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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