respect, but I am not sure of succeeding. I must therefore request
that a resolution of Congress may immediately be sent, empowering me
to apply as much of those loans as shall be necessary for the
discharge of all such drafts of Congress, or for the repayment of such
sums, as I may in the meantime be obliged to borrow for the discharge
of those drafts.
I have the honor to be, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.
* * * * *
TO JOHN ADAMS.
Passy, June 11th, 1781.
Sir,
Mr Grand has communicated to me a letter from your Excellency to him,
relating to certain charges in your account, on which you seem to
desire to have my opinion. As we are all new in these matters, I
consulted, when I was making up my account, one of the oldest foreign
Ministers here, as to the custom in such cases. He informed me, that
it was not perfectly uniform with the Ministers of all Courts, but
that in general, where a salary was given for service and expenses,
the expenses understood were merely those necessary to the man, such
as housekeeping, clothing, and coach; but that the rent of the hotel
in which he dwelt, the payment of couriers, the postage of letters,
the salary of clerks, the stationary for his bureau, with the feasts
and illuminations made on public occasions, were esteemed the expenses
of the Prince, or State that appointed him, being for the service or
honor of his Prince or nation; and either entirely, or in great part,
expenses that, as a private man, he would have been under no necessity
of incurring. These, therefore, were to be charged in his accounts. He
remarked, it was true that the Minister's housekeeping as well as his
house was usually, and in some sort necessarily more expensive, than
those of a private person, but this he said was considered in his
salary to avoid trouble in accounts; but that where the Prince or
State had not purchased or built a house for their Minister, which was
sometimes the case, they always paid his house rent.
I have stated my own accounts according to this information; and I
mention them, that if they seem to you reasonable, we may be uniform
in our charges, by your charging in the same manner; or if objections
to any of them occur to you, that you would communicate them to me for
the same reason.
Thus you see my opinion, that the articles you mention of courtage,
commission, and port de lettres, are expenses that ought to be borne,
not by you, but by the United States. Yet it seems to me more proper,
that you should pay them, and charge them with the other articles
abovementioned, than that they should be paid by me, who, not knowing
the circumstances, cannot judge (as you can) of the truth or justice
of such an account when presented, and who, besides, have no orders to
pay more on your account, than your net salary.
With regard to that salary, though your receipts to Fitzeaux and
Grand, shown to me, might be quite sufficient to prove they had paid
you the sums therein mentioned, yet, as there are vouchers for them,
and which they have a right to retain, I imagine it will be clearest,
if you draw upon me, agreeably to the order of Congress, and if this
is quarterly, it will be the most convenient to me.
With great respect, I have the honor, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.
* * * * *
THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO B. FRANKLIN.
In Congress, June 19th, 1781.
Sir,
Congress have received your letter of the 12th of March last, with the
papers enclosed. The prospect of conferences being soon opened in
Europe, under the mediation of the imperial Courts of Petersburgh and
Vienna, for accommodating the disputes between the belligerent powers,
which must necessarily involve the essential interests of these United
States, has determined us to increase the number of our ministers for
negotiating a peace with Great Britain. We have, therefore, added
yourself, Messrs Jay, H. Laurens, and Thomas Jefferson to Mr Adams, to
repair to such place as shall be fixed on for transacting this
important business.
A compliance with your request to retire from public employment would
be inconvenient at this particular juncture, as it is the desire of
Congress to avail themselves of your abilities and experience at the
approaching negotiation. Should you find repose necessary after
rendering the United States this further service, Congress, in
consideration of your age and bodily infirmities, will be disposed to
gratify your inclination.
You will present the letter to His Most Christian Majesty, and
communicate to him the instructions to our Ministers for negotiating a
peace, attended with such a memorial as your prudence shall suggest,
and the importance of the subject requires.
With great esteem, I am, &c.
SAMUEL HUNTINGTON,
_President of Congress_.
TO MAJOR WILLIAM JACKSON.
Passy, June 28th, 1781.
