieur Adams.

Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur le docteur franklin / ministre plenipotentiaire des etats unis / de l’amerique / a passi


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 2 February 1779
From: Williams, Jonathan Jr.
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear & Hond Sir.
Nantes Feb. 2. 1779
I herewith send you a Letter which I have written to you and Mr Adams in consequence of a piece of Information which I had from Billy. I send it to you first in order that Billy may not think himself exposed by having communicated the Matter to me; It is for this Reason that I have not said how I came by the Information, nor shall I do it.—
I have endeavoured to preserve my Tranquility as much as I could, but if you think any of my Expressions too strong I beg they may be imputed to my Sensibility in regard to my Character: I am sure I should be unworthy your Friendship if I had not this Sensibility.
Although I have offered so candidly as to the Choice of my Arbitrators, I think Justice requires that I should have the Choice of one & the Commis(?) of another, and these two should choose a third, my Reason for this is, that I apprehend one Gentleman of the number too much attached to my calumniator, and another too much attached to this Gentleman to be either of them impartial Judges. These are the two last mentioned, I am indifferent about the others, and if all are appointed I will make no Exception at all.
I have not signed any of the Memorials you have lately recd from this, because I thought they shewed too great a Disposition to be disconteded [discontented] at an improper Time & without sufficient Reason; had the Matter been confin’d to the affair of Convoy, I would have signed. The last appears to me a stroke of Policy that in shewing the necessity of a Consul, you may see that the principal mover is the proper Person to be appointed, this is one of the Gentln. I have refered to above. I am ever your dutifull & affectionate Kinsman
J Williams J

I send you an Estimate of the Value of Supplies to my Country through me & an Estimate of my Profits. You will see by them that I have not made 1–¼ Per Cent out of the Public.
Doctor Franklin.

Addressed: Doctor Franklin.
Notation: F. 13. Mr Williams Leter. Feby. 2d 1779


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to [David Hartley], 3 February 1779
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Hartley, David

Dear Sir,
Passy, Feb. 3, 1779.
I have just received your favour of the 23d. past, in which you mention, “that the Alliance between France and America is the great Stumbling Block, in the way of Making Peace,” and you go on to observe, that whatever Engagements America “may have entred into, they may, (at least by consent of Parties) be relinquished for the purpose of removing so material an Obstacle to any general Treaty of free and unengaged Parties” Adding, that “if the parties could meet for the sake of Peace upon free, and open Ground, you should think that a very fair Proposition to be offered to the People of England, and an equitable Proposition in itself.” The long, Steady, & kind regard you have shown for the Welfare of America, by the whole Tenour of your Conduct in Parliament, satisfies me, that this Proposition never took its Rise with you, but has been suggested from some other Quarter; and that your Excess of humanity, your Love of Peace, & your fears for us that the Destruction we are threatened with, will certainly be effected, have thrown a Mist before your Eyes, which hindred you from seeing the Malignity, and Mischief of it.— We know that your King hates whigs and Presbyterians; that he thirsts for our Blood; of which he has already drank large Draughts; that his servile imprincipled Ministers are ready to execute the wickedest of his Orders, and his venal Parliament equally ready to vote them just. Not the Smallest Appearance of a Reason can be imagined capable of inducing us to think of relinquishing a Solid Alliance with one of the most amiable as well as most powerful Princes of Europe, for the Expectation of unknown Terms of Peace to be afterwards offer’d to us by Such a government. A Government that has already shamefully broke all the Compacts it ever made with us! This is worse than advising us to drop the Substance for the Shadow. The Dog after he found his Mistake might possibly have recover’d his Mutton; but we could never hope to be trusted again by France, or indeed by any other Nation under heaven. Nor does there appear any more Necessity for dissolving an Alliance with France before you can treat with us, than there would of dissolving your Alliance with Holland, or your Union with Scotland before we could treat with you. Ours is therefore no material Obstacle, to a Treaty as you suppose it to be. Had Lord North been the Author of such a Proposition, all the World would have said it was insidious, & meant only to deceive & divide us from our Friends, & then to ruin us; supposing our Fears might be strong enough to procure an Acceptance of it. But Thanks to God that is not the Case! We have long since settled all the Account in our own Minds. We know the worst you can do to us, if you have your Wish, is to confiscate our Estates & take our Lives, to rob & murder us; and this you have seen we are ready to hazard, rather than come again under your detested Government.
You must observe my dear Friend, that I am a little warm.—Excuse me.— ’Tis over.— Only let me counsel you not to think of being sent hither on so fruitless an Errand as that of making such a Proposition.
It puts me in mind of the comick Farce intitled God send, or the Wreckers. You may have forgotten it; but I will endeavour to amuse you by recollecting a little of it.

Scene Mounts Bay. A Ship riding at anchor in a great Storm. A Lee Shore full of Rocks, and lin’d with people, furnish’d with Axes & Carriages, to cut up Wrecks, knock the Sailors on the Head, and carry off the Plunder; according to Custom.
1st. Wrecker. This Ship rides it out longer than I expected. She must have good Ground Tackle.
  2. Wrecker. We had better send off a Boat to her, and persuade her to take a Pilot,—who may afterwards run her ashore where we can best come at her.—
  3. Wrecker. I doubt whether the boat can live in this Sea. But if there are any brave Fellows willing to hazard them selves for the good of the Public & a double Share, let them say aye.
  Several Wreckers. I. I. I. I.
  The Boat goes off and comes under the Ship’s Stem.
  Spokesman, So ho, the Ship, ahoa
  Captain. Hulloa.
  Sp. Would you have a Pilot?
  Capt. No, no.—
  Sp. It blows hard, & you are in Danger.
  Capt. I know it.
  Sp. Will you buy a better Cable; we have one in the boat here.
  Capt. What do you ask for it?
  Sp. Cut that you have, & then well talk about the Price of this.
  Capt. I shall not do such a foolish Thing. I have liv’d in your Parish formerly, & know the Heads of ye too well to trust ye.

  Keep off from my Cable there. I see you have a mind to cut it your selves. If you go any nearer to it, I’ll fire into you & sink you.
  Sp. It is a damn’d rotten French Cable, & will part of its self in half an hour. Where will you be then, Captain? You had better take our offer.
  Capt. You offer nothing, you Rogues, but Treachery & Mischief. My cable is good & strong, and will hold Long enough to baulk all your Projects.
  Sp. You talk unkindly, Captain, to People who came here only for your Good.
  Capt. I know you come for all our Goods, but, by God’s help, you shall have none of them. You shall not serve us as you did the India man.
  Sp. Come, my Lads, lets be gone. This Fellow is not so great a Fool as we took him to be.
  Letter in Answer to the Proposition of quitting the Alliance of France.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Antoine Borel, 3 February 1779
From: Borel, Antoine
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Monsieur.
Ce 3. fevr. 1779.
J’esperois avoir L’honneur de vous voir et de vous remêtre les deux papiers monoies que vous m’avés confiés. J’avais eté pour cela aux 2 premieres assemblées de M. de la Blancheries. Puisques Je n’ai pas eu le bonneur de vous i rencontrer trouvés bon s’il vous plait que Je les remette ci inclus.
Je suis avec respects, Monsieur Votre tres humble et tres obeiss servt.
Borel

Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin / A Passi.
Notation: Borel ce 3. fev. 1779.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from David Sears, 3 February 1779
From: Sears, David
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
Amsterdam Feby 3d. 1779
Knowing the importance of your time I should not have troubled you on any occasion but what was absolutely necessary—
On my arrival at a la Rochelle from Boston I left a small quantity of furs in the hands of a Gentm of that City. because the Gentlemen of the Burau or Customs could not then determin whether American furs Imported from America paid the foreign duty or the same as the subjects of France who bring them from St Peters N F Land or other places of the Dominions of France—
I believe these were the first furs ever enter’d at that Port from America—
I Yesterday recd a Letter from my friend Monsr. I Noel of Rochelle informing me that the Gentlemen of the Burau had recd orders from the Farmer General—that they must be inform’d from or that the matter must be clear’d up by your Excellency— It may be necessary to add that the above mentioned furs at the time I left Boston was absolutely my property and continued such untill Monsr I Noel of Rochelle sold them— Now as a subject of one of the Unitated States which it appears I am by the papers I have in my possission under authority of our Council I am entitled to their advantages—which I understand are in the above case the same as the subjects of his Most Christian Majesty—
Your Excellency will see by this that I must remain in uncertainty respecting the duty and be kept out of my money which I want to send out to America from this quarter—untill you shall please to order four lines wrote to the Officers of the Customs at Rochelle respecting the furs which was enter’d at their Burau the 9th day of Decr last from Boston in Capt C T Wesseling— Your Excellency complying with the above desire will lay me under an obligation—
Mr Cheever who is with me desires his most respectable Compliments to you and to Mr Adams— I have nothing more for your present detention—
I am with much esteem Your Excellency’s most obedient Very Humle Sert
David Sears

P.S. this will be deliver’d your Excellency by Mr L Tardy of Paris—To His Excellency B Franklin Esqr.

