Papers of John Adams, volume 6
| 1778 |
|
|
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| Juin | 30 | Pour solde de lancien Compte | 697434. | 4. | |||||||
| Juillet | 1er | Mandat de J. Williams du 25 7bre. ordre Mr. Franklin | 891. | 10. | |||||||
| 1er | Ces Messieurs aiant été debites dans deux differents Comptes, de l'achat fait a L'Orient des 34 Affuts je les credite d'autant dans cellui cy, afin qu'ils ne soient debites qu'une seule fois du Montant de cet Achat de | 5607. | 2. | 61 | |||||||
| 3 | Acceptn. de Mr. Franklin du 18 May, aux traittes de Hy. Laurens de York Town a 30 Jrs. de vue ord: La Pierre | du 6 9bre. | 900 | } | 1473. | ||||||
| 14 do. | 573 | ||||||||||
| 3 | Acceptn. de Mr. Francklin du 5 Juin a traitte de Hy. Laurens du 14 9bre. a 30 Jours de vue | 1030. | |||||||||
| 3 | Payé a Mme. de Coalin les 6 derniers Mois de la Maison de Mr. Dean | 3600. | |||||||||
| 16 | Mandat de Messrs. Francklin Lee et Adams du 16 Juillet | 720. | |||||||||
| 17 | Payé a Poussin Tapissier, pour l'achat des Meubles qu'il louoit cy devant a Mr. Deane suivant le compte a ce Sujet | 4294. | |||||||||
| 20 | Pour la Voiture de Mr. Dean que le Scellier s'etoit engagé a reprendre pour 2000 et dont je me suis chargé | 2000. | |||||||||
| Reçu de ces Messieurs | 750000. | ||||||||||
| 21 | Mandat de Mrs. Franklin Lee et Adams du 21 courant, ord Niles | 4933. | |||||||||
| 28 | Mandat de Mrs. Francklin Lee et Adams du 29 do., au Cape. Barnes | 2108. | 15. | ||||||||
| 247 | |||||||||||
| 30 | Acceptation de Mrs. Francklin du 26 Juillet a une traitte de Hy. Laurens du 17 9bre. a 30 Jours de vue | 900. | |||||||||
| Aoust | 4 | Mandat de Mrs. Franklin Lee et Adams du 4 Aoust | ord: Collins | 439. | } | 823.2 | |||||
| ord: Welsh | 192. | ||||||||||
| ord Grenall | 192. | ||||||||||
| 6 | Acceptation de Mr. Franklin du 27 Juin, a traitte de Hy. Laurens du 7 9bre. a 30 Jours de vue | 900. | |||||||||
| 6 | Payé a Mr. Adams sur son ordre | 2400. | |||||||||
| 7 | Payé a Mr. Franklin, sur reçu | 4800. | |||||||||
| 7 | Payé a Mr. Arthur Lee, sur reçu | 4800. | |||||||||
| Commission a ½p% sur L |
300. | 17. | |||||||||
| Ports de Lettres, Paquets, Commissionaires &ca | 203. | 11. | |||||||||
| Pour Solde il levient a ces Messieurs | 25995. | 5. | 6 | ||||||||
| L |
2. | 6 | 757607. | 2. | 63 | ||||||
| Note of Additional Sums paid out of the public money for Mr. Deane4 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 16 April 1778 To his Wheelright | 168. | |
| 1st. May, Hire of his Horses | 128. | |
| Remainder of his Acct. | 278. | |
| 7th Do. Remainder of a Servant's Acct. | 417. | 1. |
| Do. To another Servant | 244. | 16. |
| Sadler's Acct. | 6. | |
| 13th. July Traituer's Acct. | 12. | 11. |
| Blacksmith's Acct. | 80. | 10. |
Entries for the purchases of gun carriages appear in the accounts for 15 Jan.–30 March (MH-H: Lee Papers) and 30 March–30 June (above). Together the two entries totaled 11,214.5 livres. The figure here represents that sum divided in half.
All three men were American prisoners.
Because of the error noted in the accounts of 30 March–30 June, the total should be 757,607.7.6 livres.
In Arthur Lee's hand, these sums were taken from the Commissioners' household accounts kept at this time by William Temple Franklin and for the period 9 April to 24 Aug. are printed above.
1778-07-01
After various Reports of the Capture of the Boston by a British Cruizer, and of her being struck with Lightning at Sea, it was with peculiar Pleasure I lately receiv'd an Assurance Of your Safe Arrival in France. Not long after you sail'd, Mrs. Adams wrote me a Letter upon a Report of Dr. Franklin's having been assassinated, full of the tenderest Anxiety, and the most amiable Sentiments, sollicitous for the Safety of her dear Partner whom she had given up for a long Interval, to the Service of our Country. I did evr'y Thing I could, in my Reply, to sooth her afflicted Mind, and most sincerely take Part in the Joy which a Letter, I am just inform'd, she has receiv'd from you, must afford her.1 I feel happy that my Country has two such Negotiators as you and your Collegue at the first Court in Europe, and not a little proud that I can call you both my Friends. May Heaven support you under your public Cares, and prosper all your Efforts for the Safety and Happiness of our dear Country. I congratulate you on the Prospect of a speedy and glorious End to our great Contest, that must give us a distinguish'd Place among the Nations, and peculiar Honor to those whose Services have eminently contributed to it. The Monarch, at whose Court you reside, gave by his wise and generous Treaty, a new Turn to our Affairs. They were indeed very far from being desperate· without it, but the Alliance with France gave a new Spring in ev'ry Part, and rapidly brighten'd all our Prospects. Our Paper Credit is that which of all others still labors most. It has remain'd rather at a Stand for some Time then been much advanc'd. I hope by forreign Loans, 249or some Method or other, we shall soon be reliev'd in this important Point. I refer you for the State of our Affairs to the Paper, and Letter I have sent by this Conveyance to Dr. Franklin.2 The Vessel being on the Point of Sailing I must close. Adieu my dear Friend, and accept the warmest Tenders of Esteem and Affection from Your's
An account of the assassination of Benjamin Franklin, allegedly instigated by the British ambassador to France, Lord Stormont, and taken from a letter of 12 Dec. 1777 from Bordeaux, appeared in the Boston Gazette of 23 Feb. AA's letter to Cooper concerning the report has not been found, but see Cooper's reply of 2 March (
Adams Family Correspondence
, 2:398–399). JA's letter, to which Cooper refers, was that of 25 April (same, 3:17).
See
Cal. Franklin Papers, A.P.S.
, 1 :450.