approve of his retaining the picture; that he be further informed, in
answer to his letter, that there is no particular charge against him
before Congress properly supported, and that he be assured his recall
was not intended to fix any kind of censure on his character or conduct
abroad.”
THE CORRESPONDENCE OF WILLIAM LEE,
COMMISSIONER FROM THE UNITED STATES
TO THE COURTS OF VIENNA AND BERLIN.
William Lee was a native of Virginia, but at the commencement of the
revolution he had resided several years in London as a merchant.
Notwithstanding his foreign birth, he acquired so much popularity in
London, that he was chosen an Alderman, which post he held at the
breaking out of the war.
His high toned whig principles, and his zeal in the American cause,
had made him conspicuous, and pointed him out to the Congress as a
person suitable to engage in their interests abroad. At the beginning
of the year 1777, the commercial concerns of the United States in
France, particularly at the port of Nantes, became important. For
various reasons they were not well managed in the hands of the
first agent, Mr Morris, and the Committee of Secret Correspondence
appointed Mr William Lee as a joint commercial agent. He was informed
of this appointment in April by a letter received in London from
Mr Deane. Being detained by his private affairs, he did not arrive
in Paris till June 11th. Here he found no commission to act as
commercial agent, nor any other notice of his appointment, than what
had been communicated to Mr Deane in a letter from the Committee of
Congress.
Not deeming it expedient to act upon this authority alone, he
remained in Paris till August 2d, when, by the recommendation of Dr
Franklin and Mr Deane, he repaired to Nantes. The disagreements
between the agents there had brought the public business into
disorder, which Mr Lee was desired to use his influence in
correcting. He staid in Nantes two months, and then returned to
Paris, not yet having received any formal commission as commercial
agent.
Meantime on the 9th of May, Mr William Lee had been elected by
Congress a Commissioner to the Courts of Vienna and Berlin. His
commission and instructions were waiting for him in Paris on his
arrival, October 6th. The commission was dated July 1st, and gave him
“full power and authority to communicate and treat with his Imperial
Majesty the Emperor of Germany, or with such person or persons as
shall be by him for such purpose authorised, of and upon a true and
sincere friendship, and a firm, inviolable, and universal peace for
the defence, protection, and safety of the navigation and mutual
commerce of the subjects of his Imperial Majesty, and the people of
the United States.” He had a separate commission to the Court of
Berlin, worded in the same manner.
The state of things at that time in Europe was not such, as to
warrant Mr Lee in rendering himself at either of the Courts of Vienna
or Berlin. He remained nearly a year in Paris, waiting the issue of
events. At length he went to Frankfort in Germany, where he took up
his residence, as a point convenient for his operations, till the
time should arrive for some decided step with reference to the main
object of his mission. On the 4th of September, 1778, he agreed to a
plan of a treaty between the Netherlands and the United States. This
was done at Aix la Chapelle, where he met M. de Neufville, the Dutch
agent. But as M. de Neufville acted only in his private capacity,
this treaty was never ratified nor matured.
In March, 1779, Mr Lee was in Paris, endeavoring to engage the French
ministry to aid him in advancing his views in Germany. Failing in
this purpose, he returned again to Frankfort, where he continued to
reside during the remainder of his mission. He was recalled by a
resolution of Congress, dated June 9th, 1779, but not required to
come to the United States. Towards the end of the year he retired to
Brussels, where he continued to live with his family for some time
afterwards.
It is a little remarkable, that during the whole of Mr Lee’s public
agency in the service of the United States, he was still an Alderman
of the city of London. He sent his resignation to the Common Council,
but they declined accepting it, on account of the difficulty of
finding a successor, whose principles agreed with those of the
majority.
THE CORRESPONDENCE OF WILLIAM LEE.
INSTRUCTIONS TO WILLIAM LEE.
Philadelphia, July 1st, 1777.
Sir,
Herewith you will receive Commissions from the Congress of the
United States of North America, authorising and appointing you to
represent the said Congress as their Commissioner at the Courts of
Vienna and Berlin. You will proceed with all convenient expedition
to those Courts; visiting that first, which, on consultation with
the Commissioners at the Court of France, shall be judged most
proper. You will lose no time in announcing in form to those Courts
the declaration of independence made in Congress on the fourth
day of July, 1776. The reasons of this act of independence are so
strongly adduced in the declaration itself, that further argument is
unnecessary. As it is of the greatest importance to these States,
that Great Britain be effectually obstructed in the plan of sending
German and Russian troops to North America, you will exert all
possible address and vigor to cultivate the friendship, and procure
the interference of the Emperor and of Prussia. To this end you
will propose treaties of friendship and commerce with these powers,
upon the same commercial principles as were the basis of the first
treaties of friendship and commerce proposed to the Courts of France
and Spain, by our Commissioners, and which were approved in Congress
the seventeenth day of September, 1776, and not interfering with
any treaties, which may have been proposed to, or concluded with,
the Courts abovementioned. For your better instruction herein, the
Commissioners at the Court of Versailles will be desired to furnish
you, from Paris, with a copy of the treaty originally proposed
to Congress, to be entered into with France, together with the
subsequent alterations that have been proposed on either side.
