- Official Letters, Messages, and Public Papers.
- Introductory Note.
- 28 Nov. 1777: The President of Congress to John Adams.
- 3 Dec. 1777: The President of Congress to John Adams.
- The Committee of Foreign Affairs to John Adams.
- To Henry Laurens, President of Congress.
- To the Committee of Foreign Affairs.
- Baron De Kalb to John Adams.
- ( Inclosed With the Foregoing. ) Baron De Kalb to the Comte De Broglie.
- Baron De Kalb to M. Moreau.
- 9 Jan. 1778: The Marquis De La Fayette to John Adams.
- The President of Congress to John Adams.
- To the Marquis De La Fayette.
- The Commissioners to M. De Sartine. 2
- To the Committee of Commerce.
- M. De Sartine to the Commissioners.
- The Commissioners to M. De Sartine.
- The Commissioners to the President of Congress.
- To the President of Congress.
- The Commissioners to the Committee of Foreign Affairs.
- M. De Sartine to the Commissioners. ( Translation. ) 1
- The Commissioners to M. De Sartine.
- The Commissioners to Count De Vergennes.
- The Commissioners to M. De Beaumarchais.
- The Commissioners to Count De Vergennes.
- To M. Le Ray De Chaumont.
- M. Le Ray De Chaumont to John Adams. ( Translation. )
- M. De Sartine to the Commissioners. ( Translation. )
- The Commissioners to M. De Sartine.
- The Commissioners to the President of Congress.
- To the American Prisoners In Forton, Plymouth, Or Elsewhere In Great Britain.
- To Ralph Izard.
- To Benjamin Franklin.
- Ralph Izard to John Adams.
- To Ralph Izard.
- Benjamin Franklin to John Adams.
- The Commissioners to William Lee.
- Ralph Izard to John Adams.
- The Commissioners to John Ross.
- The Commissioners to Count De Vergennes.
- To Ralph Izard.
- Arthur Lee to John Adams.
- To Arthur Lee.
- Arthur Lee to John Adams.
- M. Genet 1 to John Adams.
- The Committee of Foreign Affairs to John Adams.
- M. Genet to John Adams.
- The Commissioners to M. De Sartine.
- The Commissioners to M. Schweighauser.
- The Commissioners to the President of Congress.
- The Commissioners to M. De Sartine.
- The Commissioners to Count De Vergennes.
- To the President of Congress.
- The Commissioners to Dr. Price.
- The Commissioners to John Ross.
- 1 Jan. 1779: The Commissioners to Count De Vergennes.
- The Commissioners to John Lloyd and Others.
- To Count De Vergennes.
- Count De Vergennes to John Adams.
- To the Committee of Foreign Affairs.
- To M. De Sartine.
- To Count De Vergennes.
- Count De Vergennes to John Adams.
- To the Marquis De Lafayette.
- To Count De Vergennes.
- To the President of Congress.
- M. De Sartine to John Adams.
- Benjamin Franklin to John Adams.
- M. De Lafayette to John Adams.
- To Benjamin Franklin.
- Benjamin Franklin to John Adams.
- Benjamin Franklin to John Adams.
- ( Inclosed With the Preceding. ) M. De Sartine to Benjamin Franklin.
- Arthur Lee to John Adams.
- To Arthur Lee.
- To the President of Congress.
- To the President of Congress.
- To the President of Congress.
- To the Treasury Board.
- The Chevalier De La Luzerne to John Adams.
- The Chevalier De La Luzerne to Captain Chavagnes.
- M. De Marbois to John Adams.
- To M. De Sartine.
- To M. De La Luzerne.
- To M. De Marbois.
- The President of Congress to John Adams.
- To the President of Congress.
- 15 Feb, 1780: To the President of Congress.
- To the Marquis De Lafayette.
- To M. Genet.
- M. De Lafayette to John Adams.
- M. Genet to John Adams. ( Translation. )
- To the President of Congress.
- To M. Genet.
- To General Knox.
- To Captain Landais.
- To the President of Congress.
- Arthur Lee to John Adams.
- William Lee to John Adams.
- To the President of Congress.
- Arthur Lee to John Adams.
- To the President of Congress.
- Count De Vergennes to John Adams. ( Translation. )
- To Count De Vergennes.
- William Lee to John Adams.
- To Arthur Lee.
