talk at Paris, and the Marquis de Lafayette having learned something
of their business from the Minister, discoursed with me about it.
Agreeably to the resolutions of Congress, directing me to confer with
him, and take his assistance in our affairs, I communicated to him
what had passed. He told me that during the treaty at Paris for the
last peace, the Duc de Nivernois had been sent to reside in London,
that this Court might, through him, state what was from time to time
transacted in the light they thought best, to prevent misrepresentations
and misunderstandings. That such an employ would be extremely
agreeable to him on many accounts; that as he was now an American
citizen, spoke both languages, and was well acquainted with our
interests, he believed he might be useful in it; and that as peace was
likely from appearances to take place, his return to America was
perhaps not so immediately necessary. I liked the idea, and encouraged
his proposing it to the Ministry. He then wished I would make him
acquainted with Messrs Oswald and Grenville, and for that end proposed
meeting them at breakfast with me, which I promised to contrive if I
could, and endeavor to engage them for Saturday.
Friday morning, the 10th of May, I went to Paris, and visited Mr
Oswald. I found him in the same friendly dispositions, and very
desirous of good, and seeing an end put to this ruinous war. But I got
no further sight as to the sentiment of Lord Shelburne respecting the
terms. I told him the Marquis de Lafayette would breakfast with me
tomorrow, and as he, Mr Oswald, might have some curiosity to see a
person who had in this war rendered himself so remarkable, I proposed
his doing me the same honor. He agreed to it cheerfully. I came home
intending to write to Mr Grenville, who I supposed might stay and dine
at Versailles, and therefore did not call on him. But he was returned,
and I found the following note from him.
Paris, May 10th.
"Mr Grenville presents his compliments to Mr Franklin; he
proposes sending a courier to England at ten o'clock tonight, and
will give him in charge any letters Mr Franklin may wish to send
by him."
I sat down immediately, and wrote the two short letters following to
the Secretaries of State.
* * * * *
TO MR SECRETARY FOX.
Passy, May 10th, 1782.
"Sir,
"I received the letter you did me the honor of writing to me by Mr
Grenville, whom I find to be a sensible, judicious, and amiable
gentleman. The name, I assure you, does not with me lessen the regard
his excellent qualities inspire. I introduced him as soon as possible
to Count de Vergennes; he will himself give you an account of his
reception. I hope his coming may forward the blessed work of
pacification, in which, for the sake of humanity, no time should be
lost, no reasonable cause as you observe existing at present for the
continuance of this abominable war. Be assured of my endeavors to put
an end to it.
"I am much flattered by the good opinion of a person I have long
highly esteemed, and I hope it will not be lessened by my conduct in
the affair, that has given rise to our correspondence. With great
respect, I have the honor to be, &c.
B. FRANKLIN."
* * * * *
TO LORD SHELBURNE.
Passy, May 10th, 1782.
"My Lord,
"I have received the honor of your Lordship's letter, dated the 28th
past, by Mr Oswald, informing me that he is sent back to settle with
me the preliminaries of time and place. Paris, as the place, seemed to
me yesterday to be agreed on, between Mr Grenville and M. de
Vergennes, and is perfectly agreeable to me. The time cannot well be
settled till this Court has received answers from Madrid, and the
Hague, and until my colleagues are arrived. I expect daily Messrs Jay
and Laurens. Mr Adams doubts whether he can be here, but that will not
hinder our proceeding.
"It gave me great pleasure to hear Mr Laurens is discharged entirely
from the obligations he had entered into. I am much obliged by the
readiness with which your Lordship has conferred that favor. Please to
accept my thankful acknowledgments.
"I am happy too, in understanding from your letter, that transports
are actually preparing to convey our prisoners to America, and that
attention will be paid to their accommodation and good treatment.
Those people on their return will be dispersed through every part of
America, and the accounts they will have to give of any marks of
kindness received by them under the present Ministry, will lessen much
the resentment of their friends against the nation, for the hardships
they suffered under the _past_.
"Mr Oswald rests here awhile by my advice, as I think his presence
likely to be useful. With great, and sincere respect, I have the honor
to be, &c.
