America, is not confirmed from any quarter. The news from London made
no mention of it. There is no doubt but that England is desirous of
peace. The Minister himself wishes it, but I do not imagine that it
is upon the same conditions as America. Your friends are neither just
nor reasonable, if they complain of the bounds that it is necessary to
set to the enterprises of their privateers. They have been informed of
what can be granted to them, they have been entreated to conform to
our obligations. We have exerted a patience, which they had no right
to expect; but when matters are carried to excess, it is necessary to
convince them that we are not insensible of it. We cannot allow the
privateers of any nation whatever to come in and go out of our ports as
they would their own. This is a duty imposed on us by treaties. Neither
can we permit the sale of prizes. In every other respect we have shown
the greatest compliance; we have even gone further than was reasonably
to be expected.
It has been with the greatest regret, that some severity has been shown
in a few instances, although the occasions have been many. Moreover, if
I am written to on the subject, and in a suitable manner, I will give
an answer; but as to what you say respecting the disposition of your
friends, I perceive that sentiments of friendship have not made a deep
impression on them. M. de Chaumont has informed us of their intention
of selling their privateers here. Should they prefer to go away with
them, let them explain themselves. I will willingly endeavor to obtain
immediate permission for them, on positive condition that they will not
return again. With regard to Hodge, you well know what he promised; I
know not whether such tricks are allowed in America, but in France and
Europe it is a very serious fault to tell the king a falsehood, which
he did when he affirmed and gave security, that the vessel which sailed
from Dunkirk was not designed as a privateer.
DE VERGENNES.
TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Paris, September 9th, 1777.
Gentlemen,
I have not heard from Berlin, relative to their determination about
opening their ports to our cruisers.
The Abbé Raynal, who is just returned from a tour in England, tells me
that nothing disgusts the English nation so much with the continuance
of the war, as the seeing their ports filled with French ships, to
carry on their commerce with other nations. Their merchants are obliged
to have recourse to this expedient to screen their merchandise. I
say screen, because they cannot expect, that according to the law
of nations, it will be a protection when discovered. They have been
driven to this necessity by the number and success of your cruisers in
and about the Channel; which has raised insurance so high, that their
manufactures are in danger of being augmented thereby in their price
too much for the European markets.
I thought it would be useful to inform you of these facts, to show the
utility of continuing and encouraging cruisers in these seas, as they
may perhaps be so discouraged with the late measures in this country,
which I trust will not be of long continuance, as to confine their
course to the American seas.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ARTHUR LEE.
TO BARON DE SCHULENBURG.
Paris, September 21st, 1777.
Sir,
I have the honor of enclosing to you some reasons drawn up by Doctor
Franklin, for our conceiving that loans to us are more eligible on the
part of the lender, than to our enemies.
Your Excellency’s determination, relative to the admittance of our
armed vessels into your ports, has been waited for with great anxiety;
for the most favorable season for commencing such a commerce comes on
so fast, that there will be danger of its passing away unemployed,
should the determination be longer delayed.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ARTHUR LEE.
TO JAMES GARDOQUI AT MADRID.
Paris, September 25th, 1777.
Sir,
I have now before me your favors of May 5th and 29th, together with the
last, of the 4th of this month.
By this time I expect you have been apprized, or upon applying to those
who gave you the orders you will be informed, that with regard to what
has been remitted, both in money and effects, no return is expected,
agreeably to what you know passed at Vitoria, and of which I informed
both your Minister and my constituents in the letters, which I had the
honor of reading to you at that place. It gives me great satisfaction,
that every thing is thus arranged and settled; and I am relieved from
the embarrassment of appearing to have understood so ill what passed,
or so greatly to have misrepresented it.
We are now to begin on a new footing, and I shall take care that my
constituents be duly informed, that for all the aids they receive
hereafter from your quarter; they are to make returns in tobacco,
pitch, tar, &c. to your house, agreeably to your letter. I beg to know
by your next, whether the same arrangement is to take place for the
future with regard to the deposits at the Havanna and New Orleans, or
whether nothing further is to be transmitted through those channels,
that if so, the trouble of sending thither and the disappointment may
be prevented.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ARTHUR LEE.
TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Paris, October 6th, 1777.
Gentlemen,
From Berlin, on the 11th of June, and from this place, 29th of July, I
had the honor of informing you at large of my proceedings in Prussia.
Not having received an answer from that Court, relative to the
reception of our privateers and their prizes in Prussian ports, I have
written lately to press for one, which I hope will be favorable, as I
left so friendly a disposition there, that I was desired to communicate
his Majesty’s warmest wishes for our success. I mentioned too the
improbability of our enemy’s receiving assistance from Russia for the
next campaign, and how much their resources were exhausted in Germany.
By Captain Young I received the commands of Congress, in their
commission for me to the Court of Spain. As Dr Franklin had announced
his appointment, with an assurance of his readiness to repair to
Madrid, as soon as that Court thought proper to receive him, it seemed
unnecessary to apprize them immediately of the new appointment. During
my absence in Germany, a letter was received from Monsieur Gardoqui
at Bilboa, intimating an expectation of returns from you, for what
was transmitted to you through their house. But upon application to
his Court I am again authorised to assure you, that for the supplies
already sent no return was expected, but in future, that remittances
of American produce were expected for supplies through the house of
Gardoqui. It is impracticable to bring them to such an explanation, as
to know with certainty whether they mean this in earnest, or only as
a cover, should the transaction transpire; I am inclined to think the
latter; however, I wrote to M. Gardoqui in consequence, as follows.
“We are now to begin on a new footing, and I shall take care that my
constituents be informed, that for all the aids they receive hereafter
from your quarter, they are to make returns in tobacco, pitch, tar,
&c. to your house. I beg to know by your next, whether the same
arrangement is to take place for the future with regard to the deposits
at the Havanna and New Orleans, or whether nothing further is to be
transmitted through those channels; that if so, the trouble of sending
thither and the disappointment may be prevented. As the winter campaign
is approaching fast, in which blankets are of the greatest utility, I
wish you to send as many of them as possible.”
Upon this subject of returns, I think it my duty to state to you
some facts relative to the demands of this kind from Hortalez. The
gentleman, who uses this name,[19] came to me about a year and a half
ago in London, as an agent from this Court, and wishing to communicate
something to Congress. At our first interview he informed me, that the
Court of France wished to send an aid to America of £200,000 sterling
in specie, arms, and ammunition, and that all they wanted was to know
through which island it was best to make the remittance, and that
Congress should be apprized of it. We settled the Cape as the place,
and he urged me by no means to omit giving the earliest intelligence
of it, with information, that it would be remitted in the name of
Hortalez. At our next meeting he desired me to request, that a small
quantity of tobacco, or some other production, might be sent to the
Cape, to give it the air of a mercantile transaction, repeating over
and over again, that it was for a cover only, and not for payment, as
the remittance was gratuitous. Of all this I informed Dr Franklin,
Chairman of the Committee, by sundry opportunities. At the same time, I
stated to Monsieur Hortalez, that if his Court would despatch eight or
ten ships of the line to our aid, it would enable us to destroy all the
British fleet, and decide the question at one stroke. I repeated this
to him in a letter after his return to Paris, to which the answer was,
that there was not spirit enough in his Court for such an exertion, but
that he was hastening the promised succors. Upon Mr Deane’s arrival the
business went into his hands, and the aids were at length embarked in
the Amphitrite, Mercure, and Seine. The Minister has repeatedly assured
us, and that in the most explicit terms, that no return is expected for
these subsidies.[20]
I have the honor to be, &c.
ARTHUR LEE.
[19] Caron de Beaumarchais.
[20] In another part of his correspondence, Mr Lee speaks as follows on
this subject.
“Three months before Mr Deane’s arrival, (in Paris) M. Beaumarchais
settled with me in London the sending these supplies of money and
munitions of war, by the Cape, under the firm of Hortalez & Co., and
that I should apprize Congress of it, which I did by Mr Story and other
opportunities, as the gentlemen of the Secret Committee know. Upon M.
de Beaumarchais’ return to Paris, he wrote me several times concerning
these supplies, mentioning the difficulties which arose in the
execution, from the timidity of the Court, but that he was putting it
into the mercantile train, which would soon overcome all difficulties.
