in treating here, we would, as soon as we had finished some affairs at present on our hands, wait upon them, if they pleased, in London. We have since heard nothing.

We have no late accounts from America of any importance. You know the congress adjourned the beginning of June till the beginning of November. And since their meeting there has been no account of their proceedings. All the stories in your papers relating to their divisions, &c. are fiction, as well as those of the people being discontented with congressional government. Mr. Jay writes to me, that' they were at no time more happy or more satisfied with their government, &c. than at present, nor ever enjoyed more tranquillity or prosperity. In truth, the freedom of their ports to all nations, has brought in a vast plenty of foreign goods, and occasioned a demand for their produce; the consequence of which is, the double advantage of buying what they consume cheap, and selling what they can spare dear.

If we should come to London, I hope it may still be with you that we are to do business. Our already understanding one another may save, on many points, a good deal of time in discussion. But I doubt whether any treaty is intended on your part, and I fancy we shall not press it. It may perhaps be best to give both sides time to inquire, and ta feel for the interests they cannot see. With sincere and great esteem, I am ever, my dear friend, yours most affectionately, B. FRANKLIN,

SIR,

TO THE HON. JOHN JAY, Esq.

Minister for foreign affairs.

Philadelphia, Sept. 19, 1785.

I have the honor to acquaint you that I left Paris the 12th of July, and, agreeable to the permission of congress, am returned to my country. Mr. Jefferson had recovered his health, and was much esteemed and respected ́there. Our joint letters have already informed you of our late proceedings, to which I have nothing to add except that the last act I did as minister plenipotentiary for making treaties, was to sign with him, two days before I came away, the treaty of friendship and commerce that had been agreed on with Prussia, and which was to be carried to the Hague by Mr. Short, there to be signed by Baron Thulemeyer on the part of the king, who, without the least hesitation, had approved and conceded to the new humane articles proposed by congress,' which articles are considered as doing that body great honor. Mr. Short was also to go to London with the treaty, for the signature of Mr. Adams, who, I learnt, (when at Southampton) is well received at the British court. The Captain Lamb, who in a letter of yours to Mr, Adams, was said to be coming to us with instructions respecting Morocco, had not appeared, nor had we heard any thing of him; so nothing has been done by us in that treaty, I left the court of France in the same friendly disposition towards the United States that we have all along experienced, though concerned to find our credit is not better supported in the payment of the interest money due on our loans, which in case of another war must be, they think, extremely

! Against privateering.

prejudicial to us, and indeed may contribute to draw on a war the sooner, by affording our enemies the encouraging confidence that a people who take so little care to pay, will not again find it easy to borrow. I received from the king, at my departure, the present of his picture set round with diamonds, usually given to ministers plenipotentiary who have signed any treaties with that court, and is at the disposition of congress, to whom be pleased to present my dutiful respects. I am, sir, with great esteem, your most obedient and most humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.

P.S.-Not caring to trust them to a common conveyance, I send by my late secretary, W. Temple Franklin, who will have the honor of delivering them to you, all the original treaties I have been concerned in negociating, that were completed. Those with Portugal and Denmark continue in suspense.

SIR,

To

Philadelphia, Jan. 19, 1790.

I received the letter you did me the honor of writing to me respecting the construction of the eleventh article of the treaty of commerce between France and the United States. I was indeed one of the commissioners for making that treaty; but the commissioners have no right to explain the treaty. Its explanation is to be sought for in its own words; and in case it cannot be clearly found there, then by an application to the contracting powers.

I certainly conceived that when the droit d'aubaine was relinquished in favor of the citizens of the United States, the relinquishing clause was meant to extend to all the dominions of his most Christian majesty; and I am of opinion, that this would not be denied if an explanation were re

quested of the court of France; and it ought to be done, if any difficulties arise on this subject in the French Islands, which their courts do not determine in our favor But, before congress is petitioned to make such request, I imagine it would be proper to have the case tried in some of the West India Islands, and the petition made in consequence of a determination against us. I have the honor to be, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

SUPPLEMENT

ΤΟ

PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.

PART III.

[The two letters from William Carmichael, Esq. (secretary of the American legation at the court of Madrid,) to Dr. Franklin, of which the following are extracts, were accidentally omitted in their appropriate place in the CORRESPONDENCE, together with the subjoined curious MEMOIR of Sir John Dalrymple, referred to by Mr. Carmichael; a copy of which was requested by Dr. Franklin in his letter to that gentleman, of June 17, 1780. (See vol. I, p. 62.)].

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM W. CARMICHAEL, ESQ. TO HIS EXCELLENCY DR. FRANKLIN, PARIS.

Madrid, April 27, 1780.

"Sir John Dalrymple, whom perhaps you know personally, has been here near three weeks, under the pretext, or in reality, of travelling with his lady, who is in a bad state of health. I have been able to trace most of his motions here, which wear a suspicious appearance; and,