the engagements of our alliance with France; and behaving at the same time towards England, so as not entirely to extinguish her hopes of a reconciliation.

fisheries and the* . . . . . of the West for the sake of peace. But these are enthusiasts who fly out at this idea, and their numbers cannot fail increasing when, after the English are expelled this continent, the bur then of the war will scarce be felt. It is already observable that the advocates for peace are those who lived in the country. The inhabitants of towns whom commerce enriches, mechanics who receive there a higher pay than before war, and 5 or 6 times more than in Europe, do not wish for it; but it is a happy circumstance that this division be nearly equal in the congress and among the states, since our influence can incline the beam either for peace or war which ever way we choose. Another means of preserving to France so important a branch of her commerce and negotiation is that proposed to you, sir, by M. . . . viz. the conquest of Cape Breton; it seems to me, as it does to that minister, the only sure means of containing within bounds, when peace is made, those swarms of smugglers who, without regard to treaties, will turn all their activity, daring spirit, and means towards the fisheries, whose undertakings congress will not perhaps have the power or the will to repress. If it be apprehended, that the peace which is to put an end to the present war will prove disagreeable to any of the United States, there appears to me a certain method of guarding against the effects of this discontent, of preventing the declarations of some states and other resources which turbu lent minds might employ for availing themselves of the present juncture. This would be for his majesty to cause a memorial to be delivered to congress, wherein should be stated the use made by his ministers of the powers entrusted to them by that assembly; and the impediments which may have stood in the way of a fuller satisfaction on every point. This step would certainly be pleasing to congress; and should it become necessary to inform the people of this memorial, it could easily be done; they would be flattered by it, and it might probably beget the voice and concurrence of the public. I submit these thoughts to you early, and although peace appears yet to be distant, sir, by reason of delays and difficulties attending the communications, that period will be a crisis when the partizans of France and England will openly appear, and when that power will employ every means to diminish our influence; and re-estab lish her own; it is true, the independent party will always stand in great want of our support, that the fears and jealousies which a remembrance of the former government will always produce, must operate as the safeguard to our alliance, and as a security for the attachment of the AmeSupposed Settlements, or Lands.

I long to see you and my country once more before I die, being ever, my dear friend, yours most affectionately,

B. FRANKLIN.

In another part of the preceding letter to the honorable Robert R. Livingston, Dr. Franklin thus notices the commencement of the negotiation ordered by congress to be opened with the court of Sweden.

"As soon as I received the commission and instructions for treating with Sweden, I waited on its ambassador here; who told me, he daily expected a courier on that subject. Yesterday he wrote a note to acquaint me, that he would call on me to-day, having something to communicate. Being obliged to go to Paris, I waited on him, when he showed me the full powers he had just received, and I showed him mine. We agreed to meet on Wednesday next, exchange copies, and proceed to business. His commission has some polite expressions in it; viz. That his majesty thought it for the good of his subjects to enter into a treaty of amity and commerce with the United States of America, who had established their independence, so justly merited by their courage and constancy, or to that effect. I imagine this treaty will soon be completed."

ricans to us. But it is best to be prepared for any discontent, although it should be but temporary. It is remarked by some, that as England has other fisheries besides Newfoundland, she may perhaps endeavor that the Americans should partake in that of the Great Bank, in order to conciliate their affection, or procure them some compensation, or create a subject of jealousy between them and us; but it does not seem likely that she will act so contrary to their true interest, and were she to do so, it will be for the better to have declared at an early period to the Americans, that their pretension is not founded and that his majesty does not mean to support it.

I here inclose, sir, translations of the speech made by the governor of South Carolina to the assembly and of their answer. These interesting productions convey in a forcible manner the sentiments of the inhabitants of that state, and appeared to me worth communicating to you. I am, &c.

(Signed)

BARBE DE MARBOIS.

This actually took place about four months afterwards, (April 3d, 1783), when a treaty of amity and commerce between the United States of America and Sweden, was concluded and signed by the respective plenipotentiaries, Dr. Franklin and the count de Krutz.

Not long after this transaction, Dr. Franklin received the following letter from the Swedish chargé d'affaires, afterwards ambassador at the court of France, (baron de Staël) announcing the reception from his court of the ratification of the treaty, and renewing the request made by the late ambassador, count de Krutz, (intended no doubt as a compliment to Dr. Franklin), relative to Mr. Franklin being appointed by congress, resident minister at the court of Sweden; where the count then held the situation of prime minister.