- To William Lee.
- To W. Carmichael.
- T. Digges to John Adams. ( Extract. )
- To the President of Congress.
- William Carmichael to John Adams.
- To Count De Vergennes.
- John Jay to John Adams.
- To M. Genet.
- Count De Vergennes to John Adams.
- W. Carmichael to John Adams. ( Without Date. )
- T. Digges to John Adams. ( Extract. )
- To M. Genet.
- M. Genet to John Adams.
- To M. Genet. 1
- From the Count De Vergennes.
- From the Count De Vergennes.
- To W. Carmichael.
- To Count De Vergennes.
- To John Jay.
- To T. Digges. 1
- To John Jay.
- To M. Genet.
- M. Genet to John Adams.
- To M. Genet.
- To the Count De Vergennes.
- Count De Vergennes to John Adams. ( Translation. )
- To Arthur Lee.
- M. Genet to John Adams.
- M. Genet to John Adams.
- To the President of Congress
- To Count De Vergennes.
- ( Extract Inclosed ) Richard Cranch to John Adams.
- To Count De Vergennes.
- ( Extract Inclosed. ) Elbridge Gerry to John Adams.
- Count De Vergennes to John Adams. ( Translation. 1 )
- To Count De Vergennes.
- To Count De Vergennes.
- To Benjamin Franklin.
- To Thomas Digges.
- Queries By B. Franklin.
- Answer to the Queries.
- To the President of Congress.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Thomas Jefferson.
- To B. Franklin.
- Count De Vergennes to John Adams. ( Translation. )
- To Count De Vergennes.
- To Count De Vergennes.
- ( Inclosed Extract. ) B. Rush to John Adams.
- William Lee to John Adams.
- The Committee of Foreign Affairs to John Adams.
- The Committee of Foreign Affairs to John Adams.
- To Count De Vergennes.
- David Hartley to John Adams.
- To Count De Vergennes.
- To William Lee.
- Count De Vergennes to John Adams. ( Translation. )
- To Count De Vergennes.
- To the President of Congress.
- Count De Vergennes to John Adams. ( Translation. )
- Observations On Mr. Adams’s Letter of 17th July, 1780. ( Translation. )
- To Count De Vergennes.
- Count De Vergennes to John Adams. ( Translation. )
- The President of Congress to John Adams.
- To the President of Congress.
- David Hartley to John Adams.
- To Benjamin Franklin.
- To John Luzac. 1
- To the President of Congress.
- Francis Dana to John Adams.
- To David Hartley.
- John Luzac to John Adams.
- To John Luzac.
- To the President of Congress.
- To the President of Congress.
- To M. Van Vollenhoven.
- From M. Van Blomberg.
- From M. Van Blomberg.
- From M. Mylius.
- Benjamin Franklin to John Adams.
- To M. Dumas.
- Twenty-six Letters Upon Interesting Subjects Respecting the Revolution of America, Written In Holland, In the Year Mdcclxxx
- To Mr. Calkoen.
- M. Bicker to John Adams. ( Translation. )
- Benjamin Franklin to John Adams.
- To Thomas Digges.
- To Benjamin Franklin.
- Baron Van Der Capellen to John Adams.
- Benjamin Franklin to John Adams.
- To Baron Van Der Capellen.
- To B. Franklin.
- To the President of Congress.
- The Committee of Foreign Affairs to John Adams.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- To M. Van Blomberg.
- From M. Van Blomberg.
- To M. Bicker.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- From M. Bicker. ( Translation. )
- To M. Bowens.
- ( Memorandum On the Foregoing Letter. )
- To M. Dumas.
- To M. Bicker.
- From M. Bicker. ( Translation. )
- To Commodore Gillon.
- To the President of Congress.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Baron Van Der Capellen.
- To M. John Luzac.
- To Benjamin Franklin.
- Baron Van Der Capellen to John Adams.
- To B. Franklin.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Baron Van Der Capellen.
- The Committee of Foreign Affairs to John Adams.
- To the President of Congress.
- The President of Congress to John Adams.
- Baron Van Der Capellen to John Adams.
- To the President of Congress.
- To the President of Congress.
- 1 Jan. 1781: The President of Congress to John Adams.
- Francis Dana to John Adams.
- To the President of Congress.
- The President of Congress to John Adams.
- To Francis Dana.
