Title: To Benjamin Franklin from John Temple, 26 July 1781
From: Temple, John
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Amsterdam 26 July 1781.
Your Obliging favor of the 15th Instant from Passey, is now before me; and I received it with the greater pleasure as it confirmed what I had before heard—that you are very well and in good spirits.
The several circumstances you have mentioned, are sufficient to determine me not to come to Paris, especially as there are no American Vessells now at the Ports of France; & as the Minerva Capt Brown from Newberry-Port arrived here since I wrote to you, and the Captain tells me he expects to sail, on his return to Newberry, in the course of the Next Month. The ship you mention to be now about sailing from hence to Philadelphia, is, I understand, so crowded, and with such a Variety of Characters onboard, that it would not have been agreable to me to have Embarked in her; I trust that in the Minerva I shall meet with both a Comfortable & a safe conveyance.
My being considered where you are as a doubtfull Character not a little surprized me at first reading your Letter, as I had not the most distant Idea of such a Suspicion! but I am not much hurt at it; the series of trouble, danger, & Mortification, that have attended me from the begining of the Contest—The Sacrafises I have made—and the losses & persecution I have sustained, but ill agree with any Idea of my being difficient in Friendship to the cause of my Country; or, of my having any secret connection with the English Minister! Nevertheless, to see & converse with that same Minister if I could, was one part of my View in returning to Europe, and I did see and converse with him, for more than two hours, on the first day I got to London. Let me shortly state the matter to you. After I had been five or six months at Boston and in the other states of America, the English Newspapers arrived with the Examination of Mr Cicero Galloway at the Bar of the House of Commons, and the Speeches of Mr Eden Govr. Johnstone & others in Parliamt. all concurring & laboring to make the people of England believe that the Independence of America could not be maintained, for that Discord & Dissencion were in their Councils—their Paper Medium ruined and at an End—and that, four fifths of the People at least, were disposed to get rid of the Tyranny of Congress, & return under the Government of Great Britain! such, you will remember, were the sentiments at that time urged, by the Apostate Johnstone, Eden, & other Ministerialists in Parliamt. and the few friends to truth in the Minority, had Neither Facts or Vouchers to contradict those sentiments.
I had, before the Arrival of these pernicious Speeches, been deliberately through the Northern & Middle states of America, had conversed with all orders of men in them, and with some of the first people from the Southern states, and therefore personally knew that such sentiments so advanced by the Perfidious Johnstone, Eden & others, (who had never been without the lines of the Brittish Army) were utterly False, proposed to my Friends at Boston, to return immediately to England, and there state the Matter, as I personally knew it to be, to the English Minister if I could get Access to him, or if not, to give the Minority an Opportunity of calling me also to the Bar of the house, where I might confront the false information that had been delivered there by Galloway, & Supported by Johnstone & Eden, who could have no personal knowledge, as I had, of the disposition of the people of the united States. Mr Bowdoin, Dr. Winthrop, Genl. Warren, Dr. Cooper, Dr. Chauncy, Gen: Gates, Govr Trumbull and others highly approved of such the Idea of my coming.— Pleased with an expectation that such an Evidence as myself, who had so lately been in the United states, and personally knew the sentiments that prevailed in them, might invalidate Mr. Galloways information, and probably be the means of the English Ministry’s giving up the Contest, and turning their thoughts to Peace upon an Explicit Acknowledgement of the Independence of those states, I lost no time in getting to London, and on the first day of my Arrival there, had a Free conversation with Lord North: My Endeavours were to Establish in his mind, the Genuine truth; viz’ That whatever his Lordship might have then lately heard to the Contrary, from Gentlemen who had not been without the lines of the Army, the People of America, to my Personal knowledge, were very much united in their determination Never to return under the Governmt. of England, Nor to have any connection with Great Britain but as their Equal, compleat, in every sence of the word: and that, upon the Observation I had made upon what I had both seen & heard upon this Spot, I was clear in Opinion that however long, or in whatever distressing mode the War might be continued for that purpose, it would after every exertion, be found fruitless. This was the Text upon which I discanted to the utmost of my Abilities. His Lordship appeared to be both staggered & disconcerted—said he had other & very opposite information, that he knew that Mr Garrard was tired of the Business and was coming home, & that Congress would find itself without the aid it expected, and much more to that purpose! I was astonished at the load of Misinformation with which his mind was Crowded; but at the same time thought I had made no inconsiderable impression upon him, however soon it probably was eraised by those whose sentiments he is Obliged to adopt. Since that Interview, I have never Exchanged a word with Lord North, Nor have I had any conversation, of any kind with any other of the Ministers, or with any of their adherents since I have been in England. My Acquaintances have been not many—My Intimates but very few. The Duke of Rutland, David & Winchcomb Hartley, Dr. Price, Mr Townshend, the Dean of Winchester, and one or two more, composed the Circle I lived in, and I believe I did essential service to my Country in Fortifying fr. time to time the minds of the Minority, & our Friends out of Parliament, against the studied false reports of our Enemies; many of which I was able to bear positive testimony against, and I have been waiting in hope and in expectation of Truth’s prevailing at last, in the Mind of the English Minister whoever he may be, and Peace might be the happy consequence thereof.
Had the Views I went to England upon been successfull, had the truths I carried there been attended to, rather than Galloways falshoods, I think I should have done a most essential service! at any Rate, my Country is Welcome to my Endeavours; I have faithfully done it every service that was in my Power, from the begining of the Contest to this Moment; I never was, nor never will, be other than its sincere friend. The cause of America is a Just Cause! and would remain unalterably so upon my mind, if even still more Extraordinary Events shd. Occur in the Maintaining the cause, than hath yet happened. Why shd. I be surprized at the Doubts & suspicions you mention, when I see that like Suspicions, or Greater, are raised, and I believe on purpose to shake the Characters of the first & best Friends & Servants of America, on both sides the water? Men to whose Wisdom & Integrity, under God, our Country is indebted for its Salvation. God Grant that the Cause, good as it is, may not be deeply injured or disfigured, by the unaccountable doubts & suspicions that are so industriously circulated! do not our affairs begin to wear a Complexion something like the famous Salem Wichcraft? which got to such an height, as that the Judges Ministers Magestrates, & first people in the state, were Accused of being Wizzards! you will laugh, but upon my Honor, knowing what I know, and hearing what I have heard, the resemblance strikes me very forcably.
Independent of personal regard, some of the best friends to the Liberties of mankind in England, were greived to see the Attacks lately made in the News papers upon the Character of Dr. F—— a Name gone forth (I don’t mean to compliment) in Glory to the World; it is a Public Name, which, in the History of America, must be one of its greatest ornaments, or a disfigurement to it, there can be no Medium. A Sincere Friend, who hath the most unshaken faith that it will be of the first description, defended that Character from a base Attack in the London Courant, and asked the Printer why, in a Paper he wished to be considered as friendly to the cause of America, he could suffer such a Peice, against such a Character, to appear? He replyed, it was sent over to him to be published, by a person on this side the Channel; one whom I have seen, since my Arrival, squinting about this Place with a Violent Virtuous friend to America (a Mr. Greives he was with you at Paris) who fled from England a few Months ago for an unnatural Attempt. These Cattle it seems as I am told, for I have never Exchanged a word with ’em, have their Doubts of many, among whom, Neither the Names of Franklin, Bowdoin, S. Adams, and others, beside my self, have not escaped. I have mentioned this circumstance not as being of any Moment, but to shew what Reptiles & Vermin attempt to raise a dust, injurious to the most respectable Characters. And I do in my conscience believe that Britain hath her inscendiaries planted about, for the purpose of deceminating suspicion & distrust of each other, among the best & most sincere Friends to the American Cause; such an one, have I always thought that Atrocious Villain to be, who worse than Robb’d the Poor American Prisoners in England, of the stipend that was allowed them; I have seen your Letters to Mr Hodgson of London concerning that affair, and my Indignation was inexpressible. I wish he may not be found Tardy in Matters, tho not so cruel as robbing the Prisoners, yet more injurious to the cause of his Country; from the Letters he hath at times shewn to me in London, I know he has had a correspondence with almost all our first people on this side the Water, I wish he may not have been a stirer up of strife among them, and a low prized Intelligencer, to some of the understrappers of the Ministry.
The other part of my View in coming to Europe was principally concerning myself, and earnestly urged by Mr Bowdoin &c.— You know we were dismissed from our several Employments under the Crown of England at one & the same time, and for one & the same cause; that cause must be full in your Remembrance. Had the Eight Worthy & Respectable Gentlemen to whom a communication of the utmost Importance to the Welfare of our Country, not Violated a most positive injunction from you, Neither you nor I shd. have been dismissed— I shd. not have lost a very Respectable & easey Employment of £1000 a Year, and as good an Interest in England, as perhaps any American at that time could have boasted of, nor have been put to the Risk of my life, & Obliged to suffer the thousand Anxieties & Mortifications which I have since suffered. Those Gentlemen however, for the Salvation of our Country, as they say, they thought (and I believe rightly thought) did Violate the injunction that was sent over with those incendiary Letters & papers, and the consequences I have mentioned, soon followed. It was never in my Power, after Hostilities commenced, to get home with my Family, sooner than I did in 1778. But I Never had a doubt that when I shd. be so happy as to get home, my Country would compensate my pecuniary losses; my other sufferings, it was not in its power to compensate: and when I was at Boston I stated the matter to the Seven Surviving of those Gentlemen (Mr Pitts died before my Arrival) who all Acknowledged the unspeakable advantage those Letters gave, in that early stage of the Troubles! as they were the first positive proofs, of the designs & Plans Machinating against the Liberties of the Country, by men, Who till then were supposed to be the most inflexible Friends to those Liberties; But declared, that, tho: they knew I had suffered in England on that Accot. from a Suspicion in the Minister, they never had the least knowledge or intimation of my having had any hand or share in bringing those documents to light, and to the Eyes of our Country. I told them I had been privy to the whole transaction: that it was through my means that you were able to Obtain them: that they were obtained in the most honorable way, of which the Minister had not, nor could not have, any knowledge, unless from the Gentlemen (?), but to save an Innocent person, who might be Suspected by the Minister, the most positive injunction from you, at my request, Accompanied those Letters, which injunction they thought Necessary to Violate. The consequences were, the dismission & losses I have mentioned. They expressed a wonder that I shd. come home at that time without first writing to you for such a statement of the matter, as would leave the Justice of my Claim without a doubt! for that if it was manifested to them that I had the Claim I then urged, they in conscience shd. think themselves doubly bound (seeing they had so Violated the injunction) to see to the utmost that I was compensated. In Answer to which I told them, that in the first place, it was a transaction which I would never have Ventured to have written a line from Engd. upon: I had felt sufficiently from suspicions to deter me from Running the Risk of creating further Suspicions in those who wished for a pretense to destroy me. And in the Next place, I had concluded that Dr. Franklin when at Boston, had so clearly stated the whole of that Memorable affair, at least to those Gentlemen who had departed from his injunction, as that I could not fail upon my return home, of meeting with every amends that was in the Power of my Country. Mr. Cushing to whom the Letters & injunction from you was particularly addressed, said that your private Letter to him concerning those documents was lost or mislaid when the troops were at Boston, that he could not precisely say what your injunctions were: But they all agreed that if I had the share in that Meritorious business which I then gave them to understand (but which could only be assertained by Dr. Franklin) they shd. think themselves in honor & Conscience bound to support to the utmost my Claim. And Accordingly, in case of Death to myself or them, they, for the benefit of my Children, signed a paper to that purpose a short time before I left Boston; which paper is now in the hands of Mr Bowdoin. Thus have I stated, in as clear a manner as I am able, the Motives that brought me back to Europe; and all that I have now to request, is that you will in your own way, and According to your own Idea of Justice to me, send over such a Testimonial as you may think proper. I do not wish you to write a word upon this business though so interesting to myself and to my Children, or upon the former part of this Letter, but what Conscience clearly dictates to you.
You was my fellow sufferer, and a Great Sufferer, but our Country I hope hath made you every amends that was in its power, at which I have constantly & sincerely rejoiced! and have ever detested the little envious acts that have been practiced, to deprive you of the Glory due to the large share you have had, in the preservation of the Liberties of our Country:— I am now going home, where I hope to lay my Bones without ever seeing Europe again. This last trip has Cut deep into the Remains of my Patrimony; I however have a kind & Munificent friend in Mr Bowdoin! and at the same time, I have full faith, that when testimony is Borne to the Justice of my Claim, Myself or my Children will not be total Sufferers by the most Important transaction of my life in favor of my Country, which produced Events, that a Scepter would not tempt me to experience again.
You must not expect a correct Letter from me, especially as it is intended for the Eye only of a Friend, and on a Subject on which I have endured much pain. I never could write correctly, but I hope to be understood. Had I seen you as I wished to have done, I had many circumstances & Annecdotes to have communicated, which would probably have been entertaining; and some of them I believe would have been usefull to you. Pulteney has behaved like a Rascal both to you & to me, but he has got Nothing by it. Both himself & his Brother Judas are now in contempt, even in England! I should as it principally concerned you have told you the conversation that passed between them & me, before I went to America, and after my return. But it would be troublesome for you, at your time of life & surrounded with business; or even for myself, at Fifty; to exchange sentiments on paper, upon the many Extraordinary Events that have happened since we last saw Each other. And it is scarce probable that we shall ever see each other again, but be assured that I most sincerely wish you a Calm & pleasant Evening of life, and unceasing happiness forever after, for I am, with unfeigned Esteem & Regard, Dear Sir Your most Obedient, and Most Humble Servant.
J. Temple.