I did not fail to press the despatch of them, and proposed too the
sending some ships of war to protect our coast, exactly similar to what
we were afterwards instructed by Congress to obtain.
“I do not state this to assume any merit to myself for these supplies.
I had none. M. de Beaumarchais sought me out in London. He found me
by means of Mr Wilkes, and communicated to me what I was to convey to
Congress; that the sum of two hundred thousand louis d’ors from this
Court were ready for our support. It was therefore no address of mine,
that procured this aid. I was only the instrument of conveying this
intelligence. As far as I know, the merit is due to M. de Beaumarchais.
I never refused it to him. But I objected to his making demands
directly contrary to what he had repeatedly assured me, and not only
desired but urged me to report to Congress.”
On the 16th of September, 1778, Count de Vergennes wrote as follows to
M. Gerard, at that time French Minister in the United States.
“Mr Franklin and his colleagues wish to know what articles have
been furnished to them by the King, and what M. de Beaumarchais has
furnished on his own account; and they have insinuated to me, that
Congress is in the belief, that all the articles which have been sent,
of at least a great part of them, were on his Majesty’s account. I have
just answered them, that the King has furnished nothing; that he has
simply permitted M. de Beaumarchais to be provided with articles from
his arsenals, upon condition of replacing them.”
BARON DE SCHULENBURG TO ARTHUR LEE.
Translation.
Berlin, October 8th, 1777.
Sir,
I should not have deferred thus long answering the two letters, which
you did me the honor to write me the 13th of August and 21st of
September last, if I could have announced anything favorable to your
wishes. But the King, notwithstanding his good inclinations towards
your nation, not judging it suitable to grant to your privateers a free
commerce with his ports, at a time when even France, notwithstanding
the considerable benefits she begins to derive from the trade with
America, has thought proper to pay a deference to the representations
of the English Ministers, I imagined, that you would have inferred
from my silence, Sir, that what I had to say would not correspond with
your views. We must wait for more favorable circumstances to begin a
commercial connexion between the two people, which his Majesty will
receive great pleasure in seeing increase, whenever it will not engage
him in measures contrary to his principles. In the mean time, Sir,
I shall always be very happy in receiving any information from you
concerning the situation of your affairs.
I am under many obligations to you, Sir, for the Memorial which you
were so kind as to send me. I find it very well written, and it will
no doubt make a proper impression in those countries, where it is an
object of speculation to put out money with foreign nations.
I have the honor to be, &c.
BARON DE SCHULENBURG.
TO BARON DE SCHULENBURG.
Paris, October 23d, 1777.
Sir,
I had the honor of receiving your favor of the 8th a few days
since. I cannot express my regret at not having been able to form a
connexion between those, whom I represent, and a monarch whom I know
my countrymen respect as the first in Europe, for wisdom and valor.
Any instance of friendship and approbation from a prince so respected,
would have added lustre even to the illustrious cause in which we are
contending.
On a subject of such dignity, I should have been happy to see his
Majesty give, not receive, an example from the rest of Europe. It is
not fit that the timid should lead the brave, or the weak direct the
wise. Satisfied, as I am, of his Majesty’s good disposition towards the
United States, I trust the motives which oppose a declaration of it
will not outlast a conviction, that our enemies cannot with all their
exertions wrest from us the sword, the possession of which is the most
substantial proof of independency.
In the meantime, I cannot help so far presuming upon his Majesty’s
graciousness, and your Excellency’s goodness, as to hope that you will
enable me to inform my constituents, if there is any likelihood of
our enemies drawing recruits or reinforcements from Germany, Russia,
or Denmark for the next campaign. It is to that we must now look, the
present not promising anything decisive, and the malignity of our
enemies urging them to continue injuring us, though at the hazard of
their own ruin. If your Excellency, therefore, will have the goodness
to inform me whether we have anything, and what, to fear from those
quarters, it will be remembered with the greatest gratitude. At the
same time, give me leave to hope, that his Majesty will use his
influence to prevent the success of their applications on this subject.
