Besides, we cannot see the necessity of our relinquishing our alliance with France in order to a treaty, any more than of your relinquishing yours with Holland. I am, very affectionately, yours,

N. A.'

DCCLVI

TO DAVID HARTLEY

PASSY, 22 February, 1779.

DEAR SIR: I received your favor of Jan. 23d, containing the answer you had received from the board of sick and hurt, in which they say they are taking measures for the immediate sending to France the number of Americans first proposed to be changed, etc. I have heard nothing since of the measures taken. The prisoners grow more and more uneasy with us. with us. They are told that we neglect them. We sent the passport required in September last. We were soon after assured that a transport was actually taken up and victualled for one hundred men, to be sent to France with so many prisoners. That vessel has never appeared. We rely'd on the agreement to exchange, and the promise of doing it speedily. And we advised our people thereupon not to attempt escapes. We seem to have been deceived or trifled with; but perhaps it is rather owing to the multiplicity of business the board has on its hands, and your important occupations not permitting you

I North America. The letter was written by Dr. Franklin, but signed with these initials.

to follow it with such frequent solicitation as are necessary to keep up its attention to this particular affair. I have therefore thought of sending over a person for that purpose, impowering him to stipulate readily, without the delay attending letters. By this means I would save you some of that trouble which your goodness and humanity might otherwise continue to lead you into. I would only desire you at present to procure a safe conduct; his name is Edward Bancroft. He is a gentleman of character and honor, who will punctually observe such restrictions respecting his conduct when in England as it may be thought reasonable to lay him under. If this is or is not obtainable, I beg you will signify it by a line directed for him at M. Leveaux's, merchant in Calais; and that as soon as possible, that he may not be fruitlessly detained long there in expectation of it.

DCCLVII

TO COUNT DE VERGENNES

PASSY, 25 February, 1779.

As the enemy seem determined upon another campaign, I beg leave to communicate and submit to your Excellency's consideration some sentiments of Congress on certain operations in North America, which they conceive to be practicable and highly advantageous to the interests both of France and the United States.

While the English continue to possess the ports of

one person who should be accountable for them. And if there were not some particular reasons to influence another choice, I should suppose the first person named in the commission might with great propriety take charge of them. I am sure that if you had been that person, I should have made no objection to it. Mr. Adams having a room more convenient and more private than mine, and in which he lodged, I approved of his keeping the papers; he has voluntarily returned me all he had without asking, and I thought asking was only necessary to obtain the rest from you; for the whole business, which before was transacted by us jointly, being now devolved on me, and as there must be frequent occasion to look back on letters received, memorials delivered, accounts given in, contracts made, etc., etc., which, if I cannot have the opportunity of doing, I must be frequently at a loss in future transactions. I did not imagine I should have any difficulty in obtaining them; nor had I the least idea that my asking for them would occasion any dispute. I suppose that the papers Mr. Deane mentions to have taken and secured were those only that related to his separate commercial transactions for the public before his appointment with us in the political commission. If he took away any of the papers we were jointly concerned in, I conceive he was wrong in doing so, and that his doing wrong would not justify the rest of us in following his example. I can have no desire to deprive you of any paper that may be of use to you in answering Mr. Deane's accusations, having no concern in them nor interest

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The Works of Benjamin Franklin [17 in supporting them. On the contrary, if any pape remaining in my hands can be of such use to yo you are welcome to have authenticated copies them (which shall on request be made out for yo as well as of any others "evidencing our joint tra actions" which you may desire. On the whole seems to me that this matter may be reasona settled by your keeping, if you please, all th originals of which there are duplicates at Pas retaining for a time such of the rest as you desire copy, which copies, being compared by us with originals, may be authenticated by our joint sig tures; and returning immediately all the oth docketed and catalogued, as you please, so as t you may know what and where they are, and for a copy of any of them you may hereafter h occasion for, which shall always be given you.

If these propositions are agreed to, the affair soon be settled; if not, I must wait the order Congress, and in the meantime do as well as I with their business, which, I think, must often s by my want of the knowledge those papers m occasionally furnish me with.

I have the honor to be with great respect, etc. B. FRANKL

END OF VOLUME VII.