There was Nothing Extraordinary at Boston on the 4 June. I have a letter from Mr Bowdoin of that date; he is expecting me by the way of France as I wrote him by Appleton that I shd. come that way.

Notation: Letters from J. Temple Esqr. 1781


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes, 27 July 1781
From: Vergennes, Charles Gravier, comte de
To: Franklin, Benjamin

à Versles. le 27. Juilt. 1781.
J’ai communiqué à M. Joly de fleury, M, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire concernant les 1500 m l.t. qui étoient en Hollande à La disposition de M. Jackson, et dont vous demandez à disposer pour le service des Etats-unis; ce ministre a bien voulu se preter à votre demande, et il donne en conséq. par la lettre ci jointe ordre à Mrs. fizeaux et grand d’amsterdam, de tenir la somme en question à la disposition de M. fd. [Ferdinand] Grand. Je ne suis pas en état encore de répondre aux autres objets de votre lettre; mais j’espère pouvoir le faire incessament.
M. franklin


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from F.R. Granger, 28 July 1781
From: Granger, F.R.
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Monseigneur
Dunkerque le 28. Juillet 1781.
Le Supliant à l’honneur de vous represantée quétant prisonniee à bord du Vaissaux Anglais le Blenheim il y fut conduit quelques prisonniee ameriquain prévenant du Corsaire Ameriquain le Prince-Noir pris dans une prise, ces gans avait été tous dépouliee et avait besoin de tout je les soulaga autant qu’il fut dans mon pouvoir et il me Donnerent ce pouvoir qui fut fait à Spithead par L’Ecrivain du dit vaissaux en présance de temoin; je vien de le presanté à Monsieur Thoris Armateur du dit Corsaire et qui ma répondû de vous L’adressée et que si vous le trouviée valable il ne feray aucune difficultee pour le payée vous nignorée pas Monseigneur que les Ecrivain Anglais à bord d’un vaissaux sont notaire public, et jose esperer Monseigneur que vous voudrez bien avoir la bontee de la prouvée et vous obligerée infiment celuy qui ne cessera de faire des veux au Ciel pour la Conservation de vos Jours et suy avec Respec Monseigneur Votre très humble et tres obeissant Serviteur
F. R. GrangerCapne.

Monsieur Arnold, etait prisonniee avec moy Lorsque le pouvoir à été fait et qui ateste le tout veritable et fait de bonne foy
Jonathan Arnold

Addressed: A Son Excellence / Monsr. Franklin / Ambassadeur des Etats unies / de L’Amerique / a Passy
Endorsed: Answer’d
Notation: Granger 28 July 1781


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 29 July 1781
From: Coffyn, Francis
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Hond. Sir.
Dunkerque 29 July 1781.
I had the honnor to address your Excellency on the 27. ultmo. and to remit two receipts together £432.—.—. paid to sundry american prisonners, to which I beg leave to refer; being since deprived of your Excellencys favours, This cheafly serves to inclose a receipt for £144.—.— I paid to one Mr. Macnamara Lieutenant of the artillery in the Service of the States of Maryland, who made his Escape out of Mill prison and arrived here in distress; I hope your Excellency will approve Said payment & credit me with the above mentioned Sum. I have the honnor to remain with great respect Your Excellency’s most obedt & most humble Servant
F. Coffyn
His Excellency Dr. B. Franklin at Passi.

Notation: Coffyn Dunkerque 29. July 1782.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to John Bondfield, 30 July 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Bondfield, John

Sir,
Passy, July 30. 1781
I received your Favour of the 21. Inst. and return accepted the two Bills it enclos’d.
In perusing your Account sent me the Beginning of March last, I observed considerable Sums advanced to Americans. The Advances for the Relief of poor distress’d Seamen I will pay, but the others to Officers and Gentlemen, I cannot allow, having no Orders to justify it. If I rec’d the Account of the Cannon, it is mislaid; and Mr Chaumont has made some Objections about the Weight of those deliver’d to him. I therefore request, that you would send me the Founder’s original Account, and I will, soon after receiving it, pay what shall appear due to you as Ballance on the whole.
I thank you for the News you have been so kind as to send me from time to time, & also for your Information relative [to] the American Sailors press’d into the French Service. With great Esteem, I have the honour to be Sir,
Mr Bondfield


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Collyer, 31 July 1781
From: Collyer, Thomas
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir,
Nantes— July 31st: 1781
I have had the Honor already to apply for a Commission of War as explain’d in the obligation here annex’d. My ship being Just ready to be launch’d, I hope you will be pleas’d to transmit it immediately after the Receipt of this; directed to the Care of Mr. Penet. Could my services prove in any line acceptable both to you and the Public, Please to Command, Sir Your most obedient & very humble servant
Thomas Collyer
His Excellency Dr. Franklin

Addressed: A Son Excellence / Son Excellence Monsieur le / Docteur Franklin, Ministre / Plenipotentiaire des 13 Etats Unis / A Passy / près Paris
Notation: Thomas Collyer. July 31. 1781.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Penet, D’Acosta frères & Cie., 31 July 1781
From: Penet, D’Acosta frères & Cie.
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir,
Nantes July 31st. 1781
By our letter of the 3d: August ulto. we have made bold to recommend to your Care a Packet of letters &c. from the State of Virginia directed to Mr. Philip Mazzei. Having not reach’d the hands of that Gentleman, he has apply’d to us several times to know what was become of them. Be so kind Sir to acquaint us whether they have been forwarded to the directed; as they are both of great Consequence to him & Sd: State, we should be happy to receive your Answer./.
We are with Great Respect Sir Your most obedient & very humble servants
PENET D’ACOSTA FRERES & Co.
His Excellency the Honble. Dr. Franklin

Addressed: A Son Excellence / Son Excellence Monsieur / le Dr. Franklin, Ministre / Plénipotentiaire des 13 Etats Unis de / l’amérique &c. / A Passy / Près Paris
Notation: Penet Dacosta freres & Co. Nantes July 31. 1781


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Durand de Las Bordas, [c. July 1781]
From: Durand de Las Bordas, ——
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Monsieur.
[c. July, 1781]
En passant par Turin, Mr. Le Bon. De choiseul ambassadeur De france me remit L’incluse avec recommandation de vous La faire parvenir, pour ne porter aucun retardement dans L’Execution de Ses Vuës, je vous L’adresse par La petite poste. Je me reserve de vous faire ma cour au premier moment favorable, je desire Sincerement de faire votre connoissance et vous me ferés Beaucoup de plaisir de m’en procurer L’occasion.
Je Suis avec Respect Monsieur Votre très-humble et très-obéissant Serviteur.
DurandCapne. d’infanterie consulde france hotel D’artoisRuë Guénégaud fbg. st G.

Notation: Durand


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from [Thomas Pownall], July 1781
From: Pownall, Thomas
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dr Sir.
London July 81
I receiv’d Your Letter & also one from Lewis’ Evans daughter— wishing that She might receive some remittance from the Profitts of the sale of the Maps & Topographicall Description of N America— which I published with that intent, & gave to Mr Almon on that Condition—& to mark that to be so made express mention of the purpose in the preface. I answered your Letter directly, told the ministers of this Country that I had written to You & Show’d Lord G G my letter & beg him to forward it— The purport was (which repeat lest you should not have received) to desire you to Write to Almon—to whom I spoke & who promised me to remitt what He could then afford—. I never could gett exactly satisfyed as to the Number of Copies wch he printed off— I have been told 750–1000, & this day a Person told me a greater number— I am no judge of the Cost of rolling off the Mapps & of Printing the Copies of the Work—but He sold them at 10/6 each— Since He has retired from Trade I desired He would send me what remained in his hands. He has sent a parcell said to contain fourscore or ninety Copies— Now if You think the sale of those here or in France can turn to any account for the poor Woman—only say where you would have them sent & I will send You— But I think that You or She ought to Write to Mr Almon to desire to know what remittance he can afford to make—except having a few copies to give to friends I never did or will receive sixpence from this Publication— The Sale certainly has been great—. The moment I received her letter I went to Mr Almon & repeated my instances with him & He promised to remitt— I wrote to her to tell her so & recommended her by letter or by some agent to apply to Mr Almon— I have never heard anything from Your or from her since—& therefore must suppose the letters to have miscarried— I send this by a friend who I know will deliver it safe— He is a Man of perfect honor a Man of Affairs—& one to whom I would trust my life & honor— It is my friend Mr Hobart—
I wish to God You & I could meet. I do think we might strike out something that might arrest the ruin at least if not avert it which hangs over both Countries which we both for more than thirty years were endeavoring to prevent coming on— If you should see my friend He could explain to you my Idea & if You should think anything might be made of it I could meet you at Bruxells or any other place thereabouts. I am going upon a tour of amusement next week to Antwerp & Bruxells— I think having opened thus much to you—I ought to assure which I do as a Man of honor & pledge my honor to you—that I have no connections not the most distant with Government Administration nor Opposition—. My friend can & will if you should see him confirm this [to] you— I am sure that my Idea (barring any new unforeseen events) would be feasible on one side the Water at least— & if all things of which I used to have ideas on the other are not reversed, I think might be made to suit the other side also— If you do not chose as I think you would not to putt pen to paper on any subject like this my friend can communicate your Answer—at least so farr as to bring us togather— Your old friend of Twenty five Years Standing