B. FRANKLIN."
And I sent them to Mr Grenville with the following note.
"Mr Franklin presents his compliments to Mr Grenville, and thanks
him for the information of his courier's departure, and his kind
offer of forwarding Mr Franklin's letter; he accepts the favor
and encloses two.
"The Marquis De Lafayette and Mr Oswald will do Mr Franklin the
honor of breakfasting with him tomorrow, between nine and ten
o'clock. Mr Franklin will also be happy to have the company of Mr
Grenville if agreeable to him. He should have waited upon Mr
Grenville today at Paris, but he imagined Mr Grenville was at
Versailles.
"Passy, Friday evening, May 10th."
To which Mr Grenville sent me this answer.
"Mr Grenville presents his compliments to Mr Franklin, and will,
with great pleasure, do himself the honor of breakfasting with Mr
Franklin tomorrow between nine and ten o'clock. Mr Grenville was
at Versailles today, and should have been sorry if Mr Franklin
should have given himself the trouble of calling at Paris this
morning. The courier shall certainly take particular care of Mr
Franklin's letters.
"Paris, Friday, May 10th."
The gentlemen all met accordingly, had a good deal of conversation at,
and after breakfast, staid till after one o'clock, and parted much
pleased with each other.
The Monday following, I called to visit Mr Grenville. I found with him
Mr Oswald, who told me he was just about returning to London. I was a
little surprised at the suddenness of the resolution he had taken, it
being, as he said, to set out the next morning early. I conceived the
gentleman was engaged in business, so I withdrew, and went to write a
few letters, among which was the following to Lord Shelburne, being
really concerned at the thought of losing so good a man as Mr Oswald.
* * * * *
TO LORD SHELBURNE.
Passy, May 13th, 1782.
"My Lord,
"I did myself the honor of writing to your Lordship a few days since,
by Mr Grenville's courier, acknowledging the receipt of yours of the
28th past, by Mr Oswald.
"I then hoped that gentleman would have remained here some time, but
his affairs, it seems, recall him sooner than he imagined. I hope he
will return again, as I esteem him more, the more I am acquainted with
him, and believe his moderation, prudent counsels, and sound judgment
may contribute much, not only to the speedy conclusion of a peace, but
to the framing such a peace as may be firm and lasting. With great
respect, &c.
B. FRANKLIN."
I went in the evening to Mr Oswald's lodging with my letters, when he
informed me his intention was to return immediately hither from
England, and, to make the more despatch in going and returning, he
should leave his carriage at Calais, as the embarking and debarking of
carriages in the packet boats often occasioned a tide's delay. I did
not inquire the reason of this movement. We had but little
conversation, for Mr Grenville coming in, I soon after wished him a
good journey and retired, that I might not interrupt their
consultations.
Since his departure, Mr Grenville has made me a visit; and entering
into conversation with me, exactly of the same tenor with the letters
I formerly received from Mr Hartley, stating suppositions that France
might insist on points totally different from what had been the object
of our alliance, and that, in such case, he should imagine we were not
at all bound to continue the war to obtain such points for her, &c. I
thought I could not give him a better answer to this kind of
discourse, than what I had given in two letters to Mr Hartley, and,
therefore, calling for those letters, I read them to him. He smiled,
and would have turned the conversation; but I gave a little more of my
sentiments on the general subject of benefits, obligation, and
gratitude. I said I thought people had often imperfect notions of
their duty on those points, and that a state of obligation was to many
so uneasy a state, that they became ingenious in finding out reasons
and arguments to prove that they had been laid under no obligation at
all, or that they had discharged it, and they too easily satisfied
themselves with such arguments.
To explain clearly my ideas on the subject, I stated a case. A, a
stranger to B, sees him about to be imprisoned for a debt by a
merciless creditor, he lends him the sum necessary to preserve his
liberty. B then becomes the debtor of A, and, after some time, repays
the money. Has he then discharged the obligation? No. He has
discharged the money debt, but the obligation remains, and he is a
debtor for the kindness of A, in lending him the sum so seasonably.
