This line will be delivered to you by Mr Deane, who goes over on
business of the Congress, and with whom you may freely converse on the
affairs committed to you in behalf of that body. I recommend him
warmly to your civilities. Messrs Vaillant & Pochard continue close at
their new business, and are already able to subsist by it; as they
grow more expert, they will be able to make more money.
Mr Deane will inform you of everything here, and I need not add more,
than that I am, with esteem and respect, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.
* * * * *
TO B. FRANKLIN, CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE OF SECRET CORRESPONDENCE.
Utrecht, April 30th, 1776.
Sir,
I received on the 6th instant at the Hague, from Mr Thomas Story, the
despatches of the 19th December, 1775, of which he was the bearer.
I am deeply penetrated by the honor done me, and the confidence
reposed in me by the committee appointed by the General Congress to
maintain the correspondence between the American United Provinces and
Europe, and of which you, Sir, are one of the worthy members. I shall
die content if the remainder of my life can be devoted to the service
of so glorious and just a cause. I accept, therefore, joyfully the
commission you have bestowed, and whatever you may think fit to give
me in future, and I promise a hearty good will and an untiring zeal. I
hope my ability will justify the favorable opinion you entertain of
me. This promise on my part is in fact an oath of allegiance, which I
spontaneously take to Congress; receive it as such.
When I remarked in my last letter to you, "that all Europe wishes you
the most happy issue in your defence of your liberty," I meant the
unprejudiced, equitable, humane, European public; in a word, the
citizens of universal society, men in general. You must except from
this number the holders of English funds, and those Courts of Europe
who have an understanding with England; these, far from assisting you,
will sacrifice you to their interests or their fears. The allies,
which under such circumstances are suitable for you, are France and
Spain; for it is their interest that you should be free and
independent of England, whose enormous maritime power fills them with
apprehensions. I have, therefore, opened myself to the French
Minister, and a copy and translation of your requests and letters of
credence to me have been for a fortnight in his hands. In the
conversation I had with this Minister I observed, that the wishes of
his nation are for you. He said, that there was one difficulty in
affording aid to the Colonies; if they should be reconciled with
England, they would assist her against the power which had aided them,
and would imitate the dog in the fable. I had no reply to make to
this, except that in this case reasonable beings were concerned, that
if they saw the object was not to deprive them of the liberty for
which they were contending, but to assure it to them, they would not
be so ungrateful as to join against their benefactors, those who
wished to destroy that liberty. Finally, he desired to know from me
positively, what I would ask for the Colonies of his Court. I
answered, that you wished to be informed, 1. If the King of France
would, from motives of humanity and magnanimity, interpose his
mediation on behalf of an oppressed people and effect a
reconciliation, which should preserve to them all the liberties they
formerly enjoyed. 2. In case such a reconciliation could not be
effected, would the nations, subjects of the house of Bourbon, be
willing to accede to an alliance with the Colonies, with the
advantages of an immense commerce? He was pleased with the former
proposition to offer to his young king the glory of conferring peace
on the subjects of others as well as on his own. The other proposition
is not disagreeable to him, were it not for the dreadful war which
would ensue in Europe. I then delivered to him, together with your
letter, a memorial, showing how important it was for France not to
allow the subjugation of the Colonies. The whole was sent to his Court
about a fortnight since, and if the answer should be delayed it will
be of no disadvantage. Meanwhile, we have gained this advantage, that
an opening is made, which must dispose France in your favor, and
engage her to tolerate and secretly to encourage even any assistance
your vessels can derive from France, Spain, and the Indies. I have,
therefore, in the extract, copied exactly what you pointed out to me
as the most necessary, as engineers, arms, munitions, &c.
I have done all this with the most profound secrecy. The person of
whom I have spoken to you required it from me, and promised it in
return, so that no one in this country, excepting him and me, knows
anything of it. It is more advantageous to you and safer for me, that
I should not be known as your agent.
