POLITICAL grandson pass into Germany, and spend some "Miss Alexander. "PASSY, June 24, 1782. "I AM not at all displeased that the thesis "I have been to pay my respects to that B. FRANKLIN." Sir John Pringle, Bart., born in Roxburgshire, in in 1782. He wrote " Observations on the Diseases of R. R. Livingston "PASSY, June 25, 1782. As soon "SIR,-I have received your respected letters of January 26th and February 13th; the first was accompanied with a form of a convention, for the establishment of consuls. Mr. Barclay having been detained these six months in Holland, though in continual expectation of returning hither, I have yet done nothing in that business, thinking his preas he arrives, I shall move the completion of sence might be of use in settling it. it. The second enforces some resolutions of congress sent me with it, respecting a loan of 12,000,000, to be demanded of France for the current year. I had already received the promise of six millions, together with the clearest and most positive assurances, that it was all the king could spare to us, that we must not expect more; that if drafts and demands came upon me beyond that sum, it behoved me to take care how I accepted them, or where I should find funds for the payment, since I could certainly not be further assisted out of the royal treasury. Under this declaration, with what face could I ask for another six millions. It would be saying you are not to be believed, you can spare more, you are but willing. If you read my letter to Mr able to lend me twice the sum, if you were Morris of this date, I think you will be convinced how improper any language, capable of such a construction, would be to such a friend. I hope, however, that the loan Mr. Adams has opened in Holland, for three millions of florins, which it is said is likely to succeed, will supply the deficiency. By the newspapers I have sent, you will see that the general disposition of the British nation towards us had been changed. Two persons have been sent here by the new ministers, to propose treating for peace. They had at first some hopes of getting the belligerent powers to treat separately, one after another, but finding that impracticable, they have to a resolution of treating with all together after several messengers sent to and fro, come Mr. Grenville is now for a general peace, and have agreed that the place shall be Paris. here with full powers for that purpose, (if they can be reckoned full with regard to America till a certain act is completed for enabling his majesty to treat, &c. which has gone through the commons, and has been once read in the lords.) I keep a very particular journal of what passes every day, in I shall therefore need to say no more of it in the affair, which is transcribing to be sent you. this letter, except that though I still think they were at first sincere in their desire of peace, yet since their success in the West Indies, I imagine that I see marks of their desiring rather to draw the negotiations into length, that they may take the chance of what | powers that would authorize my making a the rest of the campaign shall produce in their treaty with his master, in behalf of the United favour; and as there are so many interests States. Recollecting a general power that to adjust, it will be prudent for us to suppose, that even another campaign may pass before all can be agreed. Something too may happen to break of the negotiations, and we should be prepared for the worst. I hoped for the assistance of Mr. Adams and Mr. Laurens. The first is too much engaged in Holland to come hither, and the other declines serving; but I have now the satisfaction of being joined by Mr. Jay, who happily arrived here from Madrid last Sunday. The marquis de la Fayette is of real use in our affairs here, and as the campaign is not likely to be very active in North America, I wish I may be able to prevail with him to stay a few weeks longer. By him you will receive the journal | abovementioned, which is already pretty voluminous, and yet the negotiations cannot be said to be opened. “Ireland you will see has obtained all her demands triumphantly. I meet no one from that country who does not express some obligation to America for their success. was formerly given to me with the other commissioners, I answered in the affirmative. He seemed much pleased, and said the king had directed him to ask the question, and had charged him to tell me, that he had so great an esteem formed that it would be a particular satisfaction to him to leave such a transaction with me. I have perhaps some vanity in repeating this, but I think too that it is right that congress should know it, and judge if any use may be made of the reputation of a citizen for the public service. In case it should be thought fit to employ me in that business, it will be well to send a more particular power and proper instructions. The ambassador added, that it was a pleasure to him to think, and he hoped it would be remembered, that Sweden was the first power in Europe which had voluntary offered its friendship to the United States, without being solicited. This affair should be talked of as little as possible, till completed. "I enclose another complaint from Denmark, which I request you will lay before congress. "Iam continually pestered with complaints from French seamen, who were with captain Conynham in his first cruize from Dunkirk, from others who were in the Lexington, the Alliance, &c. being put on board prizes that were re-taken, were never afterwards able to join their respective ships, and so have been deprived of the wages, &c. due to them. It is for our national honour that justice would be done them, if possible; and I wish you to procure an order from congress for inquiring into their demands, and satisfying such as shall be found just. It may be addressed to the consul. "Before I received your just observations on the subject, I had obtained for the English ministers a resolution to exchange