in confusion. You were fully informed on this point sometime ago,
and I recommended Mr Lloyd strongly as a proper person to set these
matters right. I believe him to be a very capable merchant, and I
have the highest opinion of his integrity and attachment to the cause
of America. These are qualities at all times to be valued, but in
the present situation of our affairs, at the distance the commercial
agent is placed from the seat of inquiry, the difficulty there is of
preventing the plunder of the public money, and the detecting of it
after it is done, are additional motives with me for wishing to see
the commercial business of our country in his hands. He is going to
America, and I expect that he will see you at Congress. Dr Franklin
is still endeavoring to place his nephew in that office.[68] Whether
he is a proper person I shall not take upon me to decide. Mr Lee
thinks he is not, and I suppose will offer his reasons to Congress.
I have lamented exceedingly that the situation of affairs has not
permitted my going into Italy. Perhaps my having been here, and the
observations that I have sent you respecting the treaties, may not
prove useless; should my countrymen think so, it will give me great
satisfaction.
I am, dear Sir, &c.
RALPH IZARD.
_P. S._ I have communicated my sentiments to Mr Lee and Mr Adams
respecting the fishery, and I hope they will write on the subject to
their friends. It will, however, I think, be very proper for you to
speak to the New England delegates about it, that they may have time
to consider it, and consult their constituents.
[68] For the correction of an error here, respecting Dr Franklin’s
designs in regard to his nephew, see the present volume, p. 164, note.
THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO RALPH IZARD.
Philadelphia, October 28th, 1778.
Sir,
It is unnecessary to say anything to you about the particular
foundation of the enclosed Resolve. We hope you will experience good
consequences from it, in a point very interesting to you while in
Tuscany. There, you certainly must depend greatly on our correspondents
in France for American intelligence, which will be much more frequently
sent from hence to them than to you. We shall enjoin it upon them to
furnish you, and particularly upon Mr Adams, while he remains at Paris.
Mr A. Lee will communicate to you the purport of some papers, which
are sent to him, and in which you are jointly concerned. It was not
possible for us at this time to send you extracts from them.
You will be pleased at knowing that the British Commissioners are
convinced of the folly of their errand to America, and are returning
home. It is probable that the British army will follow them soon, or
at least go to the West Indies. Of this, however, the Marquis de la
Fayette, the bearer, may gain fuller information before he sails from
Boston. Though a pressing load of other business has till this time
prevented Congress from taking up the whole consideration of their
foreign affairs, yet that must be the speedy consequence of their
appointment of Dr Franklin Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of
France. All the papers of this Committee are on their table, and we
shall despatch packets upon any material decision.
In the mean time we wish you every success, and are with much regard,
Sir, your friends and humble servants,
RICHARD H. LEE,
JAMES LOVELL.
TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Paris, January 28th, 1779.
Gentlemen,
I have had the honor of informing Congress, that the political state
of Europe has prevented the Grand Duke of Tuscany from receiving me
in the character of their representative, and as I thought it would
be injurious to them if I had resided at his Court in any other
character, I have remained in France, ready to embrace the first
opportunity of obeying the orders of Congress, if any change of
circumstances should put it in my power to do so.
In consequence of a resolution of Congress, “that the Commissioners
at the other Courts in Europe be empowered to draw bills of exchange
from time to time, for the amount of their expenses, upon the
Commissioners at the Court of France,” I drew a bill of exchange on
the 12th instant for five hundred louis d’ors, on the Commissioners
at this Court, and I waited on them at Passy with it myself for
acceptance. I presented it to Dr Franklin, as eldest, who refused to
accept it. He said the two thousand louis d’ors, which I had already
had, were so extravagant a sum, that he was sure I could not have
spent it, and if I had, he saw no reason why Congress should support
my family. Congress will be pleased to recollect, that my commission
is dated the 1st of July, 1777, and that I received it the September
following. Dr Franklin added, that the resolution of the 7th of
May, 1778, to which I referred him, directed that the Commissioners
_at_ the other Courts of Europe should draw bills for the amount of
their expenses, but as I was not _at_ Florence, he was determined
not to consent that any more money should be paid me, and I might
protest the bill if I pleased. I desired that he would favor me with
his reasons in writing, which he promised to do; but though I wrote
to him eight days after about it, and received a repetition of his
promise under his hand, he has not to this day paid the least regard
to it. Congress will judge, when they consider the differences, which
have for some time past unhappily subsisted between us, by what
motives Dr Franklin has been actuated in the conduct, which I have
just stated, and will, I hope, take such measures as will for the
future prevent any such unjustifiable proceedings.
