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         THE DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
                             VOL. II.


                     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. II.

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

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




              CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME.


               ARTHUR LEE’S CORRESPONDENCE.

                                                              Page.

  From the Committee of Secret Correspondence to
      Arthur Lee. Philadelphia, December 12th, 1775,               5
        Dumas.--Important to know the disposition of foreign
        powers.--Necessity of secrecy.

  To Benjamin Franklin. London, February 13th, 1776,               6

  To Lieutenant Governor Colden. London, February 13th, 1776,      7
        British preparations for the ensuing campaign.--Plan
        of operations.--Reluctance of troops to serve.--Secret
        wishes of the French government.

  To Lieutenant Governor Colden. London, February 14th, 1776,     10
        British forces; military; naval.--Character and
        disposition of the troops.--Dr Church.

  To Lieutenant Governor Colden. April 15th, 1776,                12
  Address of the city of London; answer.--Disposition of
      the English nation.

  To the Committee of Secret Correspondence. June 3d, 1776,       14
        Disposition of France favorable.--Spain.--Necessity
        of independency.

  Record of the Committee of Secret Correspondence.
      Philadelphia, October 1st, 1776,                            16
        Message from Mr Lee; his conferences with the French
        Ambassador; offer of arms and ammunition through
        Hortalez.--Proceedings of the Committee in
        relation to the message; determine to keep it
        secret, except in case of ill success.

  The Committee of Secret Correspondence to Arthur Lee.
      Philadelphia, October 23d, 1776,                            18
        Informing Mr Lee of his appointment as Commissioner
        to the Court of France.

  To Lord Shelburne. Paris, December 23d, 1776,                   19

  To the Committee of Secret Correspondence. Paris,
      January 3d, 1777,                                           20
        Acceptance of his appointment.--Joins Dr Franklin
        and Mr Deane.--Doubtful politics of the French Court.

  From the Commissioners in Paris to Count de Vergennes.
      Paris, January 5th, 1777,                                   21
        Applying for ships; arms; promise payment for
        them.--American commerce to France and Spain.

  The Commissioners to M. Gerard. Paris, January 14th, 1777,      23
        Relative to the message of the King of France.

  The Commissioners to Count de Vergennes. Paris,
      February 1st, 1777,                                         24
        Danger of America; German troops; blacks.--English
        acquainted with the proceedings of France in favor
        of America.--Dangers of France if England subdues
        the colonies.--Interest of France to assist America.

  To the Committee of Secret Correspondence. Nantes,
      February 11th, 1777,                                        27
        Exertions of the British.--Measures to defend the
        West India trade.--Commercial connexions of the
        Committee in Nantes.

  To the Committee of Secret Correspondence.
      Nantes, February 14th, 1777,                                31
        Agreement with the Farmers-General for
        tobacco.--British offer of prisoners to
        the East India Company.

  From James Gardoqui to Arthur Lee. Madrid,
      February 17th, 1777,                                        33
        Advises him not to come to Madrid.--Proposes
        a meeting between Grimaldi and Mr Lee at Burgos.

  To the Committee of Secret Correspondence.
      Bordeaux, February 18th, 1777,                              35
        Plan of the British for the ensuing
        campaign.--Tobacco.

  To the Commissioners in Paris. Vitoria,
      February 26th, 1777,                                        36

  Memorial delivered by Arthur Lee to the
      Marquis de Grimaldi. Burgos, March 5th, 1777,               38
        Reasons for visiting Madrid.

  To the Committee of Secret Correspondence.
      Burgos, March 8th, 1777,                                    40
        Promise of supplies from Bilboa, New Orleans
        and Havanna.

  Memorial presented to the Court of Spain.
      Burgos, March 8th, 1777,                                    41
        Critical state of affairs.--Importance of American
        commerce.--Policy of immediate assistance.--Danger
        of Great Britain in case of war in Europe.--Impolicy
        of allowing the reunion of the colonies by conquest
        or conciliation.

