of florins, which it is said is likely to succeed, will supply the deficiency.

By the newspapers I have sent, you will see that the general disposition of the British nation towards us had been changed. Two persons have been sent here by the new ministers, to propose treating for peace. They had at first some hopes of getting the belligerent powers to treat separately, one after another, but finding that impracticable, they have after several messengers sent to and fro, come to a resolution of treating with all together for a general peace, and have agreed that the place shall be Paris. Mr. Grenville is now here with full powers for that purpose, (if they can be reckoned full with regard to America, till a certain act is completed for enabling his majesty to treat, &c. which has gone through the commons, and has been once read in the lords.) I keep a very particular journal of what passes every day, in the affair, which is transcribing to be sent you. I shall therefore need to say no more of it in this letter, except that though I still think they were at first sincere in their desire of peace, yet since their success in the West Indies, I imagine that I see marks of their desiring rather to draw the negociations into length, that they may take the chance of what the rest of the campaign shall produce in their favor; and as there are so many interests to adjust, it will be prudent for us to suppose, that even another campaign may pass before all can be agreed. Something too may happen to break off the negociations, and we should be prepared for the worst. I hoped for the assistance of Mr. Adams and Mr. Laurens. The first is too much engaged in Holland to come hither, and the other declines serving; but I have now the satisfaction of being joined by Mr. Jay, who happily arrived here from Madrid last Sunday. The marquis de la Fayette is of real use in our affairs here, and as the campaign is not likely to be very active in North America, I wish I may be able to prevail with him to stay a few weeks longer. By him you will receive the journal abovementioned, which is already pretty volumnius, and yet the negociations cannot be said to be opened.

Ireland you will see has obtained all her demands triumphantly. I meet no one from that country who does not express some obligation to America for their success.

Before I received your just observations on the subject, I had obtained for the English ministers a resolution to exchange all our prisoners. They thought themselves obliged to have an act of parliament for authorising the king to do it. This war being different from others, as made by an act of parliament declaring us rebels, and our people being committed as for high treason. I empowered Mr. Hodgson, who was chairman of the committee that collected and dispensed the charitable subscription for the American prisoners, to treat and conclude on terms of their discharge, and having approved of the draft he sent me of the agreement, I hope the congress will see fit to order a punctual execution of it. I have long suffered with those poor brave men, who with so much public virtue have endured four or five years hard imprisonment, rather than serve against their country. I have done all I could afford towards making their situations more comfortable; but their numbers was so great, that I could do but little for each; and that defrauded them of between three very great villain ... and four hundred pounds, which he drew from me on their account. He lately wrote me a letter, in which he pretended he was coming to settle with me, and to convince me that I had been mistaken with regard to his conduct; but he never appeared, and I hear he is gone to America. Beware of him, for he is very artful, and has cheated many. I hear every day of new rogueries committed by him in England.

The embassador from Sweden to this court applied to me lately, to know if I had powers that would authorise my making a treaty with his master, in behalf of the United States. Recollecting a general power that was formerly given to me with the other commissioners, I answered in the affirmative. He seemed much pleased, and said the king had directed him to ask the question, and had charged him to tell me, that he had so great an esteem formed, that it would be a par

ticular satisfaction to him to leave such a transaction with me. I have perhaps some vanity in repeating this, but I think too that it is right that congress should know it, and judge if any use may be made of the reputation of a citizen for the public service. In case it should be thought fit to employ me in that business, it will be well to send a more particular power and proper instructions. The embassador added, that it was a pleasure to him to think, and he hoped it would be remembered, that Sweden was the first power in Europe which had voluntarily offered its friendship to the United States, without being solicited. This affair should be talked of as little as possible, till completed.

I enclose another complaint from Denmark, which I request you will lay before congress.

I am continually pestered with complaints from French seamen, who were with captain Conynham in his first cruize from Dunkirk, from others who were in the Lexington, the Alliance, &c. being put on board prizes that were re-taken, were never afterwards able to join their respective ships, and so have been deprived of the wages, &c. due to them. It is for our national honor that justice would be done them, if possible; and I wish you to procure an order from congress for inquiring into their demands, and satisfying such as shall be found just. It may be addressed to the consul.

I enclose a note from M. de Vergennes to me, accompanied by a memoire relating to a Swiss who died at Edenton. If you can procure the information desired, it will much oblige the French embassador in Switzerland.

I have made the addition you directed to the cypher. I rather prefer the old one of Dumas, perhaps because I am more used to it. I enclose several letters from that ancient and worthy servant of our country. He is now employed as secretary to Mr. Adams, and I must, from a long experience of his zeal and usefulness, beg leave to recommend him warmly to the consideration of congress with regard to his appointments, which have never been equal to his merit. As Mr. Adams writes me the good news,

that he shall no longer be obliged to draw on me, for his salary. I suppose it will be proper to direct his paying that which shall be allowed to M. Dumas.

Be pleased to present my duty to the congress, and believe me to be with great esteem and regard, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

SIR,

Count de Vergennes to Dr. Franklin.

Versailles, April 23, 1782.

THE Baron de Blome has just sent me the annexed memorial, and the only use I can make of it is to communicate it to you, persuaded that you will forward it to congress.

I have the honor to be, &c.

DE VERGENNES.

Complaint from Denmark against an American privateer, called the

Henry.

NOTE.

THE court of Denmark has been informed that the ship Providence of Christiana in Norway, destined from London for St. Thomas's, a Danish island, with a cargo of divers merchandize, has been stopped in the latitude of Antigua by an American privateer called the Henry, captain Thomas Benson, and has been conducted into a port of New England, under the pretence that the cargo might be English property.

As this act is prejudicial to the credit, security, and liberty of the Danish flag; the underwritten has been charged by order of his court to communicate the same to his excellency the count de Vergennes, requesting that he will be pleased to effect, by his intervention, a prompt and entire restitution of the said vessel and cargo, with damages proportioned to the unjust detention; and that he will be kind enough at the same time, to endeavor to obtain that precise orders be given to the American privateers not to

trouble, in any wise the navigation and commerce of Den mark, but to respect its flag.

The court has the greater right to expect this compliance on the part of the Americans, as they continue to enjoy every liberty, and to find every assistance in its American islands, and they will always experience the same kind treatment on the part of Denmark, provided they correspond by proceed. ings equally amicable.

From the Count de Vergennes, transmitting a memoir from John James Vallier, a Swiss subject.

u

THE count de Vergennes has the honor to send to Mr. Franklin a memorial, which has been addressed to him by the king's embassador in Switzerland. He requests that he will inform him of whatever answer he may receive to it.

To Robert R. Livingston, Esq. Secretary for Foreign affairs. Passy, June 29, 1782.

SIR, IN mine of the 25th inst. I omitted mentioning, that, at the repeated earnest instances of Mr. Laurens, who had given such expectations to the ministry of England, when his parole or securities were discharged, as that he could not think himself at liberty to act in public affairs till the parole of lord Cornwallis was absolved by me in exchange. I sent to that general the paper of which the enclosed is a copy; and I see by the English papers that his lordship immediately on the receipt of it has appeared at court, and has taken his seat in the house of peers, which he did not before think warrantable. My authority for doing this appeared questionable to myself, but Mr. Laurens judged it deducible from that respecting general Burgoyne, and, by

u This memorial from John James Vallier, a Swiss subject of the Canton of Soleure, bailiwic of Fleumenthal, that related to John Vallier, a younger bro ther, who died at Edenton, North Carolina, in the house of Mr. Francis la Fond, a Frenchman, from Bourdeaux. Its design appears meerly to ascertain the truth of his death.

U