Mr Story, not daring to take two letters with him to England, one for
Arthur Lee, the other for Mrs Hannah Philippa Lee, left them in safe
keeping with me, and he did well. I learn by two letters, which I have
received from Mr A. Lee, of the 20th and 23d of April, that on Mr
Story's landing in England, they took from him a letter, which I had
sent by him for Mr Lee; fortunately it was not signed with any true
name, and could give no information to your adversaries. They have,
therefore, committed this additional violence to no purpose. I have
sent those letters to a friend at Rotterdam, according to the request
of Mr Lee, and that friend informs me under date of May 3d, that he
has forwarded the packet by a captain of a sloop, one of his old
friends, who promised him to deliver them himself to the address which
I put upon them by Mr Lee's directions. The sudden departure of the
vessels will prevent me from informing you whether they have been
safely delivered. I shall do it by some future opportunity. I joined
to the packet a cypher for Mr Lee, like that I sent to you, but
grounded on different words, so that we shall be able to communicate
with each other in perfect safety. I informed him also, that I had the
honor of writing you frequently, so that he can send his letters
through me, if he has no better way.
I know an engineer over thirty years of age, able, experienced, and
very well qualified not only in his branch, but in the whole art of
war; in a word, a fine officer, but very inadequately rewarded. I
shall not be able to speak with him for several weeks, when I will
propose to him the service of the Colonies. But as he is a widower,
without means, and has several children, it will probably be necessary
if he accepts, to make him some advances to enable him to go over. I
will give you an account in due time of the conversation I shall have
with him.
I have endorsed today your bill of exchange of L100 sterling to the
order of M. Rey, bookseller at Amsterdam. Good reasons prevented me
from doing it sooner and at any other place than Amsterdam. May the
conscientious use which I shall make of this fund entirely satisfy
your wishes, and the confidence with which you have honored me. I am
persuaded of the generosity of Congress, and I pray heaven that I may
deserve by my services to be the object of it, when God shall have
blessed their labors for the welfare and prosperity of the Colonies,
either by a firm and sincere reconciliation, or by the success of your
righteous and just arms. In reality, I hope much more than I fear on
this point. The wisdom of Congress, so constantly manifested, the
perfect union and harmony which prevail there, encourage me more and
more. By this rare, happy, and admirable union, much more surely than
by all the alliances in the world, you are, and you will finally be
superior to your enemies, however formidable they may appear.
_Concordia res parvae crescunt, discordia maximae dilabuntur_; may this
great truth and the sublime words of Themistocles to Eurybiades, who
raised a weapon against him in the Council, "_Strike but hear_," be
constantly present to your minds and hearts as well as to those of
your constituents. What power will then be able to withstand yours?
Ascribe the freedom of this address to the enthusiasm with which I am
animated for your union, the noblest edifice that liberty has ever
reared. In it centres all that the political world contains attractive
for me.
I thank you, Sir, for your fatherly kindness to the two French
gentlemen. They are young, and ought not therefore to entertain even
the idea of being an instant a burden to any one, and a useless load
to society.
I am very glad that the _Statement of the Points in Dispute between
Great Britain and the Colonies_ has been approved, so far as to cause
it to be printed for the instruction of your friends, the Canadians.
This is the only effect of that paper, for the printer not having sold
enough of his journals to be at any other expense than the impression,
has ceased to pay the author of those pieces. I have obtained his
address for the purpose of engaging him to assist me in refuting the
Jew, Pinto, whose venal pen has been employed in the most insolent
manner against the Americans. A certain person, whom you know, regrets
having allowed himself to be dazzled by his financial system, so far
as to approve it without reserve in a letter, or advertisement, at the
head of the treatise on "Circulation;" for although there are some
good things in it here and there, yet that person has long since bean
enlightened, in regard to many false brilliants, which the Jew passed
on for genuine.
