The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume I Part 22

The desire of getting money immediately to command the preparations for the ensuing campaign, and of interesting so powerful a body as the Farmers-General, who in fact make the most efficient part of government here, and the absolute part in all commercial or monied concerns, induced us to concede to these terms, which may possibly in the estimate of the price of tobacco be low, but which upon the whole we judged necessary, and we hope will be advantageous. So strong is the inclination of the wealthy here to a.s.sist us, that since this agreement we are offered a loan of two million of livres, without interest, and to be repaid when the United States are settled in peace and prosperity. No conditions or securities are required, not even an engagement from us. We have accepted this generous and n.o.ble benefaction; five hundred thousand livres, or one quarter, is to be paid into the hands of our banker this day, and five hundred thousand more every three months.

As the ships we were ordered to hire, or buy from this Court, cannot be obtained, it being judged absolutely necessary to keep their whole naval force at home, ready in case of a rupture, we think of purchasing some elsewhere, or of building, in order as far as possible to answer the views of Congress. Of this we shall write more fully in our next. In the mean time we cannot but hint, that this seems to us a fair opportunity of supporting the credit of the paper money you borrow, as you may promise payment in specie of the interests, and may draw upon us for the same with all confidence. We cannot for several weighty reasons be more explicit at present, but shall hereafter.

Present our dutiful respects to the Congress, and a.s.sure them of our most faithful services.

We are, gentlemen, &c.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, SILAS DEANE, ARTHUR LEE.

_P. S. 22d January._ Our agreement with the Farmers-General is not yet signed, and perhaps some small changes may be made in it, but as these will probably not be very material, we wish measures may be taken immediately for the purchase of the tobacco. We shall send by the next opportunity, a copy of the contract. We have received the five hundred thousand livres mentioned above; it is now at our disposal in the hands of our banker, who has orders to advance us the second payment if we desire it, and he is ready to do it. We are, on the strength of this, in treaty for some strong ships. Ten thousand French troops are on their march to Brest. But America should exert herself, as if she had no aid to expect, but from G.o.d and her own valor.

FOOTNOTES:

[28] This commission and plan of a Treaty may be found in the _Secret Journals of Congress_, Vol. II. pp. 7, 32.

THE COMMITTEE OF SECRET CORRESPONDENCE TO WILLIAM BINGHAM AT MARTINIQUE.

Baltimore, 1st February, 1777.

Sir,

As we shall write you shortly again, our attention at present will be confined chiefly to your favor of December 6th, 1776, in which you mention the conduct of Captain Patterson. We have laid your letter before Congress, and they have appointed a committee to consider of the most proper steps to be taken in this business, that speedy and condign punishment may be applied to Captain Patterson, when his crime shall be duly inquired into and established. The Congress having an utter abhorrence of all irregular and culpable violation of the law of nations, and of that respect and friendship, which they entertain for the French nation, we wish you would communicate this to their Excellencies the Governor and General of Martinique.

Congress has referred the matter of remittance for discharge of the obligation, which you and Mr Harrison have entered into, to the State of Maryland, from whence you will no doubt receive remittance, as soon as the British ships of war now in the Chesapeake Bay will permit. It is a singular misfortune to us, and very injurious to the commerce of France, that we have not two or three line of battle ships, which, with our frigates and armed vessels, would keep open our navigation in despite of Great Britain, but at present one heavy ship affords protection to two or three frigates, that would otherwise be easily removed, and they place themselves so as to shut up the entrance into our princ.i.p.al trading States.

Prior to the Declaration of Independence, as it was not certain how soon our quarrel with Great Britain might be at an end, our armies were enlisted for short periods, and General Howe, having received information of the time, when the troops would have it in their power to go home, seized that opportunity for marching through the Jerseys; but his career was stopped at the Delaware, and he has since paid severely for that visit.

Since the 24th of December, the enemy have lost more than two thousand men in killed and made prisoners, they have been glad to recall their troops from Rhode Island to defend New York from the attack of an army under General Heath, and their whole force in the Jerseys is now collected on the Brunswick Heights, where they are nearly surrounded by General Washington's army, and greatly distressed for forage, fuel, and other necessaries.

We enclose you the late newspapers for your perusal, and remain, sir, your most obedient humble servants.

B. HARRISON, R. H. LEE.

THE COMMITTEE OF SECRET CORRESPONDENCE TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

Baltimore, 2d February, 1777.

Gentlemen,

You will receive enclosed copies of our letters of the 21st and 30th of December, and of the resolves of Congress accompanying them. It concerns us not less than we are sure it will you, that you should have heard so seldom from us, but the vigilance of the British cruisers has prevented our most earnest solicitude for this purpose.

