respecting a loan of 12,000,000 of livres, to be demanded of France
for the current year. I had already received the promise of six
millions, together with the clearest and most positive assurances,
that it was all the King could spare to us, that we must not expect
more, that if drafts and demands came upon me beyond that sum, it
behoved me to take care how I accepted them, or where I should find
funds for the payment, since I could certainly not be further assisted
out of the royal treasury. Under this declaration, with what face
could I ask for another six millions? It would be saying, you are not
to be believed, you can spare more; you are able to lend me twice the
sum if you were but willing. If you read my letter to Mr Morris of
this date, I think you will be convinced how improper any language,
capable of such a construction, would be to such a friend. I hope,
however, that the loan Mr Adams has opened in Holland for three
millions of florins, which it is said is likely to succeed, will
supply the deficiency.
By the newspapers I have sent you will see, that the general
disposition of the British nation towards us had been changed. Two
persons have been sent here by the new ministers, to propose treating
for peace. They had at first some hopes of getting the belligerent
powers to treat separately, one after another, but finding that
impracticable, they have, after several messengers sent to and fro,
come to a resolution of treating with all together for a general
peace, and have agreed, that the place shall be Paris. Mr Grenville is
now here with full powers for that purpose, (if they can be reckoned
full with regard to America, till a certain act is completed for
enabling his Majesty to treat, &c, which has gone through the Commons,
and has been once read in the House of Lords.) I keep a very
particular journal of what passes every day in the affair, which is
transcribing to be sent to you. I shall, therefore, need to say no
more about it in this letter, except, that though I still think they
were sincere at first in their desire of peace, yet since their
success in the West Indies, I imagine, that I see marks of their
desiring rather to draw the negotiations into length, that they may
take the chance of what the campaign shall produce in their favor, and
as there are so many interests to adjust, if will be prudent for us to
suppose, that even another campaign may pass before all can be
agreed. Something too may happen to break off the negotiations, and we
should be prepared for the worst.
I hoped for the assistance of Mr Adams and Mr Laurens. The first is
too much engaged in Holland to come hither, and the other declines
serving; but I have now the satisfaction of being joined by Mr Jay,
who happily arrived here from Madrid last Sunday. The Marquis de
Lafayette is of great use in our affairs here, and as the campaign is
not likely to be very active in North America, I wish I may be able to
prevail with him to stay a few weeks longer. By him you will receive
the journal abovementioned, which is already pretty voluminous, and
yet the negotiations cannot be said to be opened.
Ireland you will see has obtained all her demands triumphantly. I meet
no one from that country, who does not express some obligations to
America for their success.
Before I received your just observations on the subject, I had
obtained from the English Ministers a resolution to exchange all our
prisoners. They thought themselves obliged to have an act of
Parliament about it for authorising the King to do it, this war being
different from others, as made by an act of Parliament declaring us
rebels, and our people being committed for high treason. I empowered
Mr Hodgson, who was chairman of the committee, that collected and
dispensed the charitable subscriptions for the American prisoners, to
treat and conclude on the terms of their discharge, and having
approved of the draft he sent me of the agreement, I hope Congress
will see fit to order a punctual execution of it. I have long suffered
with those poor brave men, who with so much public virtue have endured
four or five years hard imprisonment, rather than serve against their
country. I have done all I could afford towards making their
situation more comfortable; but their numbers were so great, that I
could do but little for each, and that very great villain, Digges,
defrauded them of between three and four hundred pounds, which he drew
from me on their account. He lately wrote me a letter, in which he
pretended he was coming to settle with me, and to convince me, that I
had been mistaken with regard to his conduct; but he never appeared,
and I hear he is gone to America. Beware of him, for he is very
artful, and has cheated many. I hear every day of new rogueries
committed by him in England.
