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  THE
  DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE
  OF THE
  AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

  VOL. III.




  THE
  DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE

  OF THE

  AMERICAN REVOLUTION;

  BEING

  THE LETTERS OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, SILAS DEANE, JOHN
  ADAMS, JOHN JAY, ARTHUR LEE, WILLIAM LEE, RALPH
  IZARD, FRANCIS DANA, WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, HENRY
  LAURENS, JOHN LAURENS, M. DE LAFAYETTE, M.
  DUMAS AND OTHERS, CONCERNING THE FOREIGN
  RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES DURING
  THE WHOLE REVOLUTION;

  TOGETHER WITH

  THE LETTERS IN REPLY FROM THE SECRET COMMITTEE OF
  CONGRESS AND THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

  ALSO,

  THE ENTIRE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE FRENCH MINISTERS,
  GERARD AND LUZERNE, WITH CONGRESS.

  Published under the Direction of the President of the United States, from
  the original Manuscripts in the Department of State, conformably
  to a Resolution of Congress of March 27th, 1818.

  EDITED

  BY JARED SPARKS.

  VOL. III.


  BOSTON:
  NATHAN HALE AND GRAY & BOWEN;
  G. & C. & H. CARVILL, NEW YORK; P. THOMPSON, WASHINGTON.
  1829.


  HALE'S STEAM PRESS.
  No. 6 Suffolk Buildings, Congress Street, Boston




CONTENTS

OF THE

THIRD VOLUME.


BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S CORRESPONDENCE.

       *       *       *       *       *

                                                                Page.

  To John Hancock, President of Congress. Nantes,
    December 8th, 1776,                                             5

      Announces his arrival in France.--Does not assume
        a public character.--Military stores destined for
        America.

  To the Committee of Secret Correspondence. Nantes,
    December 8th, 1776,                                             7

  The Committee of Secret Correspondence to Benjamin
    Franklin. Baltimore, January 1st, 1777,                         9

        Announcing his appointment as Commissioner to Spain.

  To the Committee of Secret Correspondence. Paris,
    January 4th, 1777,                                              9

      Arrives in Paris.--Has an audience with Count de
        Vergennes.--Interview with the Spanish Ambassador.--The
        nation favorable to the American cause.

  To the President of Congress. Paris, January 20th,
    1777,                                                          10

      Recommending Captain Balm.

  To the Count d'Aranda, Spanish Ambassador to the
    Court of France. Passy, April 7th, 1777,                       11

      Communicates the propositions of the United States
        to Spain.--Congress will also assist France and
        Spain in the conquest of the English sugar islands.

  To General Washington. Paris, June 13th, 1777,                   12

      Recommending Count Kotkouski.--Count Pulaski.

  To General Washington. Paris, June 13th, 1777,                   13

      Recommending Baron de Frey.

  M. Dubourg to B. Franklin. Paris, September
    8th, 1777,                                                     14

      Requesting a letter of recommendation for M. Gerard,
        who wishes to settle in America.

  To Richard Peters. Passy, September 12th, 1777,                  15

      Recommending M. Gerard.

  Remarks on a Loan for the United States,                         15

      America a safer debtor than Britain, from her general
        industry, frugality, prudence, ability, and virtue.

  To David Hartley, member of Parliament. Passy,
    October 14th, 1777,                                            23

      The conduct of Great Britain has rendered submission
        impossible.--Cruel treatment of the American prisoners
        in England.--Propositions for their relief.

  To James Lovell. Paris, December 21st, 1777,                     27

      Mr Deane's recommendations of officers.--Numerous
      and vexatious applications, with high recommendations.

  To James Hutton. Passy, February 1st, 1778,                      29

      Means of reconciling America.

  To David Hartley. Passy, February 12th, 1778,                    31

      Alienation of America from Great Britain.--Kindness
        and cordiality of France.--Change of Ministry necessary
        for conciliation.--Subscriptions in England
        for the relief of American prisoners.--Mr Hutton.

  To David Hartley. Passy, February 26th, 1778,                    34

      Lord North's conciliatory bills.--Advice to the English
        whigs.

  To James Hutton. Passy, March 24th, 1778,                        37

      The Commissioners are ready to treat.

  Note from William Pultney to B. Franklin. March
    29th, 1778,                                                    37

      Desires an interview with Dr Franklin.

  To William Pultney. Passy, March 30th, 1778,                     38

      America cannot treat on any terms short of independence--
        will not treat at all in case of a war against France.

  To Dr Bancroft. Passy, April 16th, 1778,                         40

      British Commissioners cannot succeed in America on
        their terms.

  David Hartley to B. Franklin. Paris, April 23d, 1778,            40

      Advises him to take care of his own safety.

  To Count de Vergennes. Passy, April 24th, 1778,                  41

      Giving an account of his conversations with Mr Hartley;
        of the visit of Mr Chapman, an agent of Lord
        Shelburne.--The Quebec fleet.

