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 Carthagene, the Government of England ordered 3000 men to be raised in America and transports with provisions &c. to be furnished, for the amount of which expence bills were ordered to be drawn on the treasury at London. This adventitious quantity of bills coming into market, and being more than the common course of the commerce required, occasioned the lowering of their price 421 per cent, below the rate before accustomed.,

The like happened a few years after, when on a prospect of short crops of corn in Europe, orders were received in America to purchase and send over vast quantities, and to draw bills and sell them in the country in order to raise money for the purchase. This sudden addition to the quantity of bills produced a fall of 40 per cent in their price. And this must always happen in some proportion when the quantity of any article in commerce exceeds the present demand.

And when it is considered that the merchants of America are numerous and dispersed through 13 different provinces, at great distance from each other, such a combination

will appear as improbable, as that the farmers in France should combine to raise the price of wheat.

With regard to the English commerce, there is none certainly but what is contraband, and there can be no temptation to such contraband, but for particular commodities that are cheaper there than in France. The quantity therefore cannot be great. Such contraband is found difficult to prevent in all' countries. It is carried on at this time between France and England. But there are many commodities much cheaper in France, such as wines, silks, oil, modes, &c. which will be of great consumption in America; and when correspondencies are once settled, and the people there become acquainted with the manufactures of France, the demand for them will increase, these manufactures will of course be improved in goodness and cheapness, and the trade continue to augment accordingly.

It is difficult to change suddenly the whole current of connections, correspondencies and confidences that subsist between merchants, and carry them all into a new channel, but time and a continuance of friendship will make great alterations. B. FRANKLIN.

TO THE HON. ROBERT MORRIS, ESQ. Superintendant of the Finances of the United States.

DEAR SIR,

Passy, July 26, 1781.

I have just received your very friendly letter of the 6th of June past, announcing your appointment to the superintendance of our finances. This gave me great pleasure, as from your intelligence, integrity, and abilities,

there is reason to hope every advantage the public can possibly receive from such an office. You are wise in estimating before hand, as the principal advantage you can expect, the consciousness of having done service to your country. For the business you have undertaken is of so complex a nature, and must engross so much of your time and attention as necessarily to hurt your private interests; and the public is often niggardly even of its thanks, resembling those little dirty stinking insects, that attack us only in the dark, disturb our repose, molesting and wounding us while our sweat and blood is contribu ting to their subsistence. Every assistance that my situation here, as long as it continues, may enable me to afford you, shall certainly be given. For besides my affection for the glorious cause we are both engaged in, I value myself upon your friendship, and shall be happy if mine can be made of any use to you. With great and sincere esteem, I am ever, dear Sir, &c. &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

P. S. With this I shall send an answer to your official letter of June 8.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY J. ADAMS, ESQ. Capitulation of Lord Cornwallis.-General Greene. [EXTRACT.]

Passy, Nov. 26, 1781.

"I sent forward last Saturday some packets and letters for you, which I hope got to hand in time: most heartily do I congratulate you on the glorious news! The infant Hercules in his cradle has now strangled his second

serpent, and gives hopes that his future history will be answerable. I inclose a packet which I have just received from General Washington, and which I suppose contains the articles of capitulation. It is a rare circumstance and scarce to be met with in history, that in one war two armies should be taken prisoners completely, not a man in either escaping. It is another singular circumstance, that an expedition so complex, formed of armies of different nations, and of land and sea-forces, should with such perfect concord be assembled from different places by land and water, form their junction punctually, without the least retard by cross accidents of wind or weather, or interruption from the enemy; and that the army which was the object should in the mean time have the goodness to quit a situation from whence it might have escaped, and place itself in another whence an escape was impossible.

General Greene has done wonders too in Carolina. I hear that a reinforcement was to be sent him from the army in Virginia, and that there are hopes of his reducing Charlestown. You have probably in the enclosed packet the account of his last great action. Comte de Grasse sailed the 30th with the fleet, and part of the land-forces. His destination is not mentioned.

To SIR EDWARD NEWENHAM, BART. IRELAND. Dungannon Resolutions.-Trade between Ireland and

DEAR SIR,

America.

Passy, Oct. 2, 1783. I have just received your very kind letter of the 16th past. I rejoice sincerely to hear of your safe return to your own country, family and friends, and of the success of your election.

It is a pleasing reflection arising from the contemplation of our successful struggle, and the manly, spirited, and unanimous resolves at Dungannon, that liberty, which some years since appeared in danger of extinction, is now regaining the ground she had lost, that arbitrary governments are likely to become more mild, and reasonable, and to expire by degrees, giving place to more equitable forms; one of the effects this of the art of printing which diffuses so general a light, augmenting with the growing day, and of so penetrating a nature, that all the window shutters despotism and priestcraft can oppose to keep it out, prove insufficient.

In answer to your question respecting what may be necessary to fix a trade between Ireland and America, I may acquaint you between ourselves, that there is some truth in the report you may have heard, of our desiring to know of Mr. Hartley whether he was empowered or instructed to include Ireland in the treaty of commerce proposed to ns, and of his sending for instructions on that head, which never arrived. That treaty is yet open, may possibly be soon resumed, and it seems proper that something should be contained in it to prevent the doubts and misunderstandings that may hereafter arise on the subject, and secure to Ireland the same advantages in trade that England may obtain. You can best judge whether some law or resolution of your parliament may not be of use towards gaining that point.

My grandson joins me in wishes of every kind of felicity for you, Lady Newenham, and all your amiable family. God bless you and give success to your constant endeavours for the welfare of your country. With true and great respect and esteem, I have the honor to be &c. B. FRANKLIN.