Addressed: To His Excellency— / Benjn Franklin Esqr / Passy—
Notations in different hands: Sears David / 3 febry. 1779.


Title: John Lloyd to the American Commissioners, 4 February 1779: résumé
From: Lloyd, John
To: American Commissioners,Franklin, Benjamin,Lee, Arthur,Adams, John

<Nantes, February 4, 1779: Although I am not authorized to answer your letter of January 26 to several “American Gentlemen,” I feel compelled to acknowledge its receipt. The reason it is not done jointly is the reluctance of the Gentlemen to give any advice on the subject of free ports, fearing censure from their countrymen. The weather is moderating, and the river should be free of ice in a few days.>


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from William Gordon, 4 February 1779
From: Gordon, William
To: Franklin, Benjamin

My dear Sir
Jamaica Plain Feby 4. 1779
I must pray you, amidst the multiplicity of important business that is continually crowding in upon you, to pay an attention to the enclosed (of consequence to Mr Parker) so far as to forward it by a speedy & safe conveyance. It relates entirely to his ship.

Mr Deane has been imprudently making a bustle, & spreading uneasiness. His publication in the beginning of a campaign instead of the winter might have done an irreparable damage. Men of sense I think will deem him imprudent; I am mistaken or it will not redound much either to his popularity or credit.
Too much paper & too little hard money has been an amazing damage to us. A loan must be obtained if possible, that so by drawing for the merchants at a high exchange we may sink a considerable part of our currency. There have been appearances in our army akin to what were in the old England civil wars; but its being composed of troops from different States will prove our security, were any ambitious designing men to form dangerous projects. The astonishing prices of all articles increase our difficulties considerably: but the wisdom of Congress & the assistance of France will I hope furnish a remedy for this evil. We are wishing to hear good news from Count D Estaing, & also from Europe, & among the rest that arrives may there be an account of your & your colleagues health & successful negotiations. [torn: five or six letters missing] no particular news in this quarter. Friends in general are well, which you will [torn: be] glad to hear of. Pray my respects to Mr Adams.
With much esteem I am your very humble servant & sincere friend
William Gordon

Addressed: His Excellency Dr Benjamin Franklin / Paris
Notation: Wm. Gordon Feb 4 79


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Guy-Claude, Comte de Sarsfield, 4 February 1779
From: Sarsfield, Guy-Claude, comte de
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Rue pot de fer 4 fer 1779
Je crains, Monsieur, que vous n’ayez pas recu mon dernier Billet par lequel Je vous priois de me renvoyer les vers francois que Je vous remis le dernier Jour que vous me fites lhonneur de diner chez moy.
Je n’en ai que cette copie qu’il faut que Je rende a celui qui me les a pretez et que Je crains qui n’en ait pas conservé d’Autres. Je serois tres Embarassé s’il me les demandoit.
Vous connoissez Monsieur mon Sincere et inviolable attachement.

Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur franklin ministre / plenipotentiaire des Etats / reunis d’Amerique / A Passy


Title: The American Commissioners to Vergennes: Draft by Arthur Lee, 5 February 1779
From: American Commissioners,Franklin, Benjamin,Lee, Arthur,Adams, John
To: Vergennes, Charles Gravier, comte de

Passy Feb. 5th. 1779.
We think it necessary to inform your Excellency that there is announced in the Courier de l’Europe a Translation of a Letter signed Silas Deane, & to appear in the next number. This Letter is printed in the English Papers from the New York Gazette, and whether it is genuine or false, it is not in our Power to determine: But as it contains a discovery of the Proceedings of some of the Representatives of the United States in Europe, & traduces grosly two of their now actual Negotiators, we cannot but think that the dispersing it thro’ Europe in a Paper supposed to be printed in France, will be disgraceful & perhaps injurious to the United States. We therefore request your Excellency to take such Measures, as you may think proper to stop the intended publication of it in the Courier De l’Europe.
We have the honor to be, with the greatest Esteem & Respect, Your Exys. most obedient humble Servts
(Signed) A. LEE.

Notation by Franklin: Propos’d Letter by Mr Lee to Count Vergs. which was not agreed to—


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Stephen Marchant, 5 February 1779
From: Marchant, Stephen
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Honrid Sir,
Dunkirck Febuary the 5the. 1779
I having had an offer of Commanding a Privertere at this Place Be fore that I Cam to Parris and It Being a Bad time of the yere for to go to Boston I Consented for to Com Back and Exsept of the offer and I Cam Back and Found maturs to Sut very Well and the marchants are a going for to Send you a Letter for to Desire a Commission from you and I hope that you Will Be Plesd. For to Send one and In So Doing you Will a Blig me youre most a Bet. and himbel Sarvent
Stephen Marchant

mr. aronld Cam Back With me he that wars my mayt on Board of my Ship that I wars taken in—

Addressed: Mr Francklan
Notation: Stephen Marchant Dunkerque Feb. 5. 1779—


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Antonio Francesco Salucci et fils, 5 February 1779
From: Salucci, Antonio Francesco, & fils
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Excellence
Livourne le 5e Fevrier 1779
Le Sieur Capitaine Thomas Woodford, qui eût l’honneur, de se rendre, à notre insinuation, dans le Mois d’Aoûst dernier, auprès de Votre Excellence, pour l’informer des dispositions, dans les quelles notre Maison se trouvoit, de faire une Expedition d’Icy à la Amerique Septentrionalle, Nous temoigna, à son Retour toute la Satisfaction, que V. E. Lui avoit marquée sur cet Objet. En consequence de quoi, et des plus mûres reflexions, que Nous avons faittes sur la Situation presente des treize Provinces Unies, dont Nous conjecturons Celle avenir, et de la Liberté du Commerce, que ce nouveau Monde offre à toutes les Nations, Nous sommes venus dans la determination, de hazarder la premiere Expedition de ce Port, pour le Continent Ameriquain.
Nous y avons été d’autant plus encouragés par le Detail circonstancié, que le dit Sr. Woodford Nous a fait, après avoir eû l’honneur, de parler avec V. E., Nous ayant flattés de l’accueil le plus favorable, pour la Nation Toscanne; ce qui, joint à la position avantageuse de notre Place, pour un tel Commerce, Vis à Vis de toutes les autres de la Mediterrannée, Nous ont fait esperer une agreable Issue de cette Speculation.

D’ailleurs les Produits, et Manufactures de la Toscanne, étant fort goutés par les Ameriquains, lorsque les Anglois fesoient ce Commerce exclusif, Nous assurent à l’avance de la bonne reciprocité de cette nouvelle branche de Commerce.—
C’est pour Cela, que ayant acheté tout de suite un très-bon Vaisseau, du Port de deux cents Tonneaux, et ayant obtenu gracieusement de S. A. R. Le Grand Duc, le Passeport, & Pavillon Royal Toscan, Nous l’avons chargé avec toute sorte de Manufactures de Toscanne, Vin, Eau de Vie, Toileries, Fruits, Sels, formant ensemble un objet de Cent-Mille Livres Tournois, & depeché pour Cadiz, depuis le 25e du Passé; d’où Il devra se rendre à St. Eustache, pour dissimuler son Voyage, & de Là à la Baye de Chesapeak, ou autre bon Endroit de la Cote du Continent.
Le Vaisseau est de Construction ameriquaine. Il étoit appartenant à un Toscan, etabli en Virginie, avant la Guerre. Son Nom actuel est “La Prosperité,” Capne: Joseph Bettoja, Toscan.
Le Pilote, & Conducteur, c’est le Même Monsr. Thomas Woodford, au quel, dans ce rencontre, Nous avons accordé les plus honnetes Conditions, et Privileges.
Si ce premier Essay de notre Courage, & de notre bonne Volonté, reussit, Nous esperons, que dans des Temps plus faciles, les Etats Unis voudront bien, Nous rendre Justice, d’avoir été les Premiers, à frayer le Chemin, quoique trèsdangereux, pour Une telle Communiquation de Commerce, qui sera respectivemt. fort avantageuse.
Nous prenons donc la Liberté, avec cet Exposé de nos Operations, de solliciter humblement la Protection de V. Ex., afin que Elle se daigne, d’en faire ecrire en consequence à la Amerique, & faire jouir à Notre dit Navire, & Agents tout le meilleur Accueil, & Facilitations, qui puissent, Nous encourager, à y entreprendre, dans la suite un Commerce considerable. C’est à Quoi Nous Nous pretterons d’autant plus aisement, que etant Notre Maison depuis très-long Temps dans le Commerce, et presque la seule directement Nationalle Toscanne, Elle se flatte de toute la Protection de la part du Gouvernement, pour tout ce, qui puisse influer à la facilitation, & Aggrandissement de ce Nouveau Commerce.
En même Temps, Nous prions V. E., d’accepter nos humbles remerciments, pour le Passeport, que Elle a voulu bien accorder au susdt. [susdit] Capne. Thomas Woodford, en Vertu du quel il peut en ressulter aussi des Avantages à notre Vaisseau. Nous Nous acquitons de ce même Devoir Vis à Vis LL. E.E. Messieurs Arthur Lee, & John Adams, joint à nos Respects, & prieres, Nous offrons très-humblement tout ce, qui peut dependre de nos foibles services, en Toscanne. Et avec la plus grande Veneration, Nous avons l’honneur, de Nous protester très-respectueusement— De Votre Excellence Les tres humbes: et tres obts: Serviteurs
Ante: Frans: Salucci, ET FS.