You are to propose no treaty of commerce to be of longer duration,
than the term of twelve years from the date of its ratification by
the Congress of the United States. And it must never be forgotten, in
these commercial treaties, that reciprocal and equal advantages to
the people of both countries be firmly and plainly secured.
There being reasons to suppose, that his Prussian Majesty makes
commerce an object, you will not fail to place before him, in the
clearest light, the great advantages, that may result from a free
trade between the Prussian dominions and North America.
You will seize the first favorable moment to solicit, with decent
firmness and respect, an acknowledgment of the independence of
these States, and the public reception of their Commissioner as
the representative of sovereign States. The measures you may take
in the premises, and the occurrences of your negotiation, you will
communicate to Congress by every opportunity.
It may not be improper to observe, that these instructions, and all
others, which you may receive from time to time, should be kept as
secret as circumstances will admit.
JOHN HANCOCK,
_President of Congress_.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Paris, October 7th, 1777.
Sir,
Your goodness I trust will excuse me, for requesting the favor of you
to inform the honorable Congress of the United States of America,
that this moment (on my arrival here from Nantes, where I have been
discharging the public trust reposed in me by the Secret Committee of
Congress) were put into my hands the instructions, and appointment
of me as Commissioner at the Courts of Vienna and Berlin, but not
having had an opportunity of a conference on the subject with the
Commissioners here, it is not in my power at present to enlarge on
the business, more especially as I am told, that this express is to
be immediately despatched. I understand another will be sent in ten
or twelve days, by which opportunity I shall write fully. I have only
further to entreat, that you will assure the honorable Congress of
my steady attachment to that respectable body, and to the rights of
America, which I shall invariably and on all occasions endeavor to
support and maintain.
I am, with the truest respect and esteem, &c.
WILLIAM LEE.
TO CHARLES THOMSON, SECRETARY OF CONGRESS.
Paris, November 24th, 1777.
Sir,
Be so good as to inform the honorable Congress of the United States
of America, that I have received the commissions, whereby they
have done me the honor of appointing me their Commissioner and
Representative to the Courts of Vienna and Berlin. In consequence
of their instructions, I have applied to their Commissioners at the
Court of Versailles for a copy of the treaty originally proposed
by Congress, to be entered into with France, together with the
subsequent alterations that have been proposed on either side, which
I presume they will furnish me with, and in the meantime I have
been taking, and shall continue to take, measures to get the best
possible information, which of these Courts it will be most for the
interest of the United States, that I should visit first, in order
to accomplish the most urgent object of Congress, that of preventing
Great Britain from obtaining more German troops to send to America.
For this object, my views shall be extended to Russia, as far as the
situation of affairs in Europe will admit.
Colonel Faucet, the British Agent, has been most of the year in
Germany, and about two months ago, General Haldiman, who was
appointed and embarked to go and succeed General Carleton as Governor
of Quebec, was recalled and sent to Germany, as it is supposed to aid
Colonel Faucet in obtaining more German troops. What success they
will meet with, I cannot at present speak of with certainty, but you
may rely on every exertion in my power to obstruct their operations,
and I have some hopes of succeeding so far as to prevent their
obtaining more than to make up the number, that the States of Hesse,
Brunswick, and Anspach, have formerly contracted to keep in the pay
and service of Great Britain in America. It would certainly add to
their difficulty, and embarrass the British Ministry, if there were
only an appearance of beating up for men for the United States, in
some of the free towns in Germany, where all the world by custom is
permitted to recruit and enlist men. Something of this sort might be
attempted, sufficient to give a great alarm and create a diversion in
your favor at a very little expense, if prudently managed.
I shall pay strict attention to my instructions, and embrace the
first favorable opportunity of prevailing upon the Courts of
Vienna and Berlin to receive the Commissioner of Congress, as the
Representative of a sovereign State, which will necessarily carry
along with it an acknowledgment of the Independence of the Thirteen
United States of America; though in this business I apprehend the
other powers of Europe will wait for France and Spain to take the
lead, as they are known every where to be friendly to the American
States, and to have received hitherto greater advantages from the
American commerce than any other kingdoms, and still have not
determined as yet to receive the American Commissioners, as the
representatives of a sovereign State. I hope I shall be excused for
observing, that neither my commission nor instructions authorise me
to conclude any treaty with the Courts of Vienna and Berlin, even if
I should find those Courts at any time disposed for such a measure.
