Gardoqui, who now is with me, and from whom I have received every
possible assistance, to despatch a vessel with all possible expedition,
laden with salt, sail and tent cloth, cordage, blankets, and warlike
stores, as he can immediately procure, and an assortment of such drugs
as I think will be necessary for the three prevailing camp diseases.
Those who furnish these supplies are very desirous of an expedition
being ordered against Pensacola, in order that the possession of that
place may render the communication between the Southern Colonies and
New Orleans, from which they would wish to succor you, more sure and
secret. The captain has my directions to make for Philadelphia, or
any port to the southward, and wait your orders. At Mons. Gardoqui’s
desire, I have given him a recommendation to all the American captains,
who may sail from Bilboa, whether in public or private service, to
receive such stores as he shall send them for your use.
When this is arranged, I am to return to Paris, where the business of
the credit upon Holland is to be settled, and of which you shall have
notice by the first opportunity.
In my former letters from Bordeaux and Nantes, I took the liberty of
remarking upon the deranged state of your commerce. I find here that
you have not sent any vessels to Bilboa, though as being the most
convenient, it is most frequented by private vessels. It is a free
port, has no custom-house, and therefore business is despatched with
more secrecy and expedition. Rice, indigo, tar, pitch, and turpentine,
bear a good price there, and fish in Lent. By the provincial laws of
Biscay, tobacco is prohibited, but it may be landed at the port of
St Sebastian, some fourteen leagues distant; and it sells well in
Spain; but it must be strong Virginia tobacco for this market. The
house of Gardoqui has promised to collect from other places, such
things as I have informed them will be proper for your service. As
Mons. Montandauine and Mons. Schweighauser at Nantes, and the Messrs
Delaps at Bordeaux, are the best and most respectable merchants, so
the Gardoquis are at Bilboa. Their zeal and activity in our cause were
greatly manifested in the affair of the privateer; they are besides in
the special confidence of the Court, and one of them has been employed
as interpreter in all our business.
If touching upon commercial subjects, which are somewhat out of my
province, should be of any use, that will be my excuse; if not, I hope
the expectation of its being useful will plead my pardon. I mentioned
in my last, that the Germans, intended to be sent the latter end of
this month through Holland, were to consist of seven thousand recruits
and eight hundred Hessian chasseurs; but from the best accounts I can
get, they will neither be so forward nor so numerous as was intended.
To retard them the more, I have proposed to the Commissioners at
Paris, to remonstrate with the States-General against granting them a
passage, which is to expedite their embarkation, and I have written to
Holland to have the account of the captivity of their countrymen and
the refusal to exchange them and settle a cartel, destributed among the
troops, in German, before they embark.
I have sent copies of General Washington’s letter, and such an account
as I could collect from the newspapers, of the success of your arms
all over Europe; since that, I find by the enclosed Gazette, that the
Court of Great Britain have already published their account of it. It
is lamentable to observe, to what unworthy means of flattering the
vices of princes the human mind will stoop. The Carletons, the Howes,
and the Perceys call themselves honorable men; yet, because they know
nothing pleases the king of England more than the grossest abuse of
the Americans, they let slip no opportunity of accusing and traducing
them. That these charges may not fall into the hands of future
historians uncontradicted, I could wish, since it has now become a
public accusation by General Howe, that General Washington might write
him a letter, stating the injustice of the charge, and mentioning the
instances, such as the burying Captain Leslie with the honors of war,
in which the troops under his command have manifested a disposition
directly opposite to that of which he has accused them; this would go
down to posterity as an authentic vindication. I am as jealous of the
honor of our name as desirous of the success of our arms.