With respect to France having yielded to the representations of the
English Ambassador, the fact is, that she adheres to her treaties
with England, which admit not our armed vessels to stay in her ports,
except in case of necessity, where reparations are requisite and
indispensable. And as it is both the interest and inclination of
our cruisers to keep the sea as long as they are able, the acting
consistent with their treaties is sufficient for us. We meant to ask
no more of his Prussian Majesty; nor that the sale of prizes should be
openly practised, so as to give just cause of complaint.
Two packets have arrived here without their despatches, having been
obliged to throw them overboard by being closely pursued. We are,
therefore, without any late authentic intelligence; the immediate
communication of any such as reaches us your Excellency may rely upon.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ARTHUR LEE.
TO BARON DE SCHULENBURG.
Paris, November 13th, 1777.
Sir,
Since I had the honor of answering your Excellency’s favor of the
8th of October, a commission has been received, appointing William
Lee Commissioner of Congress to the Court of Berlin, with powers to
negotiate a treaty of amity and commerce with the king of Prussia. The
great knowledge of this gentleman in commerce will enable him to throw
far more light on that object, than I was able to communicate.
I am persuaded, Sir, that with the assistance he can give, a happy
foundation at least may be laid for effectuating his Majesty’s wishes
on that subject. At the same time, he will be better able to show the
value and importance of that commerce to the subjects of his Majesty,
and to the prosperity of his kingdom.
Your Excellency will have the goodness to communicate to us his
Majesty’s pleasure relative to this Commissioner’s coming to Berlin, in
which he will entirely conform himself to the King’s sentiments.
The entire discomfiture of General Burgoyne, and the northern
expedition, as well as the untruth of what was circulated about General
Howe’s success, with the sole view of diverting the public attention
from the ill success of the Canadian armament, is now universally
acknowledged in England. We have received no despatches on the subject.
But from the place he is in, we are satisfied General Howe will meet
with a manly opposition.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ARTHUR LEE.
TO MESSRS GARDOQUI AND SONS AT BILBOA.
Paris, November 15th, 1777.
Gentlemen,
I have learnt from America, that there was a difficulty on the
arrival of the supplies sent to America through your house, in
knowing whether they were for Congress, or for Mr Gerry, to whom they
were consigned. Possibly you explained that to Mr Gerry, and his
absence might have occasioned the doubt. At all events, you will have
the goodness in future to write so clearly as to prevent any mistake
of that kind.
When any prize, made by any continental armed vessel in the service
of the United States, is sent into Bilboa or the adjacent port, you
have my authority to sell her to the best advantage, reserving half
the proceeds for the Congress at my disposal, as their representative
in Spain. The other half is the property of the captain and the crew.
I beg you will inform me, by return of post, what interest you give
for money put into your hands. They give here at the rate of six per
cent, on condition that it be not drawn out of their hands under one
month’s notice. If your terms are as good, I should prefer depositing
what I have with you.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ARTHUR LEE.
TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Paris, November 27th, 1777.
Gentlemen,
Since writing the enclosed, I received a letter from the king of
Prussia’s minister, informing me that his Majesty cannot at present
open his ports to American armed vessels and the sale of their prizes,
as he finds it is not permitted in France. I have apprized the minister
of the late appointment by Congress to his Court, and do not think
it improbable but that the king will in a little time be prevailed
upon to wink at the above measure being executed, though he will not
openly approve of it till an arrangement is made for acknowledging
your independency. This will probably come under serious consideration
before the winter ends, if General Howe should not be successful.
The last letter I received from the Prussian Minister contains the
following paragraph.
_November 6._ “As to the reinforcement of troops, which Great Britain
will receive from the other powers of Europe for the approaching
campaign, I can assure you, Sir, that your nation has nothing to fear
either from Russia or Denmark, and that even Germany will furnish
only a few hundred men, whom the Duke of Brunswick, the Landgrave of
Hesse, and the Margrave of Anspach, in conformity with their treaties,
are obliged to send annually to recruit the troops, whom these
princes maintain in America in the pay of England. It is with sincere
satisfaction that I give you this consoling intelligence.”