Notations: Bran Ant. Sallucce— 5. Feb. 1779.— / Ant Bran: Saluccy et frs. Livourne 5 fr. 1779.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from the Loge des Neuf Soeurs, [before 6 February 1779]
From: Masonic Lodge, Neuf Soeurs
To: Franklin, Benjamin

  [before February 6, 1779]
  VERITE∴ UNION∴ FORCET∴C∴F∴

L∴R∴L∴ Des neuf Soeurs, Est convoquée pour le 6 du 12eme. mois D∴ L∴ D∴ L∴ V∴ L∴ 5778 à 5 heures précises. Pour affaires.
Vous êtes prié d’y venir augmenter les douceurs de l’union fraternelle. Et pour le 12. du 12eme mois à 10 heures du matin il y aura reception, conçert à une heure très précises, Banquet, &c.
Je suis par les N∴ C∴ D∴ F∴ M∴ V∴ T∴ H∴ et affectionné Frere
GebelinSecrétaire D∴ L∴ R∴ L∴Des neuf Soeurs,rue Poupée Saint-André.

Si vous ne pouvez pas assister au Banquet, vous en donnerez avis au Secrétaire deux jours avant l’Assemblée.
  N’oubliez point de vous munir de vos ornemens.

Addressed: A Monsieur Monsieur franklin N∴S∴ A Passy


Title: William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 6 February 1779
From: Bingham, William
To: American Commissioners,Franklin, Benjamin,Lee, Arthur,Adams, John

Gentn
St Pierre Mtque Feby 6th 1779
A Singular Omission on the part of the Minister has been the Cause that several Articles of the Treaty of Commerce entered into betwixt his most Christian Majesty & the United States of America, & operating to the Advantage of the American Commerce, have not been enforced here—the General not having as yet received a Copy of the Treaty with Orders for the due Observance of it— This is the Reason that the Customhouse Still continues to enact the usual Duty on the Exportation of Molasses, as well as on the sales of all American Prizes brought into the respective Ports of the French Islands, contrary to the Spirit of the 11th & 19th Articles of the said Treaty. I have not neglected expostulating with the General on the subject & of laying before him a Copy of the Treaty, but I am afraid I Shall not be able to procure the exemption from the Said Duties, untill Orders are received from the Ministry to that Effect—
It appears by Letters dated at New York the 13 Jany, taken on board a Prize, which has been brought into this Port, that there are Accounts received there of a Successfull Enterprize against Savannah in Georgia, by a Detachment of British Troops who embarked at New York in the Month of November with a Design of reducing the southern Colonies— These Letters likewise mention, that the Enemy’s Forces were marching towards Charlestown without Opposition—
These Accounts will be confirmed or destroyed in a Short time, when I Shall not neglect, if Oppertunities Should offer, making known to you the Truth or Falsity of them—
In the mean Time, I have the honor to be with due Respect Gentn Your obedt hble servt
Wm Bingham

Notation: W. Bingham St. Pierre Martinique. fr. 6. 1779.


Title: Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 6 February 1779: résumé
From: Vergennes, Charles Gravier, comte de
To: American Commissioners,Franklin, Benjamin,Lee, Arthur,Adams, John

<Versailles, February 6, 1779, in French: I have communicated to M. de Sartine your letter of January 24. He has replied that it is not possible to provide special escort beyond the Azores for ships bound to North America, but that they will be escorted along with French ships far enough to put them out of most danger from privateers. Those vessels being prepared for America at Nantes will be escorted to the Ile d’Aix this month, and then if they wish to accompany the French convoy for the West Indies they will be escorted beyond the Capes.>


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 6 February 1779
From: Lee, Arthur
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir.
Chaillot Feb. 6th. 1779—
Mr. Deane in his public Letter has declared, that he receivd a resolution of Congress recalling him & appointing another Commissioner in his place, on the 4th of March. As I woud not wish to charge him with having conceald this from both his Colleagues, and by that means imposd himself upon them & the Court of France, as still a Representative of the United States, without being sure of the fact; I must beg the favor of you, to inform me whether he communicated this Recal to you, and when. I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect & esteem, your most obt. Hble Servt.
Arthur Lee.
Honble. Benja. Franklin. Esqr:

Addressed: The Honble. / Benja Franklin Esqr / Minister Plenipotentiary / Passi—
Endorsements: Mr Lees Letter Feb 1779 / Letters & Papers from or relating to Wm & Arthur Lee Esqrs


Title: Stephen Hills et al. to the American Commissioners, 7 February 1779
From: Hills, Stephen
To: American Commissioners,Franklin, Benjamin,Lee, Arthur,Adams, John

Brest, February 7th. 1779.
The Commission’d and Warrant-Officers belonging to the American Frigate Alliance, commanded by Peter Landais Esqr. beg leave to represent to your Excellencies that the Honble. the Navy-Board in the Eastern Department assur’d us that upon our Arrival in France we should be intitled to receive such Sums of Money as our Necessities might call for or require;— in consequence of such Assurances we now make this Application to your Excellencies, in full Confidence that you will allow us such Sums of Money as have been heretofore allow’d other Officers on similar Occasions:— for farther particulars we beg leave to refer you to Dr Winship the Surgeon of the Ship, who will give you all the Intelligence in his Power;— & are, Gentln. with the greatest respect, Your Most Obedt. Hble. Servnts.—
Stephen Hills -M. ParkeJoseph AdamsJames DeggeJohn BuckleyThomas ElwoodJames Warren Junr
His Excellency Benja. Franklin Esqr. & the other American Ambassadors at the Court of France.—

Addressed: His Excellency / Benjamin Franklin Esqr / & the other American Ministers / Paris
Endorsed by Franklin: Commission and Warrant Officers at Brest in the Alliance want Money


Title: Arthur Lee to Franklin and John Adams: Two Letters, 7 February 1779
From: Lee, Arthur
To: Franklin, Benjamin,Adams, John

I.
Gentlemen.
Chaillot. Feb. 7th. 1779—
I have been informd that Dr. Bancroft is soon to go to England, charg’d with a Comission from us, or which concerns the trust, which is jointly repos’d in us. I beg the favor of you to inform me whether this is true. I have the honor to be, with the greatest esteem & respect Gentlemen, Your mst. obedient Hble Servt.
Arthur Lee
Hon. B. Franklin & John Adams. Esqs.

Addressed: Honble. B. Franklin & John Adams Esqrs. / Ministers plenipotentiary / at Passi—

II.
Gentlemen.
Chaillot. Feb. 7th. 1779—
To a written Letter, one of you was civil enough to return me a verbal answer, that Docter Bancroft was appointed to transact business for us in England, & that his instructions should be sent to me.
Why you shoud think that in the choice of a person to represent us, I shoud have no voice; I am at a loss to conceive.
The notorious character of Dr. Bancroft as a Stock-jobber is perfectly known to you. The dishonor of his transactions in that way, having been visited upon the Commissioners you also know. His living in open defiance of decency & religion you are no strangers to; nor to his enmity against me, & the constant means he employs to calumniate my character. You know also that he is the creature and Agent of that Mr. Deane, who has just publishd a most false & scandalous libel against Congress and some of their Servants; which, in the opinion of all person’s of honor whom I have heard speak of it, is likely to injure the affairs of the United States in Europe, and greatly disgrace our national character.
For these reasons I should have imagind that Dr. Bancroft woud have been the last person in the World you would have chosen to represent us, or to vest with public Confidence. There are, most certainly in Paris, americans of untainted Reputation & undoubted abilities, who I am sure woud be willing to undertake any Commission from us for the service of their Country.
I have farther to inform you as one of your Colleagues, that I have evidence in my possession, which makes me consider Dr. Bancroft as a Criminal with regard to the United States, & that I shall have him chargd as such, whenever he goes within their jurisdiction.
If after consideration of these reasons, and of this information, you shoud still be of opinion he is a proper person to represent us; you will give me leave by this letter to dissent from, and wash my hands of, his appointment.
I have the honor to be, with the greatest esteem & respect, Gentlemen Your most obedient Humble Servant
Arthur Lee
Honble. B. Franklin, and John Adams Esqrs.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Silas Deane, 7 February 1779
From: Deane, Silas
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Philadelphia Feby. 7th. 1779
Count Montford will do himself the honor of waiting on You with this Letter, & It is with Pleasure I embrace the Opportunity to recommend him to Your Notice, as one who has served, and acquired good Reputation in Our Army. He has served immediately under Count Polaski and has rose from a Voluntier to the rank of Major, when his private Affairs, obliging him to return, he resigned his Commission, & was honorably dismissed. He will be able to give You good information, of the State of Military Affairs in America, hoping he may have the good Fortune to arrive in Safety, and That This may find You in perfect Health, & Happiness I have the honor to be with the most sincere respect Dear sir Your most Obedt. and Very huml. Servt
Deane
Honle. B. Franklin Esqr.