I mentioned in my former letters their plan of sending out cutters of
twelve and fourteen guns, commanded by lieutenants of the navy, to
cruise on your coast, chiefly in the Gulf, and that the West India
ships were to be armed. On the other hand we are assured, by both
France and Spain, that such a disposition of their fleets and forces
will be made as ought to persuade England, that she cannot sustain
the war against you as she has planned. Your wisdom will direct you
how far to trust to these assurances, or their expected consequences,
when our stake is so precious, that the most ardent and unremitting
exertions cannot be too great; not that I suspect the sincerity of
these assurances, but the effects they are to produce; for I know the
nature of the king of England to be such, that nothing but personal
fear, which the quietism of the people is not likely to produce, will
restrain him from the most desperate attempts to injure and enslave us;
besides, the state of Europe is such as to render it morally certain,
that a war in Europe will relieve you from these extraordinary
exertions before a year has passed away. The death of the king of
Portugal is too recent for any certain judgment to be formed of its
consequences; probably however it will produce an accommodation with
Spain, but should it extinguish this spark of a war, it will leave
Spain more at liberty to aid us, and awe, if not attack Great Britain.
The situation of the enemy seems to be this. Great Britain and Ireland
exhausted, the difficulties of recruiting for the ensuing campaign,
from Germany, great and notorious, though the demand was proportioned
to the prosperous state of their affairs; from this quarter therefore
they have little more to hope; to Russia alone they may apply if the
cloud that is rising from Constantinople should blow over, without
which it is impossible they should have any aid from thence; but if
this should happen it will be our endeavor, and I hope we shall succeed
in raising the opposition of other European Powers to that measure. I
mean to propose on my return to Paris, the sounding both of the emperor
and the king of Prussia on this subject. The one wishes to promote the
port of Ostend, the other of Emden, and by these we may perhaps work
them up to our wishes.
It is upon this view of things, that I found my hopes of the next
campaign being the last struggle of any importance, which the enemy
can make against us. The distress of their finances and the difficulty
of raising the supplies are great. It is certain, that the Dutch, on
whom they so much depend, withhold their money as far as they can find
Spanish paper to vest it in. The degree of their alarm from France
and Spain may be seen from their embodying the militia; and their
expensive preparations by sea; that this alarm will not be suffered
to subside I believe. Their divisions at home are apparent from the
suspension of the habeas corpus act, which will probably realise their
apprehensions of domestic troubles.
I find that in consequence of my application to the Count d’Aranda in
Paris, he had written to his Court here concerning the detention of
the proceeds of some of your cargoes, by the merchants of Cadiz. As
soon as I can get an accurate statement of that affair from Mr Thomas
Morris, it will be put in a train of certainly obtaining justice. There
are some, I am informed, in the same situation at Lisbon, and I think
we may feel the pulse of the new government there, by applying to that
Court for justice.
I subjoin an estimate of the current prices of several American
articles at Bilboa, and have the honor of being, &c.
ARTHUR LEE.
Flour 16 pistareens per hundred weight.--Rice from 20 to 22 do. per
do.--Fish 22 to 30 do. per quintal.--Beeswax from 212 to 215 do.--Fine
common Sugars from 49 to 54 do. per do.--Large brown Cocoa 6 bitts per
lb.--Indigo from 7 to 10 pistareens per lb.--Masts, Yards, and Spars
in great demand. Furs the same. Tobacco lower in Spain than lately in
France.
_P. S._ As well as I can collect from the foreign papers, they have
passed a bill in England to enable the King to commit to _any_ prison
such persons as he _suspects_ of favoring America, and to fix the crime
of piracy on all those who are taken at sea with your commission. In
some former resolution, you declared that retaliation should be made
on those, who were suspected of favoring the measures of the British
Government in the States; and hitherto the American privateers have
permitted the subjects of Great Britain to depart in peace. Our enemies
are determined to show how unworthy they are of such lenity, as several
individuals besides Captain Ross have done. They will compel you to
make it a war of revenge, not of redress.
It would not, I think, be difficult to negotiate a loan of money for
the States of Virginia and South Carolina, through the Havanna; if you
think this would be useful, please to give your directions in it by the
first opportunity. The present disposition to oblige us may not last
forever.
A. L.
[14] At the bottom of this letter, and of the Memorial to the Court of
Spain, Mr Lee signs himself, “_Commissioner Plenipotentiary from the
Congress of the United States of America_.” But this must have been
for the greater formality, as he had not yet received any appointment
to Spain from Congress, but only went there by the advice of the
Commissioners in Paris. See p. 40, of this volume.
FROM B. FRANKLIN TO ARTHUR LEE.
Passy, March 21st, 1777.
Dear Sir,
We have received your favors from Vitoria and Burgos.