  Answer to the Memorial by the Marquis de Grimaldi at Vitoria,   44
        Objections of Spain to an immediate declaration.

  To the Count de Florida Blanca, Minister to the King of Spain.
      Vitoria, March 17th, 1777,                                  45
        Acknowledging the favors of Spain.--British oppressions.

  To the Committee of Secret Correspondence.
      Vitoria, March 18th, 1777,                                  47
        Account of the proceedings as already stated in
        preceding letters.--Supplies furnished by Gardoqui.
        --Situation of Great Britain.

  From B. Franklin to Arthur Lee. Passy, March 21st, 1777,        54
        New commission substituting Mr Lee instead of Mr
        Jefferson; empowering Commissioners to treat with
        Spain; particular commission to Dr Franklin for that
        purpose.--America will assist France to conquer
        the British West Indies, and Spain to conquer
        Portugal.--Loan of £2,000,000.--Sir J. Yorke’s
        memorial.--Proceedings of the States and of
        Amsterdam thereon.

  The Commissioners at Paris to Baron de Schulenburg,
      Minister to the King of Prussia.
      Paris, April 19th, 1777,                                    58
        Congress propose to send a Minister to Prussia.

  James Gardoqui to Arthur Lee. Madrid, April 28th, 1777,         59
        Enclosing money.

  A Minute of the sixteen enclosed Bills,                         60

  To James Gardoqui at Madrid. Paris, May 8th, 1777,              60

  To Baron de Schulenburg. Paris, May 8th, 1777,                  62

  To the Committee of Foreign Affairs.
      Paris, May 13th, 1777,                                      62

  Baron de Schulenburg to Arthur Lee.
      Berlin, May 20th, 1777,                                     63

  To the Commissioners at Paris. Vienna, May 27th, 1777,          64

  To Benjamin Franklin. Vienna, May 28th, 1777,                   65

  To Baron de Schulenburg. Berlin, June 5th, 1777,                65
        Requests an interview.

  To Baron de Schulenburg. Berlin, June 7th, 1777,                66
        Commerce with America.

  Baron de Schulenburg to Arthur Lee.
      Berlin, June 9th, 1777,                                     68

  To Baron de Schulenburg. Berlin, June 10th, 1777,               68
        Insurance to America.--Value of American
        commerce.--Danger of its reverting into the
        hands of the British.

  To the Committee of Foreign Affairs.
      Berlin, June 11th, 1777,                                    70
        Cautious policy of Prussia.--No danger to be
        apprehended from Russia.--German Princes.--Hesse.
        --European powers awaiting events.--Chatham’s
        motion for a cessation of hostilities.

  To the Commissioners at Paris. Berlin, June 15th, 1777,         72

  To George Washington. Berlin, June 15th, 1777,                  73
        His plan of operations approved.--Prussian army;
        discipline; arms.--Intention of writing the history
        of the revolution.

  Baron de Schulenburg to Arthur Lee.
      Berlin, June 18th, 1777,                                    75
        Commercial intercourse--Difficulties.

  To Baron de Schulenburg. Berlin, June 20th, 1777,               76
        Reasons for the admission of prizes, made by
        the Americans, into Prussian ports.

  Baron de Schulenburg to Arthur Lee. Berlin, June 26th, 1777,    78
        Prizes, made by the Americans, not to be admitted
        into Prussian ports.

  To the Commissioners in Paris. Berlin, June 28th, 1777,         79
        His papers stolen.--Suspects the English Ambassador.

  To the King of Prussia. Berlin, June 29th, 1777,                80
        Commerce with America; objections answered.--Justified
        by usages and law of nations.

  To the King of Prussia. Berlin, July 1st, 1777,                 85
        Complains of the loss of his papers;
        requests an audience.

  The King of Prussia to Arthur Lee.
      Potsdam, July 2d,