  Count de Vergennes to B. Franklin. Versailles,
    April 25th, 1778,                                              44

      Policy of the English to excite divisions and distrust.

  James Lovell to B. Franklin. Yorktown, June 20th, 1778,          45

  Answer to a letter from Brussels. Passy, July 1st, 1778,         45

      Reply to insinuations against the faith of France.--Future
        prospects of America.--Acknowledgment of
        the independency of little consequence to America.--The
        King's political studies.--Peace is to be obtained
        only on equal terms.--Ridicules the offers
        of rewards.

  To James Lovell. Passy, July 22d, 1778,                          52

      Proceedings relative to Mr Deane.--Beaumarchais.--Eleventh
        and twelfth articles of the treaty.--Mr
        Izard.--Inconvenience and expense of maintaining
        several Commissioners instead of one.--War between
        England and France; war in Germany.--Difficulty
        of raising loans.--Drafts of Congress on the
        Commissioners.

  Instructions to B. Franklin, as Minister Plenipotentiary
  to the Court of France,                                          59

  Committee of Foreign Affairs to B. Franklin. Philadelphia,
  October 28th, 1778,                                              62

      Forwarding his new credentials.

  James Lovell to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, December
    8th, 1778,                                                     63

      Depreciation of the currency.

  Dr Price to B. Franklin. London, Jan. 18th, 1779,                64

      Declines removing to America.

  James Lovell to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, January
    29th, 1779,                                                    65

      English successes in Georgia.

  James Lovell to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, February
    8th, 1779,                                                     66

  To David Hartley. Passy, February 22d, 1779,                     66

      America cannot relinquish her alliance with France
        to treat with Britain.

  Letter respecting Captain Cook. Passy, March 10th, 1779,         67

      Recommending to afford Captain Cook all the assistance
        he may need.

  To David Hartley. Passy, March 21st, 1779,                       68

      Delay in the exchange of prisoners.--Losses of the
        English.--Growth of America.

  David Hartley to B. Franklin. London, April 22d, 1779,           70

      Proposing a truce.--Interests of France.--Advantages
        of adopting some preliminaries.

  Observations by Mr Hartley,                                      74

      Enclosed in the preceding.

  Instructions to John Paul Jones, Commander of the
    American Squadron in the service of the United
    States, now in the port of L'Orient,                           77

  To David Hartley. Passy, May 4th, 1779,                          78

      Relative to Mr Hartley's propositions.

  To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. Passy, May
    26th, 1779,                                                    81

      Receives his credentials.--Presented to the King.--American
        prisoners in France released.--Captain
        Jones's squadron.--Exchange of prisoners with
        England.--American prisoners there committed for
        high treason.--Necker unfavorably disposed towards
        America.--Accounts of the Commissioners.--Difficulty
        of raising a loan.--Charges of William Lee and Ralph
       Izard.--Recommends the appointment of consuls.--Agents
       and applications of the separate States.--Barbary
       Powers.--Disposition of the French.--Preparations of
       Spain.--Preparations in France.--Opinion of the Howes,
       Cornwallis, &c. of the impracticability of the conquest
       of America.

  To James Lovell. Passy, June 2d, 1779,                           95

      Currency.--Charges of Mr Lee and Mr Izard.--Communication
      between Europe and America.--M. de la Luzerne.

  James Lovell to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, June 13th, 1779,      98

      Enclosing a resolve relative to Beaumarchais's accounts.

  James Lovell to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, July 9th, 1779,       98

  James Lovell to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, July 16th, 1779,      99

      Burning of Fairfield.--Compensation of Ministers.--Forwards
      letters to the King of France.--Invoices of supplies
      desired.

  Instructions from Congress to B. Franklin. In Congress,
    August 14th, 1779,                                            101

      Proposing the mutual guaranty of the fisheries by
        France and the United States.

  To the Marquis de Lafayette. Passy, August 24th, 1779,          104

      Forwarding him a sword, in the name of the Congress.

  The Marquis de Lafayette to B. Franklin. Havre,
    August 29th, 1779,                                            104

      Acknowledging the reception of the sword.

  To James Lovell. Passy, September 30th, 1779,                   105

      Supplies.--Receives nothing himself.

  To Mr Bridgen. Passy, October 2d, 1779,                         106

      Devices on coins.

  To John Jay, President of Congress. Passy, October
    4th, 1779,                                                    108

      Beaumarchais's accounts.--Supplies.--M. Neufville's
        offers of a loan.--Demands of Mr Ross, Mr Izard,
        and Mr Lee.--Inactivity of the combined fleets.--
        Relations of Holland and England.--Favorable
        disposition of Portugal.--Exchange of prisoners.--
        Jones's cruise in the English waters.--Complaints of
        French officers returning from America.--Complaints
        against American cruisers.--Luxury of the
        Americans.--Monument to General Montgomery.--Supplies
        from Spain.

