squadron, to exchange for Americans, in consideration of my having
lent the Alliance, and Captain Pearson engaged in behalf of the
British government by a written instrument, that those set on shore in
Holland should be considered as prisoners of war to the United States,
and exchanged accordingly. But I was, nevertheless, disappointed in
this expectation. For an exchange of all the prisoners being proposed
to be made in Holland, it was found necessary at that time by the
Dutch government, in order to avoid embroiling their State with
England, that those prisoners should be considered as taken by France,
and they were accordingly exchanged for Frenchmen, on the footing of
the French cartel with England. This I agreed to on the request of the
French Ambassador at the Hague, and also to avoid the risk of sending
them by sea to France, (the English cruising with seven ships off the
Texel to retake them) and as it would be more convenient and certain
for us to have an equal number of English delivered to me by France at
or near Morlaix, to be sent over in the cartel. But the English
government afterwards refused very unjustly to give any Americans in
exchange for English, that had not been taken by Americans. So we did
not reap the benefit we hoped for.
_Question 6th._ "What orders were given to Captain Landais?"
_Answer._ That he should obey the orders of Captain Jones.
_Question 7th._ "What was the ground of dispute between Captain Jones
and him?"
_Answer._ That when at sea together, he refused to obey Captain
Jones's orders.
_Question 8th._ "What were the disbursements on the Alliance, from the
time of her first arrival in France, until she left that kingdom?"
_Answer._ The disbursements on the Alliance from the time of her first
arrival in France, till the commencement of the cruise under Captain
Jones, as appears by the accounts of Mr Schweighauser, agent appointed
by William Lee, amounted to ---- which I paid. The disbursements on
her refit in Holland were paid by the King, as were also those on her
second refit after her return to L'Orient, as long as she was under
the care of Captain Jones. But Captain Landais, when he resumed the
command of her, thought fit to take what he wanted of Mr
Schweighauser's agent, to the amount of 31,668 livres, 12s. 3d., for
which, being contrary to my orders given to Mr Schweighauser, on his
asking them upon the occasion, I refused to pay, (my correspondence
with him will show you my reasons) and of those paid by the King I
have no account.
_Question 9th._ "Why the Alliance lay so long at Port L'Orient, after
her arrival there from the Texel, and in general every information in
your power respecting the Alliance and the expedition referred to?"
_Answer._ Her laying so long at L'Orient was first occasioned by the
mutinous disposition of the officers and men, who refused to raise the
anchors till they should receive wages and prize money. I did not
conceive they had a right to demand payment of wages in a foreign
country, or anywhere but at the port they came from, no one here
knowing on what terms they were engaged, what they had received, or
what was due to them. The prize money I wished them to have, but as
that could not soon be obtained, I thought it wrong in them to detain
the vessel on that account, and as I was informed many of them were in
want of necessaries, I advanced twentyfour thousand livres on account,
and put it into Captain Jones's hands to relieve and pacify them, that
they might go more willingly. But they were encouraged by some
meddling passengers to persist. The King would have taken the prizes
and paid for them, at the rate _per gun_, &_c._ as he pays for warlike
vessels taken by his ships, but they raised a clamor at this, it being
put into their heads, that it was a project for cheating them, and
they demanded a sale by auction. The Minister, who usually gives more
when ships are taken for the King than they will produce by auction,
readily consented to this when I asked it of him, but then this method
required time to have them inventoried, advertised in different ports,
to create a fuller concurrence of buyers, &c. Captain Jones came up
to Paris to hasten the proceedings. In his absence, Captain Landais,
by the advice of Mr Lee and Commodore Gillon, took possession of the
ship and kept her long, writing up to Paris, waiting answers, &c.
I have often mentioned to Congress the inconvenience of putting their
vessels under the care of persons living perhaps one hundred leagues
from the port they arrive at, which necessarily creates delays, and of
course enormous expenses, and for a remedy I have as often recommended
the appointment of consuls, being very sensible of my own
insufficiency in maritime affairs, which have taken up a vast deal of
my time, and given me abundance of trouble, to the hinderance,
sometimes, of more important business. I hope these inconveniences
will now be soon removed by the arrival of Mr Palfrey.