Congress will determine whether it may be prudent to enlarge those
powers, when they consider the distance between the two countries,
and the time it will take to write to Congress, receive their answer,
return to them the treaty, and then again receive their ratification.
It occurs to me, that it will be extremely proper for me to have a
cypher, to carry on my correspondence with Congress, more especially
if any supplies of cordage, arms, cannon, or ammunition are purchased
in the Northern Countries, where it is beyond a doubt they may be had
infinitely better in quality, and very considerably cheaper, than
what have been sent already, or may be sent from France or Spain;
particularly iron and brass ordnance, ball, shot, fusils, woollen
and linen cloth for soldiers’ clothing, and tents, sailcloth, and
cordage. Ways and means may be contrived to ship any of these things
from the northern ports, as easily as from the southern ones. If this
idea is approved by Congress, any cypher you send me shall be used
when necessary. As there is no particular mode pointed out in my
instructions, how I am to correspond with Congress, I have adopted
the method of addressing myself to you as their Secretary, it being
the usual practice in similar cases in Europe, but if I am wrong, I
shall hope to be better informed by the next despatches I receive.
I am, &c.
WILLIAM LEE.
TO CHARLES THOMSON.
Paris, December 18th, 1777.
Sir,
Enclosed is a copy of what I did myself the honor of writing to
you, by the Independence, Captain Young. Be pleased to inform
the honorable Congress, that, upon application being made to his
Prussian Majesty, he has prevented the Hesse and Hanau recruits,
for reinforcing the British army in America, from passing through
his territories on the Rhine, which has kept those troops still
in Germany, who otherwise would, by this time, have been on their
voyage to America, and it is now doubtful whether they will ever
be permitted to go. Our friends at Court here are of opinion,
that it will be better for me to visit the Court of Vienna first,
as it may be of use to strengthen and unite all the branches of
the family compact, in the measures they have determined to take
here in our favor; therefore, as soon as the ceremony (which is a
pretty essential one) of _signing_ and _sealing_ has taken place, I
shall set out for Vienna, as it is thought most advisable to wait
till something decisive is absolutely concluded with the Court of
Versailles, because on _that_ must be grounded my operations at
Vienna and Berlin.
With respect to the latter, trade must be the principal object,
though the friendship of the king of Prussia will be of use to keep
Russia quiet, and to prevent Great Britain from getting any material
aid from that quarter in case of an European war, while she is mad
enough to continue the war with America. Nothing material relative
to commerce can be effected in the north till late in the spring,
because their ports are all frozen up during the winter. His Prussian
Majesty seems well disposed to our cause, and I trust will give us
every encouragement in time that we can wish; but in a country where
there is very little foreign commerce, it must be raised gradually
and by experimental conviction of its benefits. To me it seems
evident, that the commerce between America and the Prussian dominions
must be considerable, because the natural productions of the former
will come to as good a market in the latter, as almost any part
of Europe; those from the latter are what we have been heretofore
obliged to get from England. I shall omit no safe opportunity of
informing Congress of my proceedings, and with due consideration and
regard,
I am, Sir, &c.
WILLIAM LEE.
TO CHARLES THOMSON.
Paris, January 2d, 1778.
Sir,
I had the honor of writing to you by the Independence, Captain Young,
a copy of which went since.
It is with infinite pleasure, that I congratulate Congress and
America on the favorable change in our affairs in Europe, since
advice was received of the noble and spirited exertions of the
northern army and militia, in making General Burgoyne and his army
prisoners. The purport of the last and present despatches from the
Commissioners at the Court of Versailles, will show how pleasing and
encouraging the prospect before us is in this country at the present
moment.
I must beg you to lay before Congress, that though we had received
repeated assurances from the king of Prussia of his good wishes for
our success, and indeed had experienced his operations in our favor,
by his forbidding his officers to permit the Hesse and Hanau recruits
for the British army in America to pass down the Rhine, yet, since
the late advices, his prime Minister writes more decidedly than
before, for he says, “I can assure you, Sir, his Majesty will not be
the last power to acknowledge the independence of the Americans, but
you must be sensible it is not natural for him to begin it; and that
at least France, whose political and commercial interests are more
immediately connected with yours, should set the example.”
From this, I conclude, that as soon as France has entered into a
treaty with you, the king of Prussia will not hesitate to do the
same. This shows, that my former opinion was well founded when I
observed to you, that it was probable, most if not all the European
powers would follow the example of France and Spain, in acknowledging
the independence of America. I have so far been able to prevail
with the Emperor, by negotiations with his Minister, as to get his
Imperial Highness to discountenance the practice of the German
princes hiring their troops to Great Britain, for the purposes of
the American war. I have been waiting some time for the conclusion
of certain affairs here, on which I presume the Commissioners at
this Court will write fully. When they are clearly decided, signed,
and sealed, I shall then immediately set out for Vienna, where it is
thought my first visit will be most proper and beneficial, and then
I shall proceed to Prussia, where I can venture to assure Congress,
that American merchant ships will be now freely admitted for commerce.