  To James Lovell. Passy, October 17th, 1779,                     118

      Jones's cruise.--Mr Lee and Mr Deane.--Prospect of
        peace.--Return of Commodore Jones.

  To R. Bernstorf, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Denmark.
    Passy, December 22d, 1779,                                    121

      Remonstrates against the seizure of the American
        prizes in the ports of Norway.

  To David Hartley. Passy, February 2d, 1780,                     125

      America will not treat without her allies.--His
        former offers to pay for the tea destroyed in
        Boston.--Indisposition to peace on the part of
        England.--Exchange of prisoners.--British barbarities
        in America.

  James Lovell to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, February
    24th, 1780,                                                   128

      Drafts merely nominal.

  To Samuel Huntington, President of Congress. Passy,
    March 4th, 1780,                                              129

      Seizure of the prizes in Norway.--Quarrel between
        Commodore Jones and Captain Landais.--Necessity of
        appointing a consul.--Exchange of prisoners.--Prospects
        of England.--Supplies of France.

  From R. Bernstorf, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Denmark,
    to B. Franklin. Copenhagen, March 8th, 1780,                  134

      On the seizure of the American prizes.

  To James Lovell. Passy, March 16th, 1780,                       135

      Proposed convention in London.--Affairs of England.

  To Joseph Reed, President of the State of Pennsylvania.
    Passy, March 19th, 1780,                                      137

      Mr Pultney.--Errors corrected.

  Count de Vergennes to B. Franklin. Versailles, May 11th,
    1780,                                                         140

      Recommending the Baron d'Arendt.

  To the Judges of the Admiralty at Cherbourg. Passy, May
    16th, 1780,                                                   140

      Requesting the release of the neutral ship Flora; the
        cargo, if English, may be condemned.

  To the President of Congress. Passy, May 22d, 1780,             141

      Recommending the Baron d'Arendt.

  To an Agent of American Cruisers. Passy, May 30th, 1780,        142

      Free ships make free goods.

  To the President of Congress. Passy, May 31st, 1780,            143

      Complains of the trouble of maritime affairs.--Difficulty
        of meeting the drafts.--Accounts of the Commissioners.--
        American prizes in Danish ports.--Capture of neutral
        vessels with English cargoes.--European powers have
        adopted the rule, that free ships make free goods.--
        Unfavorable disposition in Europe towards England.--
        Difficulties in the exchange of prisoners.

  To the President of Congress. Passy, June 1st, 1780,            149

      Recommending Commodore Jones.

  To C. W. F. Dumas. Passy, June 5th, 1780,                       149

      Respecting neutral ships.--Expresses a wish that all
        private property and all private individuals might be
        unmolested.--Letter of General Clinton.

  Count de Vergennes to B. Franklin. Versailles, June
    30th, 1780,                                                   152

      Orders to M. de la Luzerne relative to the French
        holders of American paper money.

  Committee of Foreign Affairs to B. Franklin. Philadelphia,
    July 11th, 1780,                                              153

      Making new drafts.

  Committee of Foreign Affairs to B. Franklin. Philadelphia,
    July 11th, 1780,                                              154

      Mr Laurens appointed to negotiate a loan in Holland.

  Committee of Foreign Affairs to B. Franklin. Philadelphia,
    July 11th, 1780,                                              155

      Communicating the acknowledgment of Congress for
        the attentions of the French Consul in Bergen.

  Committee of Foreign Affairs to H. Dohrman, merchant,
    Lisbon. Philadelphia, July 11th, 1780,                        155

      Informing him of his appointment as agent of Congress
        for the relief of Americans in distress.

  David Hartley to B. Franklin. London, July 17th, 1780,          157

      Enclosing a copy of a conciliatory bill, rejected in the
        House of Commons.

  To C. W. F. Dumas. Passy, July 26th, 1780,                      159

      Messrs Neufville.--Capture of Charleston of little consequence.

  To the President of Congress. Passy, August 9th, 1780,          161

      Disputes of Landais and Jones.--Necessity of appointing
        consuls.--Mr Adams offends the French Court.--The
        armed neutrality.

  To James Lovell. Passy, August 10th, 1780,                      167

      Little value of pretended confidential information of
        secrets of State.--Transmits copies of instruments
        annulling the eleventh and twelfth articles.

  James Lovell to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, August 15th, 1780,   169

      Notifying Dr Franklin of bills to be drawn on him.

  James Lovell to B. Franklin. Sept. 7th, 1780,                   170

      Enclosing proceedings of Congress relative to new
        drafts.--Increase of taxes for the improvement of the
        currency.

  To C. W. F. Dumas. Passy, Oct. 2d, 1780,                        171

      Relative to M. Dumas's appointment and services.

  To C. W. F. Dumas. Passy, Oct.