As the Ministry had reasons, if some of the first plans had been
pursued, to wish the expedition might be understood as American, the
instructions were to be given by me, and the outfit was committed to
Monsieur de Chaumont, known to be one of our friends, and well
acquainted with such affairs. Monsieur le Marquis de Lafayette, who
was to have been concerned in the execution, can probably acquaint you
with those reasons. If not, I shall do it hereafter. It afterwards
continued in the hands of M. de Chaumont to the end. I never paid or
received a farthing directly or indirectly on account of the
expedition; and the captains having made him their trustee and agent,
it is to him they are to apply for their proportions of the captures.
There may be something, though I believe very little, coming to the
United States from the Alliance's share of a small ransom made
contrary to orders.
No account has been rendered to me of that ransom, therefore I cannot
say how much, but I will inquire about it and inform you hereafter.
Most of the colliers taken were burnt or sunk. The ships of war taken,
I understand belong wholly to the captors. If any particulars remain,
on which you desire information, be pleased to mention them. I think
it my duty to give you all the satisfaction in my power, and shall do
it willingly.
Being with great regard, Gentlemen, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.
* * * * *
AGREEMENT,
_Between Captain John Paul Jones and the Officers of the Squadron._
Translation.
Agreement between Messieurs John Paul Jones, Captain of the Bon Homme
Richard; Pierre Landais, Captain of the Alliance; Dennis Nicolas
Cottineau, Captain of the Pallas; Joseph Varage, Captain of the Stag;
and Philip Nicolas Ricot, Captain of the Vengeance; composing a
squadron, that shall be commanded by the oldest officer of the highest
grade, and so on in succession in case of death or retreat. None of
the said commanders, whilst they are not separated from the said
squadron, by order of the Minister, shall act but by virtue of the
brevet, which they shall have obtained from the United States of
America, and it is agreed that the flag of the United States shall be
displayed.
The division of prizes to the superior officers and crews of the said
squadron, shall be made agreeably to the American laws; but it is
agreed, that the proportion of the whole, coming to each vessel in the
squadron, shall be regulated by the Minister of the Marine Department
of France, and the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America.
A copy of the American laws shall be annexed to the present agreement,
after having been certified by the commander of the Bon Homme Richard;
but as the said laws cannot foresee nor determine as to what may
concern the vessels and subjects of other nations, it is expressly
agreed, that whatever may be contrary to them shall be regulated by
the Minister of the French Marine, and the Minister Plenipotentiary of
the United States of America.
It is likewise agreed, that the orders given by the Minister of the
French Marine, and the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States
of America, shall be executed.
Considering the necessity there is of preserving the interests of each
individual, the prizes that shall be taken shall be remitted to the
orders of Monsieur le Ray de Chaumont, Honorary Intendant of the Royal
Hotel of Invalids, who has furnished the expenses of the armament of
the said squadron.
It has been agreed, that M. le Ray de Chaumont be requested not to
give up the part of the prizes coming to all the crews, and to each
individual of the said squadron, but to their order, and to be
responsible for the same in his own proper name.
Whereas the said squadron has been formed for the purpose of injuring
the common enemies of France and America, it has been agreed that such
armed vessels, whether French or American, may be associated
therewith, as by common consent shall be found suitable for the
purpose, and that they shall have such proportion of the prizes, which
shall be taken, as the laws of their respective countries allow them.
In case of the death of any one of the beforementioned commanders of
vessels, he shall be replaced agreeably to the order of the tariff,
with liberty, however, to choose whether he will remain on board his
own vessel, and give up to the next in order the command of the vacant
ship.
It has moreover been agreed, that the commander of the Stag shall be
excepted from the last article of this present agreement, because in
case of a disaster to M. de Varage, he shall be replaced by his second
in command, and so on by the other officers of his cutter, the Stag.
J. P. JONES,
P. LANDAIS,
DE COTTINEAU,
VARAGE,
P. RICOT,
LE RAY DE CHAUMONT.
* * * * *
JAMES LOVELL TO B. FRANKLIN.
March 31st, 1781.
Sir,
I send you a few newspapers, and the last monthly journals which have
come from the press. The enemy will tell their own story of the naval
engagement on the 16th. They have ventured nearer to truth in
Rivington's Royal Gazette than almost at any one time before, since
the very commencement of hostilities. Our allies conducted most
gallantly, and the enemy are so convinced of the activity of the
French commander, that they have not ventured to remain in the
Chesapeake Bay, to do all the damage which the event of the battle
had put in their power.