If B should afterwards find A in the same circumstances, that he, B,
had been in when A lent him the money, he may then discharge this
obligation or debt of kindness _in part_, by lending him an equal sum.
_In part_, I said, and not _wholly_, because, when A lent B the money,
there had been no prior benefit received to induce him to it. And,
therefore, if A should a second time need the same assistance, I
thought B, if in his power, was in duty bound to afford it to him.
Mr Grenville conceived that it was carrying gratitude very far, to
apply this doctrine to our situation in respect to France, who was
really the party served and obliged by our separation from England, as
it lessened the power of her rival and relatively increased her own.
I told him I was so strongly impressed with the kind assistance
afforded us by France in our distress, and the generous and noble
manner in which it was granted without exacting or stipulating for a
single privilege, or particular advantage to herself in our commerce,
or otherwise, that I could never suffer myself to think of such
reasonings for lessening the obligation, and I hoped, and indeed, did
not doubt but my countrymen were all of the same sentiments.
Thus he gained nothing of the point he came to push, we parted,
however, in good humor. His conversation is always polite, and his
manner pleasing. As he expressed a strong desire to discourse with me
on the means of a reconciliation with America, I promised to consider
the subject, and appointed Saturday the first day of June, for our
conversation, when he proposed to call on me. The same day I received
another letter from my old friend, Mr Hartley. Our former
correspondence on the subject of peace since the beginning of this
year, I have kept by itself, as it preceded this, was in the time of
the old Ministry, and consisted wholly of letters unmixed, with
personal conversation. This being the first letter from him under the
new Ministry, and as it may be followed by others, which may relate to
the negotiation, I insert it here, with my answer, and shall continue
to insert the future letters I may receive from him relative to the
same subject.
DAVID HARTLEY TO B. FRANKLIN.
London, May 3d, 1782.
"My Dear Friend,
"I write to you only one line, just to inform you, that a general
order is issued by our government for the release of all the American
prisoners everywhere. I have had this from Lord Shelburne, who
informed me, that the order was not partial or conditional, but
general and absolute. I heartily congratulate you upon this first step
towards _sweet reconciliation_. I hope other things will follow. I had
a long conversation with Lord Shelburne relating to America, in which
he expressed himself in most favorable terms. I shall have the honor
of seeing and conversing with you again. But at present, as you know,
certain matters are depending from your side of the water.
"Mr Laurens is entirely at liberty. I see him very frequently, and
when you see him he will tell you many things from me, which have
occurred to me in my poor endeavors to promote the cause of peace. _Da
pacem, Domine, in diebus nostris._ Your affectionate, &c.
DAVID HARTLEY."
* * * * *
TO DAVID HARTLEY.
Passy, May 13th, 1782.
"My Dear Friend,
"I have just received your favor of the 3d instant. I thank you much
for the good news you give me, that 'an order is issued by your
government for the release of all the American prisoners _everywhere_,
an order not _partial_ or _conditional_, but _general_ and
_absolute_.' I rejoice with you in this step, not only on account of
the unhappy captives, who by it will be set at liberty and restored to
their friends and families, but as I think it will tend greatly
towards a reconciliation, on which alone the hope of a durable peace
can be founded. I am much indebted to your good brother for a very
kind and obliging letter, which was mislaid when it should have been
answered. I beg you would present to him my thankful acknowledgments
and my very sincere respects. I join with you most heartily in the
prayer that ends your letter, _Da pacem, Domine, in diebus nostris_. I
am ever, my friend, yours most affectionately,
B. FRANKLIN."
Our business standing still at present, till the return of Mr Oswald,
gives me a void, that I may fill up with two or three circumstances,
not at present connected with this intended treaty, but which serve to
show something of the disposition of Courts who have, or may have a
concern in it.
Mr Jay had written to me, from time to time, of the unaccountable
delays he had met with since his residence at the Court of Spain, and
that he was now no nearer in the business he had been charged with,
than when he first arrived. Upon the first coming of Mr Oswald, and
the apparent prospect of a treaty, I wrote to press his coming hither,
and, being a little out of humor with that Court, I said, they have
taken four years to consider whether they should treat with us, give
them forty, and let us mind our own business; and I sent the letter
under cover to a person at Madrid, who I hoped would open and read it.
