of the treaties already fubfifting between his most chrif- 1779% tian majefty and the faid ftates, but the fame fhall be taken and understood as explanatory of and conformable to thofe treaties."

The honorable Sieur Gerard, minifter plenipotentiary Sept. of France, had a private audience of congrefs in order 17 to his taking leave of them; when he mentioned in his fpeech his majesty's having fent a new minifter plenipotentiary to America, that there might be no interruption in his care to cultivate a mutual friendship, and that Monf. the chevalier de la Luzerne would explain to them his majefty's fentiments. The complimental anfwer which followed of courfe need not be related. The day after, the following inftructions to the minister plenipotentiary for negotiating with the court of Spain were prepared-Sir-Congrefs have come to the fol lowing refolution, That if his catholic majefty fhall ac cede to the treaties between France and the United States of America, and in concurrence with them continue the prefent war with. Great Britain for the purpofe expreffed in the treaties aforefaid, he fhall not thereby be precluded! from fecuring to himself the Floridas: on the contrary, if he fhall obtain the Floridas from Great Britain, these United States will guarantee the fame to his catholic majefty; provided alway that the United States fhall en joy the free navigation of the river Miffiffippi into and from the fea.. You are therefore to communicate to his most christian majefty, the defire of congrefs to enter into a treaty of alliance, and of amity and commerce, with his catholic majefty, and to requeft his favorable interpofition for that purpofe; at the fame time you are to make fuch propofals to his catholic majefty as in

1

1779. your judgment, from circumftances, will be proper for obtaining for the United States of America, equal advantages with thofe which are fecured to them by the treaties with his moft chriftian majefty, obferving alway the refolution aforefaid as the ultimatum of thefe. United States. You are particularly to endeavour to obtain some convenient port or ports below the 31° of north latitude on the river Miffiffippi free for all merchant veffels, goods, wares and merchandife belonging to the inhabitants of thefe ftates. The diftreffed state of our finances, and the great depreciation of our paper money, incline congrefs to hope, that his catholic majesty, if he shall conclude a treaty with the ftates, will be induced to lend them money; you are therefore to reprefent to him the great diftrefs of thefe ftates on that account, and to folicit a loan of five millions of dollars upon the best terms in your power, not exceeding fix" per cent. per ann. effectually to enable them to co-operate with the allies against the common enemy: but before you make any proposals to his catholic majesty for a loan, you are to endeavour to obtain a fubfidy in confideration of the guarantee aforefaid."

Sept. Saturday the 25th, it was "refolved that congrefs 25 proceed to the nomination of a proper perfon for negotiating a treaty of peace." Mr. John Adams and Mr. Jay were propofed; and an adjournment took place to ten o'clock of the next day, when the members ballotted. The votes were divided, and there was no election. They ballotted again, and it was the fame: the ballotting therefore was poftponed, and congrefs " refolved, that a minister plenipotentiary be appointed to negotiate a treaty of alliance, and of amity and commerce, be

tween the United States of America and his catholic 1779. majesty. Mr. Arthur Lee, Mr. John Adams, and Mr. Jay, were nominated. On the Monday the ballots were taken, and Mr. Jay was elected. Then followed the choice by ballot of a minifter plenipotentiary for negotiating a treaty of peace and a treaty of commerce with Great Britain, when Mr. John Adams was elected. This election was no ground of joy to Mr. Gerard. His wishes and intereft were in favor of Mr. Jay's being appointed to negotiate with Great Britain; while the latter was wrongfully fufpected by the New England delegates, as being in no wife ftrenuously difpofed to fecure the fisheries. Thefe delegates were fixed upon having Mr. J. Adams intrusted with that business, as they could confide in his fteady determination never to lofe fight of it, whatever might be the pleas and pretences of politicians. They could acquiefce in Mr. Jay's election to negotiate with the court of Madrid, as it paved the way for the carrying of their main point. Two days after, Mr. William Carmichael was elected fecretary to Mr. Jay; Mr. Francis Dana to Mr. Adams; and lieut. col. Laurens to Dr. Franklin. Mr. Jay's oa. letter of credence was figned at Philadelphia the 15th of 15. October, when congrefs" refolved, That the following additional instructions be given to the minifter plenipotentiary for negotiating with his catholic majefty-" Sir— You are to use your utmost endeavours for obtaining permiffion for the citizens and inhabitants of these states, to lade and take on board their veffels, falt at the island of Salt Tortuga; and alfo to cut, load and bring away, logwood and mahogany in and from the Bay of Honduras and its rivers, and to build on the fhores, stores,

1779-houses and magazines for the wood cutters and their families, in the extent ceded to his Britannic majesty by the 17th article of the definitive treaty, concluded at Paris the 10th of February, 1763, or in as great extent as can be obtained." Before the month was out, da. Mr. Jay failed for Europe in company with Mr. Gerard. 21. October the 21ft, the honorable Henry Laurens efq.

was elected by ballot to negotiate a loan in Holland: on the ift of the next month he was chofen to negotiate a treaty of amity and commerce with the united pro

vinces of the low countries.

Sept. September the 1ft, congrefs refolved, that they would, on no account, emit more bills of credit than to make the whole amount of them two hundred millions of dollars.

33.

They addreffed a long letter to their conftituents upon their finances. By that it appears,, that the taxes had brought into the treafury no more than 3,027,560 dollars, and that all the monies fupplied by the people of America, amounted to no more than 36,761,665 dollars and 67-90ths, that being the fum of the loans and taxes then received. It holds up to the imagination, the ability of the United States to pay their whole national debt, though at the clofe of the war it fhould amount to three hundred millions of dollars, with ease in the course of twenty years; and while doing it, by inverse, romantic reafoning, reprefents the paper currency as a blessing at the expence of fcripture language "Let it alfo be remembered, that paper money is the only kind of money which cannot make unto itself wings and fly away: it remains with us, it will not forfake us, it is always ready and at hand for the purpose of com

merce and taxes, and every induftrious man can find 1779 it." The letter proceeds to fhow, that the people not only collectively by their reprefentatives, but individually, have pledged their faith for the redemption of their bills, and that they poffefs a political capacity of doing it. Then comes a question, "Whether there is any reason to apprehend a wanton violation of the public faith?" Congress fay upon it" It is with great regret and reluctance, that we can prevail upon ourselves to take the least notice of a queftion, which involves in it a doubt fo injurious to the honor and dignity of America. We fhould pay an ill compliment to the understanding and honor of every true American, were we to adduce many arguments to fhow the baseness or bad. policy of violating our national faith, or omitting to pursue the measures neceffary to preferve it. A bankrupt faithless republic would be a novelty in the political world, and appear, among reputable nations, like a common prostitute among chafte and refpectable ma

trons.

We are convinced, that the efforts and arts of our enemies will not be wanting to draw us into this humiliating and contemptible fituation. Impelled by malice, and the fuggeftions of chagrin and disappointment, at not being able to bend our necks to their yoké, they will endeavour to force or feduce us to commit this unpardonable sin, in order to fubject us to the punishment due to it, and that we may thenceforth be a reproach and a by-word among the nations. Apprized of these confequences, knowing the value of national character, and impreffed with a due sense of the immutable laws of juftice and honor, it is impoffible that America fhould think without horror of fuch an exe