"Upon the whole, it did not appear to your committee, that his Lordship's commission contained any other authority of importance than what is expressed in the act of Parliament, namely, that of granting pardons, with such exceptions as the commissioners shall think proper to make, and of declaring America, or any part of it, to be in the King's peace, upon submission."

Speaking of this conference with Lord Howe, Mr. Adams, in his autobiography ("The Life and Works of John Adams," vol. iii. p. 79), says:

"Lord Howe was profuse in his expressions of gratitude to the State of Massachusetts for erecting a marble monument, in Westminster Abbey, to his elder brother, Lord Howe, who was killed in America in the last French war, saying, 'he esteemed that honor to his family above all things in this world. That such was his gratitude and affection to the country on that account that he felt for America as for a brother, and if America should fall,` he should feel and lament it like the loss of a brother.' Dr. Franklin, with an easy air and a collected countenance, a bow, a smile, and all that naïveté which sometimes appeared in his conversation, and is often observed in his writings, replied: 'My Lord, we will do our utmost endeavours to spare your Lordship that mortification.' His Lordship appeared to feel this with more sensibility than I could expect; but he only returned, 'I suppose you will endeavour to give us employment in Europe.'"-ED.

CHAPTER XIII.

Franklin's Mission to France-Complaints of Lord Stormont-Arrival in Passy-M. de Chaumont-Reception in Paris-Count de VergennesLord Stormont-Lafayette-Capture of Burgoyne-Treaty of Alliance with France.

To John Hancock, Presi

dent of Con

1776-1778.

IN thirty days after we left the Capes of Delaware, we came to an anchor in Quiberon gress, dated Bay. I remained on board four days, expecting a change of wind proper to carry the ship into the river Loire; but the wind seemed fixed in an opposite quarter. I landed at Aury, and with

Nantes, 8 December, 1776.

*The situation of the colonists had become so desperate, and the attitude of the English Parliament so menacing, that the Congress determined early in the spring of 1776 to send out a special agent to France, authorized to treat with the French ministry for aid in their unequal contest. Silas Deane, a native of Connecticut, a graduate of Yale College, part lawyer and part merchant, and at this time a member of the Congress, was selected for this mission. He received his instructions, and of the most minute character, from Dr. Franklin, at whose instigation, probably, the mission was determined upon.

The communication between the Old World and the New was in those days infrequent and hazardous. The campaign of that year had been disastrous. The battle of Long Island had been followed by the loss of New York and the retreat of the colonial army into Westchester County. Everything looked gloomy and unpromising for the "infant Hercules." At last, in

some difficulty got hither, the road not being well supplied with means of conveyance. Two days before we saw land, we met a brigantine from Bordeaux belonging to Cork, and

September, a letter was received by Dr. Franklin from his old friend Dubourg, of Paris, giving such an encouraging account of the dispositions of the French government towards the colonists, that Congress decided at once to send a special commission to Paris to mature as rapidly as possible the germinating sympathy of the French government and people.

On the first ballot Franklin was chosen unanimously. When the result was announced, he is reported to have turned to Dr. Rush, who was sitting near him, and said: "I am old and good for nothing; but as the storekeepers say of their remnants of cloth, 'I am but a fag end, you may have me for what you please.'"

On the next ballot Thomas Jefferson, then thirty-three years of age, was elected, and Silas Deane on the third. Mr. Jefferson was compelled, on account of the illness of his wife, to decline the mission, and, as if it was the purpose of Providence that no opportunity should be wanting to Franklin to bring into the fullest relief all of his virtues and wisdom, Arthur Lee was named in Mr. Jefferson's place.

Lee and Deane were in Europe. On the 26th day of October, just thirty days after he was elected, and in the seventieth year of his age, Franklin set out from Philadelphia on this new and perilous mission. He was accompanied by his two grandsons, William Temple Franklin, a comely boy of seventeen, a natural son of his own natural son William Franklin who was then a prisoner in Connecticut, and Benjamin Franklin Bache, a boy of seven, and the oldest son of his daughter Sally. They sailed from Marcus Hook in the Reprisal, a swift sloop of war of sixteen guns, under the command of Captain Wickes, on the 28th of October.