all our prisoners. They thought themselves obliged to have an act of parliament for authorizing the king to do it. This war being different from others, as made by an act of parliament | declaring us rebels, and our people being committed as for high treason, I impowered Mr. Hodgson, who was chairman of the committee that collected and dispensed the charitable subscription for the American prisoners, to treat and conclude on terms of their discharge, and having approved of the draft he sent me of the agreement, I hope the congress will see fit to order a punctual execution of it. I have long suffered with those poor brave men, who with so much public virtue have endured four or five years hard imprisonment, rather than serve against their country. I have done all I could afford towards making their situations more comfortable; but their num- "I have made the addition you directed to bers was so great that I could do but little for the cypher. I rather prefer the old one of each; and that very great villain de- Dumas, perhaps because I am more used to frauded them of between three and four hun- it. I enclose several letters from that ancient dred pounds, which he drew from me on their and worthy servant of our country. He is account. He lately wrote me a letter, in now employed as secretary to Mr. Adams, which he pretended he was coming to settle and I must, from a long experience of his with me, and to convince me that I had been zeal and usefulness, beg leave to recommend mistaken with regard to his conduct; but he him warmly to the consideration of congress never appeared, and I hear he is gone to Ame- with regard to his appointments, which have rica. Beware of him, for he is very artful, never been equal to his merit. As Mr. and has cheated many. I hear every day Adams writes me the good news, that he of new rogueries committed by him in Eng- shall no longer be obliged to draw on me for land. his salary, I suppose it will be proper to direct his paying that which shall be allowed to M. Dumas. B. FRANKLIN.” "The ambassador from Sweden to this court applied to me lately, to know if I had "I enclose a note from M. de Vergennes to me, accompanied by a memoire relating to a Swiss who died at Edenton. If you can procure the information desired, it will much oblige the French ambassador in Switzerland. 22 of CORRESPONDENCE, PRIVATE AND POLITICAL. "To Robert Morris. PASSY, June 25, 1782. "FOR what relates to war and peace, I must refer you to Mr. Livingston, to whom I write fully. I will only say, that though the English a few months since seemed desirous peace, I suspect, they now intend to draw out the negotiation into length, till they can see what this campaign will produce. I hope our people will not be deceived by fair words, but be on their guard, ready against every attempt that our insidious enemies may make upon us. I am, &c.. 66 Wednesday, 26th. I sent away my let17 ters, and went to see Mr. Oswald. I showed him the draft of a letter to be addressed to him, instead of lord Shelburne, respecting the commission or public character he might hereafter be vested with; this draft was founded on lord S.'s memorandums, which Mr. Oswald had shown to me, and this letter was intended to be communicated by him to lord Shelburne. Mr. Oswald liked the mode, but rather chose that no mention should be made of his having shown me lord S.'s memorandums, though he thought they were given him for that purpose. So I struck that out and new-modeled the letter, which I sent him next day, as follows. 437 ford us a clearer understanding of the intentions of the British ministry, which for some weeks past have appeared somewhat equivocal and uncertain. It looks as if, since their late success in the West Indies, they a little repented of the advances they had made in their declarations respecting the acknowledgment of our independence; and we have pretty good information, that some of the ministry still flatter the king with the hope of recovering his sovereignty over us on the same terms willing we might have been at the commenceas are now making with Ireland. However ment of this contest, to have accepted such conditions, be assured that we can have no If he is once admitted to any safety in them at present. The king hates us most cordially. degree of power or government among us, however limited, it will soon be extended by corruption, artifice, and force, till we are reduced to absolute subjection; and that the more easily, as by receiving him again for our king, we shall draw upon ourselves the contempt of all Europe, who now admire and There are, it is said, great divirespect us, and shall never again find a friend to assist us. sions in the ministry, on other points as well as this; and those who aim at engrossing the power, flatter the king with this project of re-union; and it is said have much reliance on the operation of private agents sent into America, to dispose minds there in favour of it, and to bring about a separate treaty there with general Carleton. I have not the least "SIR,-In mine of the 25th instant I omit-apprehension that congress will give into this ted mentioning, that at the repeated earnest scheme, it being inconsistent with our treaties instances of Mr. Laurens, who had given such as well as with our interest; but I think it expectations to the ministry in England, when will be well to watch these emissaries, and secure or banish immediately such as shall be his parole or securities were discharged, as that he could not think himself at liberty to found tampering and stirring up the people to act in public affairs, till the parole of lord call for it. The firm united resolution of Cornwallis was absolved by me, in exchange, France, Spain, and Holland, joined with ours, I sent to that general, the paper, of which the not to treat of a particular but a general peace, enclosed is a copy; and I see by the English notwithstanding the separate tempting offers papers, that his lordship immediately on