The Ambassador from Sweden to this Court applied to me lately to know,
if I had powers that would authorise my making a treaty with his
master in behalf of the United States. Recollecting a general power,
that was formerly given to me with the other Commissioners, I answered
in the affirmative. He seemed much pleased, and said the King had
directed him to ask the question, and charged him to tell me that he
had so great esteem for me, that it would be a particular satisfaction
to him to have such a transaction with me. I have perhaps some vanity
in repeating this; but I think too, that it is right that Congress
should know it, and judge if any use may be made of the reputation of
a citizen for the public service. In case it should be thought fit to
employ me in that business, it will be well to send a more particular
power, and proper instructions. The Ambassador added, that it was a
pleasure to him to think, and he hoped it would be remembered, that
Sweden was the first power in Europe, which had voluntarily offered
its friendship to the United States without being solicited. This
affair should be talked of as little as possible till completed.
I enclose another complaint from Denmark, which I request you will lay
before Congress. I am continually pestered with complaints from French
seamen, who were with Captain Cunningham in his first cruise from
Dunkirk; from others who were in the Lexington, the Alliance, &c.
being put on board prizes that were retaken, were never afterwards
able to join their respective ships, and so have been deprived of the
wages, &c. due to them. It is for our national honor, that justice
should be done them if possible; and I wish you to procure an order of
Congress for inquiring into their demands, and satisfying such as
shall be found just. It may be addressed to the Consul.
I enclose a note from M. de Vergennes to me, accompanied by a memoir
relating to a Swiss, who died at Edenton. If you can procure the
information desired, it will much oblige the French Ambassador in
Switzerland.
I have made the addition you directed to the cypher. I rather prefer
the old one of Dumas, perhaps because I am more used to it. I enclose
several letters from that ancient and worthy friend of our country. He
is now employed as secretary to Mr Adams, and I must, from a long
experience of his zeal and usefulness, beg leave to recommend him
warmly to the consideration of Congress, with regard to his
appointments, which have never been equal to his merit. As Mr Adams
writes me the good news, that he shall no longer be obliged to draw on
me for his salary, I suppose it will be proper to direct his paying
that which shall be allowed to M. Dumas.
Be pleased to present my duty to the Congress, and believe me to be,
with great esteem and regard,
B. FRANKLIN.
* * * * *
TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
Passy, June 29th, 1782.
Sir,
In mine of the 25th instant, I omitted mentioning, that at the
repeated earnest instances of Mr Laurens, who had given such
expectations to the Ministry in England, when his parole or securities
were discharged, as that he could not think himself at liberty to act
in public affairs, till the parole of Lord Cornwallis was absolved by
me in exchange, I sent to that General the paper of which the enclosed
is a copy;[35] and I see by the English papers, that his Lordship
immediately on the receipt of it appeared at Court, and has taken his
seat in the House of Peers, which he did not before think was
warrantable. My authority for doing this appeared questionable to
myself, but Mr Laurens judged it deducible from that respecting
General Burgoyne, and, by his letters to me, seemed so unhappy till it
was done, that I ventured it, with a clause, however, as you will see,
reserving to Congress the approbation or disallowance of it.
[35] See above, p. 362.
The enabling act is now said to be passed, but no copy of it is yet
received here, so that as the bill first printed has suffered
alterations in passing through Parliament, and we know not what they
are, the treaty with us is not yet commenced. Mr Grenville expects his
courier in a few days, with the answer of his Court to a paper given
him on the part of this. That answer will probably afford us a clearer
understanding of the intentions of the British Ministry, which for
some weeks past have appeared somewhat equivocal and uncertain. It
looks as if, since their late success in the West Indies, they a
little repented of the advances they had made in their declarations,
respecting the acknowledgment of our independence; and we have pretty
good information, that some of the Ministers still flatter the King
with the hope of recovering his sovereignty over us, on the same terms
as are now making with Ireland. However willing we might have been at
the commencement of this contest to have accepted such conditions, be
assured we can have no safety in them at present. The King hates us
most cordially. If he is once admitted to any degree of power and
government among us, however limited, it will soon be extended by
corruption, artifice, and force, till we are reduced to absolute
subjection, and that the more easily, as, by receiving him again for
our King, we shall draw upon us the contempt of all Europe, who now
admire and respect us, and shall never again find a friend to assist
us. There are, it is said, great divisions in the Ministry on other
points as well as this, and those who aim at engrossing the power,
flatter the King with this project of reunion, and, it is said, have
much reliance on the operations of private agents sent into America to
dispose minds there in favor of it, and to bring about a separate
treaty there with General Carleton. I have not the least apprehension,
that Congress will give into this scheme, it being inconsistent with
our treaties, as well as with our interest; but I think it will be
well to watch the emissaries, and secure, or banish immediately, such
as shall be found tampering and stirring up the people to call for it.