As for the _Idea on Government and Royalty_, I learn with pleasure,
that it has been agreeable, and that the time will perhaps come when
it will receive more attention. This idea renders me more happy and
proud, than if I had written the Iliad; for I think with Phaedrus,
_nisi utile est quod fucimus, stulta est gloria_. It is a seed, which
I thought myself bound to sow in your country, the only place in the
known world where it could spring up. I consider that idea more and
more practicable and true, and of all political systems the most
completely proof against all objections. It requires only to be
developed. God grant that we may soon be able to do it in peace and
at leisure. I shall then beg you, Sir, with the estimable and learned
author of the _Pennsylvania Farmer_, to correspond with me on this
subject, and to prove it, if not to our contemporaries, at least to
posterity.
I thank you, Sir, for the Journal of Congress from the 10th of May to
the 1st of August, 1775, which you have had the kindness to send me;
be good enough to complete it by sending what precedes and follows;
for we have here nothing authentic relating to your affairs. All that
we know of you, we get from the gazettes, imperfectly, by scraps, in a
vague and uncertain manner, a mixture of truth and falsehood.
_May 9th._ I have just received the following letter without
signature. "You will perhaps be tempted to come to the fair at the
Hague. I shall have the honor to renew the expressions of my sincere
esteem. I shall be at your orders every day at noon or sooner, if you
will write me from your lodgings to let me know what hour will be most
convenient for you. We shall be able to moralise some moments upon
subjects, which we have already discussed. I have but little to say to
you, which I shall do with a sincerity and candor, which I trust you
will approve." I shall make this visit Saturday night, so as to return
here Sunday night or Monday, not being able to do it otherwise. I
shall send this letter today to Amsterdam, as they tell me the vessels
will else sail without it. I shall therefore give you an account of
the conversation in another letter, either by the same vessel or by
some other. I am sorry to be obliged to leave you in suspense on a
subject so interesting.
Receive, Sir, for all the members of Congress in general, and for
yourself, Mr Dickinson and Mr Jay in particular, the sincere
assurances of my profound respect.
DUMAS.[20]
FOOTNOTES:
[20] M. Dumas commonly wrote his despatches in French, but sometimes
in English. It has not been thought necessary to designate between
those translated, and those written originally in English. Although he
wrote the language with a good deal of accuracy, yet foreign idioms
and other defects will occasionally be perceived. In some instances
the editor has taken the liberty to make free corrections of the
author's style, and to omit a good deal of irrelevant matter.
* * * * *
TO THE COMMITTEE OF SECRET CORRESPONDENCE.
Utrecht, May 14th, 1776.
Gentlemen,
I wrote the 9th to the person who wrote me the letter of the 6th, of
which I have given you a copy, that if what he had to say to me was
pressing, I would go and return in two succeeding nights, to be with
him Sunday the 12th, which is between the two; but if the interview
could admit a week's delay, I should be able to make the journey more
conveniently. He answered the next day, 10th of May, as follows.
"I have received, Sir, the letter you did me the honor to write. I
obey instantly the order you have given to answer you as to the day
when I shall be able to have the pleasure of seeing you. As what I
shall have the honor of saying to you is not pressing, you may put
off, till Saturday next, eight days hence, that is to say the 18th of
this month, the visit with which you flatter me. Nay, I take the
liberty to anticipate you in the offer of expenses in all cases where
your good offices will be useful to me. Flattered, honored as I am
with the acquaintance I have made with you, I should be very sorry to
be a burden to you, and to abuse your kindness.
"I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Sir, at your command."
Do not think, Gentlemen, that a childish vanity leads me to recite to
you this letter, and to take to myself sincerely the compliments which
are addressed to me.
_May 21st._ I am at length returned from my journey, with which I have
been much satisfied, because I think you will have reason to be so.
