destroy them. I must nevertheless regret that ruin, and wish that her injustice and tyranny had not deserved it. And I sometimes flatter myself that, old as I am, I may possibly live to see my country settled in peace and prosperity, when Britain shall make no more a formidable figure among the powers of Europe.

You put me in mind of an apology for my conduct, which has been expected from me, in answer to the abuses thrown upon me before the Privy Council. It was partly written, but the affairs of public importance I have ever since been engaged in prevented my finishing it. The injuries, too, that my country has suffered, have absorbed private resentments, and made it appear trifling for an individual to trouble the world with his particular justification, when all his compatriots were stigmatized by the king and Parliament as being, in every respect, the worst of mankind! I am obliged to you, however, for the friendly part you have always taken in the defence of my character; and it is indeed no small argument in my favor, that those who have known me most and longest, still love me and trust me with their most important interests, of which my election into the Congress by the unanimous voice of the Assembly, or Parliament, of Pennsylvania, the day after my arrival from England, and my present mission hither by the Congress itself, are instances incontestable.

I See the piece here mentioned, in Vol. V. It was never published by Franklin, and first appeared in William Temple Franklin's edition of his grandfather's works in 1816-17.-EDITOR.

DCXLIII

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE LORD GEORGE SACKVILLE GERMAINE, ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARIES OF STATE TO THE KING OF GREAT BRITAIN

PARIS, 7 February, 1777.

Whereas the schooner Dickenson with her cargo, which was the property of the Congress of the United States of America, was by an act of piracy in some of her crew carried into the port of Bristol in England, and there, as we are informed, was converted to the use of the government of Great Britain, and the perpetrators of so base and dishonest an action, the mate, etc., were rewarded instead of being punished for their wickedness,- -and whereas another

vessel with her cargo of tobacco, being also the property of the United States, or of some inhabitants of the same, was lately carried into the port of Liverpool, in England, by a similar act of treachery in her crew; and a third has in the same manner been carried into Halifax;

We therefore being commissioners plenipotentiary from the Congress of the United States of America, do, in their name and by their authority, demand from the court of Great Britain, a restitution of those vessels and their cargoes, or the full value of them; together with the delivery of the pirates into our hands, to be sent where they may be tried and punished as their crimes deserve.

We feel it our duty to humanity to warn the court of Great Britain of the consequences of protecting such offenders and of encouraging such actions as

and, by abolishing that monopoly which she labored under, she will profit infinitely more than enough to repay any debt which she may contract to accomplish it.

7. Respecting character in the honest payment of debts, the punctuality with which America has discharged her public debts was shown under the first head. And the general good disposition of the people to such punctuality has been manifested in their faithful payment of private debts to England, since the commencement of this war. There were

not wanting some politicians (in America), who proposed stopping that payment, until peace should be restored, alleging that, in the usual course of commerce, and of the credit given, there was always a debt existing equal to the trade of eighteen months; that, the trade amounting to five millions sterling per annum, the debt must be seven millions and a half; that this sum paid to the British merchants would operate to prevent that distress intended to be brought upon Britain by our stoppage of commerce with her; for the merchants, receiving this money, and no orders with it for further supplies, would either lay it out in public funds, or in employing manufacturers to accumulate goods for a future hungry market in America upon an expected accommodation, by which means the funds would be kept and the manufacturers prevented from murmuring. But against this it was alleged that injuries from ministers should not be revenged on merchants, that the credit was in consequence of private contracts made in confidence of good faith; that these

up

ought to be held sacred and faithfully complied with; for that, whatever public utility might be supposed to arise from a breach of private faith, it was unjust, and would in the end be found unwise, honesty being in truth the best policy. On this principle the proposition was universally rejected; and though the English prosecuted the war with unexampled barbarity, burning our defenceless towns in the midst of winter, and arming savages against us, the debt was punctually paid, and the merchants of London have testified to the Parliament, and will testify to all the world, that from their experience in dealing with us they had, before the war, no apprehension of our unfairness, and that, since the war, they have been convinced that their good opinion of us was well founded. England, on the contrary, an old, corrupt government, extravagant and profligate nation, sees herself deep in debt, which she is in no condition to pay, and yet is madly and dishonestly running deeper, without any possibility of discharging her debt but by a public bankruptcy.

It appears, therefore, from the general industry, frugality, ability, prudence, and virtue of America, that she is a much safer debtor than Britain; to say nothing of the satisfaction generous minds must have in reflecting that by loans to America they are opposing tyranny, and aiding the cause of liberty, which is the cause of all mankind.

DCXXXII

TO THE COMMITTEE OF SECRET CORRESPONDENCE

GENTLEMEN:-I arrived here

PARIS, 4 January, 1777.

about two weeks
Mr. Lee has since

since, where I found Mr. Deane.
joined us from London. We have had an audience
of the minister, Count de Vergennes, and were re-
spectfully received. We left for his consideration a
sketch of the proposed treaty. We are to wait upon
him to-morrow, with a strong memorial, requesting
the aids mentioned in our instructions. By his ad-
vice, we have had an interview with the Spanish Am-
bassador, Count d'Aranda, who seems well disposed
towards us, and will forward copies of our memorials
to his court, which will act, he says, in perfect con-
cert with this.

Their fleets are said to be in fine order, manned
and fit for sea. The cry of the nation is for us, but
the court, it is thought, views an approaching war
with reluctance. The press continues in England.
As soon as we can receive a positive answer from
these courts, we shall despatch an express with it. I
am, gentlemen, etc.,
B. FRANKLIN.

DCXXXIII

TO MRS. MARY HEWSON

PARIS, 12 January, 1777.

MY DEAR, DEAR POLLY:-Figure to yourself an old man with gray hair appearing under a martin