will try what can be done towards getting you some French sailors; but I doubt they are too much wanted to be spared to us. You will find, however, a number of Americans at L'Orient, who have lately escaped, or been exchanged, from the prisons of England. Your desire of redeeming more of them is noble, and I heartily wish you success in it. Mr. Barclay, the consul, to whom you should apply in case of wanting any thing for your ship, is now in Holland; but I expect him in a few days. Let me know if, when you return to America, you can take any of the Congress goods, which he will have to send. With great esteem, I have the honor to be, Sir, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

SIR,

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

Passy, 28 January, 1782.

I received, at the same time, your several letters of October 20th, 24th, and November 26th, which I purpose to answer fully by the return of the Alliance. Having just had a very short notice of the departure of this ship, I can only at present mention the great pleasure your appointment gives me, and my intention of corresponding with you regularly and frequently, as you desire. The information contained in your letters is full and clear; I shall endeavour that mine, of the state of affairs here, may be as satisfactory. With great esteem, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

P. S. Having just learned, that the courier is not gone, I have time to enclose two letters from Holland, by which you will see something of the state of affairs in that country. Be pleased to present my dutiful respects to Congress, and assure them of my faithful

services.

FROM DAVID HARTLEY TO B. FRANKLIN.

MY DEAR FRiend,

London, 1 February, 1782.

I write to you one line by this mail, only to tell you, that I have seen the minister since I last wrote to you, and that he never did entertain the idea one moment of any propositions being thrown out on your part, in the least degree inconsistent with the strictest honor and faith to the allies. I had no occasion to guard against, or to explain, any such thought, having at all times conveyed the contrary to him in the most explicit terms. I transmit this to you for your full

satisfaction. We have had much conversation on the subject of peace, which you may be sure I have most zealously endeavoured to enforce. I should not do him justice, if I did not add, that I believe his wishes are for peace, and that he gives the most serious attention to every argument, and to the suggestion of every practicable means on that subject. I have stated many things for his consideration, and for consultation with others, after which I shall see him again. I heartily wish the result may be favorable to the prospect of peace. I am ever your affectionate

D. HARTLEY.

TO GUSTAVUS CONYNGHAM.

Passy, 6 February, 1782.

SIR,

I am to acknowledge the receipt of two letters from you since you came to Nantes. In the first you desired a copy of your original commission. I have caused search to be made for it, but can find no trace of it; as, at the time it was given to you, the commis

sioners kept no minutes of their proceedings, and it is but a few days since I learned from Dr. Bancroft, that it was taken from you at Dunkirk, and sent up with other papers to the Count de Vergennes. The first time I go to Versailles, I will inquire for it. If it is lost, I will send you a certificate that it did exist, though at present not to be found.

In your second letter you desire to know what money Mr. D has charged or advanced to you. I never was able to obtain from him a regular amount of the moneys put into his hands for the relief of prisoners in England, but I think he mentions in one of his letters he paid fifty pounds for you. Probably this may not be true; for he is the greatest villain I ever met with, having the last winter drawn on me for four hundred and ninety-five pounds for the support of American prisoners, and applied but thirty pounds to their use. However, he can have no right to demand repayment from you, having received the money from me. With very great esteem and best wishes for your prosperity, I have the honor to be, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

FROM M. DE BLOME, DANISH AMBASSADOR IN FRANCE, TO COUNT DE VERGENNES.

Complaints of an Outrage of American armed Vessels on the Coast of Norway.

Translation.

Paris, 6 February, 1782.

Three American vessels, one of which was threemasted, and called the Norfolk, Captain Lines, and two brigs, the Ariel, Captain Maller, and the Virginia, Cap

VOL. IX.

N

tain Hodsheadson, all three armed in Philadelphia, committed a most grievous outrage on the 2d of December last on the coast of Norway, where they seized two English merchantmen and burnt them, after plundering them and sending away their crews. The circumstances are more particularly detailed in the protest enclosed, made on the spot. It has moreover been proved, by the report of his Danish Majesty's grand bailiff at Christiansand, that, the aforesaid American vessels having anchored in the port of Fleckeroe, before their meeting with the Englishmen, and displayed French colors, he had asked of the French consul information respecting their sea papers, and that the latter, on examining their contents, declared that they were not furnished with any letters of marque on the part of Congress. Their conduct proves this also in having burnt their prizes, notwithstanding the offers of ransom made them by the English captains. It therefore follows, that they can only be considered as pirates, whose crimes are greatly aggravated by a manifest infraction of his Danish Majesty's territorial rights.

The undersigned, his Envoy Extraordinary, has received precise orders to communicate these particulars to his Excellency, the Count de Vergennes, requesting, with every possible confidence, the intervention of his Most Christian Majesty with the United States of America, to effect not only the punishment of the guilty persons, but also to obtain an indemnification for the vessels and cargoes that were burnt, of which an exact statement shall be furnished; and this satisfaction is due, to repair the excesses committed on his Majesty's territory. DE BLOME.

TO JOHN BARRY.

Requesting him to take public Goods to America for the Use of the Troops.

SIR,

Passy, 10 February, 1782.

I have been honored by yours of the 31st past, and am glad to find you are willing to take over some of the public goods. I should not desire it of you, if certain circumstances unforeseen had not rendered it necessary. The goods are for the use of our troops and marine, and were collected at Brest, with an intention of sending them in certain transports, which were prepared for that purpose by the government. The loss of a number of transports, taken by Kempenfeld's squadron, which were carrying stores for the King's fleet and army, making it necessary to replace those stores and forward them immediately, it has been found, that there is no room for ours, and that sufficient new transports cannot readily be obtained.

It has therefore been proposed to me, to put into your ship what you can well receive, and to get freight if I can for the rest, to go under your convoy. Mr. Barclay, who is acquainted with such business, is not yet returned, but I expect him daily. In the mean time I wish you would proceed to Brest immediately, where you will find orders given to the commissary to deliver so much of the Congress stores to you as you shall think fit to receive. My despatches for America shall also meet you there; and, as the quantity of goods may possibly render your ship less fit for sailing or fighting, it would perhaps be well if you concluded to sail with the King's ships, which convoy the transports, and who will probably depart by the middle of