Notation: Vaughan, London, July 1781.—


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 1 August 1781
From: Adams, John
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir,
Amsterdam August 1st. 1781.
Upon my Arrival here I found your Letter of the 30th. of June, Copy of which had been sent along to me by Mr. Thaxter to Paris, but by some unaccountable means sent back without being delivered to me.
Many Bills had been presented in my Absence, and at first I was at a loss whether to accept them, until further Advice from You. But considering they had lain here near a Month, and that detaining them longer unaccepted would occasion some disagreable Speculation here, and observing by your Letter, that the stopping of the Specie in Holland was the Condition upon which You meant to pay them, I have ventured to accept them all.— Inclosed is a List of all the Bills hitherto accepted since the former list transmitted to You.
Inclosed is also another Number of the Politique Hollandais.
The Ship is not yet sailed, but We are now told She is to sail in a few days, which at least I hope will prove true.
I have the Honor to be, Your Excellency’s most obedient humble Servant.
J. Adams.
His Excellency Dr. Franklin.

Notation: J. Adams. Augt 1. 1781


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Trumbull, 2 August 1781
From: Trumbull, Jonathan
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
Hartford 2nd. August 1781.
I presume you are not ignorant of the imprisonment of my son John Trumbull in London,— I trust you have used your interest for his release, such confinement may prove very prejudicial to his health— I hoped it would not have been so long, he may want money have enclosed for that end, a bill of Exche. for thirteen hundred and fifty livres—and ask the favour of you to supply him with that Sum, whatever he wants further please to advance, it shall be punctually be remitted on advice thereof; enclosed is a letter to him please to forward in such manner as is convenient—
I am, with every sentiment of Esteem and Regard Sir Your most obedient hble Servant
Jonth; Trumbull

His Excellency Benja. Franklin LLD—

Notation: Tho: Trumbull 2. Augt. 1781.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 4 August 1781
From: Williams, Jonathan Jr.
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear & hond. sir
Nantes 4th. Augst. 1781.—
The Brig Sally Capn. Worth arrived Yesterday from Rhodisland to my address and brings the inclosed Letters for Your Excy. which I take the earliest oppertunity of forwarding. She brings advise that the French Ship Segitaire with 10 Transports had arrived with troops who join’d the Count of Rochambeau’s Army— & no other Newse of consequence. I am ever Dear & hond sir
Jona Williams J

Notation: J. Williams 4 Augt 81


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph-Mathias Gérard de Rayneval, 5 August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Gérard de Rayneval, Joseph-Mathias

Sir
Passy, Augt 5. 1781.
With this I send the Accounts of the Clothing that went in the Marquis de la Fayette; of which there is an Abridgement on a separate Paper. There went also in the same Ship 100 Tons of Saltpetre, about 1500 Barrels of Gunpowder, and the Remainder of 1500 Fusils, Part having been sent in the Ariel.
With sincere Esteem, I have the honour to be, Sir, Your humble Sert
B Franklin
M. De Raynevalle.

Endorsed: M franklin


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 6 August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Adams, John

Sir,
Passy. Augt. 6. 1781
I some time since gave Orders as you desired to Mr. Grand, to furnish you with a Credit in Holland for the Remainder of your Salary to November next. But I am now told that your Account having been mixt with Mr. Dana’s, he finds it difficult to know the Sum due to you. Be pleased therefore to State your Account for two Years, gving Credit for the Sums you have receiv’d, that an Order may be made for the Ballance.
Upon this Occasion it is right to acquaint you that I do not think we can depend on receiving any more money here applicable to the Support of the Congress Ministers. What Aids are hereafter granted, will probably be transmitted by the Government directly to America. It will therefore be proper to inform Congress, that Care may be taken to furnish their Servants by Remittances from thence.
I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin
His Excelly. John Adams Esqr

Endorsed: I have only Time to transmit to Congress, this Copy, for their Consideration. It requires no Comments from their most obedient Servant J. Adams. Amsterdam Aug. 15. 1781.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Moses Brown, 6 August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Brown, Moses

Sir,
Passy, Aug. 6. 1781
I received yours of the 23d past, acquainting me with your having taken a Brig bound to New York, & desiring to know if I had granted a Passport to one Benjamin Joy. On examining my Papers, I find that I did grant such a Pass-port on the Recommendation of a Mr Diggs, at that time an American Merchant residing in London, and in good Credit as a sincere & hearty Friend to the American Cause. I had therefore full Faith in his Recommendation: But as he has since prov’d a Villain, in defrauding our poor Prisoners in England during all last Winter of several Hundred Pounds I had put into his Hands to be distributed among them for their Relief, I have now no great Opinion of his Recommendation. As possibly the Trial of your Prize may not be determined before your Arrival, I send you Copies of the Papers, by which may be seen the Goods she was engag’d to carry; that so if her Cargo was of a different kind and fitter for the Market of New York, it may appear more clearly that she was bound thither. In which Case I wish you Joy of your Prize; and am Sir, Your most obedt humble Servant
Capt. Moses Brown, Amsterdam


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, 6 August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Dumas, Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric

Dear Sir,
Passy, Aug. 6. 1781.
I have receiv’d several Letters from you lately inclosing others for the President of Congress; and for Spain, all of which are sealed & forwarded, except the last for the President containd in yours of the 26th. past, which shall go by the first Opportunity. The Reading of those Letters gave me much Information, and therefore Pleasure: tho’ since the fixing of Mr. Adams there, I do not attend so much to the affairs of your Country as before, expecting indeed but little from it to our Advantage: For tho’ it was formerly in the same Situation with us, and was glad of assistance from other Nations, it does not seem to feel for us, or to have the least Inclination to help us. It appears to want Magnanimity. Some Writer, I forget who, says, that Holland is no longer a Nation, but a great Shop; and I begin to think it has no other Principles or Sentiments but those of a Shopkeeper. You can judge of it better than me, and I shall be happy to find myself mistaken. You will oblige me however by continuing the History either directly to me, or in your Letters to Congress; but when you enclose a sealed Letter in another to me, please to observe to place the second Seal on one Side, and not directly over the first; because the Heat of the second is apt to deface the Impression of the first, and to attach the Paper to it, so as to endanger tearing the enclos’d in opening the Cover.
With best Wishes for your Health & Prosperity, I am ever, Dear Sir, Your affectionate Friend and humble Servant.
B Franklin

P.S. I pity the Writer of the enclos’d, tho’ I have no other Acquaintance with him, than having seen him once at Hanover, where he then seemed to live genteely and in good Credit. I cannot conceive what should reduce him to such a Situation, as to engage himself for a Soldier. If you can procure him any Friends among the Philosophers of your Country, capable of relieving him, I wish you would do it. If not, and he must go to the Indies, please to give him three or four Guineas for me, to buy a few Necessaries for his Voyage.
  Mr. Dumas


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Jean de Neufville & fils, 6 August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Neufville, Jean de, & fils

Gentlemen,
Passy, Aug 6. 1781
I received your favour of the 23d past, inclosing a Pacquet for me. I am much obliged by your Care in forwarding it.— If the Vessel taken by Capt. Brown was really bound to New York, she will prove a good Prize; tho’ it was represented to me that she was bound to Virginia. The Nature of her Cargo will determine the Point: For if she was laden with coarse Woolens & Linnens fit for Soldiers Clothing, with Sail Duck, Cordage, and other Goods necessary for the publick use of the United States, as she was engaged to be, Virginia would have been a much better Market than New York. But if her Cargo was better suited to New York, it is clear she was bound there; and since Digges, who recommended that Benjamin Joy to me, has turn’d out such a Villain, I have no great Opinion of his Recommendation. Please to inform me what has detain’d the South Carolina, after the Sailing of your Fleet; and whether she is ever like to get out.
With great Regard, I have the honour to be, Gentlemen
Messrs Jean Neuville & Sons


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from the Comtesse de Golowkin, [before 8 August 1781]
From: Golowkin, Wilhelmina von Mosheim, comtesse de
To: Franklin, Benjamin

[before August 8, 1781]
Je reçois enfin, mon cher Papa la reponse de la personne que j’avois chargè [de] me procurer un Exemplaire de l’ouvrage de L’Abbè Raynal; dites moi, je vous prie, si vous le voulès, et il seras chez vous demain matin, ou si vous preferès d’attendre. J’en sais un autre in 8vo. papier superfin 154 l.t. Je trouve tout cela fort cher, mais ce sonts les circonstances, il est presqu’impossible de s’en procurer dans ce moment. Beaucoup de peines, de chagrins et d’inquietudes, m’onts empechès mon cher Papa, de vous porter moi-même cette reponse, et de vous dire que je vous aimerai toujour tendrement.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Penet, D’Acosta frères & Cie., 8 August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Penet, D’Acosta frères & Cie.

Gentlemen,
Passy 8. Augt. 1781.
I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 31. past. The Packet you sent me for Mr. Mazzei has been by his Direction, deliver’d to M. Favi, Chargé des Affaires du Duc de Toscane, at this Court.
I have the Honour to be, Gentlemen Your &c.
Messrs. Penet, D’acosta freres & Co.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from the Comtesse de Golowkin, [c. 8 August 1781]
From: Golowkin, Wilhelmina von Mosheim, comtesse de
To: Franklin, Benjamin

[c. August 8, 1781]
Je vous souhaite le bon jour, mon cher Papa, et vous embrasse tendrement, me voilà dans de nouvelles inquiètudes, on parle d’un combat entre Mr. de Rochambeau, et le General Clinton, d’autres disent Lincoln; c’est-il vrai, mon bon Papa? Je ne veux croire que vous— Si je n’ètois obligeè d’aller à Paris, j’aurai ètè vous dire un petit bon jour; quand voulès vous me permettre de vous porter ma lettre? Je vous tourmente bien, mais je vous aime beaucoup, aimès moi aussi un peu—
Ce. G.

Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Francklin / à Paris


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from the Comtesse de Rochambeau, 8 August 1781
From: Rochambeau, Jeanne-Thérèse de Telles d’Acosta, comtesse de
To: Franklin, Benjamin

au palais roïal le 8. aoust. [1781]
Mde. La Ctesse. de Rochambeau prie Monsieur le docteur francklin d’avoir La Bonté de luy mander ce qu’il peut dire dune nouvelle que les Banqiers debitent depuis deux jours qui Leurs est venu par Londres qui est que Mr. clainton etant allé attaquer Mr. le cte. de rochambeau dans ces retranchemens en a été vivement repoussé et qu’il a perdu 1500 hommes.

Notation: Mde. La Comtesse de Rochambeau.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from William Robeson, 9 August 1781
From: Robeson, William
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
Ostend Augt 9h 1781
Having at lenght arrived here after a Most distressd and Naked Condition Since our Capture in the Marquis DLa Fayette.

Imediately on my landing here without a Suffient Sum to bring Me on—I made application to a Mr. John Fottrell Who Was so Politely Obliging as to Advance me the Sum of three Gineuas Which I am to Request the favour of your Excellency to pay on demand, I am this Instant preping to set off and Shall loose no time in paying my Respects to you at Passy— I have the Honor to be With the highest Respect your Excellency— Most Ob. H Sert
Wm Robeson


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from John Bondfield, 10 August 1781
From: Bondfield, John
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
Bordeaux 10 Aug 1781
I receivd in due course the honor of yours of the 30th inclosing two Bills [for] your acceptance for seven Thousand five hundred Livres.
Agreable to your desire I have inclosed the Account of Cannon as before trasmitted also the Founders Account for the Cannon shipt on Account of the States on board the Marquis de La fayette. I have also inclosed to you the Founders receipt for the Cannon Cast by order of Capt. Paul Jones which being Cast conformable to his perticular instructions were shorter by many Inches than them Cast for the States and as you may observe by the Founders Accts. weighd 4100 lb less than them for the States. Mr De Chaumont has the less room to complain as he received in Exchange the heavy Cannon for the Guns he shipt for you by the Alliance and further to Satisfie Mr De chaumont who appeard doubtful of the Exactitude of the Account I transmitted him an Attested Certificate of the justness of Steelyards with which they were weighd which I orderd from the Foundery as also a Certificate of my Clerk who attended the weighing of the Cannon at Lorment [Lorient]. I know not the Cause but Mr De Chaumont has admitted his Acceptance to stand protested for Twelve Thousand Livres which I have advanct for that concern besides a further ballance due me.
Two American privateers Cruissing in the Bay of Biscay discoverd a Cutter whose superior sailing put it out of their power to speak her as a decoy they engaged each other the One under American the other under English Colours the Cutter bore down to assist her supposed Friend and coming under the Quarter of the Ship with Eng Colours the privateer bore round and put the Cutter betwixt them Obliged her to strike. She proved an aviso from Rodney the Officer destroyd the dispatches the Cutter is sent into Bilboa.
An American Vessel from Port au Prince was chast on Shore Sunday last by an English Frigate in sight of Bayonne. The Bullets of the Enemy upward of 200 have been colected on the Shore the Ship will be totaly lost. It reflects greatly against the Superindt. of the Marine that with so superior a force the Coasts on this side to be exposed to the ravages of the Enemy which may be guarded with moderate Vigilence.
Permit me to congratulate you on the Establishment of a Board of Finance to which our Worthy Friend Mr Rob Morris is appointed Superintendt. in whose hands we cannot doubt of the Greatest Vigilence perceverance & prevoyance.
With due respect I have the Honor to be Sir Your most Obed Humb serv
John Bondfield

Notation: J. Bondfield 10. Augt. 1781.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from the Comtesse d’Houdetot, 10 August 1781
From: Houdetot, Elisabeth-Françoise-Sophie de La Live de Bellegarde, comtesse d’
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Le 10. Aoust 1781.
On M’avait donné ce printems mon Cher docteur l’Esperance de Vous Voir un jour a Sanois, dans le lieu ou je Conserve du moins le souvenir des momens que vous avez Bien Voulu y passer Et ou je Cultive toujours avec un tendre interest Le monument que Vous y avez Laissé de Votre passage. Les pertes que jay faittes Et les Circonstances ou je me suis trouvée ne m’ont pas permis D’aller Cette année Vous dire Chez Vous même mon Empressement de Vous Revoir Chez moy; Et de Cultiver les sentimens dont Vous m’aviez flattée. M’Est-il permis mon Cher docteur de les Reclamer a L’occasion D’un Americain qui Vient D’arriver Et qui doit Vous Estre presenté Et Recommandé Deja; il Est français d’origine mais Etably depuis Long-tems dans Vôtre paÿs sous la protection de vos Loix auquel il Est fidele. Il Est Venû icy Voir Sa famille apres avoir perdu La plus grande partie de son Bien par la guerre presente, il s’appelle Crevecœur Et est le fils d’un amy de plus de vingt ans de mon Mary Et de moy. Je vous demande pour luy toutte la Bonté Et la protection qui Seront En Vôtre pouvoir Et que les Circonstances pourront permettre. Je ne puis Rien ajouter Mon Cher Docteur aux Sentimens D’attachement Et de Veneration que Vous m’avez inspirés que le Regret de ne pouvoir autant que je le Voudrais Vous En Renouveller l’assurance. C’est avec Ces Sentimens mon Cher Docteur que je M’honore D’Estre pour toutte ma Vie Votre tres humble Et tres obeissante servante.
Vouléz Vous Bien Adresser Votre Reponse Ruë st. honoré pres la place de Vendôme.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 12 August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Adams, John

Sir,
Passy Augt. 12. 1780 [i.e., 1781]
Since my last of the 6th. Inst. there have been several Arrivals in France from America. I have Letters from Philda. of the 20th. June, tho’ none from Congress. The Advices are, that General Green has taken all the Enemy’s Out Posts in So. Carolina & Georgia, and that their Possession in those Provinces is reduc’d to Charlestown and Savannah. In North Carolina they also have Wilmington. Their Great Force is now under Cornwallis in Virginia, where they are ravaging & burning as usual, M. de la Fayette not being in force to repress them: But Genl. Wayne was on his March to reinforce him, and had passed Annapolis.
I have received the Letter from your Excellency inclosing a List of the Bills you have lately accepted. I think you did right in accepting them, and hope they are the last that the Congress will draw, ’till they know you have Funds to pay them.
I have the honour to be, with Respect, Sir, Your Excellency’s Most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin
His Exy. John Adams Esqr:


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Coffyn, 12 August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Coffyn, Francis

Sir
Passy, Augt 12. 1781
I have received several Letters lately which you did me the honour of writing to me, containing Receipts of escaped American Prisoners for the Sums with which you had furnish’d them. I am much oblig’d by the continued kind Care you have shown to our People on these Occasions, and shall pay the Bill you mention as soon as it appears. You will send me your Account at your Leisure.—
Mr Wharton has written a long Letter to Dr Bancroft, dated the 20th of June, containing Reasons why the Goods had not been then sold, but that they would soon be sold and Remittances made. I have requested the Dr to write to you a full Account of the Letter, which I suppose he will do.—
With great Esteem, I have the honour to be Sir,
Mr. Coffin


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, [12] August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Dumas, Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric

Dear Sir,
Passy, Augt. [12] 1781.
Inclos’d I send you a late Paper rec’d from Rhodeisland. You will see in it the advantages our Troops have gain’d in South Carolina. Later Advices directly from Philadelphia, say, that the Enemy have now nothing left in Georgia, but Savannah; in South Carolina, but Charlestown; nor in North Carolina but Wilmington. They are however in Force in Virginia, where M. de la Fayette has not sufficient Strength to oppose them till the arrival of the Reinforcements which were in March to join him from Maryland and Pensilvania.
In looking over my last to you, I apprehend I may have express’d myself perhaps a little too hardly of your Country: I foresee you will tell me that we have many Friends there, I once thought So too. But I was a little out of humour when I wrote, on understanding that no Loan could be obtained there for our Use, tho’ the Credit of this Kingdom was offered to be engaged for assuring the Payment, & so much is lent freely to our Enemies. You can best tell the Reason it will be well not to let my Letter be seen.
I am, ever, Dear Sir, Your faithful Friend, and humble Servant
B Franklin
M. Dumas


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to ——— Epidorge, 12 August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Epidorge, ——

Sir,
Passy, Aug 12. 1781
I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 31st of last Month, inclosing the Procurations of the Voluntiers. I shall forward them by the first good Opportunity, to Mr. Richard Bache, Merchant at Philadelphia, and shall recommend it earnestly to him, to take the proper Steps for recovering & remitting what may be found due to those poor People. I have the honour to be Sir,
M. Epidorge ancien Greffier militaire de la Place de Dunkerque

Notation in Franklin’s hand: Cunningham’s People


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Johnson, 12 August 1781
From: Johnson, Thomas
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear sir.
Maryland 12 Augt 1781.
Mr. Ridley is about returning to France in prosecution of his private Affairs and impowered to transact some Business for this State your Acquaintance with him in France must have given you favourable Impressions of him— I have known him a long Time and he is one of the very few for the promoting whose Views I would request your Countenance.
I am dear Sir With great Regard Your most obedt Servant
Th Johnson

Addressed: His Excellency / Benjamin Franklin / Paris / Favr. of Mr Ridley
Endorsed: Recommendation of Mr Ridley from Govr Johnson


Title: Jean-Louis Giraud Soulavie: Account of a Conversation with Franklin, [12 August 1781]
From: Soulavie, abbé Jean-Louis Giraud
To:

The present document is taken from an account of conversations between Franklin and the abbé Soulavie in 1781 and 1782, which the abbé published twenty years later. Although it is unlikely that Franklin spoke these exact words, the manner of expression and the approach to the discussion are recognizably his. Moreover, these early conversations did result in a collaboration of sorts. Franklin helped the abbé publish the piece of political propaganda that he urges him here to write. And when Soulavie was preparing to publish a later volume of his Histoire naturelle de la France méridionale, he asked to include Franklin’s observations on the theory of the earth as discussed here.

