the force of which Dr. Franklin, and Mr. Laurens who accompanied him, seemed to acknowledge. They spared nothing to convince me of the confidence, which we ought to have in the fidelity of the United States, and they left me with the assurance, that they should conform to my wishes.

You may imagine my astonishment, therefore, when, on the evening of the 15th, I received from Dr. Franklin the letter, a copy of which is herewith enclosed. The tone of this letter seemed to me so singular, that I thought it my duty to write the answer, which I likewise send to you. I am ignorant of the effect, which this answer may have produced. I have not since heard from the American Commissioners. The courier has not come for my despatches, and I know not whether he has in reality been sent off. It would be singular, after the intimation which I have given them, if they should not have the curiosity to acquaint themselves with the state of our negotiation, that they may communicate the intelligence to Congress. This negotiation is not yet so far advanced in regard to ourselves, as that of the United States; not that the King, if he had shown as little delicacy in his proceedings as the American Commissioners, might not have signed articles with England long before them. There is no essential difficulty at present between France and England; but the King has been resolved that all his allies should be satisfied, being determined to continue the war, whatever advantage may be offered to him, if England is disposed to wrong any one of them.

We have now only to attend to the interests of Spain and Holland. I have reason to hope, that the former will be soon arranged. The fundamental points are established, and little remains but to settle the

forms. I think the United States will do well to make an arrangement with Spain. They will be neighbours. As to Holland, I fear her affairs will cause embarrassments and delays. The disposition of the British ministry towards that republic appears to be any thing but favorable.

Such is the present state of things. I trust it will soon be better; but, whatever may be the result, I think it proper that the most influential members of Congress should be informed of the very irregular conduct of their Commissioners in regard to us. You may speak of it not in the tone of complaint. I accuse no person; I blame no one, not even Dr. Franklin. He has yielded too easily to the bias of his colleagues, who do not pretend to recognise the rules of courtesy in regard to us. All their attentions have been taken up by the English, whom they have met in Paris. If we may judge of the future from what has passed here under our eyes, we shall be but poorly paid for all that we have done for the United States, and for securing to them a national existence.

I will add nothing, in respect to the demand for money, which has been made upon us. You may well judge, if conduct like this encourages us to make demonstrations of our liberality.* I am, &c. DE VERGENNES.

*Notwithstanding this intimation, and the cause of it, the King of France had already resolved to grant to the United States a new loan, and his purpose was not changed by the conduct of the Commissioners. Two days after the date of the above letter, Count de Vergennes wrote as follows to M. de la Luzerne. "You are acquainted with the demands of Congress on the King, for additional pecuniary aids. Twenty millions of livres have been requested. This sum greatly exceeds the proportion of our means, which can be employed for that object; nevertheless, his Majesty, desiring to afford the United States a new proof of his friendship, and of the interest he takes in their affairs, has decided on granting to them a loan of six millions of livres for the year 1783, part

TO ROBERT MORRIS.

Remits a Part of the new Loan. Result of the Treaty uncertain. - Discouraging Intelligence of the Backwardness in America to raise Funds by Taxation.

SIR,

Passy, 23 December, 1782.

When I wrote to you on the 14th, I expected to have despatched the Washington immediately, though without any money. A little misunderstanding prevented it. That was, after some time, got over, and on Friday last an order was given to furnish me with

of which, that is, six hundred thousand livres, will be immediately paid into the hands of Dr. Franklin, to be forwarded to Mr. Morris. I cannot dissemble from you, that this effort presses very heavily upon us, after a five years' war, the expenses of which have been and still continue to be enormous."- December 21st. MS. Letter.