Addressed: To / His Excelly / Benja Franklin / Minister Plenipy. of the / United States of America / at / Paris
Notation: Deane 7. Feby. 1779.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 7 February 1779
From: Digges, Thomas
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
B——l 7 Febry 1779
Since my letter by Mr Hunt I have taken the liberty to write you under cover to Monsr. G——d the 31st. ult. The two Gentlemen who will wait on you with this are lately from P——a, and thinking their accounts (tho not of very late dates) might tend to your information, I have solicited their call on you on their way to L’Orient & Nantes, whither they are bound on some schemes of their own— They can also give you some accounts from Casco Bay as late as Jany 1st, which they got from the Crew of a prize lately brought in from thence.
The fleet from Corke wch will consist of about 100 sail for the Wt Indies, & a small part for N York, are under sailing orders, & will probably sail between the 15 & 20th, perhaps a few days later— Their Convoy is one 60 G Ship, one frigate, and a 20 Gun Ship. A fleet is also assembling at Spit-head for a like destination & nearly the same number of Ships—day fixt for sailing the 12th Int. but it is more than probable they will be a fortnight longer. Some men of war of Force will see this fleet some leagues to the westward, but their convoy will be but two frigates & one sloop. Six weeks after the Corke fleet sails there will be a convoy appointed for another fleet, wch will be the large Spring Fleet. The East India Fleet of four of the line & 10 Compy. Ships are still at Spithead but will probably sail in a week—there is about 2,500 men going in them to India, cheifly McLoads highlanders, other Scotch Recruits, and kid-napt company troops. Some late accots from Canada via Halifax has producd an order for sending out one Regiment to Quebec to hold in security that Capitol from the native Canadians, who have been lately discoverd to avow Sentiments unfriendly to Government. Some few men are going to Halifax, & by all accots I can gather they talk of 3,000 For New York— These with nearly a like number intended to be sent in the Portsmo Fleet to the West Indies of which the Liverpoole Blues, abot 1100 men, are part, is the whole of the Army that is to subjugate America. It is said in the Admiralty that Transports are engaged to carry over fifteen thousand Men to Ama., but I see no likelyhood of it, nor where they will be able to get the Ships or men. In order to keep up the farce & appearances, every embarkation is marked down for America; yet the ministry & their friends hold a language, that the American War is not be prosecuted with vigour, nor is the Independence to be given up or peace as yet sought for: They seem to be persuing a sort of middle policy or half sighted measures that are incomprehensible to me. I beleive they build a little upon the reports of disunion in Ama. & in Congress; these reports together with Deanes, & Gen Lees letters, have had some effect upon the Stocks, & I think has given a little credit to Lord Norths intended loan. It is a general topic now that Mr. Lee, thro Lord Shelburne, is soon to offer terms from America short of Independence. You may easily guess what degree of Credit I give to such reports, but it hurts me that one of your body should lay Himself thus open to be talked of at home and to be much hurt in the Eye of his Employers. I write to him frequently without any one motive or purpose but the giving information, & which I am sure has been frequently useful if properly communicated: I write by this conveyance to tell him what I hear & know to be the conversation about him near his home, & let him act as his better judgement sees fit. I have not the least reason to suppose any letters pass between him & Lord Shelburne, further than that formerly there was a strict intimacy between them, & I cannot suppose that if such communication is now open, but that Mr L does it to serve the cause he is engagd in. I have dwelt thus long upon a topic perhaps improper to you, but my fears are, that any little differences in Europe may increase to party cabals & disunion at home, which I am certain will hurt America & its cause more than its most implacable Enemies can do mischief to it from hence. I make it my business to be as much among the lords & minority members as I can, for it has been in my power at times to give them a little information; I am sorry they do not all pull together so well as I wish; but tho they do not agree in the means, I hope they will succeed in the end. I believe many of them are at a loss for what ground to go upon—one I am sure, (whom I lately mentiond to you & with whom you have lately communicated) would be glad of a hint, and I think it might come servicably; He means to do something by way of motion, & maybe helpt by the pro or con to a simple question whether or not with the assent of France a suspension for a time of the treaty with America, could not be brought about, so as to give an opening for this ministry to negotiate wth your Community.
A Change in the ministry is more than usually talked of. It is thought Lord Sandwich & Suffolk are likely to go out, the place of former to be given to Lord Howe, & that of the latter to Lord Shelburne; If this gentleman gets in he will proceed hostily against America. I have talked much to him of late & I cannot fathom His politics save that his predominant bent is to the loaves & fishes; It is not unlikely his first effort may be to trick or deceive America, or Her agents, by holding out some false lights. He has ever been uniform in his opinion to me that the acknowlegement of Independence cannot nor must not be given, and that He sees a way short of Independence & honourable to both Countries that may be brought about— I wish my Country was as free from disunity or civil dissention, as that his Lordship is mistaken. Governor Johnstone, who has been deceivd himself by Galloway, Delaney, &ca, is going on deceiving others, and has done much mischeif; he seems to be treading the same path which Bernard & Hutchinson formerly did, & has lately declard to some of my acquaintance in Parliat that he has used, & will still use, every effort to perswade ministry to send out more men and prosecute the war with vigour.
Since I began this letter I have advices from Falmo. that a packet is arrivd there in 21 days from N York, wch. will bring her sailing to about the 15th Jany. There is no material accots by her save that 7 or 8 Victuallers had arrivd safe from Cork with a seasonable & much wanted supply— You may easily guess what degree of Credit is due to reports of N York, these were that Campbell met with very great success in Georgia & that the storey of a revolt there was confirmd—that some persons had erected the Kings standard in So Carolina; and that young Laurens had dangerously wounded Genl Lee in a duel at Phila— many stories of dessentions in Congress &ca &ctra.
I am sorry to hear from the bearer of this letter the very exhorbitant prices given for Dry Goods throughout America, the depreciation of the paper money &ctra—; these evils originate from the same cause a want of trade, & this might in a great measure be remideed, if the restrictions of not accepting imports from Gt. Britain were taken off. I wish this could be done in America, & that our friends would think of it.—This restriction has now no longer an effect on the manufacturers here, & I am convincd many Cargoes to considerable amount would be speedily sent out were they not seizable on their arrival; There are adventures enough here who would attempt to supply America by collusive clearances, & there are also many who would pack up their all & try to set themselves down in a happier Country. I am glad to find from Mr. C——gs that many useful articles which I have forwarded from hence to Ama. thro Spain have got out safely. I am now waiting here the arrival of a Spanh. vessel from Bilboa, & as I shall likely be here for a few weeks longer, a letter will safely find me directed a Mr. Monr. Pierre J. DuVal Bristol. I am very truly yr. Obt. Hle. Servant
T.D.

