for that purpose, and I know it extremely difficult to place them when they come there. I cannot but think, therefore, that it is best for you not to make so long, so expensive, and so hazardous a Voyage, but to take the Advice of your Friends, and "stay in Franconia." I have the honour to be, Sir, &c. B. FRANKLIN. SIR, 835. TO CONDE D'ARANDA' (L. C.) Passy, April 7, 1777. I left in your Excellency's Hands, to be communicated, if you please, to your Court, a Duplicate of the Commission from Congress, appointing me to go to Spain as their Minister Plenipotentiary. But, as I understand that the Receiving such a Minister is not at present thought convenient, and I am sure the Congress would have nothing done that might incommode in the least a Court they so much respect, I shall therefore postpone that Journey till Circumstances may make it more suitable. In the mean time, I beg leave to lay before his Catholic Majesty, through the Hands of your Excell', the Propositions contain'd in a Resolution of Congress, dated Dec. 30, 1776, viz. "That, if His Catholic Majesty will join with the United States in a War against Great Britain, they will assist in reducing to the Possession of Spain the Town and Harbour of Pensacola; provided the Inhabitants of the United States shall have the free Navigation of the Mississippi, and the Use of the Harbour of Pensacola; and will, (provided it shall be true, that his Portuguese Majesty has insultingly expelled the 1 Spanish ambassador to the court of France. See page 191. —ED. Vessels of these States from his Ports, or has confiscated any such Vessels,) declare War against the said King, if that Measure shall be agreable to, and supported by, the Courts of France and Spain." It is understood, that the strictest union subsists between those two courts; and, in case Spain and France should think fit to attempt the Conquest of the English Sugar Islands, the Congress have further propos'd to furnish Provisions to the Amount of two Millions of Dollars, and to join their Fleet, with 6 frigates of not less than twenty-four guns each, manned and fitted for service; and to render any other Assistance which may be in their Power, as becomes good Allies; without desiring for themselves the possession of any of the said Islands. These propositions are subject to Discussion, and to receive such Modification as may be found proper. With great respect, I have the honour to be, &c. B. FRANKLIN. 836. TO C. RYBOT (L. C.) Passy, April 9, 1777. SIR:-I believe it is very unusual for one Man to pay another's Debts without being desired so to do by the Debtor or knowing that he acknowledges the Sum demanded to be due. Mr. Hood is as much a Stranger to me as he is to you. You have lent him 3 Guineas; I have lent him 30, supposing him an honest Man. By the account you give me of his Treatment of you, and which I do not doubt, he appears to be otherwise; and from the Falshoods he told you and wrote to you, there is reason to question the Truth of what he has said of his Estate and Ability to pay. These are certainly no Inducements to me to advance more on his Account. The Letters he brought for me were of small Consequence, and the Packets contain'd only Newspapers. The benefit therefrom which you suppose I receiv'd by your helping him on to Paris, is vastly less than the Damage I shall suffer by his coming thither, if I am not paid; and I imagine that if a Man intrusted with carrying Letters to you should obtain a Credit by showing them, you would hardly think yourself oblig'd to pay his Debts. In the Memorandum you left with me you have not given your Address in London. Send me that, if you please. I shall take the same Care and Pains to recover your Money as my own, and when recovered shall faithfully remit it to you. This seems to me all that you can fairly desire of, sir, your most obedient humble Servant1 B. FRANKLIN 1 This letter was an answer to one of the previous day from Mr. Rybot to the following effect: "I did not imagine you would have hesitated to pay me the trifling sum I disbursed for Mr. Wood, as had I not assisted him he must (as himself declared) have staid at Calais till you had, wch besides the expence might have been detrimental to your concerns by ye delay; 'tis true I have no immediate call upon you, but as a man of known integrity, I am persuaded you would not have me to be a sufferer by an act, from wch you reaped the benefit" (A. P. S.). — ED. 837. TO RICHARD BACHE1 Passy near Paris, April 14, 1777. DEAR SON: The bearer, Mr. Guez, being well recommended to me as a skilful surgeon, and otherwise of good character for his morals and prudence, I recommend him to your civilities and advice, which as a stranger he may have occasion for; and as he has not sufficient to pay his passage here, and will not be able to provide such a sum immediately there I desire you to advance it for him out of my money left in your hands, and take his bond for repayment in a year. I request likewise that you will endeavor to introduce him to some employment either in the army or navy; or if those are full, into some town or place where one of his profession may be wanted. Ben and Temple continue well, with your affectionate father, B. FRANKLIN. 838. TO THE BISHOP OF TRICOMIA (L. C.) Passy, April 22 1777. REV SIR: Mr. Mercley, whom your Reverence mentions as having made Promises to Monsieur, your Brother, 1 Printed from John Bigelow, "The Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin," Vol. VI, p. 89. — Ed. * M. Guez was a young Swiss, son of a famous surgeon at Montpellier and Lausanne. This letter to Bache was written upon the very day that M. Guez called upon Franklin with a letter of recommendation from Court de Gebelin, who had at that moment completed the fourth volume of "Monde primitif." - ED. * Tricomia is an extinct see in the Holy Land, near Jerusalem. — ED. was employ'd as a Merchant to purchase some military Stores for the Congress, but I know of no Authority that he had to engage Officers of the Marine, or to make any Promises to such in our Behalf. I have not myself (as I have already had the Honour of telling your Reverence) the least Authority from the Congress to make Promises to Officers to encourage their going to America; and since my Arrival in France I have constantly dissuaded all who have applied to me, from undertaking the Voyage, as I know how difficult it would be for them to find Employment, a few Engineers and Officers of the Artillery excepted, who are gone. Nevertheless if your Brother continues resolv'd to go thither at his own Expence and the Risque of finding or not finding Employment, which I cannot advise him to do, I will give him Letters of Introduction to Gentlemen there, recommending him to their Civilities; but I must at the same time caution him against having any Reliance on those Letters as a means of procuring him a Command in our Armies, since I am by no means sure they will have any such Effect. I will, if you please, give him a Letter to Gen. Washington; but then I should have the State of his services to enclose; and if accompanied with Recommendations from some General Officers of Note, it will be so much the better. My Door is never shut to your Reverence when I am at home, as I am almost every Evening. With great Respect I have the Honour to be, your Reverence's most obedient and most humble Serv1, B. F. |