"He had not the treaty to show me, and I have not been able to find such a treaty on inquiry. After my memorial, our people left at Bergen were treated with the greatest kindness, by an order from court, their expenses during the winter that they had been detained there, all paid; necessaries furnished to them for their voyage to Dunkirk, and a passage thither found for them, all at the king's expense.

at length resolved to borrow of our own peo-¡ to the English, as done in conformity to treaple, by making their future bills bear interest. ties, which it was necessary to observe. The interest duly paid in hard money, to such as require hard money, will fix the value of the principal, and even make the payment of the interest in hard money, for the most part unnecessary, provided always that the quantity of principal be not excessive. A great clamour has lately been made here, by some merchants, who say they have large sums in their hands of paper money in America, and that they are ruined by some resolution of congress, which reduces its value to one part in forty. As I have had no letter explaining this matter, I have only been able to say that it is probably misunderstood, and that I am confident, the congress have not done nor will do any thing unjust towards strangers who have given us credit.

“I have indeed almost been ready to complain, that I hear so little and so seldom from congress, or from the committee of correspondence: but I know the difficulty of communication, and the frequent interruption it meets with in this time of war. I have not yet received a line this year, and the letters wrote by the confederacy, as I suppose some must have been written by her, have not yet come to hand.

"I have not dropt the application for a restitution, but shall continue to push it, not without some hopes of success. I wish however to receive instructions relating to it; and I think a letter from congress to that court might forward the business; for I believe they are sensible they have done wrong, and are apprehensive of the inconveniences that may follow.

"With this I send the protests taken at Bergen against the proceeding.

The Alliance in her last cruize met with, and sent to America, a Dutch ship, supposed to have on board an English cargo. The owners have made application to me. I have assured them, that they might depend on the justice of the courts; and that if they could "I mentioned in a former letter, my having prove their property there, it would be restorcommunicated to Mr. Johnson of Nantes, the ed. Mr. Dumas has written to me about it. order of congress appointing him to examine I enclose his letter, and wish despatch may be the accounts, and his acceptance of the ap-given to the business, as well as to prevent pointment. Nothing has yet been done in the inconveniences of a misunderstanding pursuance of it, for Mr. Deane having wrote with Holland, as for the sake of justice. A that he might have been expected here, by ship of that nation has been brought in here the middle of March, and as his presence by the Black Prince, having an English carwould be very necessary in explaining the go. I consulted with Messrs. Adams and mercantile transactions, I have waited his ar- Dana, who informed me that it was an estarival, to request Mr. Johnson's coming to blished rule with us in such cases, to confisParis, that his detention here from his affairs cate the cargo, but to release the ship, paying at Nantes, might be as short as possible. her freight, &c. This I have accordingly orMr. Deane has not yet come: but as we have dered in the case of this ship, and hope it may heard of the arrival of the Fendant in Mar- be satisfactory. But it is a critical time with tinique, in which ship he took his passage, respect to such cases. For whatever may we imagine he may be here in some of the formerly have been the law of nations, all the first ships from that island. neutral powers, at the instance of Russia, "The medal from M. de Fleury is done, seem at present disposed to change it, and to and delivered to his order, he being absent. enforce the rule, that free ships shall make I shall get the others prepared as soon as pos-free goods, except in the case of contraband. sible by the same hand, if I cannot find a Denmark, Sweden, and Holland, have already cheaper equally good, which I am now in-acceded to the propositon, and Portugal is quiring after; two thousand livres appearing expected to follow. France and Spain in to me a great sum for the work. their answers, have also expressed their ap"With my last I sent a copy of my memo-probation of it. I have therefore instructed rial to the court of Denmark; I have since received an answer from the minister of that court for foreign affairs, a copy of which I enclose; it referred me to the Danish minister here, with whom I have had a conference on the subject. He was full of professions of the good will of his court to the United States, and would excuse the delivery of our prizes

our privateers to bring in no more neutral ships, as such prizes occasion much litigation and create ill blood. The Alliance, captain Landais, took two Swedes in coming hither, who demand of us for damages, one upwards of sixty thousand livres, and the other near five hundred pounds sterling: and I cannot well see how the demand is to be settled. In

"It is a pity but it should be published in every newspaper in the world, in an opposite column to a late speech of lord George Germaine in the house of commons, as his document in support of his assertions.