[August 12, 1781]
 … Un article du courier de l’Europe, qui excita la curiosité de B. Franklin, de M. de Vergennes et de Louis XVI, fit connaître en 1781, des projets d’une autre nature de la part de la cour d’Angleterre, contre la France. Ce que j’ai à dire à cet égard, mérite si bien d’être conservé, que je vais rapporter mot à mot, les faits tels que je les conservai en rédigeant, dans le tems, ma conférence avec M. Franklin, qui eut lieu le 12 août 1781, à-peu-près en ces termes:
“B. FRANKLIN. On a annoncé le tome troisième de votre histoire naturelle de la France méridionale dans le dernier courier de l’Europe, avez-vous lu cet article, vous le trouverez très-amical et très-favorable: voilà la feuille.
SOULAVIE. Je la lirai volontiers.
B. FRANKLIN. Dans votre première livraison, je désirerais qu’après avoir bien réfléchi sur un phénomène inconnu des naturalistes, vous en donnassiez au public une explication plausible. On dit d’un côté, que la mer se retire; d’un autre, on assure qu’elle diminue et qu’elle descend de son niveau. Ici, on assure que la masse de ses eaux s’élève et augmente; tandis que je puis vous assurer que les roches de Derbyshire sont farcies de coquilles d’huitres et élevées au-dessus du niveau de la mer; d’un autre côté, la roche des mines de charbon de Whitehaven, toute herborisée, est autant au-dessous que l’autre est au-dessus du même niveau. Comment concevoir deux révolutions opposées, dans le même voisinage? Ce qui vivait dans l’air, est sous les eaux de la mer, et ce qui vivait sous les eaux de la mer, est stationné au-dessus. Réfléchissons en silence sur ces révolutions contradictoires.
(M. Franklin était infiniment posé et réservé dans ses conversations. Ses réponses étaient souvent précédées de plusieurs minutes de méditation et de silence. On admirait dans ce momentlà le calme de cet homme célèbre, dont l’attitude et la figure étaient pleines de dignité. Après ce repos, il rompait le silence par des observations pleines de sens, ou par une phrase qui était la solution d’une difficulté.)
B. FRANKLIN. Il faut dans le cas présent:
1°. Ou que la mer ait conservé son niveau:
2°. Ou que la mer ait haussé:
3°. Ou que la mer ait diminué.
Dans le premier cas, c’est la roche coquillière qui s’est élevée, et la roche herborisée qui a descendu.
Dans le second cas, la roche herborisée peut être restée en place; la roche coquillière se sera élevée au-dessus de son ancienne position.

Dans le troisième cas, l’inverse du second aura été effectué; la mer aura diminué, sa vase coquillière sera restée en station hors de son sein, et la roche herborisée se sera précipitée. Dans tout cela, il arrive comme dans le monde moral. Un continent devient vieux: un autre continent rajeunit et se perfectionne. Mais le continent perfectionné corrigera l’autre à son tour. Les monarchies deviennent des républiques par voie de restauration: les républiques deviennent des monarchies par dégradation, et l’auteur du Courrier de l’Europe précité, aussi curieux que je le suis et qu’on l’a été chez moi au thé, vous demande de lui faire connaître cet ennemi naturel de la monarchie française, qui a voulu établir un état protestant et républicain, dans le sein de vos mantagnes méridionales.
SOULAVIE. Je mettrai sous vos yeux les pièces relatives à ce projet, qui nous font perdre de vue le plus beau phénomène, celui des roches coquillières au-dessus, et des roches herborisées audessous du niveau de la mer. Vous avez passé vos jeunes ans à scruter les secrets de la nature, ils vous sont aussi familiers que ceux de la diplomatie; vous avez développé le mécanisme relatif de la descente ou de l’ascension des roches coquillières et herborisées; je pense que pour approfondir ces observations, il serait nécessaire de dépecer l’état de la question, et d’examiner tous les cas et l’alternative des possibilités.
B. FRANKLIN. Cet examen demande de la réflexion. Voyons chacun de notre côté, ce qu’il y a de plus naturel dans tout ceci. Est-il plus naturel que la terre descende ou s’élève? ou bien est-il probable que la terre ait éprouvé des vicissitudes?
(Ici B. Franklin réfléchit, garde le silence pendant huit à dix minutes; après quoi il développe les observations, la théorie, les vues générales d’un ingénieux et profond physicien, qu’on trouvera dans notre correspondance, trop étrangère au chapitre actuel; mais après avoir exposé ses opinions à cet égard, il revint à la politique, demandant le développement des projets de l’Angleterre, indiqué dans le Courrier de l’Europe.)

“SOULAVIE. Il est certain que la France et l’Angleterre, depuis des siècles, n’ont pas signé des traités de paix, mais des trèves. Et si jamais j’avais quelque influence sur l’esprit du ministre des affaires étrangères, je lui persuaderais, pour son honneur, non pas d’intituler sa convention traité de paix, mais bien Convention D’UNE TREVE. En pleine paix la France faisait une guerre effective et secrète à l’Angleterre, en soutenant en secret les insurgens; et l’Angleterre depuis des siècles nous en faisait une en soulevant les protestans qu’elle voulait rendre républicains et indépendans sur les hautes montagnes des Cévennes et du Vivarais, mon pays.
B. FRANCKLIN. Je ne crois pas que M. de Vergennes fût indifférent sur cette découverte. Le roi qui aime l’histoire de son pays et celle d’Angleterre, et qui s’en occupe, verrait avec satisfaction un travail de cette nature.
SOULAVIE. Mais aussi les protestans et l’Angleterre, dans le moment où nous parlons, ne pourraient l’approuver.
B. FRANCKLIN. Les protestans, comme le dit à Londres l’auteur de l’article du Courrier de l’Europe, sont aujourd’hui bons citoyens: ils sont soumis au roi, amis des talens et impartiaux sur leur histoire orageuse des siècles passés.
SOULAVIE. Mais, vous-même M. Francklin qui devez aimer les protestans comme l’ami de la liberté; vous, qui êtes le fondateur de la liberté républicaine en Amérique; vous, qui faites profession d’être ami de la France qui développe en ce moment toutes ses forces pour arborer en Amérique l’étendart de la liberté et de l’indépendance, vous ne pouvez qu’approuver beaucoup dans le fond de votre ame, que l’Angleterre ait voulu, au profit de la liberté, démembrer la France en créant, comme elle l’a essayé, un état républicain et protestant sur les plateaux supérieurs de nos hautes montagnes.

B. FRANCKLIN. Si j’étais français, cevenol, montagnard, protestant, sujet de Louis XVI, et tourmenté par ses dragons, je préférerais de conserver ma patrie au déplaisir d’aller chercher en Prusse ou en Angleterre, dans un climat étranger la protection d’un souverain; mais nous en sommes à un point d’histoire déjà éloigné et dont le développement servirait à démontrer la justice de la guerre actuelle, par la voie de représailles de la part de la France, puisqu’elle rend à l’Angleterre l’injure que l’Angleterre s’était permise en se mêlant de ses affaires intérieures et en suscitant une religion dissidente dans l’état contre le chef de l’état; j’aime, sans doute, la liberté, et j’estime un état républicain; mais le ministre d’une république dévoué à sa patrie, sait oublier ses affections pour plaire à une monarchie qui nous rend des services; ainsi, considérant l’entreprise des anglais, comme une entreprise aussi téméraire que coupable, je recevrai avec reconnaissance votre travail, et si vous me donnez une lettre pour M. de Vergennes, je la lui présenterai et je la ferai valoir autant que le mérite un travail de cette importance.
SOULAVIE. J’aurai l’honneur de vous remettre la lettre; mais je ne suis pas aussi porté que vous, à croire que l’entreprise des anglais, par le moyen des protestans, soit aussi téméraire que vous vous le persuadez. Sans doute, les protestans sont paisibles, et vivront en repos, parce que l’état de son côté les laisse en repos; mais nous avons en France des protestans d’une autre nature, je parle du peuple ignorant qui est foulé d’impôts, et je parle du peuple éclairé qui est mécontent: Je vais M. Francklin, vous dire deux mots qui méritent les plus profondes méditations, et dix minutes de silence spéculatif de la part du ministre des Etats-Unis de l’Amérique. Le parti qui désire et le parti qui a horreur d’un nouvel ordre de choses, s’accordent à dire que la France, un jour, éprouvera un bouleversement pire que celui de l’Amérique. Je parle du clergé de France qui a dit à Louis XV officiellement avant sa mort, qu’il se préparait dans l’état une révolution comparable à celle d’Angleterre; je parle des philosophes qui en désirent une et qui la préparent contre la religion. Je parle enfin nominativement de M. de Buffon, qui m’a dit au mois de décembre 1778, qu’elle commencerait contre le clergé de France; et qui m’a engagé à prendre garde à moi.
B. FRANCKLIN. La France est un état fortement constitué, je ne doute pas qu’elle en résiste long-tems à l’esprit du changement qui ruine tous les états. Je pense donc que ni vous ni moi ne verrons de la vie les bouleversemens dont vous parlez, sur-tout parce que le continent est également vieux dans toutes ses parties, et que la France est le plus jeune des états et le plus robuste. Les protestans d’un autre côté, ne sont pas les amis assurément d’une constitution de l’état à la tête duquel se trouve un corps qui l’a beaucoup maltraité; mais ils ne voudraient pas livrer leur frêle existence au danger des séditions; ils n’ont plus le caractère turbulent qu’ils témoignèrent avant la civilisation du règne de Louis XIV qui polit toutes les classes des français. Le gouvernement, ainsi que le clergé ne portent plus leur intolérance au point qu’ils la manifestèrent dans les siècles passés. Le ton [temps] d’écrire l’histoire des fautes commises à cet égard, par la cour et le clergé d’une part, et d’un autre côté par les protestans, est arrivé, et suivant mon avis, tout ce que l’Angleterre a fait contre la France pour soulever les protestans sous Louis XIV, est un point d’histoire qui ne me paraîtra infiniment intéressant à développer.
SOULAVIE. Sous le règne mémorable de Louis XIV, si dévoué aux jésuites, et si irrité contre les protestans, l’Angleterre employa les chefs de ces derniers à soulever nos pays Cévenols. Le prophète Jurieu, en 1689; les émissaires anglais de 1702; Cavalier, chef des camisards en 1703; Ravanel, en 1705; Dupont, en 1709; Justet de Vals, reçurent et administrèrent les sommes que l’Angleterre avait sacrifié aux prises d’armes qui eurent lieu. Il y a eu en 1740 à Vernoux des soulèvemens qui n’ont pas eu d’autre origine; mais sous Louis XIV, ils avaient pour but l’insurrection et l’indépendance républicaines.
B. FRANCKLIN. J’attends de vous une lettre à cet égard pour M. de Vergennes.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 16 August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Adams, John

Sir,
Passy Augt. 16 1781
I have the honour to inform your Excellency that I yesterday received Dispatches from Congress, refusing for the present, the Dismission I had requested, and ordering me upon an Additional Service, that of being join’d with yourself and Messrs. Jay, H. Lawrence and T. Jefferson, in Negociations for Peace. I would send you a Copy of the Commission, and of another which authorizes us to accept of the Mediation of the Emperor, and the Empress of Russia, but that I suppose you may have them in the enclosed Packet. I shall be glad to learn from your Excellency what Steps have already been taken in this important Business. With great Regard, I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin
His Excelly. J. Adams Esqr


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, 16 August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Dumas, Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric

Dear Sir,
Passy, Aug. 16. 1781.
We have News here that your Fleet has behaved bravely; I congratulate you upon it, most cordially.
I have just received a 14. 5. 3. 10. 28. 2. 76. 202: 66. 11. 12. 273, 50. 14. joining 76. 5. 42. 45. 16. 15. 424. 235. 19: 20. 69. 580. 11. 150. 27. 56. 35. 104. 652. 28. 675. 85. 79. 50. 63. 44. 22. 219. 17. 60. 29. 147. 136. 41. but this is not likely to afford 202. 55. 580. 10. 227. 613. 176. 373. 309: 4. 108. 40. 19. 97. 309. 17. 35. 90. 201. 100. 677.
By our last Advices our Affairs were in a pretty good train. I hope we shall soon have Advice of the Expulsion of the English from Virginia. I am ever, Dear Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Servant
B Franklin
Mr. Dumas


