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while the present madman has the choice of ministers. You desire to know whether I am satisfied with the ministers here? It is impossible for any body to be more so. I see they exert themselves greatly in the common cause, and do every thing for us they can. We can wish for nothing more, unless our great want of money should make us wish for a subsidy, to enable us to act more vigorously in expelling the enemy from their remaining posts, and reducing Canada. But their own expences are so great, that I cannot press such an addition to it. I hope however that we shall get some supplies of arms and ammunition; and perhaps, when they can be spared, some ships to aid in reducing New York and Rhode Island. At present I know of no good opportunity of writing to America. There are merchant ships continually going, but they are very uncertain conveyances. I long to hear of your safe arrival in England: but the winds are adverse, and we must have patience. With the sincerest esteen and respect, I am, ever &c. B. FRANKLIN.

TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, AT HAVRE,

SIR,

(With the Sword ordered by Congress.).

Passy, Aug. 24, 1779.

The Congress, sensible of your merit towards the United States, but unable adequately to reward it, determined to present you with a Sword, as a small mark of their grateful acknowledgment. They directed it to be ornamented with suitable devices. Some of the principal actions of the war in which you distinguished yourself by your bravery and conduct, are therefore represented upon it. These with a few emblematic figures all admirably

well executed make its principal value. By the help of the exquisite artists France affords, I find it easy to express every thing but the sense we have of your worth and our obligations to you. For this, figures and even words are I therefore only add, that with the most perfect esteem and respect, I have the honour to be, &c. B. FRANKLIN,

found insufficient.

P. S. My Grandson goes to Havre with the sword, and will have the honour of presenting it to you.

'SIR,

THE MARQUIS'S REPLY.

Havre, August 29, 1779.

Whatever expectations might have been raised

from the sense of past favors, the goodness of the United States for me has ever been such, that on every occasion it far surpasses any idea I could have conceived. A new proof of that flattering truth, I find in the noble present, which congress have been pleased to honor me with, and which is offered in such a manner by your excellency as will exceed any thing, but the feelings of my unbounded gratitude. Some of the devices I cannot help finding too honorable a reward for those slight services, which in concert with my fellow soldiers, and under the godlike American hero's orders, I had the good luck to render. The sight of these actions, where I was a witness of American bravery and patriotic spirit, I shall ever enjoy with that pleasure which becomes a heart glowing with love for the nation, and the most ardent zeal for their glory and happiness.

Assurances of gratitude, which I beg leave to present to your excellency, are much inadequate to my feelings, and

nothing but those sentiments may properly acknowledge your kindness towards me. The polite manner in which Mr. Temple Franklin was pleased to deliver that inestimable sword, lays me under great obligations to him, and demands my particular thanks.

With the most perfect respect, I have the honor to be, &c. LA FAYETTE. ¡

TO JOHN JAY, ESQ. PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
[EXTRACT.]
Passy, Oct. 4. 1779.

"We had reason to expect some great events from the action of the fleets this summer in the Channel, but they are all now in port without having effected any thing. The junction was late, and the length of time the Brest squadron was at sea, (equal to an East India voyage,) partly on the hot Spanish coast, occasioned a sickness among the people that made their return necessary: they had chased the English fleet, which refused the combat. The sick men are recovering fast since they were landed; and the proposed descent on England does not yet seem to be quite given up, as the troops are not withdrawn from the ports. Holland has not yet granted the succours required by the English, nor even given an answer to the requisition presented by Sir Joseph Yorke. The aids will be refused, and as the refusal must be disagreeable, it is postponed from time to time. The expectations of assistance from Russia and Prussia seem also to have failed the English, and they are as much at a loss to find effective friends in Europe, as they have been in America. Portugal seems to have a better disposition towards us than heretofore. About thirty of our people taken, and set

ashore on one of her islands by the English, were maintained comfortably by the governor during their stay there, furnished with every necessary, and sent to Lisbon, where, ar inquiry to whom payment was to be made for the expence they had occasioned, they were told that no reimbursement was expected, that it was the queen's bounty, who had a pleasure in shewing hospitality to strangers in distress. I have presented thanks by the Portuguese ambassador here in behalf of the congress: and I am given to understand that probably, in a little time, the ports of that nation will be as open to us as those of Spain. What relates to Spain I suppose Mr. Lee informs you of.

The sword ordered by congress for the marquis de la Fayette, being at length finished, I sent it down to him at Havre, where he was with the troops intended for the invasion. I wrote a letter with it, and received an answer, copies of both which I enclose, together with a description of the sword, and drawings of the work upon it, which was executed by the best artists in Paris, and cost altogether two hundred guineas. The present has given him great pleasure, and some of the circumstances have been agreeable to the nation.

Our cartel goes on; a second cargo of American prisoners, one hundred and nineteen in number, being arrived and exchanged. Our privateers have dismissed a great number at sea, taking their written paroles, to be given up in exchange for so many of our people in their gaols. This is not yet quite agreed to on the other side, but some expectations are given me that it may take place. Certainly humanity would find its account in the practice of exchanging upon parole, as all the horrors of imprison

ment, with the loss of time and health, might be prevented by it.

We continue to insult the coasts of these lords of the ocean with our little cruisers. A small cutter, which was fitted out as a privateer at Dunkirk, called the Black Prince, has taken, ransomed, burnt, and destroyed above thirty sail of their vessels within these three months. The owners are about to give her a consort, called the Black Princess, for whom they ask a commission. The prison ers brought in, serve to exchange our countrymen, which makes me more willing to encourage such armaments, though they occasion a good deal of trouble.

Captain, now commodore, Jones, put to sea this summer with a little squadron consisting of a ship of forty gun the Alliance, another frigate of twenty, with some armed utters, all under American colors, with gress commisions. He has sent in several prizes, has greatly alarmed the coast of Ireland Seoland; and we just now hear, that going north about, he bei in with a number of ships from the Baltic, convoyed by a fifty gun ship and a twenty four gun frigate, both of which he took after an obstinate engagement, and forced several of the otheis ashore. This news is believed, but we wait the ran 'nation and the particulars.

Since writing the above, I have received the following farther particulars of the action between comni re Jones ad the English, men of war. The 44 gun slip is new, Javing been but six months off the stocks, she is called the Serapis the other of 20 guns is the Countess of Scarborough. He had before taken a number of valuable prizes, partict a rich ship bound to Quebec, which we have sent to America. The English from

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