The Americans are received and treated here in France with a cordiality, a respect, and affection they never experienced in England when they most deserved it; and which is now (after all the pains taken to exasperate the English against them, and render them odious as well as contemptible) less to be expected there than ever. And I cannot see why we may not, upon an alliance, hope for a continuance of it, at least, as much as the Swiss enjoy, with whom France has maintained a faithful friendship for two hundred years past, and whose people appear to live here in as much esteem as the natives. America has been forced and driven into the arms of France. She was a dutiful and virtuous daughter. A cruel mother-in-law turned her out of doors, defamed her, and sought her life. All the world knows her innocence, and takes her part; and her friends hope soon to see her honorably married. They can never persuade her return and submission to so barbarous an enemy. In her future prosperity, if she forgets and forgives, it is all that can be reasonably expected of her. I believe she will make as good and useful a wife as she did a daughter, that her husband will love and honor her, and that the family from which she was so wickedly expelled, will long regret the loss of her.

I know not whether a peace with us is desired in England; I rather think it is not at present, unless on the old impossible terms of submission and receiving pardon. Whenever you shall be disposed to make peace upon equal and reasonable terms, you will find little difficulty, if you get first an honest ministry. The present have all along acted so deceitfully and

treacherously, as well as inhumanly, towards the Americans, that I imagine that the absolute want of all confidence in them to make a treaty, at present, between them and the Congress impracticable.

The subscription for the prisoners will have excellent effects in favor of England and Englishmen. The Scotch subscriptions for raising troops to destroy us, though amounting to much greater sums, will not do their nation half so much good. If you have an opportunity, I wish you would express our respectful acknowledgments and thanks to your committee and contributors, whose benefactions will make our poor people as comfortable as their situation can permit. Adieu, my dear friend. Accept my thanks for the excellent papers you enclosed to me. Your endeavors for peace, though unsuccessful, will always be a comfort to you, and in time, when this mad war shall be universally execrated, will be a solid addition to your reputation. I am ever, with the highest esteem, etc., B. FRANKLIN.

P. S.-An old friend of mine, Mr. Hutton, a chief of the Moravians, who is often at the queen's palace, and is sometimes spoken to by the king, was over here lately. He pretended to no commission, but urged me much to propose some terms of peace, which I avoided. He has written to me since his return, pressing the same thing, and expressing with some confidence his opinion, that we might have every thing short of absolute independence, etc. Enclosed I send my answers open, that you may read them, and, if you please, copy, before you deliver or forward them. They will serve to show you more

fully my sentiments, though they serve no other purpose.

B. F.

DCLXXVII

TO THOMAS CUSHING

PASSY, 21 February, 1778.

SIR: I received your favor by Mr. Austin, with your most agreeable congratulations on the success of the American arms in the Northern Department.'

I Surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga. The battle of Saratoga, which Colonel Creasy very properly rates among the ten great and decisive battles of history, resulted in the surrender of General Burgoyne with his whole army on the 17th October, 1777. Following the disasters of the colonial army at Germantown, this victory was most timely, and practically assured the ultimate victory of the American arms; for it secured to the colonies the open and cordial alliance of France. The news, which reached the American Commissioners at Passy on the 4th December, was received by the French with as fervent demonstrations of joy as if it was a victory achieved by their own arms. On the 12th a meeting of the French Cabinet was held, and on the 17th Gérard informed Franklin and his colleagues that the king had determined to acknowledge the independence of the revolted colonists, and to sign a treaty with them. In the same dispatch, in which the Commissioners were authorized to transmit this encouraging news to America, they were also enabled to announce to Congress the promise of 3,000,000 livres, with the prospect of an equal amount from Spain. A treaty of amity and commerce was signed on the 6th February, and at once sent out to America for ratification. The same day another treaty for a defensive alliance was concluded.

The news of Burgoyne's defeat and capture was sent out to the Commissioners in Paris by a special messenger, who was secretary to their Board of War, Mr. John Lothrop Austin; and a vessel was fitted up expressly for this business, such importance being very properly attached to the prompt delivery of this intelligence in Europe. He appears to have been expected when he arrived at Franklin's residence at Passy, for Deane, the Lees, Izard, Bancroft the spy, Beaumarchais, and probably de Chaumont, were at the door when the wheels of

In return, give me leave to congratulate you on the success of our negotiations here, in the completion of the two treaties with his most Christian Majesty: the one of amity and commerce, on the plan of that proposed by Congress, with some good additions; the other of alliance for mutual defence, in which the Mr. Austin were heard in the courtyard. The tradition goes that before the young man had time to alight, Franklin cried out:

"Is Philadelphia taken?"