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Franklin Bache, 16 August 1781
From: Bache, Benjamin Franklin
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Mon cher grand papa
Genève ce 16 Aoust 1781
J’avoue qu’il y a bien longtemps que je ne vous ai écrit, mais je pense toujours cependant à vous je n’ai pas beaucoup de l’oisir pour vous écrire je sçais qu’il vous est impossible de m’écrire a cause de vos affaires mais j’aimerois pourtant bien avoir de vos nouvelles et je vous prie de m’en donner le plustôt qu’il vous sera possible et si vous n’aves pas le temps de le faire, priès mon Cousin de m’en donner; pour moi je suis toujours bien portant; je vous prie aussi de m’apprendre, si Cockran est toujours chez Monsieur le Cœur ou s’il est retourné en Amerique. Je m’amuse beacoup à Genéve je vais toujours chez madame Cramer qui a toujours bien des complaisances pour moi elle vous fait bien ses compliments. Je traduis Le spectateur que vous aves eu la bonté de m’envoyer et je trouve qu’il y a de très jolis morceaux et j’apprends le dessin et dans quelque temps je vous enverrai une piéce et mon Cousin sera juge. Monsieur et Mde de marignac vous assurent de leurs respects.
Mon très cher grand Papa j’ai Lhonneur d’êttre vôtre tres humble et très obeissant petit fils
B Franklin Bache
Mes respects, s’il vous plait à mon Papa et à ma Ma Ma quand vous leur écrirés


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Gourlade & Moylan, [16] August 1781
From: Gourlade & Moylan
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Honord Sir
L’Orient August [16,] 1781
We beg leave to hand you the suppliment acct. of the Alliance’s disbursments, with the charges for repairs of the Arms discharged from on board the Ariel and afterwards loaded on the Marquis de La fayette; in this acct. is comprehended three small omissions in accounts formerly furnished. We request you will have it examin’d and inform us whether it will be agreeable to you that we shou’d draw on you £3270 l.t. 14s. 10d. to which sum it amounts. We have the honor to be respectfully Honord Sir Your most obedient servants
Gourlade & MoylanGourlade & Moylan
The Honorable B. Franklin Esqr. Minister plenepotentiary from the united States of America.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Gabriel-Louis Galissard de Marignac, [16 August 1781]
From: Marignac, Gabriel-Louis Galissard de
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Monsieur,
[August 16, 1781]
Me Permettrés vous d’ajouter un mot à la lettre [torn: de] nôtre petit homme, je suis toujours content de lui, il se fait aimer de ceux, qui le connoissent, mais il a l’esprit un peu paresseux, & le Caractére haut, n’aimant pas qu’on le reprenne; la larme vient aussitôt à l’œil, quand j’ai quelque reproche à lui faire, je vous serai obligé de lui en écrire un mot, sans qu’il sache que je vous en ai averti; Je vous prie, Monsieur, de n’être point en peine, s’il tarde à vous écrire, comme je suis toujours obligé de lui rappeller son devoir à cet égard, je l’ai menacé de ne lui en plus parler, pour que vous puissiés juger dans la suite de sa reconnaissance & de son respect. J’ai l’honneur d’être avec la consideration la plus distinguée Monsieur Vôtre très humble & très obéissant Serviteur
G.L. De Marignac

Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin Ministre / Plénipoteniaire des Provinces unies / de L’Amérique auprès de Sa / Majesté très Chrétienne recommandée / à Monsieur Grand Banquier / ruë Montmartre / A Paris


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jean de Neufville & fils, 16 August 1781
From: Neufville, Jean de, & fils
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Honourd Sir!
Amsterdam the 16th. August 1781.
May we begg leave to thank your Excellency for her last Kind favour, we have delivred to Capn. Brown the inclosed, and he seemd much pleased that it was likely he should enjoy his prize; about the nature of which we had not heard so much before.
We do not know of anything which should detain Comor. Gillon from Sailing, he hath been waiting some days perhaps for Vessells that Were to go under his convoy; we wish they may all have a safe and speedy passage to America, and bring there the most agreable news of the old Dutch courage; if the report may be confirmd that the English should have lost two or three vessells, against [one] of ours that is sunk; the Victory should be the more glorious, and even if not; though we heard it for certain, the English won’t easily try their forces against us on equal terms, as they were now 230 pieces stronger with heavier metall in generall.
With all Regard we have the honour to be Honourd Sir. Your Excellencys most Obedient & most humble Servants
John DE Neufville & Son.

Notation: J. de Neufville & fils Augt. 16. 1781


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquise de Lafayette, [on or after 17 August 1781]
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Lafayette, Marie-Adrienne-Françoise de Noailles, marquise de

[on or after August 17, 1781]
M. Franklin a l’honneur de presenter ses Respects a Me la Marquise de la Fayette & la prie de vouloir bien s’interesser auprès de M. D’Aguesseau pour l’Affaire dont cy joint est une Notte. Cette affaire regarde une Famille très interressante qui merite a tous egards la Protection de Me De la Fayette.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 17 August 1781
From: Adams, John
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir,
Amsterdam August 17. 1781
The Day before Yesterday, were brought to my House, Fifty one Bills of Exchange, amounting to 40958 B. f. [Banco florins] all drawn on the 22 June 1781 at Six months Sight, on the Honble Henry Laurens Esqr, in favour of Mr John Ross.

This is a Pheenomenon which none but you Philosphers can explain, at least, I can think of but one Hypothesis, which might account for it.— It is, that they had received Information that I had gone to Vienna to make Peace,: had made it, and thereby obtained Mr Laurens’s Liberty, and his Removal to Holland,— and gone over to the Court of St James’s myself to be presented to the King of G. Britain. —Say! do I reason like one of the initiated? I am glad they made this discovery, because by this means, I am almost out of the Scrape, and should have been wholly So, had not an unlucky Letter from Mr Ross been produced, Copy of which is inclosed, in which Mr Ross desires Messrs Larwood Van Hasselt & Van Suchtelen “to present them for Acceptance to the Honble John Adams Esqr Representative at present from the United States at your Place, or to any of the Agents employed by him” &c.
Probably this may be, in Payment of the Debt to Mr Morris & Mr Ross which you found due to them upon Settlement.— However all conjectures are fruitless, as I have no Letter of Advice, or any Intimation concerning them. The Bills are drawn by Mr Hopkinson and countersignd by Mr Smith, like former ones, are indorsed by Mr Ross, and have all the appearances of Genuineness.—
Messrs Larwood & Co. have agreed to wait, untill I could write to your Excellency, to know whether you could pay them, and whether you would choose that I, or any other should accept them.— If you cannot pay them they must be protested, for my Loan is exactly in the State it was, when I had the Honour to give your Excellency an Account of it at Paris.— And although the Dutch have beat the English, they dont yet venture to lend Money to America. I have the Honour to be
His Excellency Benjamin Franklin Esqr


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Sir John Lambert, 17 August 1781
From: Lambert, Sir John
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Rue Richelieu 17 Augt. 1781.
Sir John Lambert presents his Respects to his Excellency Doctor Franklin and takes the Liberty to Send inclosed a Letter for Jh. Mayo Esqr. requesting his Excellency will be So Kind to have it delivered to that Gentleman if Known to his Excellency—


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 17 August 1781
From: Williams, Jonathan Jr.
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear & honoured Sir
Nantes Augt. 17. 1781.
I inclose you a Proposition which appears to me more advantageous than any thing that has yet been done in that Way. If you choose to engage for the supply of Arms I trust you will give me the Order; if the Goverment is to supply us, as I am sure they cannot have a better Offer, I doubt not they will give me the Commission if you will give in the Proposition. I request you will favour me with an Answer & am most respectfully Your dutifull & affectionate Kinsman
Jona Williams J
Doctor Franklin

Notation: Jona Williams. Augt. 17. 1781


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Lenoir, 19 August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Lenoir, Jean-Charles-Pierre

Sir,
Passy, Aug. 19. 1781
In October last, there came to me a Person who call’d himself Thierry de Lavau, a Frenchman, representing that he had lived some Years in America, had married there & acquired a small Fortune, & had left Virginia with his Wife to come to France, but that the Vessel foundered at Sea, that the People were saved by another Ship in Company, but that he lost 160 Hogsheads of Tobacco, & all his other Effects: that arriving at Bordeaux, he had left his Wife there, & came to Paris to seek Assistance from a Friend whom he could not find, & was then without Money to bear his Expences back to join his Wife. Pitying his Case as he stated it, I lent him Ten Louis d’ors, which he promis’d to repay me. But I soon after heard that he did not return to Bordeaux, but remain’d in Paris spending the Money with another Woman. His Wife has just now apply’d to me, complaining that having sent for her to Paris, he refuses to take any Care of her, & that being depriv’d by him of her Fortune & even of her Cloaths, she is without Money and starving. I am told that he lives at present by cheating others with false Pretences as he has done me. It seems therefore fit that I should give you this Notice of him. And I beg leave to recommend the Case of this poor Stranger to you, that her Husband may be compell’d to provide for her if he is able, and that her Mail at least may be restor’d to her. I have the honour to be, with great Respect Sir,
Mr. Le Noir,


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 20 August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Jay, John