The manner, in which they now conduct their business, proves the necessity of the request made by Congress for the loan or sale of a few capital ships. The entrance into the Delaware and Chesapeake being narrow, by placing one forty or fifty gun ship for the protection of their frigates, they stop both our commerce and correspondence.

Formerly their frigates protected their tenders, but now that we have frigates, their larger ships protect their frigates, and this winter has been so uncommonly favorable, that they have been able to keep the sea, undisturbed by those severe gales of wind so usual off this coast in the winter season; if we had a few line of battle ships to aid our frigates, the commerce of North America, so beneficial to ourselves and so advantageous to France, would be carried on in spite of the opposition of Great Britain. As we have not received any of those military stores and clothing promised by Mr Deane, we have much reason to fear, they have fallen into the enemy's hands, and will render a fresh supply quite necessary. Except Mr Deane's favor of September 17th, which is but just now received, and that of October 1st, we have been as dest.i.tute of European, as, we fear, you have been of true American intelligence.

The enclosed papers will furnish you with authentic accounts of our successes against the enemy since the 24th of December. They have paid severely for their visit of parade through the Jerseys, and these events are an abundant proof of British folly in attempting to subdue North America by force of arms. Although the short enlistments had dispersed our army directly in the face of a hostile force, and thereby induced a proud enemy to suppose their work was done, yet they suddenly found themselves attacked on all sides by a hardy active militia, who have been constantly beating up their quarters, and captivating and destroying their troops; so that in the six or seven last weeks, they have not lost fewer than three thousand men, about two thousand of whom, with many officers, are now our prisoners.

Instead of remaining cantoned in the pleasant villages of Jersey, as the enclosed authentic copy of Mr Howe's order to Colonel Donop (the original of which fell into our hands by the Colonel's flight from Bordenton) will show you that General vainly expected would be the case, they are now collected upon the Brunswick Heights, where they suffer every kind of distress from want of forage, fuel, and other necessaries, whilst General Washington's army of militia so environs them, that they never show their faces beyond their lines, but they get beaten back with loss and disgrace. Being thus situated we have reason to hope, that this part of their army (and which is the most considerable part) will, by the end of winter, be reduced very low by deaths, desertion, and captivity. General Heath, with a body of eastern troops, is making an impression on New York by Kingsbridge, which, we understand, has obliged the enemy to recall their troops from Rhode Island, for the defence of that city.

The regular corps, that are to compose the new army, are making up in the different States as fast as possible; but arms, artillery, tent cloth and clothing will be greatly wanted. For these our reliance is on the favor and friendship of his Most Christian Majesty. If you are so fortunate as to obtain them, the propriety of sending them in a strong ship of war must be very evident to you, Gentlemen, when you know our coasts are so covered with cruisers, from twenty to fifty guns, though but few of the latter. We believe, they have not more than two ships of forty, and two or three of fifty guns, in their whole fleet on the North American station; and these are employed, one of them to cover a frigate or two at the capes of each bay, whilst the rest remain at New York.

We beg leave to direct your attention to the enclosed propositions of Congress, and we doubt not, you will urge their success with that zeal and careful a.s.siduity, that objects so necessary to the liberty and safety of your country demand.

We are exceedingly anxious to hear from you, and remain, with particular sentiments of esteem and friendship, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servants,

B. HARRISON, R. H. LEE, W. HOOPER.

TO THE COMMITTEE OF SECRET CORRESPONDENCE.

Paris, 6th February, 1777.

Gentlemen,

Since our last, a copy of which is enclosed, Mr Hodge arrived here, from Martinique, and has brought safely the papers he was charged with. He had a long pa.s.sage, and was near being starved. We are about to employ him in a service pointed out by you, at Dunkirk, or Flushing. He has delivered us three sets of the papers we wanted; but we shall want more, and _beg you will not fail_ to send them by several opportunities.

A private company has just been formed here for the importation of tobacco, who have made such proposals to the Farmers-General, as induced them to suspend the signing of their agreement with us, though the terms had been settled, and the writings drawn. It seems now uncertain whether it will be revived or not. The company have offered to export such goods as we should advise, and we have given them a list of those most wanted. But so changeable are minds here, on occasion of news, good or bad, that one cannot be sure that even this company will proceed. With a universal good will to our cause and country, apparent in all companies, there is mixed a universal apprehension, that we shall be reduced to submission, which often chills the purposes of serving us. The want of intelligence from America, and the impossibility of contradicting by that means the false news spread here, and all over Europe, by the enemy, has a bad effect on the minds of many, who would adventure in trade to our ports, as well as on the conduct of the several governments of Europe.