Addressed: Dr. B. F—
Notations: Digges Feb 7. 79 / Duval Bristol 7e 7bre.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre Landais, 7[-8] February 1779
From: Landais, Pierre
To: Franklin, Benjamin

May it please your Excellency
Alliance Frigate, Brest, Feby 7[-8]th 1779
I have the pleasure to inform you of my arrival here yesterday after a passage of twenty three Days, from Boston where I was fitted out for the purpose of conveying to France the Marquis de la Fayette, and Suite, the Chevalier de Rimondis, the Captain late Commander of the Ceasar one of the Ships belonging to his Majesty and to bring you the Packetts herewith delivered—
The number of private Ships of War are so great in America, at present that it was with the greatest difficulty I could procure any Seamen for the Ship, being under the necessity of taking a number of Men of different Countries, who had been taken by Privateers, English, Scotch and Irish, therefore composed the most of our Crew— A report of a Mutiny prevailed a few days before we left Boston, but being examined into was thought to be without foundation, their intentions, being so concerted that it left no room for a suspicion at that time, but to our surprize and mortification we received information again of their intentions, and their behaviour soon convinced us of their designs— We were then upon our guard and collected every circumstance we could, when and in what manner they intended to take the Ship— On the 2d Inst we received a message at 12 oClock, that they (suspecting we had made a discovery of their Plot) had come to a determination to put it in Execution at 4 oClock that afternoon— I then armed the Officers and those I could depend upon, with the Marquis at their head, seized upon and confined in Irons four of the principal Ringleaders, and made a thorough search in the Ship for Arms and Ammunition, and found in one of the Ringleaders Chests some Cartridges and Balls, and in another a very indecent Knife, fit only for such horrid purposes— I then summoned my Officers and the Gentlemen Passengers and formed a Court of Enquiry to learn of them what they had to offer in their own defence, for the particulars of which I shall refer you to their declarations, likewise the declarations of several others who either through fear of being overpowered, or rather averse to such cruel proceedings (the latter of which I am inclined to believe) made the discovery— Several of the Conspirators might have offered some thing in their own defence as being in Liquor, &c. as they did, had they not discovered the like disposition on board of other Continental Ships, Vizt. the Boston and Providence, which leaves them without any Excuse— Something must be done in this Case to deter others from a like proceeding (which your Wisdom will dictate) or our Ships trust to Miracles for protection— Be it said to the honour of the Navy Board (Eastern Department) that for the Encouragement of Seamen, to enter from other Ships in the Harbour, on board the ALLIANCE, Ten Crowns should be paid them as a Bounty in France; several Seamen accepted the Offer (some among the Conspirators). No alternative remained but to proceed to Sea without being manned, or appliy to the Consul for French Seamen, which I immediately did, and as readily granted; each of these Seamen and Marines were promised Ten Crowns and dividend of Prize Money upon their arrival here— Great Encouragement was given me by the Navy Board that an Exchange for American Prisoners would take place, by which it would be in my power to get my Ship well manned— In my present situation I am in want of at least 100 Men, that are good Seamen, before I can pretend to go to Sea and as there are many Americans in the different Ports, I trust you would lose no time in ordering those who come under your jurisdiction, and give some directions for the Encouragemen of others— The ALLIANCE is equal to my best Wishes, being a remarkable fast Sailor, and mounting thirty-six Guns, 28 twelve Pounders on the Main Deck, and Eight 9 Pounders on the Quarter Deck & ForeCastle— Our Passage would have been performed in less time had we not met with a Gale of Wind, which carried away our Main Top Mast, Top S. Yards, Sails, and Pinnace, and did us otherwise so much damage that were unable for some days to make much Sail on the ship: Our Iron Work was exceeding bad, failing in all parts of the Ship, where the Rigging had any strain— On the 4th Inst. I fell in with a Ship and Snow, manned and Commanded by Swedes, bound from Mounts Bay in England to Leghorn; they told me when they came on board that the Vessels were owned in Stockholm but that the Cargoes (consisting of Pilchards and Tin) were all English Property, and that their demands was the Freight only, upon which I manned and ordered them for this Port— On the 5th Inst we gave Chace to a Snow, which we supposed to be Jersey or Guernsey Privateer, fired several shot at her and should have taken her, had it not been for the Conspirators. (much to my mortification)— I should be happy to receive your instructions, with respect to repairing the Ship, and such other directions as you shall give, or order to be given from time to time— I have the pleasure to acquaint you that my Officers are in the greatest harmony, and show every mark of a disposition to serve their Country in the present Contest— I have the honour to be Your Excellency’s most Obedient and very humble Servant
P: Landais—

N.B. Thirty eight of my Men are in Irons and mus remain so till I receive your Orders how to proceed, or be ordered otherwise by the Agent.

Feby: 8th 1779.
P.S. May it please your Excellency to have an Order from the French Naval Minister for to have in the Harbor all necessary things as Masts, Cordage, Iron Work, Sails, Provisions &c for refiting the Ship, and if necessary to have her Dock’d.
P: Landais
Excellency Franklin Esqr

Addressed: His Excellency / Benjamin Franklin Esquire / Minister Plenipotentiary of the / United States of America / Paris
Endorsed: Capt. Landais with the Examinations of the Conspirators
Notation: Augt. 7. 1779.


Title: Joseph Chase to the American Commissioners, 8 February 1779: résumé
From: Chase, Joseph
To: American Commissioners,Franklin, Benjamin,Lee, Arthur,Adams, John

<Nantes, February 8, 1779: I beg you to send my brother Reuben Chase’s discharge from Dinan; I can go get him, or perhaps you could have him discharged without necessitating a trip on my part. He is ill and suffers in close confinement, although he finds no fault in his usage as a prisoner. I am sorry that I neglected to speak of this when I was in Paris, for had I anticipated the delay occasioned here by ice on the river, I could have gone directly to Dinan. Would you also procure the discharge of John Blyth, as well as of Caleb Gardner and Ichabod Clarke, prisoners whom I failed to mention when I was with you? They and others would gladly sail in any ship belonging to America.>


Title: Arthur Lee to Franklin and John Adams, 8 February 1779
From: Lee, Arthur
To: Franklin, Benjamin,Adams, John

Gentlemen/
Feby. 8th. 1779
Having not seen the Letter of Mr. Williams to which one of those sent me is an Answr. I cannot form any judgment of it.
As there are no marks mentiond by which Mr. Deanes claim to any of the Goods in the possession of the public Agent can be ascertaind—as all the Goods in question, were, when received, declard to be on account of the public; & as I perceive in the Banker’s Accounts very large Sums of public money paid for Goods purchasd in Holland, wch. Goods I am satisfyd these are; I cannot think it consistent with my duty to concur in delivering them to any person upon so indefinite a claim.
I have the honor to be, with the greatest esteem & respect, Gentlemen Yr. most Obedt. Humbl. Servt.
Arthur Lee


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 8 February 1779
From: Lovell, James
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Honble Sir,
Philada. Feb 8th. 1779
The Marquis de la Fayette having sailed from Boston the day before the Arrival there of Letters sent from hence for you and him by the President of Congress, I now forward to you duplicates of those Letters with a Course of News Papers Via St Eustatia, having a very fine opportunity to that Island, and hoping they will reach you securely from thence in a dutch Bottom.
I have the Honor to be Sir, Your Friend & humble Servant
James Lovell
Honble Doctr Franklin

Notation: Lovell. Phyladelphie 29 jr. 1779. et 8e. fr. 1779.


Title: The American Commissioners to Horneca, Fizeaux & Cie., 9 February 1779
From: American Commissioners,Franklin, Benjamin,Lee, Arthur,Adams, John
To: Horneca, Fizeaux & Cie.

Gentlemen,
Passy, Feb. 9. 1779
Being informed that some Goods which you had purchased for Mr Simeon Deane, and sent to Nantes for a Conveyance, were there by Mistake suppos’d to belong to the Congress, and accordingly taken & sent over on their Account, we hereby request that you would replace those Goods for the Acct of Mr. Deane, charging us with the Amount, and that you would remit to Mr Ferdinand Grand, our Banker here, the Remainder of the Money in your Hands belonging to the United States. We have the Honour to be &c.
Messrs Horneca, Fizeaux & Co Amsterdam


Title: The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 9 February 1779
From: American Commissioners,Franklin, Benjamin,Lee, Arthur,Adams, John
To: Schweighauser, Jean-Daniel

Sir
Passy Feb. 9. 1779.
We have recd yours of 16 January.— in Answer to that Part of your Letter, which relates to your concerns with the Honourable the Committee of Commerce, We have to inform you that every Transaction of theirs must be kept Separate from those affairs which are under our Direction. Therefore your Debits and Credits with that Honourable Committee, must be Settled with them or their Agents, as We have no Authority, without express Resolutions of Congress to interfere.
We Sincerely lament the deplorable Fate of the Duke De Chatilet, and are &c
Mr J. D. Schweighauser


Title: The American Commissioners to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 9 February 1779
From: American Commissioners,Franklin, Benjamin,Lee, Arthur,Adams, John
To: Williams, Jonathan Jr.

Sir
Passy Feb 9. 1779
We have recd your Letters of the 12 Decr and 23 of January in the first You propose that We should write to Messrs Horneca and Fitzeaux to pass the amount of the goods you mention to our Debit. In that of 23 of January, you propose that one of the Cases Still remaining in Mr Schweighausers Hands should be delivered to you, and that We should give orders to Mess Horneca &c to replace the others, at Nantes.
As this Business was brought upon Us, by Accident or Mistake, without our knowledge or Consent, it appears to Us that the Public ought not to be put to any extraordinary Expence or Risque about it. But Still it is our Desire that Justice may be done, and therefore We think that the most equitable Way will be, for Us to give orders that those Goods be deliverd to Mr Deane in America, if they arrive there, and then they will be his Loss if they do not. If this is agreable to you, We will readily give orders that the Case which remains in Mr Schweighauser’s Hands be deliverd to you and the others delivered to Mr Simeon Deane or his order in America. We are &c
Mr Jonathan Williams at Nantes.