Dear Sir,
Passy Augt. 20. 1781
I have before me several of your late letters, which tho’ not formally, have been substantially answered, by the Payment of your Bills.
I got our Banker to examine the Marquis’s Account, who explained it to me, and satisfy’d me that it was right. There are Intricacies in the Affair of Exchange, which neither you nor I well understand, and we are therefore under a Necessity of placing Confidence some where. If you are still in doubt about any Particular, I will get him to give me his Explanation in Writing, and send it to you.
We have, for the Convenience in Accounts, generally reckoned Louis as Pounds Sterling, the Difference being a Trifle. It is, however small, against the Congress, and therefore what we have no right to from their express’d Allowance. At the final Settlement of our Accounts, it will be easy to give Congress Credit in one Article thus, For the Difference between Louis receiv’d & Pounds Sterling at per Louis on Pounds Sterling. In truth I do not exactly know what the Difference is, and I am told it varies with the Exchange.
I have taken to my Account the fifty Louis you left in my Hands. My Grandson I suppose informs you what he has expended by your Orders.
In yours of the 31 of May, you complain of the want of regular Intelligence. I sympathise, because I suffer with you. I receive indeed a Number of Letters from Mr. Lovell, but they are very short, and mostly to acquaint me that he cannot write fully because the Committee of Correspondence are not easily got together. To many of my Letters I have never received any Answer. The Congress have wisely put their Finances into the Hands of one intelligent Person; I wish they would do the same with their Correspondence, by appointing a single Secretary for Foreign Affairs. I know nothing of what passes in America, but what I learn from their Newspapers or the English, or from the Ministers here, who are more early inform’d than I am even of what relates to myself; and it was by M. de V, that I first learnt the Congress had refused to grant my Request of Dismission from their Service.
In yours of May 31 you informed me, that Bills upon you had lately arrived, dated in march, and I answered that if you could not pay them they must be protested, as it would not be in my Power to help you. I had not then time to give you the Reasons, which are, that this Court being fatigued and displeas’d by my repeated Applications for more money to pay new & unexpected Demands of Bills drawn not only on me but on you, and Mr.  Laurens, & Mr. Adams &c. had ordered their minister at Philadelphia to remonstrate against this irregular Proceeding, & the Congress had promis’d him not to draw any more. This was I think in March. And on being help’d out of my last Difficulty, I have promis’d M. de Vergennes not to accept any Bills drawn on me after the first of April, if such there should be. And he has acquainted me explicitly that if I do accept such Bills I am not to expect any Assistance from him towards paying them. You see therefore that the thing will be impossible.
Mr. Vaughan is not indeed an American, but desires to become one. And the Constitutions of most if not all of the States, shew a Disposition to receive Strangers by making the Residence of one or two Years entitle them to all the Privileges of Denizens, without a formal Naturalisation. My Brother Ministers here I believe considered themselves as vested with Consular Powers, and to be therefore capable of administring an Oath, and I have continued the practice, conceiving them to be better Lawyers than myself. I did not consider the matter in the Lights you state it; I think your Objections reasonable, and I wish the Congress would give some Instructions about it. On Reflection however, there seems to me some Difference between Requiring an Oath, & being Witness to the taking of an Oath. He that requires another to take an Oath, ought to be vested with Authority for so doing. But when a man is pleas’d to take an Oath voluntarily, may not any other Person testify its being done in his Presence? This I apprehend is the Case of those which have been taken before us. I have not heard lately from the young Gentleman. Pray is he still in Spain?
I received a Letter from Silas Talbot, & Mr. Adams, another, similar to that of which you sent me a Copy, all of which were I imagine written about the same time. I am sorry for his Misfortunes, but I do not think it would be right for me to furnish him with the Sum he desires. There are hundreds in the same Situation, and if I were to comply with his Request, how could I refuse the others? and if I were willing to gratify them all, where should I find the Money? It is easy for any man to write me a Letter, & tell me that Congress is indebted to him: I cannot deny his Assertion because I know nothing to the contrary; but my Ignorance of the Fact, and my Want of Orders, if I knew it, make it improper for me to pay such Debts. You can have no Conception of the sums that have been drawn from me by these Applications: and I have at length come to a Resolution to make no difference on Account of Rank among the Prisoners, because I know nothing of their Ranks, but to consider them all as Men, & relieve them equally as far as lies in my Power. There are a few of them, who if I should answer their Demands, would engross all the Money that I can spare, live like Gentlemen, and starve their poor Companions in Captivity. There are no People so improvident as Seamen. We have had several Instances, when they have been furnished with Money to bear their Expences to a Seaport, they have staid in Paris ’till it was spent, and then demanded more. Others riotously spend the whole Sum given them for the Journey in a few of the first Days, and beg their way for the rest. I assure you that none have apply’d to me for Relief without receiving what was reasonable and sufficient. Many have obtain’d more, and abus’d it. The Conduct of their Countrymen the Sea Captains at the Ports towards them, I cannot be accountable for: There may be some Instances of such hard heartedness; but in general I believe those People are rather kind to one another; and sometimes it has not been in a Captain’s Power to take all that claim’d a Passage with him, having neither sufficient Room nor Provisions.
There is a need of some Person in Lisbon, to take Care of and assist poor American Seamen, who are often carried in & left there by the Enemy’s Cruisers. As you are more at hand than I am, I wish you would appoint some Person there for that Purpose. The French Consul has kindly offered, (as you will see by his Letter enclos’d) to superintend the Business and examine the Accts. &c. I send you open the Letter I have written to him on the Subject, which please to forward, writing at the same time yourself, if you have no Objection to complying with my Request.
Digges, a Maryland Merchant residing in London, who pretended to be a zealous American, and to have much Concern for our poor People in the English Prisons, drew upon me for their Relief at different Times last Winter to the amount of 495£ Sterling, which he said had been drawn for upon him by the Gentlemen at Portsmouth and Plymouth, who had the Care of the Distribution. To my utter Astonishment I have since learnt, that the Villain had not apply’d above 30£ of the Money to that Use, & that he has fail’d & absconded!!
The other Day a Gentleman just arrived from America pressing me to accept immediately some Bills he presented to me, I excus’d myself on Account of the Necessity I found of carefully examining all Bills by the Book we kept of Acceptances, to see that none of a Set had already been presented; and that as a great Number had come upon our hands at once by the late Arrivals, it might be two or three Days before we could get thro’ the Examination so as to come at his Bills in their Turn. He agreed in the Propriety of this, because he said he had heard at Nantes, that two Bills of the same Set had been presented to Mr. Jay at different times, and that he had accepted them both. Perhaps this Mistake has already been made known to you and rectified; but I thought it right to acquaint you with what I had heard. Not a Week passes in which some such Impositions are not attempted to be put upon me: but our Accounts are kept in so good a Method, that it is scarce possible those Attempts should succeed.

I have just received a Commission joining yourself, Mr. Presidt Laurens, Govr. Jefferson, and me, with Mr. Adams, and drecting us to repair to such Place as may be appointed for Conferrences upon Peace, and to negociate & agree upon the Terms in behalf of the Congress. Also another Commission impowering us to accept in behalf of Congress, the Mediation of the Emperor of Germany & Empress of Russia. These Commissions are accompanied by a Set of Instructions. If you have not received the same, let me know & I will send a Courier with Copies, tho’ the Occasion does not at present seem pressing. Inform me at the same time, if you please, whether you have receiv’d certain Instructions, dated Octr. 4th. 1780 Octr. 17th. 1780. and February 15th 1781. for Copies of the same having been sent to me, if any of them have miss’d coming to your Hands, I can supply the Deficiency.
The Drafts from you (or upon your Acct.) that I have accepted since my former mentioning those matters, are, I think,

That of
  April 18th.
60,000

April 30
  487,320

May 9
  40,800

June 1
  90,135

July 14
  45,125

    23
  21,500

Augt. 6
  75,430

Please to say whether this Acct. agrees with yours.
We just now hear from Holland, that there is a violent Fermentation there, and much Clamor against some of their Rulers. It has been publish’d that in the late Fight the English fired broken Glass Bottles to make Wounds that should be incurable. The Wounded brought ashore at Amsterdam were carried in a long Train of Boats on the Canals thro’ the City to the Hospital. The Sight of the Procession inflam’d the People exceedingly. Verses were handed about expressing that much good Blood had been shed, but the bad run still in the Veins of certain great Personages. &c. Above 600 Sailors went immediately & entered voluntarily, in order to avenge their Countrymen.
The Indiana [Indien] as she was formerly call’d, now the South Carolina, is at last sail’d for Philadelphia from Amsterdam. She is a fine Ship, well arm’d & well mann’d, and convoys two others with Clothing, &c. for our Army. I wish she may arrive safe, but have my Doubts. By our last Advices from America, which are to the 23d. of June the Carolinas & Georgia were recovered by General Green, except the Capitals of each Province, and the Post called 96. The Marquis de la Fayette had receiv’d Reinforcements, & Cornwallis was retiring after having burnt a great deal of Tobacco, which seems not to be much regarded, because they say that what is left will fetch a proportionably better Price. M. de Grasse appears by the Papers to be expected there during the Hurricance Months.
Excuse if you can, my not answering your Letters duly. I have had too much Business upon my Hands. If you are dispos’d to be favourable to your Debtor you may give me Credit for this long Letter against 3 or 4 of your Short ones.
There is one thing more which I ought to mention. I apprehend that what Supplies are granted to Congress by this Court hereafter will be sent by the Government drectly, and that no more Money will be put into my hands out of which I might pay the Salaries of Ministers as formerly. It will be necessary for us therefore to write to Congress to furnish us by Remittances.
Be pleased to make my Respects acceptable to Mrs. Jay, and believe me to be, with sincere & great Esteem, Dear Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin
His Excellency J. Jay EsqrHis Exy: John Jay. Esqr.

Endorsed: Dr Franklin 20 Aug 1781 ackd. 3 Octr. 1781—by Maj Franks
Notation in William Temple Franklin’s hand: W.T.Fs last Letter to his Exy Mr Jay was of the 26 July 1781. & went by Post.


Title: Mauger & Cie.’s Memoir with a Notation by Franklin: résumé, 20 August 1781
From: Mauger & Cie.,Franklin, Benjamin
To:

<August 20, 1781, in French: Last January Mauger & Compagnie of Metz was charged by the Continental Congress acting through Superintendent of Finance Robert Morris to provide it with cloth, shirts, shoes, and uniforms, which the Army greatly needs. We prepared the goods for departure at Amsterdam commencing in April, but the enemy captured or prevented from reaching port the ships to carry them. As there remains no way to transport these supplies, so impatiently awaited in the United States, from Amsterdam, they must be sent by way of France. Therefore in the name of the United States we ask passports for this merchandise to enter Brest or Nantes freely. To minimize the risk it will not all go on the same ship, but it will be sent as rapidly as circumstances permit. The first cargo ought to leave in September to profit from any escort that might be leaving at that time for the United States. The shipments will consist of (1) 150,000 aunes of coarse cloth for soldiers’ shirts, uniforms, and gaiters, divided into five loads; (2) 10,000 soldiers’ shirts, in three loads; (3) 9,000 pairs of shoes, in three loads; (4) 3,000 pieces of Metz cloth called Eternelle for soldiers’ vests and trousers, in five loads. These passports should be valid for 15 to 18 months and allow freedom of transit through the interior of France. If this purchase cannot be executed, we despair of making another such, given the limited means of Congress. We solicit this in the name of the United States.>


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Castries, 22 August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Castries, Charles-Eugène-Gabriel de La Croix, marquis de

Sir,
Passy, Aug 22. 1781
I received the Letter your Excellency did me the Honour of writing to me the 19th Instant, enclosing the Copy of a Letter from the Procureur General au Parlement de Bretagne, respecting the Complaint of the Judges of Painbceuf, against the Captains of American Vessels, who often put their Sailors into Prison there without Authority from the said Judges.— I shall agreable to your Desire write immediately to our Agent at Nantes to put a Stop to this Practice; but I apprehend a general Order from the Judges to the Keepers of the Prisons, to receive and retain no Sailors as Prisoners without an express Order in Writing, given by the proper Magistrate, will be still more effectual.
On this Occasion I beg leave to mention to your Excellency, that our Captains complain their Sailors after having received Clothes & Money advanced, are often enticed to quit their Service by higher Offers from other Ships, or from Expectations of greater Gain by Privateering, &c. It is I imagine merely to secure them, after having engag’d them, that they have generally been put into Prison till the Ship is ready to sail. I hope therefore that the Judges will be instructed to favour the reasonable Requests of the Captains in securing their Seamen, as far as your Laws may permit.
I am, with great Respect, Sir,
M. de Castries