As the Commissioners at the other Courts of Europe are directed to
draw bills of exchange for their support, on the Representatives of
Congress at the Court of France, the situation of the former will be
very deplorable, if the latter are allowed the liberty of disobeying
those orders of Congress, whatever may be the pretence for such
disobedience. At the time of Dr Franklin’s refusal to accept my bills
for five hundred louis d’ors, there were in the hands of the public
banker between two and three hundred thousand livres. Dr Franklin
is not empowered to judge of the propriety of my going into Italy,
or staying in France. I consulted him however about it, and it was
his opinion, that the situation of affairs did not admit of my going
to Florence. After Dr Franklin had refused to accept the bill, I
presented it to Mr Lee and Mr Adams, who accepted it immediately.
It is with reluctance that I lay this matter before Congress, but
it is my duty to do it, as it is an evil that requires an immediate
remedy. Our disagreements are much to be lamented by every friend to
our country; I can, with the most perfect truth declare, that I have
done every thing in my power to prevent them, but I have found it
impossible. I have a most grateful sense of the goodness of Congress
to me, in appointing me one of their Representatives in Europe; it
has been my constant wish to prove myself worthy of the confidence
with which they have honored me, and I consider it as my greatest
misfortune, that I have not had it in my power to render them any
service.
As there does not appear to be any prospect of my being received in
my public character at Florence, nor any other means of my being of
service, I am desirous of returning to America. I should take the
first opportunity of doing so, but do not think myself at liberty to
leave Europe without the permission of Congress; you will very much
oblige me if you will be so good as to obtain that permission for me,
and send me copies of it by several opportunities.
I have the honor to be, &c.
RALPH IZARD.
TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Paris, March 4th, 1779.
Gentlemen,
I had the honor of writing to you on the 28th of January, and have
since received your letter of the 28th of October, informing me of
the appointment of Dr Franklin to be Minister Plenipotentiary at the
Court of France, and enclosing a resolution of Congress of the 22d
of the same month. The respect, which I owe to the Representatives
of my country in Congress, would make me follow any advice which I
might receive from them. I am most perfectly convinced, that the
cultivation of harmony and good understanding between the Ministers,
Commissioners, and Representatives of Congress, is necessary for the
honor and interest of the United States, and I have acted to the
utmost of my power in conformity to that opinion.
Congress will be enabled to judge how far their other servants have
done so, from the papers which have already been, and will be, laid
before them. I beg leave to repeat again the high sense I have
of the honor that Congress did me, in appointing me one of their
Representatives in Europe, and to request that you will be so good
as to obtain their leave for me to return to America, as I see no
prospect of my having it in my power to render them any service in
this part of the world. I should embrace the opportunity of going
under the convoy of the Alliance frigate, but do not think myself at
liberty to leave Europe without the permission of Congress.
I have the honor to be, &c.
RALPH IZARD.
THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO RALPH IZARD.
Philadelphia, July 17th, 1779.
Sir,
Your letter of March 4th was read in Congress three days ago, being
then only first received by the Committee of Foreign Affairs. We
should have been very happy to have received it before the 8th of
June,[69] as it would, undoubtedly, have founded a resolve of Congress
more agreeable to us to communicate officially, than that to which
we must now refer you in their journals, printed authoritatively by
David C. Claypole, and which are in the hands of Doctor Franklin, or
Doctor Arthur Lee, at Paris.
We have till now omitted to forward to you that resolve for your
recall from the Court of Tuscany, as we daily expected a settlement
of a definite recompense for your services to these United States.
But the modes of doing business in such an assembly as Congress will
not warrant our detaining, until such settlement, some important
papers committed to us to be sent to the Court of France.