"Yes, sir." *

Upon hearing this, Franklin clasped his hands as if to go back into the house. "But, sir," added Austin, "I have better news than that. General Burgoyne and his whole army are prisoners of war."

The news, said Deane some time after, when describing the scene, 'was like a sovereign cordial to the dying." It reached London on the night of December 2d, two days before it reached the Commissioners in Paris. Even in official circles the gravity of the disaster could not be disguised. Lord North said he was willing to resign his place if by so doing he could obtain peace. Gibbon, who reflected the less disguised inquietude of outside circles, wrote to Holroyd on the 4th December: "Dreadful news indeed! You will see them partly in the papers, and we have not yet any particulars. An English army of nearly ten thousand men laid down their arms and surrendered prisoners of war, on condition of being sent to England, and of never serving against America. They had fought bravely and were three days without eating. Burgoyne is said to have received three wounds; General Fraser with 2,000 men killed; Colonel Acland likewise killed. A general cry for peace.'

The immediate effect of this news was, as stated by King George to Lord North on the day it was received, "to entirely overturn every plan proposed for strengthening the army, under the command of Lieutenant-General Clinton, with an intent of carrying on an active war in North America. What occurs now is to fix what numbers are necessary to defend New York, Rhode Island, Nova Scotia, and the Floridas; it is a joke to think of keeping Pennsylvania."

Lord North was severely censured for ignorance of the proceedings of the French court since December preceding. His ignorance, however, has been questioned.

* Philadelphia had fallen into Sir William Howe's power on the 20th September It was felt as a severe blow in America and at Passy, but it did not dishearten Franklin. "Well, Doctor," said an Englishman to Franklin, "Howe has taken Philadelphia." "I beg your pardon, sir," was the reply; "Philadelphia has taken Howe." This jest, no doubt intended, in part at least, to mask depression, proved prophetic. See Browning's Bentham Vol. X., p. 527.

most Christian king agrees to make a common cause with the United States, if England attempts to obstruct the commerce of his subjects with them; and guarantees to the United States their liberty, sovereignty, and independence, absolute and unlimited, with all the possessions they now have, or may have,

On the 13th of March, 1778, the Marquis de Noailles, then French Ambassador in London, delivered to Lord Weymouth, the English Secretary of State, a note formally announcing the treaty of amity and commerce, as lately signed between France and the United States. It remarked that the United States are in full possession of independence, as proclaimed by them on the 4th of July, 1776, and then proceeded in the following ironical, not to say derisive, terms: "In making this communication to the Court of London, the king (of France) is firmly persuaded it will find therein new proofs of his Majesty's constant and sincere disposition for peace; and that his Britannic Majesty, animated by the same sentiments, will equally avoid every thing that may alter their good harmony; and he will particularly take effective measures to prevent the commerce between his Majesty's subjects and the United States of North America from being interrupted."

Four days later Lord North delivered in Parliament a message from the throne, stating the receipt of information from the French king, that he had concluded a treaty of amity and commerce with his Majesty's revolted subjects in America, in consequence of which offensive communication, the British Ambassador at Paris had been ordered home.

On the 24th of March, Gibbon wrote to Holroyd: "The French Ambassador went off yesterday morning, not without some slight expression of ill-humor from John Bull. Lord Stormont is probably arrived to-day."

The battle of Saratoga gave the Americans the services of a formidable fleet, abundant ammunition, and military supplies; as much money as they needed, and the no longer disguised sympathies of all Europe. The result, so far as the independence of the colonies was concerned, was already in sight.

General Burgoyne was an illegitimate son of Lord Bingley. He owed his first advance in life to a runaway match with the daughter of the Earl of Derby. Burgoyne was a brave officer, though an unfortunate general; he was an effective speaker and a successful writer for the stage. He was also one of the writers for the Rolliad. He died in June 1792, and his remains were honored with a resting-place in Westminster Abbey.-EDitor.