They are made precisely according to the directions of the Committee.

If, on seeing the accounts, I find I can add a proportion of clothes for officers, which you urge so earnestly, I shall do it with pleasure. But from the large and unexpected drafts often made upon me by Congress, I am become timid. I must take care of their credit and my own, and cannot take hazardous steps, as protesting or not paying one of their bills would be attended with great mischief on both sides the water; and when I consider the vast expense occasioned to this nation by the war, I am ashamed to be repeatedly worrying the ministers by applications for more money.

I ought to let Capt. Jones know as soon as possible whether the arms are to go with him, as he would stow them low to serve partly for ballast. If a ship can be obtained for them and what shall remain of the clothing, perhaps it may be as well to excuse the Alliance from that article and let her take more of the clothing.

I am told the 122 bales of cloth to be shipped by Mr. Ross for the Congress will by computation make for 8,000 suits. These will be in addition to the 10,000 making by Mr. Williams. Those suits will be composed of coat, waistcoat, breeches, overalls, two pair of stockings, two pair of shoes, two shirts, two stocks, and a hat for each man. I think there will also be buckles. If there be any further information that you want, let me know and I will give what I can. With the sincerest esteem and affection, I am, dear sir, etc., B. FRANKLIN.

DCCCLVIII

TO SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS

PASSY, 4 March, 1780.

SIR: M. Gérard, under whose care I understand the despatches from Congress to me were forwarded, is not yet arrived here, and I have not received them. I cannot, therefore, at present answer any thing that may be contained in them. He is, however, expected next week, and I may afterwards have time to write further by the Alliance. Mr. Adams is come, but did not bring duplicates of those despatches. I have, in obedience to the order of Congress, which he produced to me, furnished him with one thousand louisd'ors. I have also given a credit to Mr. Jay upon the correspondent of our banker at Madrid for an equal sum. I have not yet heard of his arrival there. His letter to me was from Cadiz, of the 28th of January.

In my last I gave some account of the success of our little squadron under Commodore Jones. Three of their prizes sent into Bergen in Norway were, at the instance of the British minister, seized by order of the court of Denmark, and delivered up to him. I have, with the approbation of the ministry here, drawn up and sent to that court a memorial reclaiming those prizes. It went through the hands of the French minister residing there, who has delivered it; but I have yet no answer. I understand from the French consul at Bergen, that the prizes remain still in that port, and it is said there is some hope that the order may be reversed; but this is doubtful,

and I suppose the Congress will immediately consider this important affair, and give me such instructions upon it as they may judge proper. With this, I send a copy of the memorial.

In

During the cruise a mortal quarrel took place between the Commodore and Captain Landais. On their arrival in Holland, M. de Sartine, Minister of the Marine, proposed to me the sending for Landais, in order to inquire into his conduct. I doubted the propriety of my meddling in the affair; but Captain Landais' friends conceiving it a measure that might be serviceable to him, and pressing it, I complied, and he came accordingly to Paris. I send the minutes of the inquiry for the consideration of Congress. I have not presumed to condemn or acquit him, doubting as well my own judgment as my authority. He proposes to demand a court-martial in America. his absence from the ship, the Commodore took the command of her, and on quitting the Texel made a cruise through the channel to Spain, and has since returned to L'Orient, where the ship is now refitting in order to return to America. Captain Landais has not applied to me to be replaced in her, and I imagine has no thought of that kind, having before on several occasions expressed to me and others his dissatisfaction with his officers, and his inclination on that account to quit her. Captain Jones will therefore carry her home, unless he should be prevailed with to enter another service, which, however, I think is not likely, though he has gained immense reputation all over Europe for his bravery.

As vessels of war under my care create me a vast

deal of business, of a kind, too, that I am unexperienced in, and by my distance from the coast is very difficult to be well executed, I must repeat my earnest request that some person of skill in such affairs may be appointed in the character of consul to take charge of them. I imagine that much would by that means be saved in the expense of their various refittings and supplies, which to me appears enormous.

Agreeably to the order of Congress, I have employed one of the best artists here in cutting the dies for the medal intended for M. de Fleury. The price of such work is beyond my expectation, being a thousand livres for each die. I shall try if it is not possible to have the others done cheaper.

Our exchange of prisoners has been for some time past at a stand, the English Admiralty refusing, after long consideration, to give us any men in return for those who have been dismissed by our armed vessels on parole, and the actual prisoners we had, being all exchanged. When the squadron of Commodore Jones arrived at the Texel with five hundred English prisoners, I proposed exchanging there; but this was declined, in expectation, as I heard from England, of retaking them in their way to France. The stay of our ships in Holland, through the favor of the States, being prolonged, and the squadron stationed to intercept us being tired of cruising for us, the British ministry consented at length to a cartel with France, and brought Frenchmen to Holland to exchange for those prisoners instead of Americans. These proceedings have occasioned our poor people to be kept longer in confinement; but the Minister of the

Marine, having given orders that I should have as many English, another cartel charged with Americans is now daily expected, and I hope in a few months to see them all at liberty. This for their sakes, and also to save expense; for their long and hard imprisonment induces many to hazard attempts of escaping; and those who get away through London and Holland, and come to Paris in their way to some seaport in France, cost, one with another, I believe, near twenty pounds sterling a head.

The delays in the exchange have I think been lengthened by the Admiralty, partly with the view of breaking the patience of our people and inducing them to enter the English service. They have spared no pains for this purpose, and have prevailed with some. The number of these has not indeed been great, and several of them lost their lives in the blowing up of the Quebec. I am also lately informed from London, that the flags of truce with prisoners from Boston, one of which is seized as British property, will obtain no Americans in exchange; the returned English being told that they had no authority or right to make such agreements with rebels, etc. This is not the only instance in which it appears that a few late successes have given that nation another hour of insolence. And yet their affairs upon the whole wear a very unpromising aspect. They have not yet been able to find any allies in Europe. Holland grows daily less and less disposed to comply with their requisitions; Ireland is not satisfied, but is making new demands; Scotland and the Protestants in England are uneasy, and the associations