Title: Arthur Lee to Franklin and John Adams, 9 February 1779
From: Lee, Arthur
To: Franklin, Benjamin,Adams, John

Gentlemen/
Chaillot. Feby. 9th. 1779
I have the honor of forwarding you a Letter just receivd. As I know the Gentleman who offers himself to be unexceptionable as to character & abilities he has my approbation, & I hope will meet with yours.
I have the honor to be with the greatest respect & esteem Gentlemen Yr. most oblid. Humble Servt
Arthur Lee

Notation: A. Lee Feb. 9. 1779—


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Mercier, [before 10 February 1779]
From: Mercier, ——
To: Franklin, Benjamin

In the spring of 1777, the commissioners had contracted with Mercier to repair the arms which they had purchased from Montieu. By the summer of 1778, Jonathan Williams, Jr. had become so suspicious of Mercier’s bills that he ordered the work stopped and refused further payments. Mercier, unable to justify his accounts to Williams, then turned to the commissioners.
This letter was part of Mercier’s efforts to convince the commissioners of the validity of his claims; but it was not his first. In an undated letter which we now conclude must have been written in early August, 1778 (shortly after Williams had halted the repair operation), Mercier represented to the commissioners his view of the situation: his contract, with Deane and Williams, had been to engage forty workers to repair 80,000 arms and personally to supervise the work at Nantes. Although he had been absent from Nantes on account of business he had received from the Minister, nonetheless, he had procured the specified number of workers (in fact, more than was specified). He had submitted to Williams his accounts, with receipts, when they had met in Nantes; these were verified by the American’s secretary, and it was agreed that Mercier was owed approximately 300 l.t. Subsequent expenses amounted to an additional 200 l.t. He had been seeking payment for more than a year, and engaged a procureur in Nantes. Why did Williams refuse to pay him his due?
The American agent was in Passy when Mercier’s letter arrived, and he composed a response in French, also undated but written, according to the letter, just before his departure for Nantes (August 10): the contract had been made not with Deane and himself, but with the commissioners; moreover, Mercier had not lived up to the promises made at their meeting in Nantes. He did not refuse to pay Mercier; Mercier was simply not due anything. Williams had promised the procureur that he would forward all the accounts and receipts to Franklin, who would pay Mercier whatever he was owed. These documents would be sent as soon as Williams returned to Nantes.

  [before February 10, 1779] Rue et hotel des Juifschez M. le Cte. Desmazis

  Mémoire
  Monsieur
Le Sr. Mercier controlleur du Dépot des armes à Lyon, à lhonneur de vous representer, que le 23 Juin 1777, il a été fait une Convention dont cy joint est Copie, entre les honorables Députés du Congrés des Etats unis de Lamerique Septentrionale, et luy, par laquelle il s’engage d’envoyer a Nantes un nombre suffisant d’ouvriers armuriers pour réparation d’armes; Le dit Mercier ayant remplis Ses Engagemens Suivant la Convention cy devant citée au Sujet des ouvriers auxquels il a fait des avances pour la Somme de Cinq Cens trente Cinq Livres, comme vous le verrés, Monsieur, par la Copie cy jointe des comptes quil a rendu a M. Williams et de l’extrait d’une de Ses lettres audt Sr. Mercier en date du 5. fevrier 1778. Il vous Suplie, Monsieur, de lhonorer de vos bontés, et de vouloir bien lui faire rembourser cette Somme qui lui est legitimement due. Sa reconnaissance Egallera Son respect infiny.

A Monsieur Francklin Ministre Plenipotentiaire de la Republique des Provinces unies de l’amerique Septentrionale

Endorsed: Papers about Mercier N. 4 / Grafion


Title: The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 10 February 1779
From: American Commissioners,Franklin, Benjamin,Lee, Arthur,Adams, John
To: Schweighauser, Jean-Daniel

Sir
Passy feby 10 1779
Capt. Jones has represented to us his desire & Intention of returning to the Countess of Selkirk, some Plate which his People took from her house.
We apprehend that Congress would not disapprove of this Measure, as far as it should depend upon them; and We therefore consent on the Part of the United states that this Plate should be return’d. This Consent is to be understood to extend no farther than to the share to which the U.S. may be suppos’d to have a Claim. The Claim of the Officers & Men, Cap. Jones must be responsible to them for.
This Plate in the whole is represented to be worth about 100 Guineas.
M. Schweighauser.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Genet, 10 February 1779
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Genet, Edme-Jacques

Passy 10. Feb. 79.
D: Franklin’s best Compliments wait upon Monsr Genet. He begs Mr. Genet would be kind enough to send him any Intelligence he may have received from America as likewise the Gazzettes that he can spare for 24 hours, If they contain any thing new & important.
Dr. F. has received no News, except of the Loss of three Vessels, that were coming from America with Dispatches—

Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Genet / Premier Commis des Affaires Etrangers. / Rue Royale Pavillon Berthillon, / à Versailles.


Title: William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 10 February 1779
From: Bingham, William
To: American Commissioners,Franklin, Benjamin,Lee, Arthur,Adams, John

Gentlemen,
St. Pierre, Martinique, Feby 10th. 1779.
A glaring Act of Injustice has been done to some American Seamen in this place, which calls aloud for Redress & Retribution.—
These unfortunate Men, to the Number of 18, had been carried Prisoners into Great Britain, &, having escaped from their Confinement, repaired to Plymouth, where a Number of armed Cruizers were fitting out.— They entered into the Service of one of them, with a determined Resolution of getting Possession of the Vessel, as soon as an Opportunity of effecting their Designs might offer.—
The Vessel sailed from Plymouth the 2d of January, &, the 13th of the same Month, the Americans rose upon the Officers & Crew, got Possession of the Vessel, & sent the Captain, & some others who were disaffected to their Interest, on board of an English Brigantine, then in Sight. They immediately changed their Course, & directed it for this Island, where they arrived the 6th Instant.— The Evening previous to their Arrival, being very near the Land, one of the Forts fired upon them, which inclined them to seek the Protection of a French Frigate, which was at a small Distance from them. They informed the Captain of the Circumstances of their Situation; who immediately ordered a Guard on board, who brought the Vessel into Port.
The Americans had Permission to come on Shore, & they brought me their Logg Book, with the Vessels Commissions, which were issued by the Admiralty of Great Britain, & had the Admiralty Seal affixed to them; & some other Papers.—

After having examined into the Affair very minutely, I informed the General of the Result of my Enquiries, who gave Orders that the Vessel should be delivered up to the Americans, as their lawful Prize.—
The Judge of the Admiralty, (Monsr. Petit,) to counteract the Designs of the General, & who from interested Motives, has for a long Time past been endeavouring to bring the Trial of American Prizes into the Admiralty Courts here, in Revenge for the Disappointment, procured a Declaration from one of the Officers & Crew of the Frigate, & in Defiance of Reason, Justice, & the Spirit of the Treaty, condemned her as a lawful Prize to the French Frigate.
I have the Honor to inclose You a Copy of the Sentence, & you will observe on what frivolous & unsubstantial Grounds the Judgment, operating so much to the Disadvantage of these Men, is founded.—
The cruel Treatment they have met with, from the pitiful Resentment of the Judge of the Admiralty, is hardly to be described. They have not only been palpably dispoiled of their Property, after bravely venturing their Lives for it, but were ignominiously thrown into a common Prison, altho’ I informed the Judge of the Admiralty that they were American Subjects, known to be such, by the concurring Testimony of many hundred of their Countrymen, who were here upon the Spot, & declared to the Truth of it.—
I laid before the Judge the Resolve of Congress that encouraged the American Seamen to take Possession of English Vessels that they entered on board of, as an Act of retaliative Justice, which our Enemies had long since set the Example of.— But all that I could urge on the Occasion could have no Effect upon the Opinion of a Man, who, from private & interested Views, has sacrificed & set at nought the Interests of a whole Nation, on whose behalf I claimed but Justice from him.—
To describe the Effect that this Act of Partiality & Injustice has had, upon the Minds of every American in this place, would be entering into the History of settled Resentment, which the continuation of such unjust Practices may ripen into a National Animosity, the Consequences of which are of the most alarming Nature.—
There was an Instance, not long since, of an American Vessel, that sailed from Virginia, bound to St. Eustatius, that was taken by a French Privateer & carried into Guadaloupe, & there condemned, from the single Circumstance of the Captain having thrown a Letter overboard, whilst the Privateer was in Chase of him, which, by a misconstruction of the 3d Article of an Ordonnance, to regulate the Affairs of Prizes, subjects a Vessel & Cargoe to Condemnation.— It was in vain I wrote, in vain I expostulated on the Subject, for I find that the Sentences of these Judges, like the Laws of the Medes & Persians, are irrevocable.—
I beg leave most earnestly to request that Application may be made for the Redress of such violated Rights, that the Sentence of Condemnation of this Vessel may be revoked, & that the Judge of the Admiralty may be called to an Account for his Partiality.—
I expect that the Proceeds of this Prize will be lodged in the Treasury, untill the sentence of Condemnation will be confirmed or revoked.— I request that you will make known to me the Result as Soon as possible.
I have the honor to be with due Respect Gent Your obed hble servt
Wm Bingham

