"I beg you will do me the favour to communicate these particulars to lord George Germaine as soon as convenient. "CH. VERNON." James Lovell, "PASSY, December 2, 1780. operation. But as the proposition has latéh Y been renewed to me, on occasion of my m questing further aids of money to answer thed unexpected drafts upon me, ordered by tt a resolutions of May and August last, whis de drafts it is absolutely necessary I should fi ins funds to pay, and as the congress have lot I h desired to have the means of forming fundsHoll "SIR,-I duly received your several favours Europe, and an easier, cheaper, and sabore of August the 15th and September 7th, with method cannot possibly be conceived; and wh the resolves of congress, for drawing on me I see by the journals of February, that tim th bills extraordinary to the amount of near three several states were to furnish provisions W hundred thousand dollars; to keep up the quantities instead of supplies in monete d credit of congress, I had already engaged for whereby much will be in the disposition opin those drawn on Mr. Laurens; you cannot con- congress; I flatter myself, that they will n ceive how much these things perplex and dis- disapprove of my engaging in their beha tress me. For the practice of this govern- with the minister of the finances here; tha ment, being yearly to apportion the revenue they will cause to be delivered for the kings to the several expected services, any after- land and sea forces in North America, such demands made which the treasury is not fur-provisions as may be wanted from time to time nished to supply, meet with great difficulty, and are very disagreeable to the ministers. To enable me to look these drafts in the face, I have agreed to a proposal contained in the enclosed letter, to the president of furnishing provisions to the king's forces in America, which proposal I hope will be approved and executed, and that the congress will strictly comply with the assurances you have given me, not to draw on me any more without first knowing that they have funds in my hands. "I wrote to you more fully by captain Jones; he sailed some time since in the Ariel; but met with a severe storm, that entirely dismasted him, and obliged him to put back for France. He has been long re-fitting, but will sail again soon, every thing goes well here. "B. FRANKLIN." "Samuel Huntingdon, President of Congress. "PASSY, December 2, 1780. "SIR,-The many mutual advantages that must arise from carrying into execution, the proposition already communicated to congress, of furnishing provisions to the king's forces in America, to be paid for here, have, I make no doubt, already induced them to begin the afterwards in his petition to the house of commons, written by himself in the Tower, with a black lead pencil, on a blank leaf of an octavo book, and privately conveyed to Mr. Burke, who presented it in that state to the house. In this petition, dated Dec. 7, 1781, he expressly states: "That he was captured on the American coast, and committed to the Tower on the 6th of October, 1780, being then dangerously ill: that in the meantime he has in many respects, particularly by being deprived (with very little exception) of the vitions and friends, suffered under a degree of rigour, almost, if not altogether, unexampled in modern British history. sits and consolations of his children and other rela "That from long confinement, and the want of pro. per exercise, and other obvious causes, his bodily health is greatly impaired, and that he is now in a languishing state," &c. &c. (See Dodsley's Annual Register for 1781 and 1787.) to the amount of four hundred thousand dollars ret "P. S. This value of four hundred thousand dollars, is to be considered as exclusive of any provisions already furnished: but the receipts for those should also be sent me if not paid for there." To the same. "PASSY, December 3, 1789. "SIR,-I duly received the letter your excellency did me the honour of writing to me, the 12th of July past, by Mr. Searle, and have paid the bills drawn on me by order of congress, in favour of the president and council of Pennsylvania, for one thousand pounds sterling, which were presented by him. He is at present in Holland. "The news of Mr. Laurens being taken must have reached you long since. He is confined in the Tower, but of late has some more liberty for taking air and exercise than first was allowed him. Certain papers found with him relating to the drafts of a treaty proposed in Holland, have been sent over to the stadtholder, who laid them before their high mightinesses, who communicated them to the government of the city of Amsterdam; which justified the transaction. This has drawn from England, a memorial delivered by sir Jo ar M bh Yorke, demanding that the pensionary d magistrates of that city, should be puhed; and declaring that the king will rent a refusal of the states to comply with As demand. What answer will be given to is insolent memorial we do not yet know. at I hear it has produced much displeasure Holland, and it is thought to have occasioned more prompt accession to the armed neutray which had before met with obstructions 6m the English party there. 