MONSIEUR,

"A son Excellence M. Franklin.

Paris, le 13 Juin, 1785. JE viens de recevoir la ratification de sa majesté, du traité de commerce conclu avec les Etats Unis; laquelle j'aurai l'honneur de vous remettre aussitôt qu'elle pourra être échangée contre celle du congrès.

Permettez, monsieur, que je vous repète à cette occasion, la demande que Mons. l'ambassadeur (le comte de Krutz)

SIR,

TRANSLATION.

To his Excellency Mr. Franklin.

I HAVE received the ratification from his majesty, of the treaty of commerce concluded with the United States, which I shall have the power of transmitting to you as soon as it can be exchanged for that of the Congress.

Permit me, sir, to repeat to you on this occasion, the request that the ambassador (count de Krutz) made to you, on the subject of Mr. Franklin, your grandson, he has had the honor to say to you, that the king will see with pleasure reside near him, in quality of minister of the congress, a person who bears your name, and joins thereto, qualities so estimable as the young Mr. Franklin. Before parting, he has charged me to repeat to you the same assurance; and permit me to add my own wishes, for the success of this affair.

I have the honor to be, with the most perfect esteem, and inviolable attachment, sir, &c. BARON DE STAEL

vous a faite, au sujet de monsieur Franklin, votre petit-fils. Il a eu l'honneur de vous dire, que le Roi verroit avec plaisir résider auprès de lui, en qualité de ministre du congrès, une personne qui porte votre nom; et y joint des qualitiés aussi estimables que le jeune M. Franklin. Avant de partir, il m'a chargé de vous répéter la même assurance; et vous me permettrez d'y ajouter les vœux que je fais en mon particu lier, pour la réussite de cette affaire.

J'ai l'honneur d'être avec l'estime et l'attachement les plus parfaits et inviolables, monsieur, &c.

LE BARON DE STAEL.

Dr. Franklin shortly after communicated this request to the American secretary for foreign affairs (R. R. Livingston, esq.) in his official dispatch of the 22d July, 1785, as follows:

**

"You mention that an entire new arrangement with respect to foreign affairs, is under consideration. I wish to know, whether any notice is likely to be taken in it of my grandson. He has now gone through an apprenticeship of near seven years in the ministerial business, and is very capable of serving the States in that line, as possessing all the requisites of knowlege, zeal, activity, language, and address. He is well liked here, and count de Vergennes has expressed to me in warm terms his very good opinion of him. The late Swedish ambassador, count de Krutz, who is gone home to be prime minister, desired I would endeavor to procure his being sent to Sweden with a public character, assuring me that he should be glad to receive him there as our minister, and that he knew it would be pleasing to the king. The present Swedish ambassador has also proposed the same thing to me, as you will see by a letter of his, which I inclose. One of the Danish ministers, Mr. Waltersdorff, who will probably be sent in a public character to congress, has also expressed his wish that my grandson may be sent to Denmark. But it is not my custom to solicit employments for

( de Paris).

myself or any of my family, and I shall not do it in this case. I only hope, that if he is not employed in your new arrangement, I may be informed of it as soon as possible; that while I have strength left for it, I may accompany him in a tour to Italy, returning through Germany, which I think he may make to more advantage with me than alone, and which I have long promised to afford him, as a reward for his faithful service, and his tender filial attachment to me."

These intimations from foreign courts, and this honorable and satisfactory testimony from one who had rendered the most eminent services to his country, were unnoticed by the American government; they are, however, no mean consolation to the object of them.

Shortly after signing the preliminary articles of peace with Great Britain, Mr. Oswald's functions ceased; and a change in administration taking place, David Hartley, esq., was appointed minister plenipotentiary, and repaired to Paris, invested, as expressed in his commission, with full powers there to meet and confer with the ministers of the United States of America, duly authorised, for the purpose of perfecting and establishing the peace, friendship, and good understanding so happily commenced; and for opening, promoting, and rendering perpetual, the mutual intercourse of trade and commerce between the British dominions and the United States of America.

Several private communications had taken place relative to these objects, between Dr. Franklin and Mr. Hartley, previous to the latter receiving his appointment; these, together with the subsequent propositions and various transactions that occurred, after the respective plenipotentiaries had exchanged their full powers, will be seen in the PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. Those with Mr. Hartley proceeded very slowly, owing principally to his conceiving it necessary to send every proposition, either of his own or the American ministers, to his court for their approbation, and their delay in answering. Eventually, the English ministry would not