The writer of the "Correspondance secrète sur Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette," &c., vol. i. p. 2, gives the following account of Franklin's arrival in France and some of its immediate consequences:

"As soon as the British ambassador became apprised of the embarkation of Franklin, he sent an official note to M. de Vergennes, the conclusion of which was that the ambassador would quit France without taking leave, the moment permission was accorded to the chief of the rebels to set foot in Paris. We have replied, also officially, that a courier had been sent to the sea-port, to forbid the Doctor's coming to Paris, but that, uncertain of the time of his departure and of the route he would take, we could not be answerable for the execution of the King's intentions; that notwithstanding their desire to gratify to the utmost the wishes of the Court of London, if the Doctor were once in Paris, the government could scarcely push their com

There

another from Rochefort belonging to Hull, both of which were taken. The first had on board staves, tar, turpentine, and claret; the other cognac brandy and flaxseed. is some difficulty in determining what to do with them; as they are scarce worth sending to America, and the mind of the French court, with regard to prizes brought into their ports, is not yet known. It is certainly contrary to their treaties with Britain to permit the sale of them, and we have no regular means of trying and condemning them. There are, however, many here, who would purchase prizes; we having already had several offers from persons who are willing to take upon themselves all consequences as to the illegality. Captain Wickes, as soon as he can get his refreshment, intends to cruise in the Channel.

Our friends in France have been a good deal dejected with the Gazette accounts of advantages obtained against us by the British troops. I have helped them here to recover their spirits a little, by assuring them, that we still face the enemy, and were under no apprehension of their armies being able to complete their junction. I understand that Mr. Lee has lately been at Paris, and Mr. Deane is still there, and that an underhand supply is obtained from the

plaisance so far as to drive him away, and thus make a scandalous scene, in violation of the law of nations and the rights of hospitality. Besides, one could hardly conceive in France what influence the arrival of a simple individual, almost an octogenarian, could exert upon the relations of the two courts of France and England.

"I presume I have no occasion to translate these diplomatic phrases into our vernacular. Suffice it to say, Franklin arrived at Paris on the 22d December, and fixed the eyes of all the world on his slightest movements, always saying to those who wished to hear him, that he was there for no other purpose but to find a safe and quiet asylum to end his days. As I am unable at this moment to prove that he does not speak the truth, I shall delay sending you what our politicians give out upon the subject."—ED. VOL. II.-32

government of two hundred brass fieldpieces, thirty thousand firelocks, and some other military stores, which are now shipping for America, and will be convoyed by a ship of war. The court of England (M. Penet tells me, from whom I have the above intelligence,) had the folly to demand. Mr. Deane to be delivered up, but were refused.

Our voyage, though not long, was rough, and I feel myself weakened by it; but I now recover strength daily, and in a few days shall be able to undertake the journey to Paris. I have not yet taken any public character, thinking it prudent first to know whether the court is ready and willing to receive ministers publicly from the Congress; that we may neither embarrass it on the one hand, nor subject ourselves to the hazard of a disgraceful refusal on the other. I have despatched an express to Mr. Deane, with the letters that I had for him from the Committee, and a copy of our commission, that he may immediately make the proper inquiries, and give me information. In the mean time I find it generally supposed here, that I am sent to negotiate; and that opinion appears to give great pleasure, if I can judge by the extreme civilities I meet with from numbers of the principal people, who have done me the honor to visit me.

I have desired Mr. Deane, by some speedy and safe means, to give Mr. Lee notice of his appointment. I find several vessels here laden with military stores for America, just ready to sail. On the whole, there is the greatest prospect that we shall be well provided for another campaign, and much stronger than we were last. A Spanish fleet has sailed with seven thousand land forces foot, and some horse. Their destination is unknown, but supposed against the Portuguese in Brazil. Both France and England