The firm united resolution of France, Spain, and Holland joined with
ours, not to treat of a particular, but a general peace,
notwithstanding the separate tempting offers to each, will in the end
give us the command of that peace. Every one of the other powers see
clearly its interest in this, and persists in that resolution. The
Congress I am persuaded are as clear sighted as any of them, and will
not depart from the system, which has been attended with so much
success, and promises to make America soon both great and happy.
I have just received a letter from Mr Laurens, dated at Lyons, on his
journey into the south of France for his health. Mr Jay will write
also by this opportunity.
With great esteem, I have the honor to be, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.
JOURNAL
OF THE NEGOTIATION FOR PEACE WITH GREAT BRITAIN
* * * * *
FROM MARCH 21ST TO JULY 1ST, 1782.
Passy May 9th, 1782.
As since the change of the Ministry of England, some serious
professions have been made of their disposition to peace, and of their
readiness to enter into a general treaty for that purpose; and as the
concerns and claims of five nations are to be discussed in that
treaty, which must therefore be interesting to the present age, and to
posterity, I am inclined to keep a journal of the proceedings as far
as they come to my knowledge, and to make it more complete, I will
first endeavor to recollect what has already past. Great affairs
sometimes take their rise from small circumstances. My good friend and
neighbor Madame Brillon, being at Nice all last winter for her health,
with her very amiable family, wrote to me that she had met with some
English gentry there, whose acquaintance proved agreeable; among them
she named Lord Cholmondely, who she said had promised to call in his
return to England, and drink tea with us at Passy. He left Nice sooner
than she supposed, and came to Paris long before her. On the 21st of
March, I received the following note.
"Lord Cholmondely's compliments to Dr Franklin; he sets out for
London tomorrow evening, and should be glad to see him for five
minutes before he went. Lord Cholmondely will call upon him at
any time in the morning he shall please to appoint.
Thursday evening. Hotel de Chartres."
I wrote for answer, that I should be at home all the next morning, and
glad to see his Lordship if he did me the honor of calling on me. He
came accordingly. I had before no personal knowledge of this nobleman.
We talked of our friends whom he left at Nice, then of affairs in
England, and the late resolutions of the Commons on Mr Conway's
motion. He told me that he knew Lord Shelburne had a great regard for
me, that he was sure his Lordship would be pleased to hear from me,
and that if I would write a line he should have a pleasure in carrying
it. On which I wrote the following.
* * * * *
TO LORD SHELBURNE.
Passy, March 22d, 1782.
"My Lord,
"Lord Cholmondely having kindly offered to take a letter from me to
your Lordship, I embrace the opportunity of assuring the continuance
of my ancient respect for your talents and virtues, and of
congratulating you on the returning good disposition of your country
in favor of America, which appears in the late resolutions of the
Commons. I am persuaded it will have good effects. I hope it will tend
to produce a _general peace_, which I am sure your Lordship, with all
good men, desires, which I wish to see before I die, and to which I
shall, with infinite pleasure, contribute everything in my power.
"Your friends, the Abbé Morellet and Madame Helvetius, are well. You
have made the latter very happy by your present of gooseberry bushes,
which arrived in five days, and in excellent order. With great and
sincere esteem, I have the honor to be, &c. &c.
B. FRANKLIN."
Soon after this we heard from England, that a total change had taken
place in the Ministry, and that Lord Shelburne had come in as
Secretary of State. But I thought no more of my letter, till an old
friend and near neighbor of mine many years in London appeared at
Passy, and introduced a Mr Oswald, whom he said had a great desire to
see me, and Mr Oswald, after some little conversation, gave me the
following letters from Lord Shelburne and Mr Laurens.