The Congress sitting at Baltimore despatched a packet to us the 9th
of January, containing an account of the success at Trenton, and
subsequent events to that date, as far as they had come to knowledge.
The vessel was obliged to run up a little river in Virginia to avoid
some men of war, and was detained there seventeen days, or we should
have had these advices sooner. We learn however through England, where
they have news from New York to the 4th of February, that in Lord
Cornwallis’s retreat to New Brunswick two regiments of his rear guard
were cut to pieces; that General Washington having got round him to
Newark and Elizabethtown, he had retired to Amboy in his way to New
York; that General Howe had called in the garrisons of Fort Lee and
Fort Constitution, which were now possessed by our people; that on the
New York side, Forts Washington and Independence were retaken by our
troops, and that the British forces at Rhode Island were recalled for
the defence of New York.
The Committee in their letters mention the intention of Congress to
send ministers to the Courts of Vienna, Tuscany, Holland, and Prussia.
They also send us a fresh commission, containing your name instead of
Mr Jefferson’s, with this additional clause, “and also to enter into,
and agree upon a treaty with His Most Christian Majesty, or such other
person or persons as shall be by him authorised for that purpose, for
assistance in carrying on the present war between Great Britain and
these United States.” The same clause is in a particular commission
they have sent me to treat with the Court of Spain, similar to our
common commission to the Court of France;[15] and I am accordingly
directed to go to Spain; but as I know that choice was made merely on
the supposition of my being a little known there to the great personage
for whom you have my letter, (a circumstance of little importance) and
I am really unable through age to bear the fatigue and inconveniences
of such a journey, I must excuse myself to Congress, and join with
Mr Deane in requesting you to proceed in the business on the former
footing, till you can receive a particular commission from Congress,
which will no doubt be sent as soon as the circumstances are known.
We know of no plans or instructions to Mr Deane but those you have
with you. By the packet, indeed, we have some fresh instructions
which relate to your mission, viz. that in case France and Spain will
enter into the war, the United States will assist the former in the
conquest of the British sugar islands, and the latter in the conquest
of Portugal, promising the assistance of six frigates manned, of not
less than twentyfour guns each, and provisions equal to 2,000,000
dollars; America desiring only for her share, what Britain holds on
the continent; but you shall by the first safe opportunity have the
instructions at length. I believe we must send a courier.
If we can, we are ordered to borrow £2,000,000 on interest. Judge then,
what a piece of service you will do, if you can obtain a considerable
subsidy, or even a loan without interest.
We are also ordered to build six ships of war. It is a pleasure to find
the things ordered, which we were doing without orders.
We are also to acquaint the several Courts, with the determination of
America to maintain at all events our independence. You will see by the
date of the resolution relating to Portugal, as well as by the above,
that the Congress were stout in the midst of their difficulties. It
would be well to sound the Court of Spain on the subject of permitting
our armed ships to bring prizes into her ports, and there dispose of
them. If it can be done openly, in what manner can we be accommodated
with the use of their ports, or under what restrictions? This
government has of late been a little nice on that head; and the orders
to L’Orient have occasioned Captain Wickes some trouble.
We have good advice of our friend at Amsterdam, that in the height of
British pride on their summer success, and just before, they heard of
any check, the ambassador, Sir Joseph Yorke, had been ordered to send
a haughty memorial to the States, importing that notwithstanding their
promises to restrain their subjects from supplying the rebels, it was
notorious, that those supplies were openly furnished by Hollanders at
St Eustatia; and that the governor of that island had returned _from
his fort the salute of a rebel ship of war with an equal number of
guns_; that his Majesty justly and highly resented these proceedings,
and demanded that the States should by more severe provisions restrain
that commerce; that they should declare their disapprobation of the
insolent behavior of their governor, and punish him by an immediate
recall; otherwise his Majesty, who knows what appertains to the dignity
of his crown, would take proper measures to vindicate it; and he
required an immediate answer. The States coolly returned the memorial
with only this answer, that when the respect due to sovereigns was not
preserved in a memorial, it ought not to be expected in an answer. But
the city of Amsterdam took fire at the insolence of it, and instructed
their deputies in the States to demand satisfaction by the British
Court’s disavowal of the memorial, and the reprimand of the ambassador.