I send you General Greene's account of an affair between him and
Cornwallis on the 15th. It differs but little from the prints. I will
endeavor to have it struck at the press. You shall have it, at least,
with our good Secretary's attestation, which is in the best credit,
even with the enemy.
The opportunity of sending is too precarious to admit of my enlarging.
Your most humble servant,
JAMES LOVELL,
_For the Committee of Foreign Affairs_.
* * * * *
JAMES LOVELL TO B. FRANKLIN.
Philadelphia, May 9th, 1781.
Sir,
Mr Samuel Curson and Mr Isaac Gouverneur, Jun. of St Eustatia, after
that place was taken, were sent to England in the Vengeance man of
war, Commodore Hotham, stripped of everything but their wearing
apparel; their books, papers, and slaves having been taken from them,
and Mrs Gouverneur, with a young infant, turned out of doors. Special
severity, it is supposed, has been shown to them in consequence of
their acting as agents to Congress. Doctor John Witherspoon, Jun.
also, who was surgeon of the De Graaff letter of marque, taken at St
Eustatia, is sent to England in the Alimena man of war, and very
hardly treated on account of his father being a member of Congress, as
is supposed.
Your particular attention to the exchange of these persons will tend
to give confidence to all, who being connected specially with Congress
are exposed to captivity, and will also very particularly oblige the
relations of these unfortunates, who have requested Congress to
mention these circumstances to you.
Your most humble servant,
JAMES LOVELL,
_For the Committee of Foreign Affairs_.
* * * * *
TO M. DE LAFAYETTE.
Passy, May 14th, 1781.
Dear Sir,
You are a very good correspondent, which I do not deserve, as I am a
bad one. The truth is, I have too much business upon my hands, a great
deal of it foreign to my function as a minister, which interferes with
my writing regularly to my friends. But I am nevertheless extremely
sensible of your kindness in sending me such frequent and full
intelligence of the state of affairs on your side of the water, and in
letting me see by your letters, that your health continues, as well as
your zeal for our cause and country.
I hope, that by this time the ship, which has the honor of bearing
your name, is safely arrived. She carries clothing for nearly twenty
thousand men, with arms, ammunition, &c. which will supply some of
your wants, and Colonel Laurens will bring a considerable addition, if
Providence favors his passage. You will receive from him the
particulars, which makes my writing more fully by him unnecessary.
Your friends have heard of your being gone against the traitor
Arnold, and are anxious to hear of your success, and that you have
brought him to punishment. Enclosed is a copy of a letter from his
agent in England, captured by one of our cruisers, and by which the
price or reward he received for his treachery may be guessed at. Judas
sold only one man, Arnold three millions. Judas got for his one man
thirty pieces of silver, Arnold not a halfpenny a head. A miserable
bargain! especially when one considers the quantity of infamy he has
acquired to himself, and entailed on his family.
The English are in a fair way of gaining still more enemies; they play
a desperate game. Fortune may favor them as it sometimes does a
drunken dicer; but by their tyranny in the East, they have at length
roused the powers there against them, and I do not know that they have
in the West a single friend. If they lose their India commerce, (which
is one of their present great supports,) and one battle at sea, their
credit is gone, and their power follows. Thus empires, by pride,
folly, and extravagance, ruin themselves like individuals. M. de la
Motte Piquet has snatched from between their teeth a good deal of
their West India prey, having taken twentytwo sail of their homeward
bound prizes. One of our American privateers has taken two more, and
brought them into Brest, and two were burnt; there were thirtyfour in
company, with two men of war of the line and two frigates, who saved
themselves by flight, but we do not hear of their being yet got in.
I think it was a wise measure to send Colonel Laurens here, who could
speak knowingly of the state of the army. It has been attended with
all the success that perhaps could reasonably be expected, though not
with all that was wished. He has fully justified your character of
him, and returns thoroughly possessed of my esteem; but that cannot
and ought not to please him so much, as a little more money would have
done for his beloved army. This Court continues firm and steady in its
friendship, and does everything it can for us. Can we not do a little
more for ourselves? My successor (for I have desired the Congress to
send me one) will find it in the best disposition towards us, and I
hope he will take care to cultivate that disposition. You, who know
the leading people of both countries, can perhaps judge better than
any member of Congress of a person suitable for this station. I wish
you may be in a way to give your advice, when the matter is agitated
in that assembly. I have been long tired of the trade of minister, and
wished for a little repose before I went to sleep for good and all. I
thought I might have held out till the peace, but as that seems at a
greater distance than the end of my days, I grow impatient. I would
not, however, quit the service of the public, if I did not sincerely
think that it would be easy for the Congress, with your counsel, to
find a fitter man. God bless you, and crown all your labors with
success.