* * * * *
LORD SHELBURNE TO B. FRANKLIN.
London, April 6th, 1782.
"Dear Sir,
"I have been favored with your letter, and am much obliged by your
remembrance. I find myself returned early to the same situation, which
you remember me to have occupied nineteen years ago, and I should be
very glad to talk to you as I did then, and afterwards in 1767, upon
the means of promoting the happiness of mankind, a subject much more
agreeable to my nature, than the best concerted plans for spreading
misery and devastation. I have had a high opinion of the compass of
your mind, and of your foresight. I have often been beholden to both,
and shall be glad to be so again, as far as is compatible with your
situation. Your letter discovering the same disposition, has made me
send to you Mr Oswald. I have had a longer acquaintance with him,
than even I have had the pleasure to have with you. I believe him an
honest man, and, after consulting some of our common friends, I have
thought him the fittest for the purpose. He is a pacifical man, and
conversant in those negotiations, which are most interesting to
mankind. This has made me prefer him to any of our speculative
friends, or to any person of higher rank. He is fully apprized of my
mind, and you may give full credit to everything he assures you of. At
the same time, if any other channel occurs to you, I am ready to
embrace it. I wish to retain the same simplicity and good faith, which
subsisted between us in transactions of less importance. I have the
honor to be, &c.
SHELBURNE."
* * * * *
HENRY LAURENS TO B. FRANKLIN.
London, April 7th, 1782.
"Dear Sir,
"Richard Oswald, Esquire, who will do me the honor of delivering this,
is a gentleman of the strictest candor and integrity. I dare give such
assurances from an experience little short of thirty years, and to
add, you will be perfectly safe in conversing freely with him on the
business he will introduce, a business, which Mr Oswald has
disinterestedly engaged in, from motives of benevolence, and from the
choice of the man a persuasion follows, that the Electors mean to be
in earnest.
"Some people in this country, who have too long indulged themselves in
abusing everything American, have been pleased to circulate an
opinion, that Dr Franklin is a very cunning man, in answer to which, I
have remarked to Mr Oswald, 'Dr Franklin knows very well how to
manage a cunning man, but when the Doctor converses, or treats with a
man of candor, there is no man more candid than himself.' I do not
know whether you will ultimately agree on political sketches, but I am
sure, as gentlemen, you will part very well pleased with each other.
Should you, Sir, think proper to communicate to me your sentiments and
advice on our affairs, the more amply the more acceptable, and
probably the more serviceable; Mr Oswald will take charge of your
despatches, and afford a secure means of conveyance.
"To this gentleman I refer you for general information of a journey,
which I am immediately to make, partly in his company, at Ostend, to
file off for the Hague. I feel a willingness, infirm as I am, to
attempt doing as much good as can be expected from such a prisoner
upon parole. As General Burgoyne is certainly exchanged, (a
circumstance, by the by, which possibly might have embarrassed us, had
your late propositions been accepted) may I presume at my return to
offer another Lieutenant General, now in England, a prisoner upon
parole, in exchange; or what shall I offer in exchange for myself, a
thing in my own estimation of no great value? I have the honor to be,
with great respect, and, permit me to add, great reverence, Sir, &c.
HENRY LAURENS."
I entered into conversation with Mr Oswald. He was represented in the
letter as fully apprized of Lord Shelburne's mind, and I was desirous
of knowing it. All I could learn was, that the new Ministry sincerely
wished for a peace, that they considered the object of the war, to
France and America, as obtained. That if the independence of the
United States was agreed to, there was no other point in dispute, and
therefore nothing to hinder a pacification. That they were ready to
treat of _Peace_, but he intimated, that if France should insist upon
terms too humiliating to England, they could still continue the war,
having yet great strength, and many resources left. I let him know,
that America would not treat but in concert with France, and that my
colleagues not being here, I could do nothing of importance in the
affair; but that, if he pleased, I would present him to M. de
Vergennes, Secretary of State for foreign Affairs. He consenting, I
wrote and sent the following letter.