Sir,
Since my acceptance of your bills, I have applied to the Ministry for
more money to discharge the other engagements I entered into for
payment of the Congress bills drawn on Holland and Spain. I find so
much difficulty, and even impossibility of obtaining it at this time,
that I am under the absolute necessity of stopping the cash that is in
Holland, or of ruining all the credit of the States in Europe, and
even in America, by stopping payment.
This is therefore to order, that, in case the said cash has been
delivered to you by Messrs Fizeaux and Grand, you would immediately
return it into their hands to remain there at my disposal. I am sorry
that this operation is necessary, but it must be done, or the
consequences will be terrible.
I have the honor to be, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.
* * * * *
MAJOR WILLIAM JACKSON TO B. FRANKLIN.
Amsterdam, June 29th, 1781.
Sir,
I have the honor to inform your Excellency that I got to Amsterdam on
Tuesday morning. It has been thought advisable to wait a few days,
that we may sail with a Dutch squadron of fourteen sail, destined as a
convoy to the Baltic. The loss of the ship Marquis de Lafayette, which
is confirmed by Lloyd's list, renders every precaution necessary, and
essential to prevent a further disappointment in supplies.
I hope your Excellency will approve of the reasons for delaying our
departure, which must be amply compensated by the benefit of a convoy
through the North Sea. I beg leave to request that Colonel Laurens's
servant may be informed, should he apply to your Excellency, that, if
he leaves Paris immediately and travels with despatch, he will reach
this place in time to embark with us for America. Any commands, which
your Excellency may please to honor me with, and which may be
transmitted by him, will be faithfully attended to.
I beg you will present my best respects to your grandson.
I have the honor to be, with profound respect, &c.
W. JACKSON.
* * * * *
TO DAVID HARTLEY.
Passy, June 30th, 1781.
I received my dear friend's kind letter of the 15th instant, and
immediately communicated your request of a passport to the Count de
Vergennes. His answer, which I have but just received, expresses an
opinion, that the circumstance of his granting a passport to you, as
you mention the purpose of your coming to be the discoursing with me
on the subject of peace, might, considering your character, occasion
many inconvenient reports and speculations, but that he would make no
difficulty of giving it, if you assured me that you were authorised
for such purpose by your ministry, which he does not think at all
likely; otherwise he judges it best that I should not encourage your
coming. Thus it seems I cannot have at present the pleasure you were
so kind as to propose for me. I can only join with you in earnest
wishes for peace, a blessing which I shall hardly live to see.
With the greatest esteem and respect, I am ever, dear Sir,
B. FRANKLIN.
* * * * *
MAJOR WILLIAM JACKSON TO B. FRANKLIN.
Amsterdam, July 2d, 1781.
Sir,
I was yesterday honored with your Excellency's letter of the 28th ult.
while at the Texel, superintending some matters relating to the ship.
Equally concerned for the cause, as surprised at the manner in which
Mr Fizeaux was resolved to execute it, in case the money had been
already shipped, I must beg leave to inform you fully of this
business, and to request your Excellency's final determination
thereon.
Colonel Laurens, as your Excellency knows, was sent by Congress to the
Court of Versailles, with a special commission; the purport of his
mission you are well acquainted with; it was to obtain certain
supplies in specie and military stores.
By the most unremitting assiduity, he so far succeeded as to procure,
amongst others, a sum of money to be shipped in Holland by the South
Carolina frigate, which was deemed, by the Court of France, a safe and
convenient conveyance, as it would divide the risk which must have
been incurred by placing the whole on board of one vessel. That sum
was sent to this place by M. Necker, and lodged in the house of
Fizeaux and Grand, to be by them delivered to me, agreeably to the
following order, the original of which is now in my possession,
having very fortunately for me recovered it from them after they
received your instructions.
* * * * *
Translation.
"Paris, May 12th, 1781.
"Gentlemen,
"This letter will be delivered to you by Mr William Jackson, captain
of infantry in the service of the United States, to whom I request you
to deliver the 130,655 dollars, and the 720,000 livres in crowns,
which you have received on my account by the way of Brussels. Mr
Jackson will give you a receipt for it, in which he will express that
these two sums have been delivered to him pursuant to the intention of
Mr John Laurens, an American officer now at Paris, whose orders he
will follow on this subject. You will be pleased to send me afterwards
this receipt, with a statement of all the expenses due to you. I will
have them reimbursed here to M. Grand.