It seems to me, that we have in most instances, hurt our credit and
importance, by sending all over Europe, begging alliances, and
soliciting declarations of our independence. The nations, perhaps,
from thence seemed to think, that our independence is something they
have to sell, and that we do not offer enough for it. Mr Adams has
succeeded in Holland, owing to their war with England, and a good deal
to the late votes in the Commons towards a reconciliation, but the
Ministers of the other powers refused, as I hear, to return his
visits, because our independence was not yet acknowledged by their
Courts. I had heard here, by good luck, that the same resolution was
taken by several of them not to return the visits I should make them
(as they supposed) when I was first received here as Minister
Plenipotentiary, and disappointed their project by visiting none of
them. In my private opinion, the first civility is due from the old
resident to the stranger and new comer. My opinion indeed is good for
nothing against custom, which I should have obeyed, but for the
circumstances, that rendered it more prudent to avoid disputes and
affronts, though at the hazard of being thought rude or singular.
While I am writing, something ridiculous enough on this head has
happened to me. The Count du Nord, who is son of the Empress of
Russia, arriving at Paris, ordered, it seems, cards of visit to be
sent to all the Foreign Ministers. One of them, on which was written,
"_Le Comte du Nord et le Prince Bariatinski_," was brought to me. It
was on Monday evening last. Being at Court the next day, I inquired of
an old Minister, my friend, what was the etiquette, and whether the
Count received visits. The answer was, _Non, on se fait ecrire, voila
tout_. This is done by passing the door, and ordering your name to be
written on the porter's book. Accordingly, on Wednesday I passed the
house of Prince Bariatinski, Ambassador of Russia, where the Count
lodged, and left my name on the list of each. I thought no more of the
matter; but this day, May the 24th, comes the servant who brought the
card in great affliction, saying he was like to be ruined by his
mistake in bringing the card here, and wishing to obtain from me some
paper, of I know not what kind, for I did not see him. In the
afternoon came my friend, Mr Leroy, who is also a friend of the
Prince's, telling me how much he, the Prince, was concerned at the
accident, that both himself and the Count had great personal regard
for me and my character, but that our independence not yet being
acknowledged by the Court of Russia, it was impossible for him to
permit himself to make me a visit as Minister. I told M. Leroy it was
not my custom to seek such honors, though I was very sensible of them
when conferred upon me; that I should not have voluntarily intruded a
visit, and that, in this case, I had only done what I was informed the
etiquette required of me, but if it would be attended with any
inconvenience to Prince Bariatinski, whom I much esteemed and
respected, I thought the remedy was easy, he had only to erase my
name out of his book of visits received, and I would burn their card.
All the Northern Princes are not ashamed of a little civility
committed towards an American. The King of Denmark, travelling in
England under an assumed name, sent me a card, expressing in strong
terms his esteem for me, and inviting me to dinner with him at St
James's. And the Ambassador from the King of Sweden lately asked me,
whether I had powers to make a treaty of commerce with their kingdom,
for he said his master was desirous of such a treaty with the United
States, had directed him to ask me the question, and had charged him
to tell me, that it would flatter him greatly to make it with a person
whose character he so much esteemed, &c. Such compliments might make
me a little proud, if we Americans were not naturally as much so
already as the porter, who being told he had with his burthen jostled
the Great Czar, Peter, then in London, walking the street; "_Poh!_"
says he, "_we are all Czars here_."
I did not write by Mr Oswald to Mr Laurens, because, from some
expressions in his last to me, I expected him here, and I desired Mr
Oswald, if he found him still in London, or met him on the road, to
give him that reason. I am disappointed in my expectation, for I have
now received (May 25th) the following letter from him.
* * * * *
HENRY LAURENS TO B. FRANKLIN.
Ostend, May 17th, 1782.
"Sir,
"I had the honor of addressing you on the 30th ult. by post, a
duplicate of which will accompany this, in order to guard against the
effect of a miscarriage in the first instance, and I beg leave to
refer you to the contents.