- To Baron Van Der Capellen.
- To M. Dumas.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- To M. Dumas.
- To Messrs. John De Neufville and Sons.
- To M. Dumas.
- To Francis Dana.
- To Benjamin Franklin.
- To M. Bicker.
- M. Bicker to John Adams.
- Benjamin Franklin to John Adams.
- To M. Bicker.
- To M. Dumas.
- To M. Dumas.
- A Memorial to the States-general. to Their High Mightinesses, the States-general of the United Provinces of the Low Countries.
- To the Prince De Galitzin, Minister of the Empress of Russia.
- To M. Van Berckel, First Counsellor Pensionary of the City of Amsterdam.
- To the Duc De La Vauguyon, Ambassador of France At the Hague.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- To Messrs. John De Neufville and Sons.
- To Francis Dana.
- The Duke De La Vauguyon to John Adams.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- To M. Dumas.
- To the President of Congress.
- To M. Dumas.
- To Francis Dana.
- To Messrs. John De Neufville and Sons.
- To John Jay.
- To the President of Congress.
- To B. Franklin.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- To the Duc De La Vauguyon.
- To B. Franklin.
- The Duc De La Vauguyon to John Adams.
- Francis Dana to John Adams.
- To Francis Dana.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- To Peter Van Bleiswyck.
- To M. Fagel.
- Memorial to Their High Mightinesses, the States-general of the United Provinces of the Low Countries.
- Memorial to the Prince of Orange.
- Benjamin Franklin to John Adams.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- To the Duke De La Vauguyon.
- To the President of Congress.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- To M. Dumas.
- To the President of Congress.
- To John Laurens.
- To the Duke De La Vauguyon.
- The Duc De La Vauguyon to John Adams.
- To the President of Congress.
- To the President of Congress.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- To M. Dumas.
- To Benjamin Franklin.
- To M. Dumas.
- To the President of the Assembly of the States-general.
- M. BÉrenger to John Adams.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- To M. BÉrenger.
- To the President of Congress.
- To the President of Congress.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- To Count De Vergennes. 1
- M. De Rayneval to John Adams. ( Translation. )
- To M. De Rayneval.
- To the President of Congress.
- Articles to Serve As a Basis to the Negotiation For the Reëstablishment of Peace. ( Translation. )
- To Count De Vergennes.
- Answer of the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, to the Articles to Serve As a Basis to the Negotiation For the Reëstablishment of Peace.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Count De Vergennes.
- Count De Vergennes to John Adams. ( Translation. )
- To Count De Vergennes.
- To Count De Vergennes.
- To Count De Vergennes.
- The Committee of Foreign Affairs to John Adams.
- (private. Partly In Cipher.)
- To the President of Congress.
- Benjamin Franklin to John Adams.
- (inclosed In the Preceding.) the President of Congress to John Adams.
- To the President of Congress.
- To B. Franklin.
- Francis Dana to John Adams.
- Benjamin Franklin to John Adams.
- The Committee of Foreign Affairs to John Adams.
- To B. Franklin.
- Benjamin Franklin to John Adams.
- Francis Dana to John Adams.
- To the President of Congress.
- George Washington to John Adams.
- Benjamin Franklin to John Adams.
- To the Duc De La Vauguyon.
- To the Duc De La Vauguyon.
- To John Jay.
- To Benjamin Franklin.
- To John Jay.
- To the President of Congress.
- To M. Dumas.
- The Duc De La Vauguyon to John Adams. ( Translation. )
- To John Luzac.
- To Francis Dana.
- John Jay to John Adams.
- To the President of Congress.
- To the Duke De La Vauguyon.
- The Duc De La Vauguyon to John Adams. ( Translation. )
- The Duc De La Vauguyon to John Adams. ( Translation. )
- 6 Jan, 1782: Baron Van Der Capellen to John Adams.
- To Baron Van Der Capellen.
- To the President of Congress.
- To B. Franklin.
- Benjamin Franklin to John Adams.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- David Hartley to John Adams.
- To B. Franklin.
- To M. De Lafayette.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- To John Jay.
- To the Duc De La Vaugyon.
- The Duke De La Vauguyon to John Adams. ( Translation. )
- To M. Bergsma.
- To M. De Lafayette.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- M. Dumas to John Adams. ( Without Date. )
- To M. Dumas.