66 We have met with a variety of unaccounble delays and difficulties in the affair of ipping the clothing and stores. The Alliace went away without taking her part. The Ariel sailed, but met a storm at sea that dishasted her, and obliged her to return to France. She is nearly again ready to sail. Mr. Ross, with his cargo of clothes in the duke of Leintter, sailed under convoy of the Ariel, but did not return with her, and I hope may get safe to America. The great ship we hired to tome to L'Orient, and take in the rest of what we had to send, has been long unexpect edly detained at Bourdeaux. I am afraid the army has suffered for want of the clothes, but it has been as impossible for me to avoid, as it was to foresee these delays. The late minister of the marine here, M. de Sartine, is removed, and his place supplied by M. le marquis de Castries. But this change does not affect the general system of the court, which continues favourable to us. guese ship, bound to Cork, with salt, belonging to some merchant there. The Portuguese captain, who is brought in here, complains heavily of ill usage and plunder, besides taking his vessel, and the ambassador of that nation has communicated to me these complaints, together with all the papers, proving the property of the vessel; representing, at the same time, the good disposition of the queen to our states, and his wishes that nothing might lessen it, or tend to prevent or delay a complete good understanding between the two nations. I advised that the owners should send over their claim, and impower some persons to prosecute it, in which case, I did not doubt our courts would do them justice. I hope the congress may think fit to take some notice of this affair, and not only forward a speedy decision, but give orders to our cruizers not to meddle with neutral ships for the future, it being a practice apt to produce ill blood, and contrary to the spirit of the new league which is approved by all Europe; and the English property found in such vessels will hardly pay the damages brought on us by the irregular proceedings of our captains, in endeavouring to get at such property. "B. FRANKLIN.” "M. Dumas. "PASSY, December 3, 1780. DEAR SIR,-I have before me yours of the 9th and 16th of November, which I think are the last I received from you. With regard to the augmentation of your salary, I would not have you place too great a dependence on it, lest a disappointment should thereby be rendered more afflicting. If a good peace were once established, we should soon be richer, and better able to reward those that serve us.-At present the expense of the war hangs heavy on the United States, and we cannot pay like old and rich kingdoms. "Mr. W. Lee has, as you observe, acted very imprudently in that affair: but perhaps some good may come of it. I have received a copy of the resolutions of congress of the 19th of May, and the 9th, 15th, 23d, and 30th of August, directing bills to be drawn on me for near 300,000 dollars. I shall accept the bills, hoping the congress will approve of, and readily comply with the proposition contained in a letter to your excellency accompanying this, dated the 2d instant. Probably an answer may arrive here before many of those bills shall become due, as *few of them are yet arrived. If that answer tratifies the agreement I have made, I shall have no difficulty in finding means to pay the rest. If not, I shall scarce be able to bear the reproaches of merchants, that I have misled them to their loss, by my acceptations, Mr. Adams has written to me for a copy which gave a promise of payment, that not of a letter I formerly wrote to 873, 373, 657. being fulfilled, has deranged their affairs, to If you have such a one please to give it to him. say nothing of the power I am told the con- I remember of but one, which went with a sul's court here has over the persons even of copy of 873, 897, 948, 337. I I imagine that ministers, in cases of bills of exchange. Let he rather means a letter I wrote to you, in me therefore beg your excellency to use your which I represented our girl as a jolly one, endeavours with congress, that this matter and who would be a good fortune in time, &c. be immediately attended to. I have no copy of that. If you still have that Mr. Jay, no doubt, has made you acquaint-letter, please to give Mr. Adams a copy of that ed with his difficulties respecting the drafts upon him. I am sorry I cannot extricate him, but I hope he will still find means. may "The Mars, an armed ship belonging to the state of Massachusetts, in her way to France, took, and sent to New England, a Portu also. "I wish much to see the answer, that their high mightinesses will give to the insolent memorial presented by sir Joseph Yorke. If they comply with it, and punish or censure the pensionary of Amsterdam, I shall think it a pièrre de touche for the stadtholder as well as | am glad to hear that the affairs of the republic have taken so good a turn in Russia. If not inconvenient or improper, I should be glad to hear what passed relating to public affairs while 67 was at your 31, and whether he saw 25, &c. for the king of England; and that neither Mr. Adams will be safe at Amsterdam, nor our ships in any port of Holland. Let me therefore know by the earliest means the turn this affair is like to take, that I may advertise our government and our merchants. "B. FRANKLIN." To the same. "PASSY, Jan. 18, 1781. DEAR SIR,-Since my last I have been favoured by yours of December 1, 7, 14, 21, 25, and January 1, by which you have kept me constantly well informed of the state of affairs. Accept my thanks. You may depend on my mentioning your diligence and services to congress in the manner they merit. Though I have been some weeks free from the gout, my feet are still tender, and my knees feeble, so that going up and down stairs is exceedingly difficult and inconvenient to me. This has prevented my going much out, so that I had not the honour I wished of waiting on the ambassador when he was here, and paying the respects I owe him; and he returned suddenly. "With this you will receive three letters for Mr. Laurens, which I request you would forward to Mr. Adams. "To all captains and commanders of vessels of war belonging to the thirteen United States of America, or either of them, or to any of the citizens of the said States, or to any of the allies thereof. 