the to each, will in the end, give us the command receipt of it, appeared at court and has taken of that peace. Every one of the other powers, see clearly their interest in this, and perhis seat in the house of peers, which he did not before think warrantable. My authority sist in that resolution: the congress I am perfor doing this, appeared questionable to my-suaded are as clearsighted as any of them, self, but Mr. Laurens judged it deducible, from that respecting general Burgoyne, and by his letters to me, seemed so unhappy till it was done, that I ventured it, with a clause, however, (as you will see), reserving to congress the approbation or disallowance of it. "Robert R. Livingston. "PASSY, June 28, 1782. and will not depart from the system which has been attended with so much success, and promises to make America soon both great and happy. "I have just received a letter from Mr. Laurens, dated at Lyons, on his journey into the south of France, for his health. Mr. Jay will write also by this opportunity. "The enabling act is now said to be pass- 37* "B. FRANKLIN.” "OUR public affairs are in a good situation England having tried in vain, to make a separate peace with each of the powers she is at war with, has at length agreed to treat for a general peace with them altogether; and at Paris. If we all continue firm in the resoJution not to separate, we shall command the terms. I have no doubt of this steadiness here; and though we are told that endeavours are making on your side the water, to induce America to a re-union, on the terms now granting to Ireland, and that powers are sent to general Carleton for that purpose, I am persuaded the danger of this project will appear so evident, that if offered, it will be immediately rejected. We have no safety but in our independence; with that we shall be respected, and soon become great and happy. Without it, we shall be despised, lose all our friends, and then either be cruelly oppressed by the king, who hates, and is incapable of forgiving us, or having all that nation's enemies for ours, shall sink with it.—I am ever, my dear friend, yours most affectionately, 66 66 B. FRANKLIN.” Henry Laurens. "PASSY, July 2, 1782. "SIR,-I received the letter you did me the honour of writing to me from Lyons, the 24th past. prefixed a prefatory explanation of the publication, stating, as far as was safe so to do, the state of the propositions of treaty, and the circumstances attending the reception and final refusal of them. "I could not think it proper to name the person with whom I had corresponded, who was authorized to treat of peace, and was willing to promote it, because I knew the insidious falsehood of those who both hate and fear him, would, when once his name was committed with the public, represent him in any light that might tend to diminish and destroy the trust and confidence which he so deservedly has from his employers. The meinorials, therefore, speak of persons in the plural, and the preface in its communications to the public keeps close to that expressed. Be "I could not venture to tell the public, nor could I venture to write to this person, the fact that he specifically and personally was excepted to, in an opprobrious manner. cause, the same persons who are his enemies, having proscribed me, would have been glad of making, such my communications, an occasion of charging me with crimes, which, notwithstanding they have been in constant watch, they have never yet been able to do. For although I know they have whispered "I wonder a little at Mr. not ac- such in the closet, they never have dared to quainting you whether your name was in the assert any such matter as fact in public.commission or not. I begin to suspect, from What I did, I thought right in point of hovarious circumstances, that the British minis-nour to all concerned or interested, and I went try, elated perhaps too much by the success of as far as I dared venture to go in the publicaadmiral Rodney, are not in earnest to treat tions which I made. immediately, but rather wish delay. They seem to hope that farther successes may enable them to treat more advantageously; or, as some suppose, that certain propositions to be made to congress by general Carleton, may render a treaty here with us unnecessary. A little bad news, which it is possible they may yet receive from the same quarter, will contribute to set them right; and then we may enter seriously upon the treaty; otherwise I conjecture it may not take place till after another campaign. Mr. Jay is arrived here. Mr. Grenville and Mr. Oswald continue here. Mr. Oswald has yet received no commission; and that of Mr. Grenville does not very clearly comprehend us according to British ideas; therefore requires explication. When I know more, you shall have farther information. "Not having an immediate answer to what I wrote you, concerning the absolution of lord Cornwallis's parole, and major Ross coming over hither from him to press it; I gave him the discharge you desired. Enclosed I send you a copy. I hear it has proved satisfactory to him; I hope it will be so to you. Private Memorandums, Mr. Hobart. "WHEN I published the memorials which I had prepared for the king, January 1, 1782, I "As this exception to the integrity and good faith of my correspondent, was made, upon the very first overture which I made, by all the ministers, I made a point, in all the memorials which I drew up for presentation (had the offers been admissible,) of founding my offers on the integrity and good faith of this person (p. 32,*) and in this communication to the public of marking him (preface, p. 10,) as a man of honour and good faith. "I could not venture to communicate to my correspondent, much less to the public, those matters, which, though not officially communicated to me, these my enemies would have represented, as a betraying to the enemy the secrets of government. But it is fit, if not absolutely necessary, to make this memorandum of these things, that