They had in America great expectations, I know not on what foundation, that a considerable supply of money would be obtained from Spain, but that expectation has failed: and the force of that nation in those seas has been employed to reduce small forts in Florida, without rendering any direct assistance to the United States; and indeed the long delay of that court in acceding to the treaty of commerce begins to have the appearance of not inclining to have any connexion with us; so that for effectual friendship, and for the aid so necessary in the present conjuncture, we can rely on France alone, and in the continuance of the king's goodness towards us.

I am grown old; I feel myself much enfeebled by my late long illness, and it is probable I shall not long have any more concern in these affairs. I therefore take this occasion to express my opinion to your excellency, that the present conjuncture is critical; that there is some danger lest the congress should lose its influence over the people, if it is found unable to procure the aids that are wanted; and that the whole system of the new government in America may thereby be shaken.

That if the English are suffered once to recover that country, such an opportunity of effectual separation as the present may not occur again in the course of ages; and that the possession of those fertile and extensive regions, and that vast sea-coast, will afford them so broad a basis for future greatness, by the rapid growth of their commerce, and breed of seamen and soldiers, as will enable them to become the terror of Europe, and to exercise with impunity

that insolence which is so natural to their nation, and which will increase enormously with the increase of their power. I am with great respect, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY J. ADAMS, ESQ.

Passy, April 29, 1781.

I enclose you extracts of two letters ministerial, found in the same packet with the former, written in the fond belief that the states were on the point of submitting, and cautioning the commissioners for peace not to promise too much respecting the future constitutions. They are indeed cautiously worded, but easily understood, when explained by two court maxims or assertions, the one of Lord Granville's, late president of the council, that the king is the legislator of the colonies; the other of the present chancellor,* when in the house of commons, that the Quebec constitution was the only proper constitution for colonies, ought to have been given to them all when first planted, and what all ought now to be reduced to, We may hence see the danger of listening to any of their deceitful propositions, though piqued by the negligence of some of those European powers who will be much benefited by our revolution, I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN ADAMS, ESQ.
Passy, May 19, 1781.

I have with you no doubt that America will be easily able to pay off not only the interest but the

*Lord Thurlow.

VOL. II.

principal of all the debt she may contract in this war. But whether duties upon her exports will be the best method of doing it, is a question I am not so clear in. England raised indeed a great revenue by duties on tobacco. But it was by virtue of a prohibition of foreign tobaccos, and thereby obliging the internal consumer to pay those duties. If America were to lay a duty of five-pence sterling per lb. on the exportation of her tobacco, would any European buy it? Would not the colonies of Spain and Portugal, and the Ukraine of Russia furnish it much cheaper? Was not England herself obliged for such reasons to drop the duty on tobacco she furnished to France? Would it not cost an immense sum in officers, &c. to guard our long coast against smuggling of tobacco, and running out to avoid a duty? and would not many even of these officers be corrupted and connive at it? It is possibly an erroneous opinion, but I find myself rather inclined to adopt that modern one which supposes it best for every country to leave its trade entirely free from all incumbrances. Perhaps no country does this at present: Holland comes the nearest to it; and her commercial wealth seems to have increased in proportion.

Your excellency has done me the honor of announcing to me your appointment: I hope soon to return the compliment by informing you of my dismission. I find the various employments of merchant, banker, judge of admiralty, consul, &c. &c. besides my ministerial function, too multifarious and too heavy for my old shoulders; and have therefore requested congress that I may be relieved; for in this point I agree even with my enemies, that another may easily be found who can better execute them. B. FRANKLIN.

DEAR SIR,

TO THE REV. DR. COOPER.

Passy, May 25, 1781.

It gives me great pleasure to learn that your new constitution is at length settled with so great a degree of unanimity and general satisfaction. It seems to me upon the whole an excellent one; and that if there are some particulars that one might have wished a little different, they are such as could not in the present state of things have been well obtained otherwise than they are, and, if by experience found inconvenient, will probably be changed hereafter. I would only mention at present one article, that of maintenance for the clergy. It seems to me that by the constitution the Quakers may be obliged to pay the tax for that purpose. But as the great end in imposing it is professedly the promotion of piety, religion, and morality, and those people have found means of securing that end among themselves without a regular clergy, and their teachers are not allowed to receive money, I should think it not right to tax them and give the money to the teacher of the parish; but I imagine that in the laws to be made for levying parish taxes, this matter may be regulated to their contentment. Yours, &c.

B. FRANKLın.

TO DAVID HARTLEY, ESQ.

Passy, June 30, 1781.

I received my dear friend's kind letter of the 15th instant, and immediately communicated your request of a passport to M. le Comte de Vergennes. His answer, which I have but just received, expresses an apprehension that the circumstance of his grant-

ing a passport to you, as you mention the purpose of your coming to be the discoursing with me on the subject of peace, might, considering your character, occasion many inconvenient reports and speculations; but that he would make no difficulty of giving it, if you assured me that you were authorised for such purpose by your ministry, which he does not think at all likely; otherwise he judges it best that I should not encourage your coming. Thus it seems I cannot have at present the pleasure you were so kind as to propose for me. I can only join with you in earnest wishes for peace-a blessing which I shall hardly live

to see.

With the greatest esteem and respect, I am ever, dear sir, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

[NOTE.]

Passy, July 6, 1781.

The following paper was delivered this day to M. de Rayneval, to be by him communicated to Count Vergennes, in order to correct some wrong ideas of that minister. B. F.

It seems to have been insinuated, either through mistake or ill-will to the United States;

1st. That their merchants have combined to depreciate the bills drawn on France.

2d. That their trade with England is as great as before the war.

I have known two instances wherein bills of exchange on England have fallen more than 15 per cent. lower than the present price of bills on France.

The first was in 1739, when an expedition being projected against Carthagena, the government of England ordered 3000 men to be raised in America,