After we had conversed some time on the great and very late news of
the evacuation of Boston by your enemies, as a new mark of the wisdom
of your operations, our friend, (whose name I have promised not to
reveal,) said, the King of England does not forget himself,
nevertheless, as you see; and he showed me in a gazette a prohibitory
edict very severe, of the Empress Queen of Hungary, against all
exportation of arms and munitions from her States for America. I had
already seen it, and I told him so. But what you do not know, said he,
is that the King has demanded this of the Empress by a letter written
with his own hand. I gave him to understand, that I hoped his Court
would not be so partial. You shall know, he replied, for you will
comprehend it. As to your first demand, the mediation of the King
cannot take place whilst the Colonies are subjects of the King of
England, who, besides, would not accept it. As to your second demand,
the King is a true knight, his word is sacred. He has given it to the
English to live in peace with them. He will hold to it. While France
is not at war with the English, he will not ally himself against them
with the Colonies, and will not furnish aids to the latter. But on the
other hand, for the same reason, the Americans have the same
protection and liberty as all other English to resort to France, to
export thence merchandise, arms, and munitions of war, without however
forming magazines of them in France, which is not permitted by any
nation. Besides, added he, the Colonies have no need that either
France or Spain should enter into this war. Commerce alone will
furnish to the Americans all that they want to defend themselves.
I am of his opinion. I think even that it will be more advantageous to
you and to France also, that she should not be hasty to declare openly
for you. Once more, gentlemen, your union, your constant love of
liberty, your fortitude in turning from all that looks like luxury and
in despising it, your hatred of tyranny and despotism, which are the
sad fruits of luxury; in fine, all your republican virtues will render
you superior to your enemies, and invincible even without allies.
These, however, will not be wanting, be assured, for it cannot be
thought, that with what is passing in your part of the world, ours can
long remain at peace. The time will come when your friends will show
themselves, and when your alliance will not only be accepted but
sought. Meanwhile you have struck a great and wise blow in driving
your enemies from Boston. They publish, that they have evacuated the
place, with profound political motives; the public laughs at this
pretence.
I forgot to mention to you, that the person in question offered to
reimburse to me the expenses of my journey; and that I answered they
were already paid. On which he requested me to tell him at least in
what he could do me a favor. I answered, that he was doing me such in
rendering great services to the Americans. Finally, he desired me to
correspond from time to time with him. I engaged to do it, and shall
not fail. Thus it depends only on you, Gentlemen, to render this
correspondence more and more interesting. On my part I will be
vigilant to profit by all events that can make any change in Europe.
Those which happen in America will require, without doubt, that you
give me frequently new instructions and orders provided always with
letters of credence, or at least with one that will serve for the
time, as you judge proper. I know to whom to address myself to ask for
intelligence at the Court of France, and to have an answer in a few
days.
_June 6th._ Here you have a copy of a letter from London, dated May
21st. You know well from whom it is.[21] I have sent to him under the
envelope the two letters which Mr Story had left with me, and I added
a cypher, which he has already used with success.
"Everything is safe. I shall write you fully next week by our friend
Story. One Hortalez will apply to you on business that concerns our
friends. He has your address. Be so good as to assist him."[22]
I expect these gentlemen with impatience, and shall do all that
depends on me for your service and theirs.
I trust you will always answer me speedily, and inform me if my
letters reach you. I will send you once more a general copy of my
preceding letters, to supply the loss of one or both, in case the
vessels that carry them are lost or are taken.
When I promised the Minister, with whom I had an interview on your
affairs, not to name him to you, it is only until you expressly
require that I make him known to you; for in that case you may know
him when you will.
In about eight days I shall leave Utrecht for a country house within
seven leagues of the Hague, where I expect to pass the summer.
I have the honor to be, &c.
DUMAS.
FOOTNOTES:
[21] The person here referred to is Arthur Lee. See _Arthur Lee's
Correspondence_, Vol. II. p. 16.
[22] This note refers to Beaumarchais, who proposed to go to Holland,
when he saw Mr Lee in London. But he afterwards altered his mind and
returned directly to Paris.
* * * * *
TO THE COMMITTEE OF SECRET CORRESPONDENCE.
August 10th, 1776.