"JOHN ADAMS."

"To an Agent of American Cruisers.

"PASSY, May 30, 1780.

an order to that place for some of the types, of which you have sent me the prices, before I leave Europe. I think them very good and not dear.

"A Dutch ship belonging to Messrs. Little, Dale, and Co. of Rotterdam, being brought into France as having an English cargo on board, I have followed your opinion with regard to the condemnation of the cargo, which I think the more right, as the English have in "SIR,-In my last, of the 27th instant, I the West Indies confiscated several of our omitted one thing I had intended, viz. to de- cargoes found in Dutch ships. But to show sire you would give absolute orders to your respect to the declaration of the empress of cruisers not to bring any more Dutch vessels, Russia, I have written to the owners of our though charged with enemies' goods, unless privateers, a letter of which I enclose a copy, contraband. All the neutral states of Europe together with a copy of the judgment, for seem at present disposed to change what had your use, if you hear of any complaint. I apbefore been deemed the law of nations, to wit: prove much of the principles of the confedethat an enemy's property may be taken racy of the neutral powers, and am not only wherever found; and to establish a rule that for respecting the ships as the house of a free ships shall make free goods. This rule friend, though containing the goods of an eneis itself so reasonable, and of a nature to be so my, but I even wish for the sake of humanity, beneficial to mankind, that I cannot but wish that the law of nations may be farther improvit may become general. And I make no doubted, by determining that even in time of war, but that the congress will agree to it in as all those kinds of people who are employed full an extent as France and Spain. In the in procuring subsistence for the species, or in mean time, and until I have received their exchanging the necessaries or conveniences orders on the subject, it is my intention to condemn no more English goods found in Dutch vessels, unless contraband; of which I thought it right to give you this previous notice; that you may avoid the trouble and expense likely to arise from such captures, and from the detention of them for a decision. With great regard, and best wishes for the success of your B. FRANKLIN.” enterprise.

“Samuel Huntingdon, President of Congress.

"PASSY, June 1, 1780.

of life, which is for the common benefit of mankind; such as husbandmen on their lands, fishermen in their barques, and traders in unarmed vessels, shall be permitted to prosecute their several innocent and useful employments without interruption or molestation, wanted by an enemy, but on paying a fair and nothing taken from them, even when price for the same.

"I think you have done well to print the letter of Clinton; for though I have myself had suspicions whether some parts of it were really written by him, yet I have no doubt of the facts stated, and think the piece valuable, "SIR,-Commodore Jones, who by his bra- as giving a true account of the state of Brivery and conduct, has done great honour to tish and American affairs in that quarter. On the American flag, desires to have that also, the whole, it has the appearance of a letter of presenting a line to the hands of your ex- written by a general who did not approve of cellency. I cheerfully comply with his re- the expedition he was sent upon,-who had quest in recommending him to the notice of no opinion of the judgment of those who drew congress, and to your excellency's protection, up his instructions,-who had observed that though his actions are a more effectual re- preceding commanders, Gage, Burgoyne, Kepcommendation, and render any from me un-pel, and the Howes, had all been censured by necessary. It gives me, however, an opportunity of showing my readiness to do justice to merit, and of professing the esteem and respect with which I am, &c.

"B. FRANKLIN."

the ministers for having unsuccessfully attempted to execute injudicious instructions with unequal force, and he therefore wrote such a letter, not merely to give the information contained in it, but to be produced in his vindication, when he might be recalled, and his want of success charged upon him as a crime; though, in truth, owing to the folly of the ministers who had ordered him on impracticable projects, and persisted in them "DEAR SIR,―The gentleman whose name notwithstanding his faithful informations, you wished to know, in one of your late let-without furnishing the necessary number of ters, is M. Westhuysen, échévin et conseiller troops he had demanded.-In this view much de la Ville de Harlem. I shall probably send of the letter may be accounted for, without

"M. Dumas.