Notation: W. Bingham St. Pierre de La Martinique, 10 Feby. 1779.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Simon-Pierre Fournier le Jeune, 10 February 1779
From: Fournier, Simon-Pierre, le jeune
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Monsieur
Paris le 10 fevrier 1779
J’ai eu l’honneur de vous Ecrire et vous envoyer la facture de Petit Romain que vous m’avés commandé et qui est actuellement prêt a partir. Marquez moi si vous voulés que je l’envoy chez vous. Sur votre réponse j’agirai en conséquence et vous me remettrés les fonds du montant comme nous sommes convenus honnorez moi d’une réponse Positive et vous prie en attendant de me croire avec la plus Parfaite Considération, Monsieur, Votre très humble et très obéissant serviteur
Fournier LE JEUNE

Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin / Passy
Notation: fournier Paris le 10 fr. 1779


Title: Sartine to the American Commissioners, 11 February 1779
From: Sartine, Antoine-Raymond-Gualbert-Gabriel de
To: American Commissioners,Franklin, Benjamin,Lee, Arthur,Adams, John

Versailles le 11. Fevrier 1779.
J’ai l’honneur, Messieurs, de vous prevenir qu’il sera envoyé incessamment à Nantes une Fregate du Roi chargée d’escorter de ce port à l’Isle d’Aix, les Bâtimens destinés pour les Colonies Françoises d’Amerique. Si ceux qui sont chargés pour les Etats unis, veulent profiter de cette Escorte pour se joindre au Convoi de l’Isle d’Aix, il leur sera accordé la même protection qu’aux Bâtimens des Sujets de sa Majesté, ainsi que vous avez du en être prévenus par M. Le Cte. de Vergennes. J’ai l’honneur d’être avec la plus parfaite Cons., Mrs, Votre &c.
(signé) DE Sartine
Mrs. Franklin, Lee & Adams


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Wharton, Jr., 11 February 1779
From: Wharton, Joseph, Jr.
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Nantes Feby 11th 1779
I am informed that a Continental frigate of 30 guns is arrived at Brest from Boston, with the acceptable intelligence of your appointment to the sole representation for America at the Court of France. Interested as I am in the happiness of my Country, and deeply interested in whatever tends to attract Dr Franklins character from the malevolent shafts of his infamous calumniators, I cannot resist congratulating you Sir on the honor derived to my Country in this appointment, and to yourself from the singularity of it.—
Many of your Countreymen have been here several Months waiting safe opportunities to return to America—those of us have considerable property to take with us, and there are many Vesseles and Cargoes in the same predicament.— Our expectations in a french Convoy are vanished, and the risk is hourly encreased upon us by an encrease of Privateers: Knowing therefore, if you have the sole direction of Affairs in France, that you will perform us every service in your power, I beg to be informed whether the frigate Alliance at Brest, is to return to America, and whether we may not have the benefit of her Convoy.— Our vessells exceed the number of fifteen, and will all be ready for Sea in twenty two days. Confiding in your usual benevolence to pardon this obtrusion, I remain most respectfully Dear Sir Your most obliged and obed hle Servant
Jos Wharton
Honble Benjamin Franklin Esq

Notations in different hands: Warthon Jos. 11. feby. 1779. / done with


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Chaumont, [after 11 February 1779?]
From: Chaumont
To: Franklin, Benjamin

[after February 11, 1779?]
On vient de m’apprendre qu’un Banquier de Paris a reçu samedy une lettre de son correspondant de Londres qui lui marque qu’il s’est formé dans cette ville un parti contre le Roi et le Parlement. Ils s’appellent Kepellistes du nom de Kepel, ou les Blancs parcequ’ils portent une grande cocarde blanche aux quatre coins de laquelle sont écrits ces mots: vive Louis XVI restaurateur de la liberté.
Le même Correspondant ajoute que dans 15. jours il apprendra des nouvelles beaucoup plus intéressantes encore dans le même genre.


Title: Franklin’s Diary of Correspondence, [12 February-2 March 1779]
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

[February 12-March 2, 1779]
  Feb. 12. 1779:— 5 OClock
  Recd my Appointment of M. P. at this Court.

Waited upon M. De Vergennes who not being at home I waited upon M. Renvalle, inform’d him of it.
  13
  Wrote Jona. Williams acquaing him with my late appt. cong Goods to be bought for Wm Green Esqr &c
Wrote Mr Coffyn informg him of my nomination. Approving what he had done for the Prisoners.
  Feb. 14.
  Wrote to Count De Vergennes acquainting him with my Appt— & enclosing a Copy of my Credential Letter to the king asking his Advice concerning the Conspirators on board the Alliance and enclosing several Letters I had received from A. making mention of Le Ms. De la Fayette. Sent the above Letter by W.T.F—
  15 Feb.
  Sent away a Letter wrote the 11. to M. Dumas in Ansr to his of the 25th Jany
  Feb. 17. 79
  Wrote a Note to M. De Vergennes excusing my not going to Versailles on account of a severe access of the G & enclosing an Extract of Dr Coopers Letter which he desired to have.
Gave a Pass to Mr Tilly Merrick, going to Nantes.

Wrote to Capt. Landais ackn in ansr to his of the 7. Inst & Mr Schweighauser. Ordering him to Comply with the Orders of the N. Board respecting the Alliance. That his Bills for 30,000 Livs have been accepted &c.
Wrote a Letter to Mr Sears in Ansr to his, concerning Duties on Furs.
  Feb. 18. 79.
  Wrote Mr A. Lee inclosing Resolutions of Congress of Sept. 11. & 14 and of Oct. 22.
Accepted 3 Loan Office Bills in favor of Mr. Milligan.
Advanced John Conner taken in the Service of the U.S. & escaped from Prison 36 l.t. to help him to America
Recd a Letter from Mr. A. Lee in ansr to the one I had wrote him inclosing the Resolves.
  19. Feb. 79
  Wrote Hornica & Fizeaux acquaintg them with my Appointment. & cong the Loan in Holland.
Wrote M. Dumas acquaintg him with my late Appointt.
Wrote Mr. Jos. Wharton in ansr to his of the 11th Inst. cong Convoy.
Recd a Letter from M. De Vergennes appointing Tuesday next, to present my Letter to the king—
Sent W.T.F with a Letter to Mr Lee dated Yesterday desiring him to send me all the publick Papers in his Possn. belonging to this Depart.
  20
  Accepted great Numbers of Bills that were presented Yesterday
Gave a Pass to Messrs York & Cumings
  21.
  22 Feb.
  Dispatched Dr Windship with a Letter to Capt. Landais. Gave him a Pass for Brest.
Wrote Mr Hartley relative to Dr. Bancroft going to London to negotiate an Exchange of Prisoners—
Wrote to the American Gentlemen of Nantes informing them of the Convoy to America Capt. Landais of the Alliance.
Advanced Richard Neale of Virginia 8 Louis d’ors to assist him in returning to America.— Gave him Pass for Nantes.
  23.
  Wrote a Letter to Sir G. Grand enclosing him a Copy of a Letter I had wrote to Hornica & Fizeau
Accepted thre Loan Office Bills
Likewise a Bill of Exe. in favor of Monsr Ganot for 900 l.t. drawn by H. Laurens.

  24
  Wrote Capt Jones, relative to a Message from Ld Selkirk Accepted.
  25.
  Wrote Count Vergennes concerning Operations in North America highly Advantageous to both Nations
Wrote another Letter to Count De Vergennes in ansr to his of the 17. Inst. &c & informing him of the Destination of the Alliance.
Wrote To M De Sartine, thanking him for the Convoy. &c.
  26.
  Wrote Mr Paulze, Farmer General concerning the Tobacco come in the Bergere
Wrote to Govr Henry of Virga by M. Le Maire in ansr to a Letter brought from him by that Gentleman.
Accepted a Loan Office Bill of 36 Dollars in favor of Wm Gordon—
  March 1st
  Wrote M. Leveux of Calais relative to his Acct of Disbursements for Americans escaped from English Prisons
Conversation with M. Neuville—
Gave a Passport to Mr Edmond Jennings to make a Tour.