It is now more than three months, since Doctor Franklin left Philadelphia, and we have not received a single letter of later date, Mr Hodge having left that place before him.

We are about purchasing some cutters, to be employed as packets. In the first we despatch, we shall write more particularly concerning our proceedings here, than by these merchant ships we can venture to do, for the orders given to sink letters are not well executed; one of our vessels was lately carried into Gibraltar, being taken by an English man of war, and we hear there were letters for us, which the captain, just as he was boarded, threw out of the cabin windows, which floating on the water, were taken up, and a sloop despatched with them to London. We also just now hear from London, (through the ministry here) that another of our ships is carried into Bristol by the crew, who, consisting of eight American seamen, with eight English, and four of the Americans being sick, the other four were overpowered by the eight English, and carried in as aforesaid. The letters were despatched to Court.

From London, they write to us, that a body of ten thousand men, chiefly Germans, are to go out this spring, under the command of General Burgoyne, for the invasion of Virginia and Maryland. The opinion of this Court, founded on their advices from Germany, is, that such a number can by no means be obtained, but you will be on your guard. The Amphitrite, and the Seine, from Havre, and the Mercury, from Nantes, are all now at sea, laden with arms, ammunition, bra.s.s field pieces, stores, clothing, canva.s.s, &c. which, if they arrive safely, will put you in a much better condition for the next campaign, than you were for the last.

Some excellent engineers, and officers of the artillery, will also be with you pretty early, also some few for the cavalry. Officers of infantry, of all ranks, have offered themselves without number. It is quite a business to receive the applications and refuse them. Many have gone over at their own expense, contrary to our advice. To some few of those, who were well recommended, we have given letters of introduction.

The conduct of our General, in avoiding a decisive action, is much applauded by the military people here, particularly Marshals Maillebois, Broglio, and D'Arcy. M. Maillebois, has taken the pains to write his sentiments of some particulars useful in carrying on our war, which we send enclosed. But that, which makes the greatest impression in our favor here, is the prodigious success of our armed ships and privateers. The damage we have done their West India trade, has been estimated, in a representation to Lord Sandwich, by the merchants of London, at one million eight hundred thousand pounds sterling, which has raised insurance to twentyeight per cent, being higher than at any time, in the last war with France and Spain. This mode of exerting our force against them should be pushed with vigor.

It is that in which we can most sensibly hurt them, and to secure a continuance of it, we think one or two of the engineers we send over, may be usefully employed in making some of our ports impregnable. As we are well informed, that a number of cutters are building, to cruise in the West Indies against our small privateers, it may not be amiss, we think, to send your larger vessels thither, and ply in other quarters with the small ones.

A fresh misunderstanding between the Turks and Russia, is likely to give so much employment to the troops of the latter, as that England can hardly expect to obtain any of them. Her malice against us, however, is so high at present, that she would stick at no expense to gratify it. The New England Colonies are, according to our best information, destined to destruction, and the rest to slavery, under a military government. But the Governor of the world sets bounds to the rage of man, as well as to that of the ocean.

Finding that our residence here together, is nearly as expensive as if we were separate, and _having reason to believe, that one of us might be useful at Madrid, and another in Holland, and some Courts further northward_, we have agreed that Mr Lee go to Spain, and either Mr Deane or myself (Dr Franklin) to the Hague. Mr Lee sets out tomorrow, having obtained pa.s.sports, and a letter from the Spanish Amba.s.sador here, to the Minister there. The journey to Holland will not take place so soon. The particular purposes of these journeys we cannot prudently now explain.

It is proper we should acquaint you with the behavior of one Nicholas Davis, who came to us here, pretending to have served as in officer in India, to be originally from Boston, and desirous of returning, to act in defence of his country, but through the loss of some effects coming to him from Jamaica, and taken by our privateers, unable to defray the expense of his pa.s.sage. We furnished him with thirty louis, which was fully sufficient; but at Havre, just before he sailed, he took the liberty of drawing on us, for near forty more, which we have been obliged to pay. As in order to obtain that credit, he was guilty of several falsities, we now doubt his ever having been an officer at all. We send his note and draft, and hope you will take proper care of him. He says, his father was a clergyman in Jamaica. He went in the Seine, and took charge of two blankets for Mr Morris.

We hope your union continues firm, and the courage of our countrymen unabated. England begins to be very jealous of this Court, and we think, with some reason.

We have the honor to be, &c.

B. FRANKLIN, SILAS DEANE, ARTHUR LEE.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Paris, 6th February, 1777.