པ་

PASSY, June 5, 1780.

66

supposing it fictitious; and therefore if not ge- | do justice, will one day exhibit scenes of nuine it is ingeniously written: but you will grandeur and beauty, superior to any other easily conceive, that if the state of public facts place I have ever yet seen. it contains, were known in America to be The letter of general Clinton, when I false, such a publication there would have been transmitted it to you, was not suspected to be absurd, and of no possible use to the cause of an imposition.-There are some circumstanthe country. I have written to Mr. Neufville ces, which are sufficient to raise a question; concerning the bills you mention. I have no but I think none of them are conclusive; and, orders or advice about them, know nothing of upon the whole, I have little doubt of its authem, and therefore cannot prudently meddle thenticity.-I shall be much mortified if it with them; especially as the funds in my proves a fiction-not on account of the importpower are not more than sufficient to answer ance of the letter, but the stain that a practhe congress bills for interest, and other in- tice so disengenuous will bring upon Amerievitable demands. He desired to know whe-ca.-When I first left America, such a ficther I would engage to reimburse him if he should accept and pay them; but as I know not the amount of them, I cannot enter into any such engagement: for though, if they are genuine congress bills, I am persuaded all possible care will be taken by congress to provide for their punctual payment, yet there are so many accidents by which remittances are delayed or intercepted in the time of war, that I dare not hazard for these new bills, the possibility of being rendered unable to pay the others.

B. FRANKLIN."

"SIR,-I thank you for your letter in answer to mine of 21st May, and for your kind congratulations on my arrival here.

Mr. Brown, with whom you took your walks in the neighbourhood of Paris, has been gone from hence, some weeks, on his way. hence. I should have had much pleasure, if I had been one of the party. I have rambled, in most of the scenes round this city, and find them very pleasant, but much more indebted to art than to nature.-Philadelphia, in the purlieus of which, as well as these of Baltimore, and York Town, I have often sought health and pleasure, in the same way, in company with our venerable secretary Charles Thompson, will, in future times, when the arts shall have established their empire in the new world, present scenes much more striking. But Boston, above all, around which I have much oftener wandered, in company with another venerable character,little known in Europe, but to whose virtues and public merit in the cause of mankind, history will

tion, with all its ingenuity, would have ruined the reputation of the author of it if discovered, and I think that both he and the printer would have been punished.-With all the freedom of our presses, I really think that not only the government but the populace would have resented it.—I have had opportunities of an extensive acquaintance with Americans, and I must say, in justice to my countrymen, that I know not a man whom I think capable of a forgery at once so able and so base.Truth is indeed respected in America, and so gross an affront to her I hope will not, and I hope cannot, go unpunished.

"Whether it is genuine or not, I have no doubt of the truth of the facts, in general-and I have reason to believe, that if the secret correspondences of Bernard, Hutchinson, Gage, Howe, and Clinton, could all be brought to light, the world would be equally surprised at the whole thread of it. The British administration and their servants have carried on from the beginning a system of duplicity in the conduct of American affairs, that will ap pear horrible to the public whenever it shall be known.

"You have seen admiral Rodney's account of the battle of the 17th of April.—The sceptre of the ocean is not to be maintained by such actions as this, or by Byrons and Keppels. They must make themselves more terrible upon the ocean to preserve its dominion.Their empire is founded only in fear-for no nation loves it. JOHN ADAMS."

"To W. Carmichael, Madrid.

"PASSY, June 17, 1780. “DEAR SIR,-Your favours of the 22d past came duly to hand. Sir J. Dalrymple has been here some time, but I hear nothing of his political operations. The learned talk of the discovery he has made in the Escurial Library, of 40 epistles of Brutus, a missing part of Tacitus, and a piece of Seneca, that have never yet been printed, which excite much curiosity. He has not been with me, and I am told by one of his friends that though he wished to see me, he did not think it prudent.

"Dr. Fothergill.

"PASSY, June 19, 1780.