  March 2d.
  Advanced Casenarve de la Porte for his Brother Prisoner in England, by an Order upon M. Grand, the sum of 15 Louis d’ors.
Wrote the Prisoners of the Drake in ansr to their Memorial of the 16. Past.
Wrote M. Sartine desiring him to renew his Orders for the better treatment of the Prisoners in Brest.
Wrote M. Coffyn in ansr to his of the 17. past.
Wrote M. Schweighauser concerning M. Adams’s embarking at Nantes for America.
Wrote Capt. Landais to inform him of Mr. As intention to take a Passage on board of him.
Recd a Letter from the Prince of Conti desiring a Passport for Horses and Dogs to be brought from England.
Made out the said Passport.


Title: John Adams to Arthur Lee, 12 February 1779
From: Adams, John
To: Lee, Arthur

Sir,
Passy Feb. 12. 1779.
We duly received the Letter which you did us the honor of writing on the 9th of Feb. accompanyed with a Letter from Mr Pringle, herewith you have the Draught of an Answer to that Gentleman, which you are requested, if you approve of it to subscribe and forward. As Mr Lee is best acquainted with the Places, Persons & Officers to which Mr Pringle must apply—it is requested of Mr Lee to make a Draught of Instructions, for Mr Pringle, which Mr Adams will subscribe, if he approves them, as he doubts not he shall.
I have the honor to be &c.
(signed) John Adams.
Hon. A. Lee Esqr.


Title: John Adams and Arthur Lee to John J. Pringle, 12 February 1779
From: Adams, John,Lee, Arthur
To: Pringle, John Julius

Sir,
Passy Feb. 12. 1779.
We have received your Letter of Feb. 9. offering your Services to the public by going to England to negotiate an Exchange of Prisoners, We have considered this Subject and judging it necessary to send some Person upon this Business, We have determined to accept of your Proposition, and We desire you to prepare yourself for the Journey, with all convenient Dispatch. Your Instructions shall be prepared immediately, We are Sir your humble Servants

Signedonly
{
Arthur Lee.John Adams.

Mr. J. J. Pringle.


Title: “The Petition of the Letter Z”, [after 12 February 1779?]
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

Along with the official letter of appointment as sole minister plenipotentiary, Franklin also received from Lafayette’s hand several private letters from Philadelphia, dated October 21 and 22, 1778, which bore disturbing news: Ralph Izard, throughout their months of bitter controversy, had been secretly airing his grievances against the elder commissioner in letters to America. Richard Bache reported to his father-in-law that Izard and Arthur Lee were “persuing every method to injure you on this side the water,” attacking in particular Franklin’s use of Temple as a private secretary, “whom they hold out as unfit to be trusted because of his fathers principles.” Their insinuations, Bache claimed, persuaded Pennsylvania to cast the only dissenting vote on Franklin’s appointment. Daughter Sally, in her own letter, added hopes that the schemes of “these envious men . . . to lesen your Character, or to seperate you from those you love,” would be frustrated. The most detailed information, however, came from Silas Deane, furious at having finally seen letters from Izard to Henry Laurens written during the first half of 1778, which had just been read into the Congressional record. As damaging to Deane as to his senior colleague, the letters (which Deane summarized in a “translation”) proclaimed Franklin’s treachery and incompetence, and called for his replacement by none other than the writer, Ralph Izard.
For Franklin, word of Izard’s scheme to replace him must have been as irritating as it was ridiculous. Moreover, the Philadelphian could not have been numb to the revelation that Pennsylvania had opposed his appointment. Yet, whatever his private views, Franklin kept them largely to himself. He refused to be drawn into a transatlantic defense of unsubstantiated charges. He never let on to Ralph Izard or to Arthur Lee that he knew of their letters to Congress. He sent reassurances to his family that he was impervious to the barbs of those enemies, “unhappy in their tempers, and in the dark uncomfortable passions of jealousy, anger, suspicion, envy and malice”; he admitted only to being hurt by the attacks on Temple, but expressed confidence that Congress would never separate them.
On February 12, 1779, Franklin finally found himself relieved of duty towards his troublesome colleague. But his anger, kept alive by Izard’s continued annoyances at Passy, was still smoldering. As recently as January, he had blasted Izard’s insolence in two furious letters which, as was his habit, he never sent.
The undated “Petition of the Letter Z,” like Franklin’s angry letters, was apparently written for his eyes alone, and to the best of our knowledge remained secret until 1786, when he cautiously sent this annotated copy to his sister Jane Mecom. But by the time he wrote the “Petition,” his anger had turned to humor. It may well be that the satire, with its barely disguised references to Izard’s 1778 request of Congress to replace Franklin at court, and to Congress’s rejection of that request, was written in the aftermath of the elation, and annoyance, of the news he received on February 12.

[after February 12, 1779?]

    From the Tatler. N 1778.

To the worshipful Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq; Censor-General

The Petition of the Letter Z, commonly called Ezzard, Zed, or Izard,

  Most humbly sheweth,

  He was always talking of his Family and of his being a Man ofl Fortune.
  That your Petitioner is of as high Extraction, and has as good an Estate as any other Letter of the Alphabet.

  And Complaining of his being treated, not with due Respect
  That there is therefore no reason why he should be treated as he is with Disrespect and Indignity.

  At the tail of the Commission, of Ministers
  That he is not only plac’d at the Tail of the Alphabet, when he had as much Right as any other to be at the Head; but is, by the Injustice of his Enemies totally excluded from the Word WISE, and his Place injuriously filled by a little, hissing, crooked, serpentine, venomous Letter called S, when it must be evident to your Worship, and to all the World, that Double U, I, S, E do not spell or sound Wize, but Wice.

  He was not of the Commission for France, A Lee being preferr’d to him, which made him very angry; and the Character here given of S, is just what he in his Passion gave Lee.

  The most impatient Man alive
  Your Petitioner therefore prays that the Alphabet may by your Censorial Authority be reformed, and that in Consideration of his Long-Suffering & PATIENCE he may be placed at the Head of it; that S may be turned out of the Word Wise, and the Petitioner employ’d instead of him;

  And your Petitioner (as in Duty bound) shall ever pray, &c. Z

  Mr. Bickerstaff having examined the Allegations of the above Petition, judges and determines, that Z be admonished to be content with his Station, forbear Reflections upon his Brother Letters, & remember his own small Usefulness, and the little Occasion there is for him in the Republick of Letters, since S, whom he so despises, can so well serve instead of him.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Marguerite Lecomte and Claude-Henri Watelet, [after 12 February 1779]
From: Lecomte, Marguerite,Watelet, Claude-Henri
To: Franklin, Benjamin

[after February 12, 1779]
Mde le comte et Mr Watelet ont l’honneur de faire leur compliment bien sinceres a Monsieur franklin et a Monsieur son fils sur le caractere honorable dont ils apprennent que Monsieur franklin est revetu.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Coffyn, 13 February 1779
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Coffyn, Francis

Sir,
Passy, Feb. 13. 1779.
Yours of the 5th. Instant is now before me. I hope the Correspondence between us, as it will henceforth be in one hand, may be carried on with more punctuality than heretofore. I approve of what you have done for our Prisoners, and desire you to continue that Service. Those now with you may be forwarded to Orient, where they will be received on board one of our Cruizers.
As the Accounts from Mr Fitzgerald do not mention whether the Men were Americans who had been Prisoners, or whether they were placed with him by your Orders, I request Information from you on these Points, & to know what became of those Men.
I have the honor to be Sir &c.
(signed) B Franklin
Mr. Coffin, Dunkirk


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 13 February 1779
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Williams, Jonathan Jr.

Dear Cousin,
Passy, Feb. 13. 1779.
I have the pleasure of acquainting you, that the Congress have been pleased to honor me with a Sole Appointment to be their Minister Plenipotentiary at this Court, & I have just received my Credentials. This Mark of public Confidence, is the more agreable to me, as it was not obtained by any Solicitation or Intrigue on my Part, nor have I ever written a Syllable to any Person in or out of Congress, magnifying my own Services or diminishing those of others.
William Greene Esqr present Govr of the State of Rhodeisland has sent me some Bills of Exchange amounting to 1080 Livres, which he desires may be laid out in the following Articles 1 Piece dark Calico; 1 Piece Bedtick, best Silk Handkerchiefs, & Linnen Do. Hollands Cambricks, Muslins, Sewing Silk, and one Box of Window Glass 7 Inches by 9. I send you this Commission and desire you to forward the Things by the first good Opportunity drawing upon me for the Money.
I am told you have laid aside your Thoughts of going to America at present, so that you will not have the Opportunity you wished for of settling your Accounts there. No Resolution has been yet taken by the Commissioners here relating to your Proposition of settling them by Arbitration at Nantes and tho’ I could now perhaps do by my self what is necessary to finish the Affair in that Way, yet as the Transactions were in their time it seems to me most proper that they should consent to it. I am ever Your Affectionate Uncle
(sign’d) B Franklin
Jona. Williams junr