I am, with sincere regard, &c.
JAMES LOVELL,
_For the Committee of Foreign Affairs_.
[69] _In Congress, June 8th, 1779._ “According to the order of the day,
Congress proceeded to the consideration of the report of the Committee
of thirteen on Foreign Affairs; and on the question, shall Mr Izard be
recalled?--resolved in the affirmative.
“A motion was then made, that Mr Izard be informed, that it is the
sense of Congress that he need not return to America;--resolved in the
affirmative.”
TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Paris, September 29th, 1779.
Gentlemen,
I have lately been favored with your letter of the 17th of July,
referring me to a resolution of Congress of the 8th of June, by which
I find that they have been pleased to recall me. It has long been my
wish to resign a commission, which did not put it in my power to be
of any service to America; and, therefore, if Congress had had the
goodness to have expressed their resolution in such a manner as not
to have conveyed a censure, which my conscience tells me I have not
deserved, it would have given me a great deal of pleasure.
You say that if my letter, of the 4th of March, had been received
before the 8th of June, it would have founded a resolve of Congress
more agreeable to you to communicate than the one referred to. I
have received, likewise, the resolution of Congress of the 6th of
August, respecting the allowance to be made to the Commissioners.
Upon my applying to Dr Franklin to know if he had received any
directions from Congress to pay me any money, and whether he thought
himself authorised by that resolution to do it, he answered me,
that he had received no orders about it. “On the other hand, (said
he) there is a part of it which directs, that every Commissioner,
who has been intrusted with public money, shall transmit without
delay his accounts and vouchers to the Board of Treasury in order
for settlement. Till such settlement is made, I conceive it cannot
be known what, or whether anything, is due to you.” I was in hopes,
that after what I had already written to Congress on this subject,
it would have been unnecessary to trouble them any more about
it. Their resolution of the 7th of May, 1778, directs, “that the
Commissioners appointed for the Courts of Spain, Tuscany, Vienna,
and Berlin, should live in such style and manner at their respective
Courts, as they may find suitable and necessary to support the
dignity of their public character, keeping an account of their
expenses, which shall be reimbursed by the Congress of the United
States of America.” I have repeatedly informed Congress of my reasons
for not going into Italy. Had those reasons not been satisfactory,
they would doubtless have signified their pleasure to me on the
subject, which should have been the rule of my conduct.
I do not conceive that the resolution of the 6th of August, which
directs that those who have been intrusted with public money shall
transmit their accounts and vouchers to the Board of Treasury to be
settled, can have any reference to me. I have received two thousand
five hundred louis d’ors of the public money, exclusive of the
clothes and education of my children. This latter circumstance I
should not have mentioned, had not Dr Franklin told me, that he saw
no reason why Congress should maintain my family. I cannot believe,
that Congress intended any such distinction when they sent me a
commission, nor when they entered into the resolution of the 7th of
May, 1778; neither can I think, that, by calling for the accounts and
vouchers of those who have been intrusted with public money, their
intention is to enter into an examination of my butcher’s, baker’s,
or apothecary’s bills. I hope they will be satisfied with being
informed, that my expenses during the two years, that I have had the
honor of being in their service, have amounted to sixteen hundred
louis d’ors a year. The resolution of the 6th of August set forth,
that the _reasonable expenses_ of the Commissioners shall be paid.
It is impossible for me to tell what ideas may be affixed to those
words; but I am sure, that whatever Congress may think reasonable
will be perfectly satisfactory to me, let the sum be what it will.
All I desire is, that I may not be subjected to be ill treated by
a man, who is become my enemy, because I have done my duty to the
public.
I have the honor to be, &c.
RALPH IZARD.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Philadelphia, August 6th, 1780.
Sir,
In several letters which I wrote to Congress from Paris, I acquainted
them with my reasons for not going into Italy. It will give me great
pleasure to be informed, that those reasons and my conduct have been
approved of by the Representatives of my country. Permit me, Sir, to
request, that you will be pleased to inform Congress of my arrival in
this city, and that I shall be ready, whenever it is their pleasure,
to give them any information in my power respecting their affairs in
Europe.