So I suppose I shall have no communication | Italian musician, who divided the town into with him; for I shall not seek it. As Count violent parties. A friend of this lady having de Vergennes has mentioned nothing to me of obtained a copy of it under a promise not to any memorial from him, I suppose he has not give another, did not observe that promise, so presented it ;* perhaps discouraged by the re- that many have been taken, and it is become ception it met with in Spain.-So I wish, for as public as such a thing can well be, that is curiosity's sake, you would send me a copy not printed, but I could not dream of its being of it.-The marquis de la Fayette arrived heard of at Madrid! The thought was partly safely at Boston the 28th of April, and it is taken from a little piece of some unknown said gave expectations of the coming of a writer which I met with 50 years since in a squadron and troops.-The vessel that brings newspaper, and which the sight of the Ephethis, left New-London the 2d of May; her mera brought to my recollection. Adieu, my captain reports that the siege of Charlestown dear friend, and believe me ever, was raised, the troops attacked in their retreat, "B. FRANKLIN." and Clinton killed; but this wants confirmation. London has been in the utmost confusion for 7 or 8 days. The beginning of this month, a mob of fanatics joined by a mob of rogues, burnt and destroyed property to the amount, it is said, of a million sterling. Chapels of foreign ambassadors, houses of members of parliament that had promoted the act for favouring Catholics; and the houses of many private persons of that religion, were pillaged and consumed, or pulled down to the number of 50, among the rest, lord Mansfield's is burnt with all his furniture, pictures, books, and papers. Thus he who approved the burning American houses, has had fire brought home to him. He himself was horribly scared, and governor Hutchinson, it is said, died outright of the fright. The mob, tired with roaring and rioting seven days and nights, were at length suppressed, and quiet restored on the 9th in the evening. Next day lord George Gordon was committed to the tower.

"Enclosed I send you the little piece you desire. To understand it rightly you should be acquainted with some few circumstances. The person to whom it was addressed is Madame Brillon, a lady of most respectable character and pleasing conversation; mistress of an amiable family in this neighbourhood, with which I spend an evening twice in every week. She has among other elegant accomplishments, that of an excellent musician; and with her daughters who sing prettily, and some friends who play, she kindly entertains me and my grandson with little concerts, a cup of tea, and a game of chess. I call this my Opera; for I rarely go to the opera at Paris.-The Moulin Joli is a little island in the Seine about 2 leagues hence, part of the country-seat of another friend, where we visit every summer, and spend a day in the pleasing society of the ingenious, learned, and very polite persons who inhabit it. At the time when the letter was written, all conversation at Paris were filled with disputes about the music of Gluck and Picini, a German and

* This memorial appears among the Miscellanies.
†The Ephemera. See Miscellanies.
Monsieur Watelet.

"My dear old friend, Dr. Fothergill, may assure lady H. of my respects, and of any service in my power to render her, or her affairs in America. I believe matters in Georgia cannot much longer continue in their present situation, but will return to that state in which they were when her property, and that of our common friend G. W. received the protection she acknowledges.

66

I rejoiced most sincerely to hear of your recovery from the dangerous illness by which I lost my very valuable friend P. Collinson. As I am sometimes apprehensive of the same disorder, I wish to know the means that were used and succeeded in your case; and shall be exceedingly obliged to you for communicating them when you can do it conveniently.

"Be pleased to remember me respectfully to your good sister, and to our worthy friend David Barclay, who I make no doubt laments with you and me, that the true pains we took together to prevent all this horrible mischief proved ineffectual.

"B. FRANKLIN."

"M. Dumas.

"PASSY, June 22, 1780.

"DEAR SIR,-I received duly yours of May 23d, June 2, 6, 8, and 15.-Enclosed you have a letter for the gentleman you recommend to me. He seems to be a man of abilities.

"The words before I leave Europe had no relation to my particular immediate intention, but to the general one I flatter myself with, of being able to return and spend there the small remains of life that are left me.

Neufville concerning those bills.—I hear "I have written distinctly to Messrs. de that 484 was at Newbern the 12th of April, and soon to sail from thence, or from Virginia for France. Probably he might not sail in some weeks after, as vessels are often longer

*The original alluded to was his own, and published in his own paper at Philadelphia at the period refer. red to.