The States immediately demanded a number of men of war ships to be in
readiness. Perhaps since the bad news has come, England may be civil
enough to make up this little difference.
Mr Deane is still here. You desire our advice about your stopping at
Burgos. We are of opinion that you should comply with the request.
While we are asking aid, it is necessary to gratify the desires and in
some sort comply with the humors of those we apply to. Our business now
is to carry our point. But I have never yet changed the opinion I gave
in Congress, that a virgin State should preserve the virgin character,
and not go about suitoring for alliances, but wait with decent dignity
for the applications of others. I was overruled; perhaps for the best.
With the greatest esteem, I am ever, dear Sir, your most obedient
humble servant,
B. FRANKLIN.
[15] For a copy of Dr Franklin’s Commission from Congress to the Court
of Spain, see the _Secret Journal of Congress_, Vol. II. p. 42, under
the date of January 2d, 1777.
THE COMMISSIONERS AT PARIS TO BARON DE SCHULENBURG,
MINISTER TO THE KING OF PRUSSIA.
Paris, April 19th, 1777.
Sir,
We received the letter, which you did us the honor to write to us of
the 15th ult. and should earlier have replied particularly thereto, but
from the daily expectation we had of receiving orders from the Congress
of the United States on this important subject. We have their commands
to inform his Prussian Majesty’s Ambassador here, that they propose to
send a minister to your respected Court with all convenient expedition,
properly empowered to treat upon affairs of importance, and that we
are in the mean time instructed and authorised by Congress to solicit
the friendship of your Court, to request that it would afford no aid
to their enemies, but use its good offices to prevent the landing
of troops by other powers to be transported to America for their
destruction, and to offer the free commerce of the United States to the
subjects of Prussia.
We have taken the earliest opportunity of obeying these commands.
But considering the great importance of establishing a free commerce
between the two countries as soon as possible, and confident that
every objection may be obviated, and the wished for intercourse
opened and established on the most certain and beneficial grounds to
promote the interest of both countries, we propose that one of us
shall wait on your Excellency as soon as conveniently may be done, to
explain personally the situation of America, the nature, extent, and
importance of its commerce, and the methods by which it may be carried
on with Prussia to mutual advantage. In the proposed interview, we
are confident the difficulties mentioned by your Excellency may be
surmounted, and a very considerable part of American commerce be turned
to Prussia by measures neither dangerous nor expensive.
We have the honor to be, &c.
B. FRANKLIN,
SILAS DEANE,
ARTHUR LEE.
JAMES GARDOQUI TO ARTHUR LEE.
Madrid, April 28th, 1777.
Dear Sir,
The 24th instant, I had the pleasure to pay my last compliments to
you, enclosing twenty second bills, amounting to 81,000 livres French
money, as per duplicates herein to serve in case of need; and being
still without your favors, I have only to forward you a further sum of
106,500 livres, in sixteen bills, as per memorandum at foot hereof,
with which I beg your doing the needful as usual, and pass the same
to my credit, advising me of it in due time, by which you will oblige
him who longs for the pleasure of hearing from you, and is with very
unfeigned esteem and respect, &c.
JAMES GARDOQUI.
_A Minute of the sixteen enclosed Bills, viz._
Livres 6000 drawn by P. Joyes & Sons, on Tourton & Baur.
6100 do do
6150 do do
6200 do do
6250 do do
6300 do do
6400 do do
6600 do do
5900 " by F. Vre. Gorvea, on Tassin, Father & Son.
6000 do do
6500 do do
6800 do do
7000 do do
7500 do do
8000 do do
8800 do do
-------
106,500 in sixteen second bills, all at 90 days date,
with which pray procure the first accepted, acknowledging
receipt as soon as possible.
TO JAMES GARDOQUI AT MADRID.
Paris, May 8th, 1777.
Dear Sir,
I received yours of the 24th ultimo, with its enclosures, which I have
disposed of as the enclosed receipt will show. It is taken for granted,
that they are for the purposes settled at Vitoria, and to such the
produce of them and of the rest will be applied.
