I declined having any thing to do with the Affair, but I wish you to consider whether it would not be prudent to accommodate this little difference with those People, and take the Advantage of sending those Arms, which have been prov'd good, and I suppose still lie at Nantes ready to be shipt immediately, rather than wait the success of a doubtful Application. I have the Honour to be, sir, etc., B. FRANKLIN. (M. H. S.) Passy, April 3, 1779 981. TO JOHN ADAMS SIR, I received the Letter you did me the Honour to write me of the 24th past. I am glad you have been at Brest, as your Presence there has contributed to expedite the Operations of Capt. Landais in refitting his Ship. I think with you that more has been made of the Conspiracy than was necessary; but that it would have been well if some of the most guilty could have received a proper Punishment. As that was impracticable under our present naval Code, I hope you will, on your Return, obtain an Amendment of it. I approve of cloathing the Midshipmen & petty Officers agreable to their Request to you, and hope you have ordered it, without waiting to hear from me; and I now desire that whatever else you may judge for the Good of the Service, our Funds & Circumstances considered, you would in my behalf give directions for, as the great Distance makes it inconvenient to send to me on every Occasion; and I can confide in your Prudence that you will allow no Expence that is unnecessary. My Gout continues to disable me from Walking longer than formerly: But on Tuesday the 23d past I thought myself able to go thro' the Ceremony, and accordingly went to Court, had my Audience of he King in the new Character, presented my Letter of Credence, and was received very graciously. After which I went the Rounds with the other Foreign Ministers, in visiting all the royal family. The Fatigue, however, was a little too much for my Feet, and disabled me for near another Week. Upon the whole I can assure you that I do not think the GoodWill of this Court to the good Cause of America is at all diminished by the late little Reverses in the fortune of War; & I hope Spain, who has now forty-nine Ships of the Line and 31 Frigates ready for Service, will soon by declaring, turn the Scale. Remember me affectionately to Master Johnny,' and believe me, with great Esteem, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble servant B. FRANKLIN. 982. TO ARTHUR LEE' (P. C.) Pafsy, April 3. 1779. SIR As I had no Knowledge of the Gentleman, & he said he had lived in Virginia, I referr'd him to you, imagining you might know something of his Character, and whether it would be proper to give him the Pafs he defires. If upon conversing with him you apprehend it may be safely done, 1 John Quincy Adams. - ED. 2 From the original in the possession of Mr. William F. Havemeyer. -ED. I would do it on your Recommendation: But as the use of it is to be in America and not here, I imagine it would be as well for you to give it as me.-I have the honour to be with great Respect, Sir, SIR, Mr. Wm. Lee has lately been here from Frankfort: he has desired me to make such an Application in Behalf of the State of Virginia as you request in Behalf of Maryland. M D'Acosta & Co. had complained to me that they had provided what Mr. Lee wanted, in Pursuance of a Contract made with Mr. A. Lee, who had refused to take the Goods off his Hands. I proposed to Mr. Wm. Lee to accommodate this little Difference, and take those Goods now lying ready at Nantes to be shipt, rather than wait the Event of an uncertain application to Government. He absolutely refuses, and says you may take them for Maryland, if you please. Pray let me know, as soon as may be, whether it will not suit you to agree for them with these Gentlemen. I have the Honour to be, etc., B. FRANKLIN. 984. TO JOHN ADAMS (M. H. S.) Passy April 8. 1779 SIR, I did myself the honour of writing to you a few Days since. Last night I received yours of the 31" past. I am glad to hear the ship is so far in order. As to the DisContents you find among the Officers and People, it is impossible for me at this Distance to judge of them, or of the means of removing them. I must therefore, as in my last, refer to your Judgment whatever you may think for the good of the service, considering our Circumstances and Funds, and I desire you would give orders accordingly. If the officers are dissatisfied with the Person who is here now, I fancy, but do not speak from knowledge, that he is not sollicitous about continuing in his Place; and would have no objection to being permitted to play as long as he pleases in Paris. I cannot at all interfere with regard to the disposition of the Exchanged Prisoners, by ordering them to go on board one Ship or another. They are Free men as soon as they land in France, and may inlist with which Captain they please. I shall by this Post give the orders you desire to M Schweighauser and Capt. Landais, relating to your Passage and Sea Stores; tho' I did not think them necessary. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obed and most humble Servant B. FRANKLIN. 985. TO CAPTAIN PETER LANDAIS (M. H. S.) Passy April 8, 1779 SIR Understanding that you expect an explicit order from me, this is to require you to receive on Board your ship the Alliance, the Honourable John Adams Esq. with his son and servant, and give them a passage therein to America. I have the honour to be, Sir Your most obedient humble Servant B. FRANKLIN. 986. TO JONATHAN WILLIAMS (D. S. W.) Passy, April 8, 1779 DEAR JONATHAN:- Too much Business, too much Interruption by friendly Visits, and a little remaining Indisposition, have occasioned the Delay in answering your late Letters. You desire a Line "relative to the Complexion of Affairs." If you mean our Affair [sic] at this Court, they wear as good a Complexion as ever they did. I do not know what to advise concerning M. Monthieu's Proposition. Follow your own Judgment. If you doubt, set down all the Reasons, pro and con, in opposite Columns on a Sheet of Paper, and when you have considered them two or three Days, perform an Operation similar to that in |