With the highest regard and most sincere affection, I am, dear Sir,
&c.
B. FRANKLIN.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Passy, May 14th, 1781.
Sir,
I did myself the honor of writing to your Excellency pretty fully on
the 12th of March, to which I beg leave to refer. Colonel Laurens
arriving soon after, we renewed the application for more money.
His indefatigable endeavors have brought the good dispositions of this
Court to a more speedy determination of making an addition, than could
well have been expected so soon after the former grant. As he will
have an opportunity of acquainting you personally with all the
particulars of importance, a circumstantial account of the transaction
from me is unnecessary. I would only mention, that as it is the
practice here to consider early in the year the probable expenses of
the campaign, and appropriate the revenues to the several necessary
services, all subsequent and unexpected demands are extremely
inconvenient and disagreeable, as they cannot be answered without
difficulty, occasion much embarrassment, and are sometimes
impracticable. If, therefore, the Congress have not on this occasion
obtained all they wished, they will impute it to the right cause, and
not suppose a want of good will in our friends, who indeed are such,
most firmly and sincerely.
The whole supply for the current year now amounts to twenty millions;
but out of this are to be paid your usual drafts for interest money,
those in favor of M. de Beaumarchais, and those heretofore drawn on Mr
Jay and Mr Laurens, which I have already either paid or engaged for,
with the support of your several Ministers, &c. &c. which I mention,
that the Congress may avoid embarrassing my successor with drafts,
which perhaps he may not have the means in his hands of honoring.
Besides paying the second year's salaries of Messrs Adams and Dana,
Jay and Carmichael, I have furnished Mr Dana with £1,500 sterling
credit on Petersburgh, for which place I suppose he is now on his
way.
You will receive from Holland advices of the late declaration of that
Court, with regard to the English refusal of its mediation, and of the
assistance requested by the States-General. I hope Mr Dana will find
it well disposed towards us.
I have received no answer yet to my letters relating to the proposed
mode of lodging funds here, by supplying the French fleet and army.
Having as yet heard nothing of Colonel Palfrey, and it being now more
than four months since he sailed, there is great reason to fear he may
be lost. If that should unhappily be the case, the Congress cannot too
soon appoint another consul, such an officer being really necessary
here. Your Minister Plenipotentiary has hitherto had all that sort of
business upon his hands, and as I do not now speak for myself, I may
speak more freely, I think he should be freed from the burden of such
affairs, from all concerns in making contracts for furnishing
supplies, and from all your bill of exchange business, &c. &c. that he
may be more at liberty to attend to the duties of his political
function.
The prisoners in England are increasing by the late practice of
sending our people from New York, and the refusal of the English
Admiralty to exchange any Americans for Englishmen not taken by
American armed vessels. I would mention it for the consideration of
Congress, whether it may not be well to set apart five or six hundred
English prisoners, and refuse them all exchange in America, but for
our countrymen now confined in England.
Agreeably to the vote of Congress, and your Excellency's letter of the
4th of January, I have requested the assistance of this Court for
obtaining the release of Mr President Laurens. It does not yet appear
that the thing is practicable. What the present situation is of that
unfortunate gentleman, may be gathered from the enclosed letters.[26]
[26] The reference here is to the letters of Sir Grey Cooper, and Mr
Charles Vernon. See this volume, pages 174, 175, 176.
I hope the Alliance, with the ship _Marquis de Lafayette_ under her
convoy, is by this time arrived, as they sailed the 27th of March. I
flatter myself that the supplies of clothing, &c. which they carry,
will be found good of the kind, and well bought. I have by several
late opportunities sent copies of the government letters taken in the
New York packet. Your Excellency will see, that they are written in
the perfect persuasion of our submitting speedily, and that the
Commissioners are cautioned not to promise too much, with regard to
the future constitutions to be given us, as many changes of the old
may be necessary, &c. One cannot read those letters from the American
Secretary of State, and his Under-Secretary, Knox, without a variety
of reflections on the state we should necessarily be in, if obliged to
make the submission they so fondly hope for, but which I trust in God
they will never see. Their affairs in the East Indies, by the late
accounts, grow worse and worse; and twentytwo ships of the prey they
made in the West are wrenched out of their jaws by the squadron of M.
de la Motte Piquet.