* * * * *
TO COUNT DE VERGENNES.
Passy, April 15th, 1782.
"Sir,
"An English nobleman, Lord Cholmondely, lately returning from Italy,
called upon me here, at the time when we received the news of the
first resolutions of the House of Commons, relating to America. In
conversation he said, that he knew his friend, Lord Shelburne, had a
great regard for me, that it would be pleasing to him to hear of my
welfare, and receive a line from me, of which he, Lord Cholmondely,
should like to be the bearer, adding, if there should be a change of
Ministry, he believed Lord Shelburne would be employed. I thereupon
wrote a few lines, of which I enclose a copy. This day I received an
answer, which I also enclose, together with another letter from Mr
Laurens. They both, as your Excellency will see, recommend the bearer,
Mr Oswald, as a very honest, sensible man. I have had a little
conversation with him. He tells me, that there has been a desire of
making a separate peace with America, and continuing the war with
France and Spain, but that now all wise people give up that idea as
impracticable, and it is his private opinion, that the Ministry do
sincerely desire a _general peace_, and that they will readily come
into it, provided France does not insist upon conditions too
humiliating for England, in which case she will make great and violent
efforts, rather than submit to them, and that much is still in her
power, &c.
"I told the gentleman, that I could not enter into particulars with
him, but in concert with the Ministers of this Court. And I proposed
introducing him to your Excellency, after communicating to you the
letters he had brought me, in case you should think fit to see him,
with which he appeared to be pleased. I intend waiting on you
tomorrow, when you will please to acquaint me with your intentions,
and favor me with your counsels. He had heard nothing of Forth's
mission, and the old Ministry had not acquainted the new with that
transaction. Mr Laurens came over with him in the same vessel, and
went from Ostend to Holland. With great respect, I am, &c.
B. FRANKLIN."
The next day, being at Court with the Foreign Ministers, as usual on
Tuesdays, I saw M. de Vergennes, who acquainted me, that he had caused
the letters to be translated, had considered the contents, and should
like to see Mr Oswald. We agreed that the interview should be on
Wednesday at 10 o'clock. Immediately on my return home, I wrote to Mr
Oswald, acquainting him with what had passed at Versailles, and
proposing, that he should be with me at half past eight the next
morning, in order to proceed thither. I received from him the
following answer.
* * * * *
Paris, April 16th.
"Sir,
"I have the honor of yours by the bearer, and shall be sure to wait on
you tomorrow, at half past eight, and am, with much respect, &c.
RICHARD OSWALD."
He came accordingly, and we arrived at Versailles punctually. M. de
Vergennes received him with much civility. Mr Oswald not being ready
in speaking French, M. de Rayneval interpreted. Mr Oswald at first
thought of sending an express, with the account of the conversation,
which continued near an hour, and was offered a passport, but finally
concluded to go himself; and I wrote the next day the letter
following.
* * * * *
TO LORD SHELBURNE.
Passy, April 18th, 1782.
"My Lord,
"I have received the letter your Lordship did me the honor of writing
to me on the 6th instant. I congratulate you on your new appointment
to the honorable and important office you formerly filled so worthily,
which must be so far pleasing to you, as it affords you more
opportunities of doing good, and of serving your country essentially
in its great concerns.
"I have conversed a good deal with Mr Oswald, and am much pleased with
him. He appears to me a wise and honest man. I acquainted him, that I
was commissioned, with others, to treat of and conclude a peace. That
full powers were given us for that purpose, and that the Congress
promised in good faith to ratify, confirm, and cause to be faithfully
observed, the treaty we should make; but that we would not treat
separately from France, and I proposed introducing him to the Count de
Vergennes, to whom I communicated your Lordship's letter containing Mr
Oswald's character, as a foundation for the interviews. He will
acquaint you, that the assurance he gave of His Britannic Majesty's
good dispositions towards peace was well received, and assurances
returned of the same good dispositions in His Most Christian Majesty.