tence for B. F.'s going to England, where he has many friends and acquaintance, particularly among the best writers and ablest speakers in both houses of parliament, he thinks he shall be able when there, if the terms are not accepted, to work up such a division of sentiments in the nation, as greatly to weaken its exertions against the United States, and lessen its credit in foreign countries.

4. The knowledge of there being powers given to the commissioners to treat with England, may have some effect in facilitating and expediting the proposed treaty with France.

5. It is worth our while to offer such a sum for the countries to be ceded, since the vacant lands will in time sell for a great part of what we shall give, if not more; and if we are to obtain them by conquest, after perhaps a long war, they will probably cost us more than that sum. It is absolutely necessary for us to have them for our own security; and though the sum may seem large to the present generation, in less than half the term, it will be to the whole United States a mere trifle.

It is uncertain to what extent this plan was adopted by congress. The propositions were certainly not such as the British ministry would have listened to a moment, at that period of the revolutionary war, whatever they might have been disposed to have done in a more advanced state of it.

It is possible, however, that this or some other proposal for peace with Great Britain may have been furnished to Dr. Franklin by the secret committee of congress, to serve him in some measure as a protection in case of his capture at sea; of which there was at that time the most imminent danger.

Dr. Franklin set off on this important mission from Philadelphia, Oct. 26, 1776, accompanied by two of his grand-children, Wm. Temple Franklin, and Benjamin Franklin Bache: they slept at Chester that night, and the next morning went by land to Marcus Hook, and embarked there that day, in the United States' sloop of war Reprisal, mounting 16 guns, and commanded by Captain Wickes. During the passage, Dr. Franklin made daily experiments, by means of the thermometer, of the temperature of the sea water, as he had done on similar occasions, and with the same view, of ascertaining the ship's being in or out of the gulph stream, and more or less within soundings.

The sloop was frequently chased during the voyage by British cruisers, and several times prepared for action; but being a good sailer, and the captain having received orders, not unnecessarily to risk an engagement, she as often escaped her pursuers. The crew did not always seem to like avoiding coming up with the vessels that were occasionally seen, as they were naturally desirous

of getting some prize-money: on this account probably the captain indulged them on some occasions, when there was little likelihood of danger. An opportunity of this kind presented itself on the 27th of November, being then near the coast of France, though out of soundings. Several sail were seen about noon, and the sloop brought-to, and took a brig from Bourdeaux, bound to Cork, (being Irish property) loaded with lumber and some wine. She had left Bourdeaux the day be fore. The captain' found by the brig's reckoning, that he was then only 16 leagues from land. In the afternoon of the same day, he came up with, and took another brig, from Rochfort, belonging to Hull, bound to Hamburgh, with brandy and flax-seed. Early the next morning land was in sight from the mast-head; it proved to be Belleisle; a pilot came on board, and the sloop was brought to an anchor in the evening. On the 29th she ran into Quiberon Bay, where she continued till December 3d, when finding the contrary winds likely to continue, which prevented her entering the Loire, the captain procured a fishing-boat to put Dr. Franklin and his grandsons on shore at Auray, about six leagues distant, where they were landed in the evening. The boatmen spoke the Breton language as well as the French; and it appeared to be the common language of the country people in that province. One word only was intelligible, which was Diaul; it signifies Devil,

and is the same in the Welch language. It is said there is a considerable affinity between the two languages, and that the Welch and Breton fishermen and peasantry can comprehend each other. Auray proved to be a wretched place. No postchaises to be hired, and obliged to send to Vannes for one,-which did not arrive till next day; when the party reached that town, late in the evening. Dr. Franklin, in the little journal he kept, and from which the above details are taken, adds: "The carriage was a miserable one, with tired horses, the evening dark, scarce a traveller but ourselves on the road; and to make it more comfortable, the driver stopped near a wood we were to pass through, to tell us that a gang of eighteen robbers infested that wood, who but two weeks ago had robbed and murdered some travellers on that very spot."

The same journal contains the following remark: "December 6. On the road yesterday (travelling to Nantes), we met six or seven country-women, in company, on horseback, and astride: they were all of fair white and red complexions, but one among them was the fairest woman I ever beheld. Most of the men have good complexions, not swarthy, like those of the North of France, in which I remember that, except about Abbeville, I saw few fair people."

Arriving at Nantes on the 7th of December, a grand dinner was prepared on the occasion by

some friends of America, at which Dr. Franklin

was present, and in the afternoon went to meet a large party at the country seat of Mons. Gruel, a short distance from town, where crowds of visitors came to compliment him on his safe arrival, expressing great satisfaction, as they were warm friends to America, and hoped his being in France would be of advantage to the American cause, &c. &c. A magnificent supper closed the evening.

Being much fatigued and weakened by the voyage and journey, Dr. Franklin was persuaded to remain at M. Gruel's country-house, where he was elegantly and commodiously lodged: his strength, indeed, was not equal to an immediate journey to Paris. During his stay at M. Gruel's he was in hopes of living retired, but the house was almost always full of visitors; from whom, however, much useful information was obtained respecting the state of affairs at court, and the character of persons in power, &c. Dr. Franklin also learnt with great satisfaction, that a supply had been obtained from the French government of two hundred brass field-pieces, thirty thousand firelocks, and some other military stores, which were then shipping for America, and would be convoyed by a ship of war.

Dr. Franklin at that time did not assume any public character, thinking it prudent first to know whether the court was ready and willing to receive

VOL. II.

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