66 "I much approve of the step you took the 16th of December, before Messrs. Adams and Searle. I received the copy. I wondered to find that you had not in Holland, on the Gentlemen,-It being authentically re28th, received the declaration of war, but have presented to me, that the worthy citizens of since learnt how it happened. Surely there Dublin, touched with the general calamities never was a more unjust war; it is manifest- with which Divine providence has thought fit ly such from their own manifesto. The spirit lately to visit the West India Islands, have of rapine dictated it; and in my opinion every charitably resolved to contribute to their reman in England who fits out a privateer to lief, by sending them some provisions and take advantage of it, has the same spirit, and clothing; and as the principles of common would rob on the highway in his own coun- humanity require of us to assist our fellowtry, if he was not restrained by fear of the creatures, though enemies, when distressed gallows. They have qualified poor captain by the hand of God, and by no means to imJones, with the title of pirate, who was only pede the benevolence of those who commisat war with England: but if it be a good de-erate their distresses, and would alleviate finition of a pirate that he is hostis humani generis, they are much more pirates than he, having already made great progress towards being at war with all the world. If God governs, as I firmly believe, it is impossible such wickedness should long prosper. them; I do hereby earnestly recommend it to you, that if the ship or vessel in which the said charitable supplies will be sent to the said islands, should by fortune of war fall into any of your hands, and it shall appear to you by her authentic papers that the cargo is bona "You will receive this by Mr. Deane, who fide composed of such beneficent donations has a great regard for you, and whom I re-only, and not of merchandise intended to be commend to your civilities; though the gen- sold for the profit of the shippers; you would tleman at present with you may be prejudiced kindly and generously permit the said vessel against him: prejudices that time will cause to pass to the place of her destination: in doto vanish, by showing they were groundless. ing of which, you will not only have the preI enclose a packet for Leyden, which I shall sent and lasting satisfaction of having gratifibe glad to hear is delivered safe, and there-ed your own humane and pious feelings as fore desire your care of it. 66 B. FRANKLIN." P. S. Jan. 20. Since writing the above, I have received yours of the 12th instant. I men and as Christians, but will undoubtedly recommend yourselves to the favour of God, of the congress, of your employers, and of your country. SIR, I HAVE just received from congress their letter for the king, which I have the honour of putting herewith into the hands of your excellency. I am charged at the same time to represent, in the strongest terms, the unalterable resolution of the United States, to maintain their liberties and independence, and inviolably to adhere to the alliance at every hazard, and in every event; and that the misfortunes of the last campaign, instead of repressing, have redoubled their ardour; that congress are resolved to employ every resource in their power to expel the enemy from every part of the United States, by the most vigorous and decisive co-operation with the marine and other forces of their illustrious ally that they have accordingly called on the several states, for a powerful army and ample supplies of provisions; and that the states are disposed effectually to comply with their requisitions. 66 : That if in aid of their own exertions, the court of France can be prevailed on to assume a naval superiority in the American seas, to furnish the arms, ammunition, and clothing specified in the estimate heretofore transmitted, and to assist with the loan mentioned in the letter, they flatter themselves that under the Divine blessings, the war must speedily be terminated with glory and advantage to both nations. By several letters to me from intelligent persons, it appears, that the great and expensive exertions of the last year, by which a force was assembled capable of facing the enemy, and which accordingly drew towards New York and lay long near that city, was rendered ineffectual by the superiority of the enemy at sea, and that their success in Carolina had been chiefly owing to that superiority, and to the want of the necessary means for furnishing, marching, and paying the expense of troops, sufficient to defend that province. The marquis de la Fayette writes to me, that it is impossible to conceive, without seeing it, the distress the troops have suffered for want of clothing; and the following is a paragraph of a letter from general Washington, which I ought not to keep back from your excellency, viz. "I doubt not you are so fully informed by congress of our political and military state, that it would be superfluous to trouble you with any thing relative to either. If I were to speak on topics of the kind, it would be to show, that our present situation makes one of two things essential to us-a peace-or the most vigorous aid of our allies, particularly in the article of money; of their disposition to serve us we cannot doubt: their generosity will do every thing, their means will permit.' They had in America great expectations, I know not on what foundation, that a considerable supply of money would be obtained from Spain, but that expectation has failed: and the force of that nation in those seas has been employed to reduce small forts in Florida, without rendering any direct assistance to the United States; and indeed the long delay of that court, in acceding to the treaty of commerce, begins to have the appearance of its not inclining to have any connexion with us; so that, for effectual friendship, and for the aid so necessary in the present conjuncture, we can rely on France alone, and in the continuance of the king's