Emden is a convenient port, where many American articles will come
to a fine market, such as tobacco, furs, rice, and indigo, of
that quality which is most like the St Domingo kind. The returns
in woollens, linens, naval stores, arms, and ammunition, will be
greatly beneficial to America. I shall, by all safe opportunities,
regularly inform Congress of my proceedings, continuing to address
my letters to you until I have other directions, having not received
any instructions on that head as yet. It will certainly be of great
use to keep me regularly advised, and as early as possible, of all
the material occurrences in America. I cannot omit to mention it as
my opinion, that let the events in Europe be what they will, you
ought to prepare for another vigorous campaign, in which, if Great
Britain is foiled, you may assuredly compute on the war being at
an end. I have the pleasure to inform Congress, that from the best
intelligence, I learn that Great Britain has hitherto been very
unsuccessful in her attempts to hire fresh German troops for the
American war, but the diligence of the Ministry is greatly increased
in endeavoring, by every artifice and allurement, to raise men in
England, Scotland, and among the Roman Catholics in Ireland. I am
inclined to think, that even there they will find themselves a good
deal disappointed; but a few weeks will show their chance of success
with certainty. At all events, the troops they raise will be raw men,
and not able to encounter your veterans, aided by a well disciplined
and spirited militia. The plan of the next campaign is, I believe,
as yet to be settled; the earliest information I can get on that
head, which is to be depended on, shall be immediately transmitted to
Congress.
I am, with all due regard, &c.
WILLIAM LEE.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Paris, January 22d, 1778.
Sir,
Be so good as to inform Congress, that I have communicated to them,
by several letters addressed to Charles Thomson their secretary, my
proceedings hitherto, in consequence of their appointing me their
Commissioner at the Courts of Vienna and Berlin. I am now to add,
that having lately had a conference with the Imperial Ambassador at
this Court, he observed immediately an imperfection in my commission,
as it only authorises me to treat with the Emperor of Germany, and
not with his mother, who is the reigning and sovereign Prince over
all the Austrian dominions, as well in Germany and Flanders as
elsewhere.
She is extremely jealous of her power and authority, not permitting
her son to interfere in any manner in the government of her
dominions. Her title is, “The Most Serene and Most Potent Princess
Maria Theresa, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, Arch Duchess of Austria,
&c. &c.” The Emperor, her son, though heir to her dominions, is at
present only Commander in Chief of his mother’s army, and as Emperor
is the head of the German empire. I therefore beg leave to submit to
Congress, whether it may not be proper to send another commission to
treat with the Queen of Hungary, &c. since, in fact, there are two
Courts to negotiate with, though they both reside in the same city,
viz. with the Emperor, so far as relates to the German empire, such
as obstructing Great Britain from procuring German troops to send to
America; and with his mother, for the purposes of commerce with the
Austrian dominions, &c. &c.
There is every reason to believe, that our affairs will be finally
settled here, and the compact signed and sealed in a few days, after
which I shall immediately set off for Vienna, since from that quarter
we have most to apprehend, as there has been always a particular
intimacy between that Court and the Court of London, at least for the
present century, which has not been interrupted but during the last
war with France.
Notwithstanding the promising appearance of things at present, I
cannot forbear giving it as my opinion, that every possible exertion
should be made to prepare for a vigorous campaign next summer.
I am with sincere esteem, &c.
WILLIAM LEE.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Paris, February 28th, 1778.
Sir,
The unexpected return of Mr Simeon Deane gives me the opportunity of
enclosing you a copy of my last, which went by an express from Spain,
to which be pleased to refer. I should before this have set off
for Vienna, but the Commissioners at this Court have not yet found
time to examine the papers relative to the commercial concerns of
Congress, taken from the private papers of the late Mr Thomas Morris,
as Mr Deane’s card of this date (a copy of which is enclosed) will
show. As soon as that business is finished, I shall immediately set
out to execute your commands in Germany, where, I am sorry to inform
you, there are now appearances of an approaching rupture between
the Emperor and King of Prussia, relative to the possession of the
late Elector of Bavaria’s estates. The Elector Palatine, who is the
rightful heir, has agreed by treaty, signed the 12th ult. between him
and the Emperor, on the division of the Bavarian estates, but the
King of Prussia is not satisfied, because he has not a share; he has
therefore commenced a negotiation with Great Britain, and the Princes
in Germany, to support his pretensions to some parts of Germany,
founded on claims of right that go several generations back. Great
Britain, you may be sure, will instigate him to go on, because if war
ensues, France will probably take part with the emperor, which will
render their meditated attack on her more likely to succeed; but I
still hope peace will be maintained by negotiation in that quarter.