I have the honor to be, &c.
RALPH IZARD.
THE CORRESPONDENCE OF HENRY LAURENS,
COMMISSIONER FOR NEGOTIATING A TREATY OF AMITY
AND COMMERCE WITH HOLLAND.
Henry Laurens was a native of Charleston, South Carolina, and born
in the year 1724. He was among the foremost in embracing the cause
of the Revolution, which he maintained to the end with extraordinary
integrity, zeal, and firmness. As President of the first provincial
Congress of Carolina, which assembled in 1775, he showed a determined
spirit, that never forsook him afterwards, even in times of severe
trial and suffering. He was a prominent member of the Continental
Congress, and chosen President of that body on the resignation
of Hancock. In the year 1779, the finances of the United States
became so low, that it was found necessary to use every effort to
procure foreign loans, and Mr Laurens was appointed a Commissioner
to negotiate a loan in Holland. On the first of November following,
there was joined to this commission another, which authorised him to
negotiate a treaty of amity and commerce with the United Provinces.
Various reasons prevented his leaving the country, till the last of
August, 1780. Meantime the Commission for a loan had been assigned
to John Adams, and Mr Laurens was exclusively charged with the
negotiation of a treaty. A few days after he sailed, the vessel
was taken by a British man of war, and carried into St John’s,
Newfoundland. From this place Mr Laurens wrote to Congress, but he
was immediately sent to England, where he was closely imprisoned in
the Tower for nearly fifteen months. He was at length released, in
exchange for Lord Cornwallis. His papers were thrown overboard when
the vessel was taken, but they did not sink before they were secured
by the enemy. Being forwarded to London, their contents became the
chief cause of a war between England and Holland.
After his release from the Tower, Mr Laurens went over to Holland,
where he met Mr Adams, and proposed to engage in the business of his
mission, but did not find by Mr Adams’s instructions, that he was
authorised to proceed in such a measure. In reply to his request for
a recall, Congress informed him, that his services were still needed
in Europe, and directed him to join Messrs Franklin, Adams, and Jay
at Paris, to assist in the negotiations for a general peace. This
duty he performed, as far as the precarious state of his health would
admit. Between the signing of the preliminary and definitive articles
he spent much time in London, and rendered essential service by the
intelligence he communicated to the British Ministry, and leading men
of the government party, respecting the feelings of the people in
the United States, particularly in regard to matters of trade, and a
commercial treaty, which were then agitated in the British councils.
He had several interviews on American affairs with Mr Fox, to whom he
expressed his mind freely, as he had formerly done to Lord Shelburne.
Mr Laurens returned to the United States in the summer of 1784,
and retired to his native State. No solicitations could induce
him afterwards to accept any public office. He died on the 8th of
December, 1792, at the age of sixtynine.
THE CORRESPONDENCE OF HENRY LAURENS.
INSTRUCTIONS TO HENRY LAURENS.
In Congress, October 26th, 1779.
Congress took into consideration the report of the Committee on
Instructions to the person appointed to negotiate a loan in Holland;
whereupon
_Resolved_, That he be instructed to borrow a sum not exceeding ten
millions of dollars, at the lowest rate possible, not exceeding six
per cent per annum.
_Resolved_, That he be empowered to employ, on the best terms in
his power, some proper mercantile or banking house in the city
of Amsterdam, or elsewhere, in the United Provinces of the Low
Countries, to assist in the procuring of loans, to receive and pay
the money borrowed, to keep the accounts, and to pay the interest.
That he be also empowered to pledge the faith of the United States,
by executing such securities or obligations for the payment of the
money, as he may think proper; and also that the interest shall not
be reduced, nor the principal paid, during the term for which the
same shall have been borrowed, without the consent of the lenders or
their representatives.
That he be directed to give notice to Congress of any loan made by
him, or under his authority, and to direct the house by him employed
to accept and pay the bills of exchange, which may be drawn under the
authority of Congress.[70]
[70] For an account of the appointment of Henry Laurens to “negotiate
a foreign loan,” and also as a “Commissioner to negotiate a treaty of
amity and commerce with the United Provinces of the Low Countries,” see
the _Secret Journal of Congress_, Vol. II. pp. 283, 285, 290, 314, 320.
COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO HENRY LAURENS.
Philadelphia, December 11th, 1779.
Sir,
By the enclosed resolves of Congress, you will find that we
are become more dependent upon your vigorous exertions for the
amelioration of our currency, than you perhaps expected when you left
Philadelphia.[71] We think it of so much importance, that you should
be early apprized of the measure determined upon respecting bills
of exchange, that we do not choose to omit this good opportunity
of conveying them, though unattended with a full explanation of the
reasons which urge Congress to draw, more especially as you are so
well enlightened by your late presence in that assembly.
We are, with every wish for your prosperity, &c.
JAMES LOVELL,
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON,
WILLIAM HOUSTON.
[71] _In Congress, November 23d, 1779._ Committee reported, “that bills
of exchange be drawn on John Jay to the amount of £100,000 sterling,
and on Henry Laurens to the amount of £100,000 sterling, payable at
six months sight, and that the same be sold at the current rate of
exchange.”
_November 29th._ “Congress took into consideration the report of the
Committee appointed to report the manner in which the resolution of the
23d instant, relative to the drawing bills of exchange on Mr Jay and Mr
Laurens, shall be carried into execution; whereupon
“_Resolved_, That the bills be prepared under the direction of the
Board of Treasury, and with such checks as they may devise to prevent
counterfeits, and be signed by the Treasurer of Loans.
“That so many of the bills as the Treasury Board shall, from time to
time think proper to issue, be put into the hands of the Continental
Loan Officer in the State of Pennsylvania, or of any other State; and
that the Board of Treasury direct the lowest rate of exchange at which
the same may be sold.
“That the Board of Treasury may, at their discretion, suspend the sale
of such bills, reporting to Congress their reasons for so doing, that
they may receive directions thereon.
“That the Committee of Foreign Affairs be, and they are hereby directed
to write to Mr Jay and Mr Laurens, informing them of the drafts that
will be made upon them, and explaining fully the reasons that urge
Congress to draw, directing them to keep up a mutual correspondence,
and afford each other every assistance in procuring money to pay the
bills.
“That 1.8 per cent on monies received in payment for the said bills
shall be allowed to the persons intrusted with the sale thereof.
“That no bill be drawn for a less sum than the amount of £50
sterling.”
TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Charleston, January 24th, 1780.
Gentlemen,
On the 11th instant I had the honor of receiving your commands of
the 11th ultimo, accompanied by two Acts of Congress, one of the 23d
of November, 1779, for drawing bills of exchange “on Mr John Jay for
one hundred thousand pounds sterling, and on Mr Henry Laurens for a
like sum,” and for appointing a Committee to report, &c. the other
of the 29th of November, for carrying the first Act into effect by
modes therein specified. Neither of these Acts intimates where the
intended drafts are to be paid, nor where Congress expects me to be
at the presentation of the bills, which are to be assigned for my
acceptance, nor directs me to funds for discharging them; nor do the
contents of your said favor of the 11th of December elucidate these
ambiguities.
Probably, however, it might have been expected, that although I am
to cross the Atlantic single, and the bills in quadruplicate, and
although I am not yet honored with the Act of Congress appointing
me to negotiate a loan in Europe, which should have been lodged in
my hands as the corner stone for my proceeding, nor with means for
procuring or paying for a passage thither, nor with other necessary
and promised acts and letters from Congress, I am to meet one bill of
each set in some part of the United Netherlands.
Taking for granted, therefore, that the bills are not to be presented
to me in any part of America, I shall embark for Europe by the first
opportunity, and, if it please God, that I arrive in safety, I shall
proceed to Paris and Amsterdam with all possible despatch, when I
shall expect to receive further and more explicit commands from
Congress for enabling me to make those vigorous exertions, on which
you are pleased to say the credit of our paper currency, or which
is the same thing, the credit of these United States depends. Had I
been apprized in proper time, that this quick step in accommodation
bills had been in embryo, I should not have had resolution to face
them. Should there now be any failure, it will not be the result of
delinquency in any respect on my part.