"I am, Gentlemen, &c.
NECKER.
M. M. Grand, Fizeaux, & Co. Amsterdam."
Messrs Fizeaux and Grand have, in pursuance of your Excellency's
directions, refused to deliver it. This, Sir, being a distinct
transaction, executed altogether at the instance of the honorable John
Laurens, special Minister at the Court of Versailles from the United
States, and by him committed to my further care, I conceive myself
indispensably bound to remonstrate to your Excellency, on the late
order given by you to Messrs Fizeaux and Grand, directing the
detention of that money, and to inform you that if they are not
repealed, I must embark without it; and however I may lament the
disappointment and distress in which this measure must involve
Congress, whose arrangements are undoubtedly taken on the certainty of
this supply being sent from Europe; however much I may regret Colonel
Laurens's absence which induces it, I shall possess the pleasing
reflection of having done my duty, in demanding, conformably to the
intentions of M. Necker, and by his order, that money which the Court
of France had accorded to the United States by the application of
Colonel Laurens, in virtue of his special commission, and which was
particularly and expressly destined to reanimate the credit of the
continental currency.
The ship waits for nothing else but this money. I shall attend your
Excellency's ultimate decision thereon, which I expect to receive by
return of the express, who only waits your commands.
I have the honor to be, &c.
W. JACKSON.
_P. S._ M Fizeaux informed me that he had resolved to arrest the ship,
had the money been on board, I need not inform your Excellency that a
like opportunity may not again offer to transport this essential
supply, rendered still more so by the capture of the ship Marquis de
Lafayette.
W. J.
My fever, which was greatly increased by my late jaunt to Passy, will
not admit of my waiting upon your Excellency in person, and I am
persuaded your justice will render it unnecessary, after this
representation.
W. J.
* * * * *
MAJOR WILLIAM JACKSON TO B. FRANKLIN.
Amsterdam, July 2d, 1781.
Sir,
Since the departure of my express, I find myself obliged, in
conformity to Colonel Laurens's instructions (from which, as his agent
I cannot recede, unless compelled thereto by forcible means, and which
unless such are practised against me, I must carry into execution) to
retain the money, which he has confided to my care, and which the
Minister of Finance's order makes deliverable to me specially; and to
arrest it in the hands of M. Fizeaux, should he continue to refuse the
delivery of it but by your Excellency's orders.
I rely upon your Excellency's attachment to the welfare of America, to
prevent this painful operation, which must inevitably take place
should your determination decide otherwise, for as this money is
subject to no other control in Europe, but the immediate order of the
Court of France, I cannot relinquish my charge of it, but by their
special order.
I have the honor to be, &c.
W. JACKSON.
* * * * *
MAJOR WILLIAM JACKSON TO B. FRANKLIN.
Amsterdam, July 2d, 1781.
Sir,
Your Excellency will not wonder at the determination which I have
adopted, to arrest the money now in M. Fizeaux's hands, (and which I
have communicated to you by a second express this afternoon) when you
reflect, that this money is absolutely committed to my charge for a
special purpose, and that I stand accountable for the execution of
this commission. Your Excellency must likewise be sensible, that you
cannot have the disposal of it, as it was obtained without either your
knowledge or concurrence by Colonel Laurens, appointed special
Minister for that purpose. These considerations, and the knowledge I
have how much America must suffer from a disappointment in this
supply, about to be transported by so excellent a conveyance, must
plead my excuse individually for this plain and candid avowal of
circumstances, and my determination thereon. I am further persuaded,
that the Court of France is not disposed, was there even a shadow of
an excuse for an alteration of the allotment of this money, to
infringe their honor and injure the essential interests of America by
detaining it. I must therefore again entreat your Excellency's repeal
of those orders to M. Fizeaux, which now detain the ship and supplies
so much required in America.
I have the honor to be, &c.
W. JACKSON.
* * * * *
TO MAJOR WILLIAM JACKSON.
