that every possible preference ought to be given to the manufactures of that nation. But there is, in my opinion, very essential preference of a different kind. The position of Amsterdam is unfavorable, in a war with England, to a commerce with this country. France also can, and I suppose will, give convoy to the articles procured there. But I will dwell no longer on the subject, for I trust that nothing of the kind will happen hereafter.

Should the loan be obtained, you will be so kind, Sir, as to deposite one million of florins with Mr. Grand, to whom I will pray you to deliver the enclosed letter. I shall, in consequence, not draw upon you for a million of livres, in favor of Messrs. Le Couteulx & Co., as I intended; and, in like manner, I beg leave to revoke what I have said on the subject of paying all balances into their hands. One million of florins you will also be pleased to deposite with the house of Grand, at Amsterdam, sending me the precise address of both, so that I can direct my bills properly to them. Nearly one million will be necessary to pay the invoice sent. The remaining two millions, I wish may be shipped from France in gold, by proper vessels of war; which, I dare say, will readily be provided by M. de Castries.

I perceive, you have not written to Congress on the subjects mentioned in the letter of the Count de Vergennes of the 23d of August, which I am glad of. The more that an opinion prevails here, that we must succour ourselves, the more we shall do it; and, therefore, I shall not communicate what you have said, for the present; but, as the best acknowledgment, I shall endeavour to further the operations against the common enemy, and draw forth all our resources for an early and vigorous campaign. The splendid and im

portant success, which has crowned the combined arms in Virginia, is, I hope, only an earnest of what is to be done next year. These are the returns, which we shall make to the King, for the aid he so generously affords. And I have a very particular satisfaction in assuring you, that, throughout this country, a strong attachment to the French nation is daily taking place, of that blind partiality, once felt for every thing, which had the name of English. Let me add, for your use, a piece of mercantile information, lately communicated to me from unquestionable authority. The demand for French goods in this country has raised the prices in France from twenty to thirty per cent. The importations have reduced the prices here nearly twenty per cent, and the exchange, you already know, has been raised considerably.

I shall say nothing to you in this letter on the subject of future supplies, because I feel a conviction, that you will obtain such as may be necessary. I will only repeat, what I have often said, let them be early. I enclose a letter to M. de Fleury, which you will either deliver or not, as may best answer your purposes. I hope often to have the pleasure of hearing from you, and I pray you to believe me to be, with very great truth, dear Sir, &c.

ROBERT MORRIS.

TO MRS. C. EDES.

Mr. Laurens's Imprisonment in the Tower.

MADAM,

Passy, 13 December, 1781.

I return enclosed the letter from my friend, Mr. Bridgen, which I received from you last night. You will be so good as to acquaint him, in answer to his

first question, if any fund was established for the support of Mr. Laurens, that, being informed about the middle of last month by a friend in London of Mr. Laurens's being in want of money, I wrote on the 19th to Mr. Hodgson, a merchant in Coleman Street, in whose hands I had lodged cash for the support of prisoners, to hold one hundred pounds of it at the disposition of Mr. Laurens; and I since hear, that, on a like intimation to Mr. Adams in Holland, he has ordered another one hundred pounds to be applied to the same purpose. I have never heard that any fund was established in America for the use of that gentleman; probably it has not been known there, that he had need of it.

The second question, if any measures had been taken for his relief, will be answered by acquainting Mr. Bridgen, that the Congress passed a resolution to offer the exchange of General Burgoyne for him, and empowered me to make the offer; that Mr. Burke, having written to me in favor of his friend, General Burgoyne, on a supposition that the Congress intended to recall him, I sent a copy of the resolution to Mr. Burke, and requested he would charge himself with the negotiation. I have since heard nothing, either from Mr. Hodgson or Mr. Burke; and, as it is said a packet was lately lost between Ostend and England, I begin to fear my letters have miscarried, and shall by the first post send copies. I wish Mr. Bridgen would, however, apply to both those gentlemen, learn what has been done, and through you acquaint me with it. I beg you would assure Mr. Bridgen of my best wishes and affectionate attachment. I hope his affairs in Carolina have been settled to his mind. With much esteem, I have the honor to be, Madam, yours, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

P. S. About the beginning of the year, having heard a report, that Mr. Laurens was ill used, I wrote a little remonstrance to Sir Grey Cooper on the occasion; who replied, by acquainting me, that on inquiry he found the report to be groundless; and by sending me a letter he had received from the Lieutenant of the Tower, which assured him, in the strongest terms, that Mr. Laurens was perfectly satisfied with the treatment he received, and frequently expressed his thankfulness for the same. This made me easy, hearing nothing afterwards to the contrary, till lately.

TO JOHN ADAMS.

Scheme of a Loan proposed by John de Neufville of Amsterdam.

SIR,

Passy, 14 December, 1781.

I duly received your Excellency's favors of the 1st and 6th instant. I wrote to you by Mr. Barclay, who went from hence some days since, and I hope is with you by this time, and that he will, with your assistance, be able to settle every thing relating to the goods. I have received a long letter from Messrs. Neufville, the purport of which is, that they are willing for their parts to deliver the goods to you, but that they cannot control the other owners of the ships, who have a right, by the laws and customs of Holland, to detain the goods for the damage done by Captain Gillon's refusing to sign the charter parties, and hope, that I will not, on account of the conduct of the other owners, refuse to pay the bills, especially as such a refusal would be derogatory to the honor of the United States.

I may be wrong, but my present thoughts on the subject are, that, if by the laws of Holland our goods may be detained in the hands of the ship owners for the fault of Mr. Gillon, by the same laws the property of one of these owners may be detained in our hands for the fault of his partners; and that it as much concerns the honor of Holland, that our goods should be delivered to us, as it concerns the honor of America, that we should pay for them when delivered. And I farther think, that, if a merchant in Holland, happening to have any of my property in his possession, may, by the laws of his country, detain the same till I pay him whatever he shall please to demand, as indemnification for an injury supposed to be done him by some other person, Holland is by no means a safe country for Americans to trade with, nor a Dutch merchant a safe depository for the property of a stranger, or to be the consignee of merchandise sent into his country. You desire a copy of the terms on which he offered to borrow money for us. At present, I only send you an extract of the principal points, much of the writing being matter of form. The first proposition is, "That, for the security of this loan of two millions of gilders, Holland currency, we engaged and hypothequed (his words) to said Mr. John de Neufville and Son, of Amsterdam or their representatives, as we do engage and hypotheque to them in the name of the whole Congress of the thirteen United States of North America, generally, all the lands, cities, territories, and possessions of the said thirteen States, which they may have and possess at present, and which they may have or possess in the future, with all their income, revenue, and produce, until the entire payment of this loan and the interests due thereon." My observation upon this was, that it demanded an extravagant security for a