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Coffyn, 22 August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Coffyn, Francis

Sir
Passy, Aug. 22. 1781.
I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me on the 18th Instant, recommending the Case of Thomas Beer and Samuel Steevens, Ropemakers, who have been obliged to flee from England on Account of their having assisted our Prisoners to escape, and who desire to go to America. It is very expensive and difficult to transport Families in Time of War, and they may be taken and carried back to England. I should therefore think it adviseable for them to get into Work at Dunkerque or Ostend, & maintain themselves there till a Peace: Or if they cannot find Employment at those Places, to go to Holland where at present there is a great Demand for all kinds of Workmen who are useful in fitting out Ships. In either of these Cases, if they should want a little present Money for Subsistence till they get into Work, or to help them to Holland, I am willing you should supply them not exceeding ten Guineas.
I thank you much for your Offer to continue your kind Care of our escaped Prisoners. As there is now a considerable Commerce carried on between America & Holland, & many American Vessels are continually going from Amsterdam, where also the United States have a Minister residing, Mr Adams; and as the Expence is much greater in travelling hither from Dunkerque & from hence to Nants or l’Orient, than it would be from Dunkerque to Holland, I would request that for the future, you would send the Prisoners that way recommending them to the Care of John Adams Esq. Minister of the United States of America at Amsterdam. And also that you would desire your Friend at Ostend to give them the same Direction. I have the honour to be, Sir,
Mr Coffyn, Mercht. Dunkerque


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from James Hunter, Jr., 23 August 1781
From: Hunter, James, Jr.
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
Fredericksburg 23d August 1781
Mrs. Strange requesting me to forward to your Care, any Letters from hence, I have to entreat your Pardon for the Trouble of the enclosed; being very respectfully Sir Your mo. Obt. hble Servt.
James Hunter Junr.

Notation: Hunter. 23. August 1781.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes, 23 August 1781
From: Vergennes, Charles Gravier, comte de
To: Franklin, Benjamin

A Versailles le 23 Aoust 1781.
J’ai reçû, Monsieur, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire le 12 du mois dr. je l’ai communiquée à M. Joly de fleury, et je Suis convenu avec ce ministre des points Suivants.
1°. Vous n’accepterez que les traites du Congrès qui Se trouveront etre antérieures au 1er. Avril de cette année, et il vous Sera fourni pour acquitter ces mêmes Traites, ainsi que celles qui ont êté tirées Sur vous par M. Jackson d’ordre du Colonel Laurens, jusqu’à la concurrence de deux millions. On conviendra avec M. Grand des époques Successives où cette Somme devra etre fournie.
2°. Le Roi pourvoira au remplacement des effets chargés pour le compte du Congrès Sur le navire le Mis. de la fayette, d’après l’etat que vous m’en avez fait parvenir. Ce Sera M. Joly de fleury qui donnera les ordres nécéssaires pour ce remplacement.
Je ne doute pas, Monsieur, que vous ne vous empressiez de rendre compte au Congrès de toutes les facilités qu’il éprouve de la part du Roi, et que ce Corps ne Sente vivement les efforts extraordinaires que Sa Mté [Majesté] fait pour le Secourir, et pour diminuer la détresse où l’a mis le mauvais etat de ses finances. Au surplus, Monsieur, je vous prie de prévenir le Congrès que nous le verrions avec d’autant plus de peine fournir de nouvelles traites Sur vous, que le Roi, malgré Sa bonne volonté, ne pourroit point vous assigner les fonds nécéssaires pour les acquitter, ce qui vous mettroit dans le plus grand embarras et occasionneroit des frais considérables à la charge des Etats-unis.
J’ai l’honneur d’etre très parfaitement, Monsieur, votre très humble et très obeissant Serviteur
De Vergennes
M. franklin


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Vicq d’Azyr: Two Letters, 23 August 1781
From: Vicq d’Azyr, Félix
To: Franklin, Benjamin

I.
Monsieur
23 aoust 1781
La société Royale de Medécine m’a chargé de Vous adresser des Billets pour sa prochaine seance publique, dont elle Vous prie de disposer. Cette assemblée aura lieu mardi prochain 28 de ce mois à 4 heures et demie dans la salle ordinaire. La société Vous invite à y assister et elle espère que Vous Voudrez bien ne pas lui refuser une faveur que Vous lui avez accordée jusqu’ici. Votre présence est un encouragement dont Nous avons besoin et dont le public ne se passerait qu’avec la plus grande peine.
Je suis avec Respect Monsieur, Votre très humble et très Obeissant serviteur
Vicq D’AZYR
M franklin.

Notation: Vic d’Azyr 23 août 1781

II.
Monsieur.
23 aoust 1781
J’ai présenté à la société Royale de Medécine, Conformément à Vos intentions, le Mémoire, traduit de l’anglais, de M Small, sur la maniere de faire Circuler l’air dans l’intérieur des hopitaux, Conjointement avec Votre lettre qui l’accompagnait.
La société a entendu la lecture de l’une et de l’autre de ces pieces; Elle a trouvé dans Votre Lettre des observations très importantes et qui méritent d’être Conservées, sur le tems Nécessaire pour Consumer les corps déposés dans la terre. La société est très flattée que Vous aiez applaudi à son rapport sur les dangers des sépultures. Vous en avez demandé quelques exemplaires, que j’ai l’honneur de Vous adresser.
La Compagnie a Voulu entendre la lecture entiere des observations de M Small, elle en a été fort satisfaite. Nous y avons trouvé avec grand plaisir Vos grands principes de Physique; il sera fait à ce sujet un Rapport détaillé dans lequel on rendra la plus grande justice à l’auteur.
La société Vous prie d’agréer ses remerciements et de les faire parvenir à Monsieur small dont nous avons entendu l’écrit avec tant de plaisir.
Je suis avec respect Monsieur Votre très humble et très obeissant serviteur
Vicq D’AZYR
M franklin

Notation: Vicq-D’azir 23. Août 1781.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to ——— Brochier, 24 August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Brochier, ——

Sir,
Passy, Augt. 24. 1781.
On Enquiry this Day I do not find that you have yet drawn upon me as I expected for the Money you had kindly advanc’d in relieving our poor Prisoners at Lisbon. If any fresh Charges on that Account have accru’d since the Letter you honour’d me with Dated the 16th of January, please to add them to the former, and draw upon me for the whole, and your Bill shall be paid upon Sight. I understand lately that M. Dohrman has failed; and as I have no Acquaintance in Lisbon, I have requested Mr Jay, American Minister at Madrid, who is more conveniently situated for that purpose than I am, to take Care of our People in your Port, by means of some Person to be appointed by him.— If you would be so good as to nominate to him a proper Person, and superintend the Affair as Occasion may require, you will add greatly to the Obligations your Humanity and friendly Offices have already laid us under. If in any thing I can be servicable to you here, be pleased to command me, who am with sincere Esteem and Regard, Sir,

P.S. If it is more convenient to you to receive the Money in Lisbon, I will endeavour to find some Person who has a Correspondent there, & will undertake to order the Payment.
  Mr Brochiel Consul de France à Lisbonne


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 24 August 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Carmichael, William

Dear Sir,
Passy, Augt. 24. 1781
On looking over your Letters I am asham’d to find my self so much & so long in your Debt.
I thank you for making me acquainted with Mr. Sonnerat. He appears a very amiable Man, and is full of Intelligence & Information.
We are all much obliged to Count de Montmorin, for his friendly Assistance in our Affairs. Please to present him my thankful Acknowledgements.—
I thank you also for my being made known to Mr Giusti; I saw him often, and had much Satisfaction & Pleasure in his Conversation.
The Congress have done me the honour to refuse accepting my Resignation, and insist on my continuing in their Service till the Peace.— I must therefore buckle again to Business, and thank God that my Health & Spirits are of late improved.— I fancy it may have been a double Mortification to those Enemies you have mentioned to me, that I should ask as a Favour what they hop’d to vex me by taking from me; and that I should nevertheless be continued.— But these sort of Considerations should never influence our Conduct. We ought always to do what appears best to be done, without much regarding what others may think of it.— I call this Continuance an Honour, & I really esteem it to be a greater [one] than my first Appointment, when I consider that all the Interest of my Enemies united with my own Request, were not sufficient to prevent it.—
I have not yet received the Works of your Oeconomical Society or those of its Founder. I suppose you have not met with an Opportunity of sending them.— The Letter you propose sending to our philosophical Society will be very acceptable to them.— I shall be glad to peruse the Copy you propose passing thro’ my hands.
Mr Laurens’s Business here was to solicit a large Aid in Money for the Army. It was thought that as he was a Witness of their Wants, he would be able to represent their Situation & Necessities more forcibly than I could do. He was indefatigable, while he staid, and took true Pains, but he brusqu’d the Ministers too much, and I found after he was gone that he had thereby given more Offence than I could have imagin’d. He obtain’d a Promise of a Loan of 10,000,000 l.t. to be borrowed in Holland; But as that Borrowing has not succeeded, he in fact obtained nothing. The Offence he gave will I hope have no durable Effects, tho’ it produc’d me some Mortifications. Good humour & a kind Disposition towards us seems again to prevail.— I had before his Arrival got the Grant of 6,000,000, and have since obtained more, or I could not have paid Mr Jay’s Bills.—
Who was the young American that ask’d Leave to serve in the Duke de Crillon’s Family. I honour him.—
If the “last Instructions” you mention, as not being an authentic Copy, are those of Feb. 15. I have a Copy that is authentic, and will send it.—
The Loss of the Ship Marquis de la Fayette, is as you observe a heavy one: I am soliciting to have the Goods replac’d, and have some Hopes of Success.— The Alliance who lost her Company in a Storm some Days before she was taken, made a Cruise afterwards and took 6 Prizes, viz, two Jamaica Ships bound to London, two English Privateers, and two Royal arm’d Vessels, viz a Sloop and a Brig. by all which he made 400 Prisoners, whom he sent to Newfoundland to be exchanged, & brought his Prizes into Boston.—
I have accepted the Bill you last mentioned for 15000 Dollars. I had before accepted the Bill for 1700 Louis, being (with 50 Left in my hands) the Amount of your half Years Salaries, so that you are made easy on that head for the present;—but whether I shall have it in my Power to continue the Payments either to you or my self, is uncertain, and I would advise writing to Congress, as I shall do, for Remittances.—
With great Esteem & Affection, I have the honour to be Dear Sir,

P.S. I have just received a Letter from M. de Vergennes acquainting me, that the replacing what was lost in the Marquis de la Fayette is granted.

I have also just heard from Holland that the Affair of the Loan there is in good Train, & likely to succeed but this I do not yet depend on,
  Mr Carmichael