r

God will finish his work, and establish their freedom: and the lovers of liberty will flock from all parts of Europe with their fortunes to participate with us of that freedom-as soon as the peace is restored.

I am exceedingly pleased with your account of the French politeness and civility, as it appeared among the officers and people of their fleet. They have certainly advanced in those respects many degrees beyond the English. I find them here a most amiable nation to live with. The Spaniards are by common opinion supposed to be cruel, the English. proud, the Scotch insolent, the Dutch avaricious, &c. but I think the French have no national vice ascribed to them. They have some frivolities, but they are harmless. To dress their heads so that a hat cannot be put on them, and then wear their hats under their arms, and to fill their noses with tobacco, may be called follies perhaps, but they are not vices, they are only the effects of the tyranny of custom. In short there is nothing wanting in the character of a Frenchman that belongs to that of an agreeable and worthy man. They have only some trifles, a surplus of which might be spared.s

Will you permit me, while I do them this justice, to hint a little censure on our own country people? which I do in good-will, wishing the cause removed. You know the necessity we are under of supplies from Europe, and the difficulty we have at present in making returns. The interest bills would do a good deal towards purchasing arms, ammunition, cloathing, sailcloth, and other necessaries for defence. Upon enquiry of those who present those bills to me for acceptance, what the money is to be laid out in, I find that most of it is for superfluities, and

more than half of it for tea! How unhappily in this instance the folly of our people, and the avidity of our merchants, concur to weaken and impoverish our country! I formerly computed that we consumed before the war, in that single article, the value of 500,000 sterling annually. Much of this was saved by stopping the use of it. I honoured the virtuous resolution of our women in foregoing that little gratification, and I lament that such virtue should be of so short duration! Five hundred thousand pounds sterling annually laid out in defending ourselves or annoying our enemies would have great effects. With what face can we ask aids and subsidies from our friends while we are wasting our own wealth in such prodigality? With great and sincere esteem, I am, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, AT HAVRE DE

I have just now received your favour of the 17th. I wrote to you a day or two ago, and have little to add. You ask my opinion what conduct the English will probably hold on this occasion,' and whether they will not rather propose a negociation for a peace: I have but one rule to go by in judging of those people, which is, that whatever is prudent for them to do they will comit; and what is most imprudent to be done, they will do it. This, like other general rules, may sometimes have its exceptions; but I think it will hold good for the most part, at least while the present ministry continues, or rather

Mini Proposed descent of a French army in England.

while the present madman has the choice of ministers. You: desire to know whether bam satisfied with the ministers here? It is impossible for any body to be more so. I see they exert themselves greatly in the common cause, and do every thing for us they can. We can wish for nothing more, unless our great want of money should make us wish for a subsidy, to enable us to acto more vigorously in expelling the enemy from their remaining posts, and reducing Canada. But their own expences are so great, that I cannot press such an addition to it. I hope however that we shall get some supplies of arms and ammunition; and perhaps, when they can be spared, some ships to aid in reducing New York and Rhode Island. At present I know of no good opportunity of writing to America. There are merchant ships continually going, but they are very uncertain conveyances. I long to hear of your safe arrival in England: but the winds are adverse, and we must have patience.

With the sincerest
B. FRANKLIN

b-TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, AT HAVRE

(With the Sword ordered by Congress.)

P

Passy, Aug. 24, 1779...

bts The Congress, sensible of your merit towards the United States, but unable adequately to reward it, determined to present you with a Sword, as a small mark of their grateful acknowledgment. They directed it to be ornamented with suitable devices. Some of the principal actions of the war in which you distinguished yourself by your bravery and conduct, are therefore represented upon it. These with a few emblematic figures all admirably

well executed make its principal value. By the help of the exquisite artists France affords, I find it easy to express every thing but the sense we have of your worth and our obligations to you! For this, figures and even words are found insufficient. I therefore only add, that with the most perfect esteem and respect, I have the honour to be, &cos clau alder B. FRANKLIN

7

P. S. My Grandson goes to Havre with the sword, and will have the honour of presenting it to you. 01 big 1200

- gorbes Aff

THE MARQUIS'S REPLY.

ཚ་

BISIR, DOPN. DHé avoy 9% Havre, August 29, 1779pita 03077 Whatever expectations might have been raised from the sense of past favors, the goodness of the United States for me has ever been such, that on every occasion it far surpasses any idea I could have conceived. A new proof of that flattering truth, I find in the noble present, which congress have been pleased to honor me with, and which is offered in such a manner by your excellency as will exceed any thing, but the feelings of my unbounded gratitude. Some of the devices I cannot help finding too honorable a reward for those slight services, which in concert with my fellow soldiers, and under the godlike American hero's orders, I had the good luck to render. The sight of these actions, where I was a witness of American bravery and patriotic spirit, I shall ever enjoy with that pleasure which becomes a heart glowing with love for the nation, and the most ardent zeal for their glory and happiness, dzienniterh mer data

T

"

no Assurances of gratitude, which I beg leave to present to your excellency, are much inadequate to my feelings, and

nothing but those sentiments may properly acknowledge

your kindness towards me. The polite manner in which Mr. Temple Franklin was pleased to deliver that inesti mable sword, lays me under great obligations to him, and demands my particular thanks, to bid Pris

With the most perfect respect, I have the honoroto be, &c. TNG & LAFAYETTE

TO JOHN JAY, ESQ. PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS,

[EXTRACT.].

.1

gal "We had reason to expect some great events from the action of the fleets this summer in the Channel, but they are all now in port without having effected any thing. The junction was late, and the length of time the Brest squadron was at sea, (equal to an East India voyage,) partly on the hot Spanish coast, occasioned a sickness among the people that made their return necessary: they had chased the English fleet, which refused the combat. The sick men are recovering fast since they were landed; and the proposed descent on England does not yet seem to be quite given up, as the troops are not withdrawn from the ports. Holland has not yet granted the succours required by the English, nor even given an answer to the requisition presented by Sir Joseph Yorke. The aids will be refused, and as the refusal must be disagreeable, it is postponed from time to time. The expectations of assistance from Russia and Prussia seem also to have failed the English, and they are as much at a loss to find effective friends in Europe, as they have been in America. Portu gal seems to have a better disposition towards us than heretofore. About thirty of our people taken, and set