Our friends in Spain had been prevailed upon to renew the order for
sending you supplies, but before anything was done, a suspension of it
was occasioned by an American privateer making prize of a French ship
coming from England with Spanish property on board. Proper measures
have been taken to explain this proceeding, so as to appease the
complaints it excited; and I have reason to hope, that we shall soon
see the former good will towards us restored, with further proofs of
its sincerity.
I have mentioned the little probability our enemies have of obtaining
troops for another campaign. Nor will their difficulties be less in
raising supplies. Their credit falls so fast in Europe, that unless the
most brilliant and effectual success of this campaign should retrieve
it by rendering the conquest of America probable, they cannot sustain
another. _Stat magni nominis umbra_ may almost now be said of Great
Britain; and the decisive weight, a weight derived from her connexion
with America in the balance of Europe which she has long held, will
assuredly fail with the failure of this year’s expectations.
It is with pleasure I inform you that the conduct of your Generals, and
the bravery of your troops and seamen, have entirely effaced through
Europe the unfavorable impressions made at first by the scandalous
reports of our enemies. At the same time, there is a great desire to
have authentic accounts from us, which unhappily we are not able to
gratify, having received no despatches since the retreat of the British
army from the Jerseys. I have imputed it to the chances of the sea and
of war, and to the arduous attention of Congress to the arrangement
and defence of a young government, pressed on all sides by a powerful
enemy. The king of Prussia is particularly anxious on this subject, as
you will judge by the following extract from his Minister’s letter.
“The king has been surprised to learn by the letter, which you have
done me the honor to write to me, that you have received no news from
America, since the public papers are filled with different kinds of
intelligence, especially respecting the entrance of General Howe into
the Chesapeake Bay, and the check given to Burgoyne by General Arnold.
As I am persuaded the king would take pleasure in the confirmation
of this last intelligence, on account of the interest his Majesty
takes in the events which are advantageous to your cause, I shall be
greatly obliged to you if you will communicate to me the authentic
details on this subject, as soon as they come to your hands, for it is
extremely difficult to tell what degree of confidence is to be placed
in relations, the greater part of which is dressed up and published by
the spirit of party.”
I enclose you the king of Great Britain’s speech to his Parliament,
with remarks on it by one who was present. My private letters say the
Ministry are exceedingly dispirited. The following is a picture of the
public, drawn by an able hand and in a high station. “This poor country
is fallen into a state of lethargy, from which all efforts to rouse her
are ineffectual. The single loss of Minorca drove the people of England
almost to madness; now thirteen provinces dismembered from the British
empire, scarcely excite a murmur except among the few who dare to love
their country, even at this disgraceful period. The Parliamentary
campaign will soon open, but nothing is to be expected. Corruption,
like a Scotch mist, has spread over and pervades every thing.” It is
certain that France and Spain are arming with uncommon diligence and to
a great extent. The States of Holland have ordered ten men of war as a
convoy for their West India trade, and will not permit any interruption
of it by our enemies.
Yet with these circumstances to oppose it, the impracticability of
obtaining any adequate number of troops, the lowness of their credit,
the probability of an European war, the carrying on of their commerce
by the ships of their rivals, the impossibility of success, and I may
add with certainty their own conviction of it, I am clear in my opinion
that they will attempt another campaign, and that every man and every
shilling they can procure will be devoted to the desolation of our
country.
The privateer, which gave so much offence by taking a French ship, _La
Fortune_, with Spanish property on board, is called the _Civil Usage_.
Since that the Portsmouth privateer from Portsmouth, Captain Hart,
has taken an English merchantman in the mouth of the Garonne. These
captures have given great offence to the two Courts; to remove which
we have promised to warn all American captains to desist from such
conduct, till the pleasure of Congress is known. The following is a
copy of the letter I have sent to the different ports of Spain for that
purpose.
_To all Captains or Commanders of Ships of War, armed Vessels and
Privateers from the United States of North America._
Gentlemen,