Passy, July 5th, 1781, at 6 in the morning.
Sir,
I have this, instant received your letter of the 2d, urging the
delivery of the money. I must be short in my reply, as your express
waits.
Colonel Laurens indeed obtained a promise of ten millions, to be
raised by a loan in Holland. I understood while he was here, that that
loan was in train, and that the million and a half to be sent with
you was a part of it. I since learn, that nothing has yet been
obtained in Holland, that the success is not yet certain, and that the
money in question is a part of the six millions I had obtained before
his arrival, upon the strength of which I accepted the bills drawn on
his father, and on Mr Jay, and without which acceptances the Congress'
credit in America would have been ruined, and a loss incurred of
twenty per cent upon the protests. I cannot obtain more money here at
present, and those bills being accepted must be paid, as well as those
I accepted on your earnest request, for the great unexpected purchase
you made in Holland.
Colonel Laurens has carried two millions and a half of that six
millions with him, which will serve till the loan in Holland produces
a further supply. In the meantime I cannot suffer the credit of our
country to be destroyed, if by detaining this money it may be saved.
And if I were to consent to its going, our banker would be obliged to
arrest great part of it as belonging to the States, he being in
advance for them, which would occasion much disagreeable noise, and
very ill consequences to our credit in Europe.
I find by Mr Viemerange's account just received, that Mr Laurens's
orders have more than absorbed all the money he did not take with him.
I applaud the zeal you have both shown in the affair, but I see, that
nobody cares how much I am distressed, provided they can carry their
own points. I must, therefore, take what care I can of mine, theirs
and mine being equally intended for the service of the public. I am
sorry to learn, that the vessel is detained for this express. I
understood by your last, that she waited for convoy. I heartily wish
you a good voyage, and am, with great esteem, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.
* * * * *
TO MAJOR WILLIAM JACKSON.
Passy, July 5th, 1781.
Sir,
I received your letter of the 2d instant, by your first express, this
morning at six, answered it, and sent him away immediately. I have
just now received your second express of the same date, in which you
threaten me with a proceeding, that I apprehend exceedingly imprudent,
as it can answer no good end to you, must occasion much scandal, and
be thereby very prejudicial to the affairs of the Congress.
But I cannot, therefore, consent to suffer their bills, to the amount
of more than a million accepted and expected, to go back protested for
want of this money. I have nothing to change in the answer
abovementioned. You will however follow your own judgment, as I must
follow mine, and you will take upon yourself the consequences.
I have the honor to be, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.
* * * * *
TO MAJOR WILLIAM JACKSON.
Passy, July 6th, 1781.
Sir,
I received and answered two of your expresses yesterday morning, and
in the evening I received a third letter from you, all dated the 2d
instant.
In this last you tell me, "that I must be sensible I cannot have the
disposal of the money, as it was obtained without either my knowledge
or concurrence, by Colonel Laurens, appointed special Minister for
that purpose." I do not desire to diminish the merit of Colonel
Laurens. I believe he would have been glad, if it had been in his
power to have procured ten times the sum; and that no application or
industry on his part for that purpose would have been wanting. But I
cannot let this injurious assertion of yours pass, without expressing
my surprise, that you, who were always with that gentleman, should be
so totally ignorant of that transaction. The six millions, of which he
took with him two and a half, of which one and a half were sent to
Holland, and of which more than the remainder is ordered in stores
from hence, was a _free gift_ from the King's goodness (not a _loan_
to be _repaid with interest_,) and was obtained by _my application_,
long before Colonel Laurens's arrival.
I had also given in a list of the stores to be provided, though on his
coming I cheerfully gave up the further prosecution of that business
into his hands, as he was better acquainted with the particular wants
of the army, than I could be, and it was one of the purposes of his
appointment.
