Dr. Franklin was received at Paris with uncommon attention; known already as a philosopher, the cause he represented was undoubtedly popular with the French. Indeed, the subject of liberty itself was, already, popular. It might have been only a fashion, as so many other things have been in France-it might have arisen from the metaphysical, or rather philosophical discussions, in which the French were then so much engaged, without at all apprehending the practical effects of them. Or, perhaps, we may,

with most truth, call the cause of the colonies popular, because it was one likely to do vast mischief to England. The novelty of the undertaking itself, produced an enthusiasm in France; a war was commenced on a new continent ;-the scene of action and of interest was transferred from the old world. This had, already, happened in the former French wars, when Quebec and their other possessions fell. But, then, the European had only left his customary battle-grounds to meet on a new continent with the same armies, the same animosity, and the same ambition. Europe was a party to At any rate, America

those wars, to this, a spectator. was viewed with that deep interest and sympathy, with which the weak are regarded in all contests, and those, who were not inspired with the holy spirit of emancipation, doubtless wished well to a cause, that was fought at such fearful odds.

But the government manifested an evident reluctance to form an open alliance at this time; it naturally and prudently sought for delay. "The politics of this court," remarks A. Lee, January 3, 77, "are in a kind of trembling hesitation. It is in consequence of this that the promises, which were made me by the French agent in London (and which I stated to you by Mr. Story and others), have not been entirely fulfilled."* The Commissioners were not publicly re

*The allusion in this letter is thus explained. "Paris, Feb. 8, 1778. I was present at Mr. Lee's chambers at the temple in London, sometime in the spring of '76, when M. Caron de Beaumarchais made offers to Mr. Lee to send supplies of money and stores, through the islands, to the Americans, to the amount of 200,000 livres d'or, and, he said, he was authorized to make the proposals by the Court of France. B. C. D. Lauragais."

ceived; for the fate and condition of the Americans were in an unconfirmed state;—and it might well be doubted, whether they could long resist the mother country, of whose power France herself, bore the deep marks of a recent and melancholy experience. But assistance continued to be secretly furnished;-2,000,000 of livres were put into the hands of Deane and Franklin by a wealthy individual (undoubtedly by the direction of the government), in the summer of '77, without interest or security;-privateers were allowed to equip, and bring their prizes into French ports ;-commissions were issued by the American envoys; and the cause of the Revolution still continued exceedingly popular with the people. Franklin, in one of his letters, in May '77, has these remarks:

"All Europe is on our side of the question, as far as applause and good wishes can carry them. Those, who live under arbitrary power, do nevertheless approve of liberty, and wish for it; they almost despair of recovering it in Europe; they read the translations of our separate colony institutions with rapture, and there are such numbers every where, who talk of removing to America with their families and fortunes as soon as peace and our independence shall be established, that it is generally believed, we shall have a prodigious addition of strength, wealth and arts from the emigrations of Europe, and it is thought that to lessen or prevent such emigrations, the tyrannics established there must relax and allow more liberty to their people. Hence it is a common observation here, that our cause is the cause of all mankind, and that we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own."*

But he could obtain no recognition of the independence, nor public declaration of assistance from the French court. Franklin, who knew the world, was obliged, for the moment,

* Extract of a letter from Silas Deane to the Congress. "Dec. 3, "76. The Queen is fond of parade, and I believe, wishes for war, and is our friend. She loves riding on horseback. Could you send me a fine Narraganset horse or two? The money would be well laid out. Rittenhouse's orrery, or Arnold's collection of insects-a phaeton of American make, and a pair of bay horses-a few barrels of apples, walnuts, cranberries, butternuts, &c. would be great curiosities."

to console himself with the barren but polite phrase of the French Minister, that while he was in Paris, he should have "toute la suretè et tous les agrémens que nous y faisons eprouver aux etrangers." At one time, M. de Vergennes gave the American Commissioners hopes, they should be received as Ministers Plenipotentiary, though he exacted from them, as a preliminary step, that an authentic copy of the Declaration of Independence should be procured, which they had omitted to bring. Dr. Franklin had now been at the court more than six months; he was, as he said himself, "treated with great civility and respect by all orders of people, and it afforded him great satisfaction to find that he was of some use to his country." A French writer of that period, speaking of him, says, he was an "old man of a superb appearance, of a simple air and great affability, full of courage and confidence in his fellow-citizens and in the future.'

In one of the earliest letters of the Commissioners, we have a minute account of the situation of affairs at the court of Versailles.

"To the Secret Committee.

"PARIS, 12 MARCH 1777.