"On the 10th current and no sooner, your very obliging favor of the
20th preceding reached me in London. Being then on the point of
leaving that place, I deferred a reply until my arrival on this side.
This happened yesterday, too late to catch the post of the day, except
by a single letter, put into my hands, I believe, by Dr Price, which I
sent forward.
"I sincerely and heartily thank you, Sir, for the cordial contents of
your last letter; but, from the most mature reflection, and taking
into consideration my present very infirm state of health, I have
resolved to decline accepting the honor intended me by Congress, in
the commission for treating with Great Britain, and I find the less
difficulty in coming to this determination, from a persuasion in my
own mind that my assistance is not essential, and that it was not the
view or expectation of our constituents, that every one named in the
commission should act. I purpose to repair to, or near Mr Adams, and
inquire of him whether I may yet be serviceable under the commission
to which I had been first appointed, that for borrowing money for the
use of the United States; if he speaks in the affirmative, I shall,
though much against my own grain, as is well known at our little
Court, proceed in the mission with diligence and fidelity; otherwise,
I shall take a convenient opportunity of returning to give an account
there, of having in the course of two years and upwards done nothing,
excepting only the making a great number of rebels in the enemy's
country, and reconciling thousands to the doctrine of absolute and
unlimited independence; a doctrine, which I asserted and maintained
with as much freedom in the Tower of London, as I ever had done in
the State House at Philadelphia, and having contentedly submitted to
the loss of my estate, and being ready to lay down my life in support
of it, I had the satisfaction of perceiving the coming of converts
every day. I must not, however, conclude this head without assuring
you, that should you think proper to ask questions respecting American
commerce, or the interest of any particular State, I will answer with
candor and the best judgment I am possessed of, but of that judgment I
sincerely protest I have the utmost diffidence. God prosper your
proceedings in the great work; you shall be called blessed by all the
grateful of the present generation, and your name will be celebrated
by posterity. I feel myself happy in reflecting, that, in the great
outlines of a treaty, our opinions exactly coincide, that we shall not
want the countenance and assistance of our great and good ally, and
that you have so honest a man as Mr Oswald to deal with for
preliminaries. I know him to be superior to chicanery, and am sure he
will not defile his mind by attempting any dirty thing.
"I entreat you, Sir, to present my humble respects to M. de Vergennes,
and thank his Excellency for his polite expressions respecting me, and
be so good as to say all that shall appear necessary in excuse for my
non-appearance at his Court.
"Lord Cornwallis called on me the day before I left London, and was,
as you may suppose, very anxious to know when he might probably hear
from me on the subject of his release; let me, therefore, request your
opinion in answer to what I had the honor of writing in my last
concerning that affair. I wish it may prove satisfactory to his
Lordship, by enabling me, with your consent and concurrence, to
cancel a debt, which does not set easy upon me, and which cannot with
honor to our country remain unpaid. I think we shall not, it is
impossible we should, incur displeasure by doing an act of common
justice, and our authority may be fairly implied.
"His Lordship declares he has no intention of returning to America,
but desires to be reinstated in his legislative and military character
in his own country, and I am of opinion, that in the former he will
rather be friendly to us than otherwise. For my own part, if the war
continues, I should not be uneasy if his Lordship were to go to the
Chesapeake again.
"I have a thousand compliments and good wishes to present to you from
friends in England, where, males and females, I am sure you have at
least so many, that your own remembrance will lead you to individuals
of your old acquaintance.
"Tomorrow I intend to proceed to Brussels, and thence, probably, to
the Hague and Amsterdam; my movements must, unavoidably, be as slow as
water carriage. My weak under limbs cannot bear continual thumping on
the pavement in the rough machines of this country, and the feebleness
of my pocket will not admit the indulgence of a more convenient
vehicle. I beg, Sir, you will write to me at the house of Mr Edward
Jennings, or under the protection of any other friend in that city,
that will be at the trouble of finding out a voyager, who is at all
times, and in all places, with the highest esteem and respect, Sir,
&c.
HENRY LAURENS."
To the above, I wrote the following answer.
* * * * *
TO HENRY LAURENS.
Passy, May 25th, 1782.
"Sir,