Thus no part of the affair was done without my "_knowledge and
concurrence_," except the sending a million and a half of the specie
to Holland. This was indeed a secret to me. I had heard of that sum's
being ready there to embark, but I always till lately understood it to
be a part of the Dutch loan, which I am about to mention, or I should
certainly have opposed that operation. What Colonel Laurens really
obtained, and a great service I hope it will prove, was a loan upon
interest of ten millions, to be borrowed on the credit of this Court
in Holland. I have not heard, that this loan has yet produced
anything, and, therefore, I do not know that a single livre exists, or
has existed in Europe, of his procuring for the States. On the
contrary, he and you have drawn from me considerable sums, as
necessary for your expenses, and he left me near forty thousand livres
to pay for the Alliance, and, moreover, engaged me in a debt in
Holland, which I understood might amount to about fifteen thousand
pounds sterling, and which you contrived to make fifty thousand
pounds.
When I mentioned to him the difficulty I should find to pay the
drafts, he said, you have the remainder of the six millions. He gave
me no account of the dispositions he had made, and it is but lately I
have learnt that there is no remainder. To gratify you, and to get
that ship out, which could not have stirred without me, I have engaged
for the vast sum abovementioned, which I am sure I shall be much
distressed to pay, and therefore have not deserved at your hands the
affront you are advised to menace me with.
And since I find you make it a point of reflection upon me, that I
want to apply money to the payment of my engagements for the Congress,
which was obtained by Colonel Laurens for other purposes, I must
request, that you will upon this better information take occasion to
correct that error, if you have communicated it to any other person.
By the letters you showed me, that had passed between Mr Adams and
you, I perceived he had imbibed an opinion, that Colonel Laurens had,
as he expressed it, done more for the United States in the short time
of his being in Europe, than all the rest of their Diplomatic Corps
put together. I should never have disputed this, because I had rather
lend a little credit to a friend, than take any from him, especially
when I am persuaded he will make a good use of it; but when his
friends will make such suppositious credit a matter of reproach to
me, it is not right to continue silent.
As to the safety of the excellent conveyance you mention, I must own,
I have some doubts about it, and I fear I shall hear of the arrival of
that ship in England, before she sees America. Be that as it may, I am
clear that no use can possibly be made of the money in America for
supporting the credit of the States, equal in any degree to the effect
it must have for the same purpose, when applied to the payment of
their bills here, which must otherwise go back protested. And I am
sure it will be exceedingly prejudicial to their credit, if by the
rash proceeding you threaten, this situation of their affairs becomes
the subject of public talk and discussion in Europe.
I am, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.
_P. S._ I request you would read again and consider well my first
letter to you on this subject. The reasons therein contained subsist
still in their full force.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Passy, July 11th, 1781.
Sir,
The number of Congress bills that have been drawn on the Ministers in
Spain and Holland, which I am by my acceptances obliged to pay, as
well as those drawn upon myself, the extreme importance of supporting
the credit of Congress, which would be disgraced in a political, as
well as a pecuniary light, through all the Courts of Europe, if those
bills should go back protested, and the unexpected delays arising with
regard to the intended loan in Holland, all those considerations have
compelled me to stop the one million five hundred thousand livres,
which were to have been sent by way of Amsterdam. As soon as more
money can be furnished to me by this Court, I shall take care to
replace that sum, and forward with it as great an addition as
possible. I am now soliciting supplies of clothing, arms, ammunition,
&c. to replace what has been unfortunately lost in the Marquis de
Lafayette; and hope to succeed.
Captain Jackson, who is truly zealous for the service, has been
exceedingly solicitous and earnest with me to induce me to permit the
money to go in this ship, but for the reasons abovementioned, I find
it absolutely necessary to retain it for the present, which I doubt
not will be approved by Congress.
With great respect, I have the honor to be, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.
* * * * *
JAMES LOVELL TO B. FRANKLIN.
Philadelphia, July 21st, 1781.
Sir,
It does not appear that the resolutions of June 26th, affecting
yourself and colleagues, as well as Mr Dana, have been transmitted. Mr
President Mc'Kean will take other opportunities of writing. I think it
essential, however, in the meantime, to forward duplicates, which may
serve for information, and perhaps authority, to all concerned.
Your humble servant,
JAMES LOVELL,
_For the Committee of Foreign Affairs_.
_P. S._ Please to give copies where proper.
* * * * *
TO C. W. F. DUMAS.
Passy, August 6th, 1781.
Dear Sir,