Gentlemen,
Mr Arthur Lee in his letter of the 11th of June observes, that "Mr
Story goes from hence directly to America. A French gentleman named
Hortalez having something to negotiate for the Congress, I have given
him your address." On the eve of my departure from Utrecht, on the
21st of June, I wrote as follows to the person whom you know.[23]
"Sir,
"In the hope that you have consented to make me understand that I
shall be one day useful to you, I think it my duty to advise you, that
I shall depart tomorrow from this city to pass the summer at a country
house half way from here to ----. I shall receive there in all safety
your orders, if you send your letters to, &c.
"I propose also, to pass to ---- as soon as I can, merely to profit
by the permission you have given me to render you my services from
time to time. Without having any new plan to propose, the work already
marked out has need of your good directions, and I shall be very sorry
to fail of the honor of an interview with you at least once more
before your departure, if it is near."
To this I received the following answer, dated June 23d.
"Sir,
"I have received the letter you did me the honor to write me the 21st
of this month. You flatter me with the hope of seeing you at ---- to
which you are brought near by the residence you intend to make during
the summer at a country house. This proximity will afford you
opportunity to make journeys, by which I shall profit with much
pleasure. I am sensible of the esteem which is your due, and of the
advantage of meriting the friendship of an experienced man like
yourself, uniting literature to the duties of society. I shall listen
to you always with an eager desire of profiting by your counsels, and
this on all subjects that have engaged your thoughts. I do not yet
know the time that I shall remain at ----. Perhaps it will be
sufficiently long to enjoy often the honor of receiving you. This
depends on the orders of my Court. We are in the least active, or most
dissipated season. Business will not flourish much till the fall of
the leaves, or even not get warm till the return of snow. I speak of
the old world; for I wish not to extend the picture too much.
"Have you any news of the Doctor and his friends? I shall be obliged
to you to follow my instructions in this respect. I will bear
willingly the charge of an express, whom you may send to me when you
shall judge proper; otherwise write uniformly by the post. Should I
be on a journey, I shall have the honor to inform you of my residence
and address. I do not know how to express to you sufficiently, Sir,
the desire I have to serve you and to deserve a place in your
thoughts."
About fifteen days after, I replied to this letter as follows.
"Sir,
"The letter with which you honored me, dated 23d of June, has given me
the assurance, which was needed to console me for the disappointments
that have detained me here. Perhaps I shall be at the Hague on Sunday
morning. Be assured, Sir, that if anything comes to my knowledge
worthy of your attention, you shall be informed of it immediately. I
have no reason to expect soon to receive news directly. I have written
two letters by two different vessels, that have sailed from Amsterdam
for St Eustatia; and I expect when another vessel departs to despatch
a third. Before I have an answer much time will pass, and in this time
many events. There is, however, a man charged with some commission on
their part, to whom they have given my address at Leyden; and I have
received two letters from that city, the one of the 21st of May, the
other of the 11th of June, in which they pray me to render him
service. This is all that I know of him, for the man has not yet
appeared.
"The more I am favored with your letters, Sir, the more I wish to
deserve your good opinion. In the meantime, I ought to be on my guard
against too much presumption, and to think how natural it is to give a
gracious reception to the servant for the love of the master. I own
to you, Sir, that in giving an account to the Doctor and his friends
of our correspondence, I have thought proper to forewarn them thereon.
They will be informed of the obliging interest with which you ask news
of them. I hope that the time will come, when you will be able to
permit me to reveal your name.
"After having thought long and much, it seems to me, that in order to
answer completely their intention, I ought to present myself also to
the _Hotel d'Espagne_, to be known there simply as charged with such a
commission, to open to myself thereby ways of serving my constituents
on diverse occasions, which may present themselves at one moment or
another, and not incur the blame, which may be reflected even on these
gentlemen, of having neglected a power so worthy of their efforts. For
the rest, I shall not do or say anything in this respect till I have
had the honor of seeing you, Sir, and I pray you to believe that I
shall observe scrupulously, the conduct and the discretion that you
have had the goodness to prescribe to me."