Three days later Count de Vergennes wrote again to M. de la Luzerne. "As Dr. Franklin persists in his desire of despatching a courier to inform Congress of his transactions with England, I do not think it proper to endeavour to detain him longer, although I should be extremely sorry to have peace encouraged in America, before its certainty is established. Our negotiation with England remains unfinished and in doubt, and I cannot say when or how it will terminate. It is therefore exceedingly important, that you should make known to the members of Congress the exact state of things, that they may not be deceived with a false hope of peace, and thus make demonstrations, that may excite suspicions of a defection from the purpose they have adhered to, which I believe entirely opposed to the principles and intentions of that body. The King has done too much for the United States, and shown too many proofs of his constant friendship, to leave any possible room to doubt, that his Majesty sincerely desires to procure for them the enjoyment of peace as speedily as it can be done. It is a benefit, in the advantages of which he will equally participate with them, and which he is extremely desirous of procuring for his people; but his will alone is not sufficient; the concurrence of that of England is necessary; and she, although at least in appearances wishing for peace, causes difficulties to spring up, which may retard it, if indeed they do not in the end defeat it altogether. As soon as the negotiation takes a decided turn, I shall give you notice by the most expeditious conveyance. Probably the negotiation would proceed with fewer embarrassments, if the American VOL. IX. 58

M M

six hundred thousand livres immediately, to send in that ship; and I was answered by the Count de Vergennes, that the rest of the six millions should be paid us quarterly in the course of the year 1783. If your drafts make it necessary, I believe we can have it advanced, at least on paying discount. Mr. Grand has been ever since busy collecting the proper species to send it in, and it will go, I suppose, to-morrow or next day. I am glad to make use of this opportunity, and wish the sum could have been larger, as we

Commissioners had reflected on the consequences, and been less precipitate in signing their provisional articles."- December 24th. MS. Letter. The instructions from Congress to the American Commissioners, respecting their cooperation with the French ministry in negotiating the treaty, were of the following purport.

"You are to make the most candid and confidential communications upon all subjects to the ministers of our generous ally, the King of France; to undertake nothing in the negotiations for peace, or truce, without their knowledge and concurrence; and ultimately to govern yourselves by their advice and opinion, endeavouring in your whole conduct to make them sensible, how much we rely upon his Majesty's influence for effectual aid in every thing that may be necessary to the peace, security, and future prosperity of the United States of America."

The violation of the instructions by the American Commissioners, in concluding and signing their treaty without the concurrence of the French government, is the more unjustifiable, on account of the fidelity with which the French ministers adhered to the spirit of those instructions, with reference to the United States, in negotiating their treaty with England. This subject is treated in Wilnot's "Historical View of the Commission for inquiring into the Losses, Services, and Claims of the American Loyalists." Speaking of the efforts made in favor of the Loyalists at the time of negotiating the treaty, he says;

"The writer of these sheets, who has seen the correspondence between the government at home, and those who were employed to negotiate this important business at Paris, can assert with confidence, that the utmost possible pains were repeatedly taken to procure more substantial terms for the Loyalists; that the treaty was on the point of being broken off on this account alone; that the fourth, fifth, and sixth articles of the treaty were obtained and almost extorted with the greatest difficulty; that the court of Versailles absolutely refused to come to any treaty or decision at all, till the American Commissioners were completely satisfied."- p. 37.

have got a passport from England for the ship Washington, Captain Barney, signed by the King's own hand, the more curious, as it acknowledges us by our title of the United States of America.

We should not, however, imagine ourselves already in peace. The other powers are not yet agreed, and war may still continue longer than we expect. Our preliminaries have not yet been communicated to Parliament, and I apprehend there will be great clamors against them when they appear. Hints are already thrown out, that the King has gone beyond his powers; and, if the new ministry do not stand their ground, perhaps the ratification may be prevented. A little more success in the West Indies this winter may totally turn the heads of that giddy nation.

I pressed hard, therefore, for the whole sum demanded, but was told it was impossible, the great efforts to be made this campaign in the East and West Indies (the armies for which are now afloat), and the enormous expense engaged in, having much embarrassed the finances.

Our people certainly ought to do more for themselves. It is absurd, the pretending to be lovers of liberty while they grudge paying for the defence of it. It is said here, that an impost of five per cent on all goods imported, though a most reasonable proposition, had not been agreed to by all the States, and was therefore frustrated; and that your newspapers acquaint the world with this, with the non-payment of taxes by the people, and with the non-payment of interest to the creditors of the public. The knowledge of these things has hurt our credit, and the loan in Holland, and would prevent our getting any thing here but from the government. The foundation of credit abroad should be laid at home, and certain funds should be prepared