"It is now more than four months, since Mr. Franklin's departure from Philadelphia, and not a line from thence, written. since that time, has hitherto reached either of your Commissioners

now

* We have met, in La Harpe's Correspondence, with an anecdote, relating to America, that does not appear to have been much circulated. It took place at the time of the celebrated last visit of Voltaire to Paris. It does not belong to the precise year, of which we are treating, but our apology for extracting it, is its application to the subject. "Nothing appears more worthy of being mentioned than Voltaire's interview with Franklin. M. de Voltaire spoke to him in English; his niece, Mme. Denis, who was present with some other friends, observed, they should be glad to hear what was said, and begged him to speak French. 'I beg your pardon,' replied Voltaire, 'I have for a moment yielded to the vanity of speaking the same language as Dr. Franklin.' Franklin presented his grandson to the philosopher, and craved his blessing for him. Voltaire extended his arms over him, and said to him, 'My child, God and Liberty! Recollect those two words.'"

in Europe. We have had no information of what passes in America, but through England, and the advices are for the most part only as the Ministry choose to publish. Our total ignorance of the truth or falsehood of facts, when questions are asked of us concerning them, makes us appear small in the eyes of the people here, and is prejudicial to our negotiations.

"In ours of 6th February, of which a copy is enclosed, we acquainted you, that we were about purchasing some cutters, to be employed as packet boats. We have succeeded in getting one from Dover, in which we purpose to send our present despatches. Mr. Hodge, who went to Dunkirk and Flushing, where he thought another might be easily found, has not yet acquainted us with his success. We promised, that when we had a conveyance, which by its swiftness is more likely to carry safely our letters, we would be more explicit in accounts of our proceedings here, which promise, we shall now fulfil, as follows.

"In our first conversation with the Minister, after the arrival of Mr. Franklin, it was evident that this Court, while it treated us privately with all civility, was cautious of giving umbrage to England, and was, therefore, desirous of avoiding an open reception and acknowledgment of us, or entering into any formal negotiation with us, as Ministers from the Congress. To make us easy, however, we were told that the ports of France were open to our ships as friends, that our people might freely purchase and transport, as merchandise, whatever our States had occasion for, vending at the same time our own commodities; that in doing this, we should experience all the facilities, that a government, disposed to favour us, could, consistent with treaties, afford to the enemies of a friend. But though it was, at that time, no secret, that two hundred fieldpieces of brass, and thirty thousand fusils, with other munitions of war in great abundance, had been taken out of the king's magazines for the purpose of exportation to America, the Minister, in our presence, affected to know nothing of that operation, and claimed no merit to his Court on that account. But he intimated to us, that it would be well taken, if we communicated with no other person about the Court concerning our affairs, but himself, who would be ready, at all convenient times, to confer with us.

"We soon after presented several memorials, representing the state of the colonies, the necessity of some naval aid, and the utility to France, that must result from our success in establishing

the independence of America, with the freedom of its commerce. In answer, we received a positive refusal of the ships of the line (which we had been instructed to ask), on this principle, that if a war with England should take place, the whole fleet of France would be necessary at home for her defence; that if such a war did not take place, yet, while England apprehended a war, it was equally serviceable to our States, that the fleet of France should remain entire in her ports, since that must retain an equal force of English at home, who might otherwise go to America, and who certainly would follow thither any French squadron.

"During these conferences, every step was taken to gratify England publicly, by attending to the remonstrances of her ambassador, forbidding the departure of ships, which had military stores on board, recalling officers, who had leave of absence and were going to join us, and giving strict orders that our prizes should not be sold in French ports; yet, that we might not be discouraged, it was intimated to us by persons about the Court, that those measures were necessary at present, France not being yet quite ready for a war, and that we might be assured of her good will to us and to our cause-means were proposed of our obtaining a large sum of money for present use by an advance from the Farmers General, to be repaid in tobacco, of which they wanted twenty thousand hogsheads. We entered accordingly into a treaty with that company, which meeting with difficulty in settling the terms, we were informed that a grant was made us of two millions of livres, from the Crown, of which five hundred thousand was ready to be paid us down, and an equal sum should be paid the beginnings of April, July and October, that, such was the King's generosity, he exacted no conditions or promise of repayment; he only required, we should not speak to any one of our having received this aid. We have accordingly observed strictly this injunction, deviating only in this information to you, which we think necessary for your satisfaction, but earnestly requesting that you would not suffer it to be made public. This is the money, which, in our former letter, we mentioned as raised for us by subscription."

In the middle of the summer of '77, affairs took a very unfavourable turn. News of the deplorable campaigns in the Jerseys had just then arrived in France ;-the business appeared to be at an end;-the British believed it themselves, and Franklin's friends wrote to him from England,