I beg you will express my warmest sense of this assistance, where you
know the expression of it is due. The business in which we have engaged
in Holland will be much more expensive, than the estimate, which is
too often the case. Assistance therefore comes very apropos. As I am
obliged to make another little journey, I must beg you for the future
to correspond with Dr Franklin, and substitute his name for mine on the
paper. He will do every thing that is necessary, and correspond with
you in my place. You are not likely to be a loser by the change.
We have not had any express lately from America, but expect one
every moment. Our enemies have had several, and as they choose to be
perfectly silent as to their contents, and leave the public to reports
and conjectures, it is presumable that at least nothing favorable
has happened on their side. The Congress is certainly returned to
Philadelphia, which is an unquestionable proof of the security in
which our late advantages have placed that city. We have lost within
these two months four very valuable rice, indigo, and tobacco ships
by treachery and capture. But in return, one week’s advices of the
captures we have made, according to the estimate in London, exceeds
£200,000 sterling, in British goods. Indeed, common sense might have
forewarned them of this, because they have twenty ships at sea for one
of ours, and the number of privateers is always in proportion to the
temptation, that is, to the probability of making prizes. Without the
second sight, therefore, of their Scotch advisers, they might have
foreseen that their commerce would suffer infinitely in this foolish
and wicked war.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ARTHUR LEE.
TO BARON DE SCHULENBURG.
Paris, May 8th, 1777.
Sir,
In consequence of the letter, which, in conjunction with my brother
Commissioners, Dr Franklin and Mr Deane, I had the honor of writing to
your Excellency, I intended to depart from hence for Berlin before this
time. But an accident having happened, which inevitably prevents me
from setting out, I am under great anxiety, lest your Excellency should
impute my delay to a want of that perfect respect, which I ought to
feel for your Excellency’s Court and character.
I must, therefore, entreat you, Sir, to believe, that nothing can be
more painful to me, than the necessity which delays and will delay
me for some days longer, and that I will not intentionally lose one
moment in preparing to testify in person, with what entire respect and
consideration,
I have the honor to be, &c.
ARTHUR LEE.
TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Paris, May 13th, 1777.
Gentlemen,
I am happy to enclose you the proofs, that our friends are not
unmindful of their promises.[16] I have given Dr Franklin a power of
attorney to endorse any future bills that may arrive, and to dispose of
the money. When the flotilla arrives, which may be in about two months,
then will be the time to press for the loan you desire.
I am now at liberty to pursue my purpose at the Court of Berlin, for
which I shall set out in a few days; as I shall be obliged to make a
tour, the direct road lying through the territories of all the hostile
princes, it will of necessity protract my journey. Mr Sayre, late
sheriff of London, is to accompany me as secretary, Mr Carmichael
having refused to go unless the Commissioners would give him a
commission, which we did not think ourselves authorised to do. This has
unavoidably delayed me some days.
From every information I am able to obtain, our enemies are much
pressed to make a tolerable appearance this campaign. Something
extraordinary must happen to enable the king of Great Britain to
continue the war, should this campaign fail. Whatever a man, impelled
by so inimical a disposition can do, may be expected from him. It is
certain, he has made some concessions in the fishery to this Court, in
hopes of keeping them quiet; but we need not be much afraid about the
effect of them. Our ground here is firm, and though not so ample as our
wishes, yet I trust it will be equal to our wants.
I beg the favor of having my utmost duty and respect presented to
Congress, and have the honor to be, &c.
ARTHUR LEE.
[16] See above, p. 59, Gardoqui’s letter of April 28th.
BARON DE SCHULENBURG TO ARTHUR LEE.
Translation.
Berlin, May 20th, 1777.
Sir,
I have been informed by the letter, which you did me the honor of
writing to me the 8th instant, that in consequence of the one sent me
the 19th of last month, on the part of Messrs Franklin, Deane, and
yourself, you were on the point of coming here, but for an unforeseen
accident, that prevented you.
My answer of the 11th instant will acquaint you, Sir, that I
still apprehend difficulties which may interfere, in the present
circumstances, with the establishment of a direct commerce between
his Majesty’s subjects, and the Colonies of North America, and that I
consider our correspondence on this subject rather as preliminaries to
what may come to pass, than as negotiations from which any immediate
advantages may be expected.