I mentioned in a former letter, my purpose of remaining here for some
time after I should be superseded. I mean it with the permission of
Congress, and on the supposition of no orders being sent me to the
contrary; and I hope it will be so understood.
With the greatest respect, I have the honor to be, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.
* * * * *
TO THOMAS LEWIS.
Passy, May 16th, 1781.
Sir,
I received the letter you did me the honor of writing to me the 1st of
January. The bill for four thousand four hundred and fortyfour Mexican
dollars, which you remitted to Mr Schweighauser, being refused payment
by Mr Jay, for want of a regular endorsement by Mr Laurens, in whose
favor it was drawn, and which endorsement could not now be obtained,
Mr Schweighauser applied to me, informing me that he should not send
the things ordered by your Board, unless the bill was paid; and it
appearing on the face of the bill, that it was drawn for public
service, I concluded to take it up, on which he has purchased the
things and shipped them. Colonel Laurens has put on board some other
supplies for the army, and I suppose she will now sail directly.
The drafts from Congress upon me for various services, and those on Mr
Jay and Mr Laurens, all coming upon me for payment, together with the
expenses on the ships, &c. &c. have made it impracticable for me to
advance more for loading the Active; but as we have obtained lately
promises of a considerable aid for this year, I shall now try what I
can do, as the money comes in, towards supplying what is demanded in
the invoice you mention. You will receive, I hope, twentyeight cannon,
and a large quantity of powder and saltpetre, by the ship Marquis de
Lafayette.
I have by several opportunities written in answer to your questions
relative to the ship Alliance.
I have the honor to be, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.
_P. S._ Please to present my respects to the Board.
* * * * *
JAMES LOVELL TO B. FRANKLIN.
Philadelphia, May 17th, 1781.
Sir,
Doctor Putnam, whose letter is enclosed, by the uniformity of his
attachment to our public cause, merits your patronage. And I enclose
for your information some former proceedings of Congress, in which
this same gentleman is interested; requesting, Sir, that you would
obtain a knowledge of the proceedings consequent upon efforts which M.
Gerard has undoubtedly made to obtain compensation for the sloop,
which Count d'Arband restored to the Governor of Antigua, after it had
been taken by Doctor Putnam and others.
Your most humble servant,
JAMES LOVELL.
* * * * *
COUNT DE VERGENNES TO B. FRANKLIN.
Translation.
Versailles, June 8th, 1781.
Sir,
I have received the letter you did me the honor to write me on the 4th
instant. I do not know whether Mr Laurens has purchased the clothing
in Holland on account of Congress; I only know (and you were likewise
informed of it at the same time) that this officer was _to employ for
his purchases in France_ part of the six millions, which the King has
granted to Congress, and that the residue of this sum was intended to
be sent to America, with a view of re-establishing the credit of the
United States.
If Mr Laurens, instead of paying ready money in Holland, has
contented himself with giving bills on you, I have no concern in it,
and the King can furnish no means for your reimbursement.
As to the monies arising from the loan opened in Holland, we have no
pretensions to regulate the employment of them, as they belong to the
United States. You must, therefore, Sir, apply to Congress for the
power of disposing of them, in discharge of the drafts drawn on you
from all quarters.
I have the honor of being, &c.
DE VERGENNES.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Passy, June 11th, 1781.
Sir,
I have lately done myself the honor of writing largely to your
Excellency by divers conveyances, to which I beg leave to refer. This
is chiefly to cover the copy of a letter I have just received from the
Minister, relative to the disposition of the late loans, by which will
be seen the situation I am in with respect to my acceptances of the
quantities of bills drawn by Congress on Mr Jay, Mr Laurens, Mr Adams,
and myself, which I entered into, in the expectation, which both
Colonel Laurens and myself entertained, that a part of these loans
might be applied to the payment of these bills, but which I am now
told cannot be done without an express order from Congress.