the truth, when the proper time shall come, may be known to all whom it doth concern; and it is further fit that this memorandum should be communicated to you now, as the proposing of your *These_references are to the printed memorials of governor Pownall, published by G. Dodsley, 1782. In the preface to one of which presented to Dr. F. by the author, is this sentence:-" One has heard of a Sully, a Fleury, a Somers, a Dewitt, a Franklin, benefactors of mankind." Below, in governor Pownall's autograph is written, this nitch was dedicated to the name that now fills it. services was included in the offers made as a | whom business might go. What was the nature of the matters of business on which know. A condition sine qua non. "Between the 6th of December, 1781, and they were communicated with, I do not the end of January 1782, during which time the ministry kept me in suspense, as to what "Notwithstanding the change of the miresolution they would take, as to what an-nistry, which took place at this period, there swer they would give; or whether they were some in the new composition of miniswould give me any answer at all; or whether ters, who partook of the spirit and influence they would deign to admit me and my propo- of the old ones, and the same line of motion, sitions to a hearing; they act dishonourably and the same persons, were in like manner as towards me, and as I think towards my cor- before, adopted for treaty. respondent also, profited of the fact communi- "The memorial, January 1, 1782, (p. 22,) Icated by me to them, viz. 'that there were declares specifically and definitively what persons authorized to treat of peace; and that was the proposition I made, viz. to open a 'nethese persons were disposed to give such trea- gotiation for the purpose only of settling such ty every assistance in their power:-and a truce with the Americans, as a preliminary sent one person (I have been told it was Mr. measure, in order the better to treat of peace Oswald,) to Holland, a person, if not actually in future, either separately, or in any general the same person, to Ghent, and a Mr. Forth congress of the powers of Europe.' And this to France, to try if they could not get upon on a ground of uti possidetis, both as to rights the same ground by other ways, and through as well as territories possessed, which I exother persons. I have been told, and believe plained as an acknowledgment of the indeit, that they understood that Mr. Adams was pendence of America, with a sauf d'honneur (disgusted with the Dutch government) ready to the British sovereign, and a removing of to accede to ours. Also that Mr. at all obstacles from the way of such other soveGhent was already gained. This person reigns in Europe as had not yet brought themthey hurried off to America; and they gave selves to acknowledge the American soveinstructions to general Carleton to open the reignty. (p. 22.) I never pretended to talk of ground of treaty in America. In short they peace, much less of a separate peace, but detried any ground and every person, except finitively declared that whatever was underhim who was excepted to. And when they taken must not contravene, (Mem. Jan. found that they could not get in at any door 1782, p. 21,) nor ever bring into question, in Europe, they affected to interpret this dis- treaties already subsisting.' appointment into a fact, That the American ministers were either not impowered or not willing to treat; that the offer was now clearly a trap laid by a faithless and decided enemy.' "When I first made my offer, I was asked whether I would go to Ghent or Holland, which I peremptorily refused. I was then asked, why I would not; I said, I knew nothing of the person in Holland, and as to the person at Ghent, I would have no communications there. The only person I would have communications with, was him that I knew had powers, whom I knew to be, not withstanding all provocations to the contrary, a well wisher and friend to this, whom from experience I knew to be a man of honour and good faith, whom I could trust, and who would trust me. This person and this line was rejected; I will not aggravate the colour of facts by saying how. "I was informed, that during this period, they were talking with Mr. Laurens, as a more practicable man, as one who had, by acknowledging himself amenable to the laws and courts of this country, and by the act of giving bail, had by implication acknowledged (at least de facto,) the sovereignty of Great Britain, and that the ministers of the states were criminals against this country. This gentleman, therefore, and his surety Mr. Oswald, were fixed upon as the persons through "On this ground it was, that upon my first overtures I proposed that while I was treating with the American ministers, Mr. Hobart might be authorized to treat with French ministers, as the properest man then in England, as living with the men of business of that court; as known to them; as knowing them; and between whom and him there was that degree and those habits of acquaintance and good opinion, which is the only soil out of which practical confidence in negotiation can grow; as one with whom I could communicate with the most perfect confidence; as one in whose hands I would repose my life and honour. I said first, that if these two lines of treaty were not instituted at the same time; and secondly, that if Mr. Hobart was not the person joined with me, I would not engage in what I had offered. This gentleman, a man of honour, brother to the earl of Buckingham, of a noble distinct landed estate of his own; a man designed by his education at the court of Vienna, under former ministers in a former reign, for the corps diplomatic, and actually having served in Russia, was also inadmissible. And they thus ended all matters in which I had made my offers. 66 Having thus found the ministers with whom I had communicated, impracticable towards peace, in the only line in which I thought it might be obtained, and seeing an |