goodness towards us. “I am grown old, I feel myself much enfeebled by my late long illness, and it is probable I shall not long have any more concern in these affairs. I therefore take this occasion to express my opinion to your excellency, that the present conjuncture is critical; that there is some danger lest the congress should lose its influence over the people, if it is found unable to procure the aids that are wanted; and that the whole system of the new government in America may thereby be shaken. "That if the English are suffered once to recover that country, such an opportunity of effectual separation as the present, may not occur again in the course of ages; and that the possession of those fertile and extensive regions, and that vast sea-coast, will afford them so broad a basis for future greatness, by the rapid growth of their commerce, and breed of seamen and soldiers, as will enable them to become the terror of Europe, and to exercise with impunity that insolence which is so natural to their nation, and which will increase enormously with the increase of their power. B. FRANKLIN." I therefore earnestly entreat your excellency | mitted to the courts of Russia, Sweden, and to communicate to me as soon as possible the Denmark. necessary information. "B. FRANKLIN.” "Mons. Nogaret. "PASSY, March 8, 1781. "SIR,-I received the letter you have done me the honour of writing to me the 2d instant, wherein, after overwhelming me with a flood of compliments, which I can never hope to merit, you request my opinion of your translation of a Latin verse, that has been applied to me.* If I were, which I really am not, sufficiently skilled in your excellent language to be a proper judge of its poesy, the supposition of my being the subject must restrain me from giving any opinion on that line, except that it ascribes too much to me, especially in what relates to the tyrant; the revolution having been the work of many able and brave men, wherein it is sufficient honour for me if I am allowed a small share. "I am much obliged by the favourable sentiments you are pleased to entertain of me; and I shall be glad to see your remarks on Gay's Fan, as well as your own poem on the same subject. B. FRANKLIN." "Memorial to the States-General of the Low Countries. "HIGH AND MIGHTY LORDS,-The subscriber, a minister plenipotentiary from the United States of America, has the honour to lay before your high mightinesses, as one of the high contracting parties to the maritime treaty lately concluded, relative to the rights of neutral vessels, a resolution of congress of the fifth of October last, concerning the same subject. "The subscriber begs leave to subjoin, that he should esteem it one of the most fortunate events of his life, if this proposition should meet with the approbation of your high mightinesses, and the other powers who are parties to the neutral confederacy, and he should be admitted, as the instrument of pledging the faith of the United States, to the observance of regulations, which do so much honour to the present age. JOHN ADAMS. "The Hague, 8th March, 1781." "John Adams to Prince Gallitzin. LEYDEN, March 8, 1781. "SIR,-I have lately received from congress, as one of their ministers plenipotentiary, their resolution of the 5th of October last, relative to the rights of neutral vessels, a copy of which I do myself the honour to enclose to your excellency, as the representative of one of the high contracting parties to the maritime treaty lately concluded, concerning this subject. "As I am fixed by my duty, for the present, to this part of Europe, I have no other way of communicating this measure of congress to the northern courts, but by the favour of their ministers in this republic. I must therefore request of your excellency, if their is no impropriety in it, to transmit the resolution to the minister of foreign affairs of her imperial majesty. "Your excellency will permit me to add, that I should esteem myself very fortunate, to be the instrument of pledging, in form, the faith of the United States of America to a reformation, in the maritime law of nations, which does so much honour to the present JOHN ADAMS." age. "M. Rayneval, secretary to the council of state. "PASSY, March 11, 1781. "SIR,-I have examined the list of sup "As the American resolution furnished the occasion of a reformation in the maritime law of nations, of so much importance to a free communication among mankind by sea, the subscriber hopes it may not be thought improper, that the United States should become parties to it, entitled to its benefits, and sub-plies wanted in America, which I received jected to its duties-to this end, the subscriber yesterday from you, in order to mark, as desirhas the honour of requesting, that the reso-ed, what may be most necessary to forward lution of congress may be taken into the consideration of your high mightinesses, and trans * Eripuit Cœlo Fulmen, Sceptrumque Tyrannis. Thus translated by D'Alembert :— "Tu vois le sage courageux Dont l'heureux et male genie; Et le sceptre a la tyrannei." English translation by James Elphinston :"He snatcht the bolt from Heaven's avenging hand, Disarm'd and drove the tyrant from the land." Another : "He snatch'd thunder from the heavens, And the sceptre from the hands of tyrants." thither. As that list is of old date, and I do not know what part of it may have been already procured by other channels, and I understand by my letters, that a new list has been made out, which is given to colonel Laurens, and though mentioned to be sent to me also, is not yet come to my hands, I have thought it may be well for the present to or der the making of a quantity of soldiers' and officers' clothing, equal to one third part of what has been demanded from page 31 to page 42, inclusive; and to collect and get ready also one third of the other articles mentioned |