Business, as the Winter approaches and the poor Prisoners on both sides may suffer in it extremely.

I am etc.

B. FRANKLIN.

928. TO COMTE DE VERGENNES (P. A. E. E. U.) Passy, Oct. 22. 1778

SIR

I am perfectly of the same Sentiments with your Excellency respecting Count d'Estaign.' I know his Zeal for the Cause, and have a high Opinion of his Abilities. I have therefore not the least doubt but that his going to Boston was a Measure absolutely necessary, and will appear to be for the common Good. We just now learn that our Troops on Rhode island had made good their Retreat without the Loss of a Man. I have the honour to be with great Respect, etc. B. FRANKLIN.

929. TO DAVID HARTLEY

MY DEAR FRIEND,

(D. S. W.)

Passy, Oct. 26, 1778.

I received yours without Date, containing an old Scotch Sonnet, full of natural Sentiment and beautiful Simplicity. I cannot make an entire application of it to present Cir

1 Charles Hector, Count d'Estaing, born in 1729, vice-admiral in 1777 he raised his pennant on the Languedoc of ninety guns; left Toulon on the 13th of April, 1778, and reached Rhode Island on the 29th of July. He forced the passage into Newport and the next day sailed against the forces of Howe and Byron. His fleet was divided by a storm. From Newport he withdrew to Boston and aroused the anger of the Americans who accused him of treason. -ED.

cumstances; but, taking it in Parts, and changing Persons, some of it is extremely apropos. First Jenie may be supposed Old England, and Jamie, America. Jenie laments the loss of Jamie, and recollects with Pain his Love for her, his Industry in Business to promote her Wealth and Welfare, and her own Ingratitude.

"Young Jamie loved me weel,

And sought me for his Bride,
But saving ane Crown,

He had naithing beside,

To make that Crown a Pound, my Jamie gang'd to Sea,
And the Crown and the Pound were all for me."

Her Grief for this Separation is expressed very pathetically.

"The Ship was a Wrack,

Why did na Jennie die;

O why was I spared

To cry, Wae is me!"

There is no Doubt but that honest Jammie had still so much Love for her as to Pity her in his Heart, tho' he might, at the same time, be not a little angry with her.

Towards the Conclusion, we must change the Persons, and let Jamie be Old England, Jennie, America, and old Robin Gray, the Kingdom of France. Then honest Jenie, having made a Treaty of Marriage with Gray, expresses her firm Resolution of Fidelity, in a manner that does Honour to her good Sense, and her Virtue.

"I may not think of Jamie,

For that would be a Sin.
But I maun do my best,
A gude wife to be;

For auld Robin Gray
Is very kind to me."

You ask my Sentiments of a Truce for 5 or 7 Years, in which no mention should be made of that Stumbling Block to England, the Independence of America.

I must tell you fairly and frankly, that there can be no Treaty of Peace with us, in which France is not included. But I think a Treaty might be made between the three Powers, in which England expressly Renouncing the Dependence of America seems no more necessary, than her renouncing the Title of King of France, which has always been claimed for her Kings. Yet, perhaps, it would be better for England to act nobly and generously on the Occasion, by granting more than she could at present be compelled to grant, make America easy on the Score of old Claims; cede all that remains in North America, and thus conciliate and strengthen a young Power which she wishes to have a future and serviceable Friend. I do not think England would be a loser by such Cession. She may hold her remaining Possessions there, but not without vast Expence; and they would be the Occasion of constant Jealousies, frequent Quarrels, and renew'd Wars. The United States, continually growing stronger, will have them at last; and, by the generous Conduct above hinted at, all the intermediate Loss of Blood and Treasure might be spared, and solid, lasting Peace promoted. This seems to me good Counsel, but I know it can't be followed.

The Friend you mention must always be welcome to me, with or without the Cheese; but I do not see how his coming hither could be of any Use at present, unless in Quality of a Plenipotentiary to treat of a sincere Peace between all the Parties.

Your Commissioners are acting very indiscreetly in Amer

ica. They first spoke very disrespectfully of our good Ally. They have since called in question the power of Congress to treat with them; and have endeavour'd to begin a Dispute about the Detention of Bourgoyne's Troops, an Affair which I conceive not to be within their Commission. They are vainly trying, by Publications, to excite the people against the Congress. Gov' Johnston has been attempting to bribe the Members; and without the least Regard to Truth, has asserted three Propositions, which he says, he will undertake to prove. The two first of them I know to be false, and I believe the third to be so.1 The Congress have refused to treat with the Commissioners, while he continues one of them, and he has therefore resigned.

These Gentlemen do not appear well qualify'd for their Business. I think they will never heal the Breach, but they may widen it. I am, my very dear Friend, yours most affectionately,

N. A. [B. FRANKLIN.]

1 Governor Johnstone was one of the British Commissioners for treating with Congress. These propositions were contained in a letter written by him to Francis Dana, a member of Congress, and dated at Philadelphia, June 10th, 1778. "There are three facts," said he, "which I wish to assure you of. First, that Dr. Franklin, on the 28th of March last, in discussing the several articles we wish to make the basis of our treaty, was perfectly satisfied they were beneficial to North America, and such as she should accept. Second, that this treaty with France was not the first treaty, that France had exacted, and with which Mr. Simeon Deane had put to sea, but granted and acceded to after the sentiments of the people of Great Britain had fully changed, after the friends to America had gained their points for reconciliation, and solely with a view to disappoint the good effects of our endeavours. The third fact is, that Spain, unasked, had sent a formal message, disapproving of the conduct of France." - ED.

930. TO FERDINAND GRAND1

Passy, Nov. 3, 1778.

We owe our thanks, sir, to the person who has transmitted to us, through you, the complaint we have received against Mr. Conyngham, and we can assure him anew that, penetrated with the respect for S. M. C.,2 nothing pains us more than complaints on his part against our people. He will have seen, by the papers transmitted by you at the time from us to S. E. M. Count d'Aranda, the measures which Congress have taken to prevent any misconduct on the part of our privateers and seamen, and nothing better proves its solicitude in this regard than the proclamation it has just issued, of which the enclosed No. 2 is a copy, and to which we join its resolution for the protection of the property of a ship although belonging to a power with which we have no sympathy.

But if one directs his attention to the atrocious proceedings of the English towards all nations without distinction, he will not be surprised that their pernicious example finds imitators among some individuals of a nation which they have so greatly outraged. But this does not excuse Conyngham. It is a crime in our eyes to have displeased a power for which Congress is penetrated with respect, and although justified in seizing, by way of reprisals, the English prize which Conyngham had brought to Teneriffe to be sent to Martinique, we will none the less inform Congress of the grounds for complaint which this privateer has given 1 Translated from a French copy in Simancas. - ED.

2 His Christian Majesty. - ED.