[Document, 1781 August 20]
[Document, 1781 August 20]
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- Name
- Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790 (Author)
- Jay, John, 1745-1829 (Addressee)
- Title
- [Document, 1781 August 20]
- Abstract
- Letter signed. Discusses monetary arrangements, which neither of them understands very well. Franklin also complains of lack of correspondence, and he wishes that Congress would appoint one man to be in charge of foreign affairs. Franklin first learned from Vergennes that Congress had refused his request to be allowed to resign. Franklin has promised Vergennes not to accept any bills drawn after Ma rch. Mr. Vaughan is not an American but desires to be one. Concerning Jay's objects to the way of administering oaths, Franklin thinks that anyone could serve as witness to an oath. Does not believe he can comply with Silas Talbot's request because it is only one of many, and Franklin does not have sufficient funds for all the requests. Many who have obtained money have misused it. Jay should appoint some person in Lisbon to take care of American seamen left there by enemy cruisers. Gives examples of men who have secured or tried to secure money under false pretences. Has received the commissions to negotiate for peace and to accept the mediation of Austria and Russia. Gives list of drafts that Jay has drawn on Franklin. News has arrived from Holland that the country is in ferment. It was reported that in the last battle the English fired broken glass bottles to make incurable wounds. The people became inflamed by the lights of the procession of the wounded brought ashore at Amsterdam and carried in a long train of boats on the canals through the city to the hospital. "Verses were handed about expressing that much good blood had been shed, but the bad ran still in the veins of certain great personages." The "South Carolina" finally sailed for Philadelphia from Amsterdam with supplies for the army. News of the war. France in the future will send money directly to Congress, and it will be necessary for Jay and Franklin too wrote to Congress for their salaries.
- Subjects
- United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783; Jay, John, 1745-1829
- Format
- correspondence
- Genre
- correspondence
- Date
- August 20, 1781
- Physical Description
- 11 pages
- Language
- English
- Library Location
- Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
Browse Location’s Digital Content - Also In
- The papers of John Jay
- Copyright Status
- No Copyright - United States
- Persistent URL
- https://dx.doi.org/10.7916/ak8d-yy22