- To Francis Dana.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- To John Luzac.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- T. Digges to John Adams.
- (inclosed In the Preceding.) D. Hartley to John Adams.
- To T. Digges.
- To M. Dubbledemutz.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- To Benjamin Franklin.
- M. De Lafayette to John Adams.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- Traduction De La Résolution De Leurs Nobles Et Grandes Puissances Les Seigneurs États De Hollande Et De West Frise.
- M. Dumas to John Adams. ( Copie De Ma Lettre à Notre Ami. )
- To Peter Van Bleiswyck.
- Baron Van Der Capellen to John Adams.
- T. Digges to John Adams.
- To M. De Lafayette.
- C. De Gyselaer to John Adams.
- Baron Van Der Capellen to John Adams.
- To M. Dubbledemutz.
- The Duc De La Vauguyon to John Adams.
- To the Duc De La Vauguyon.
- B. E. Abbema to John Adams.
- To M. Abbema.
- To J. U. Pauli.
- John Luzac to John Adams.
- To Benjamin Franklin.
- To Secretary Livingston. 1
- To Secretary Livingston.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- To M. Hodshon.
- Proposals For Opening a Loan.
- M. Dumas to John Adams.
- (the Two Following Letters Explain the Preceding.) Jacob Nolet to John Adams.
- Jacob Nolet to M. Dumas.
- To M. Dumas.
- Verbal Message of C. W. F. Dumas to the City of Schiedam.
- To B. Franklin.
- M. De Lafayette to John Adams.
- W. and J. Willink, Nic. and Jac. Van Staphorst, and De La Lande and Fynje to John Adams.
- To Francis Dana.
- To Messrs. W. and J. Willink, N. and J. Van Staphorst, and De La Lande and Fynje.
- Messrs. Willink and Others to John Adams.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- To Messrs. W. and J. Willink and Others.
- Messrs. Willink and Others to John Adams.
- To M. De Lafayette.
- To Messrs. Willink and Others.
- To John Hodshon.
- To B. Franklin.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- C. L. Beyma to John Adams.
- E. F. Van Berckel to John Adams. ( Extract. )
- To M. Van Berckel.
- John Jay to John Adams.
- M. Van Berckel to John Adams.
- To M. Van Berckel.
- To John Jay.
- To Messrs. Willink and Others.
- To Mr. Mazzei.
- To John Jay.
- To Henry Laurens.
- To John Jay.
- To Henry Laurens.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- Henry Laurens to John Adams.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- To Francis Dana.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- Robert Morris to John Adams.
- John Jay to John Adams.
- To M. De La Fayette.
- M. Cerisier to John Adams.
- M. De Lafayette to John Adams.
- To John Jay.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- To Francis Dana.
- Francis Dana to John Adams. ( Secret and Confidential. )
- J. G. Holtzhey to John Adams.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- To B. Franklin.
- To Jean George Holtzhey.
- Benjamin Franklin to John Adams.
- To Robert Morris.
- To Henry Laurens.
- To Secretary Livingston.
- To Robert Morris.
- To Francis Dana.
- Appendix.
- (a. P. 452.)
- Extrait De La Réponse De La Cour De France Aux Propositions Faites Au Sujet Du Rétablissement De La Paix Par Les Cours De Petersbourg Et De Vienne.
- Proposition.
- RÉponse.
- Projet De Réponse Aux Trois Cours Belligérantes.
- RÉponse (mutatis Mutandis).
- Réponse De Sa Majesté Très Chrétienne à La Réplique Des Deux Cours Impériales.
- Extract From the Answer of the Court of France to the Propositions Made On the Subject of the Reëstablishment of Peace By the Courts of Petersburg and of Vienna.
- Proposition.
- Answer.
- Project of an Answer to the Three Belligerent Courts.
- Answer (mutatis Mutandis).
- Answer of His Most Christian Majesty to the Reply of the Two Imperial Courts.
THE COMMISSIONERS TO JOHN ROSS.
Passy, 29 December, 1778.
Sir,—
We have received your letters of the 15th and 24th of December, with their envelopes, and once more assure you, that we have no authority to do any thing in your affairs until you have settled your accounts. Whenever you shall be disposed to lay your accounts before us, we shall be ready to receive them and settle them according to the strictest justice, and to pay you the balance, if any, which may be found due to you, according to the resolutions of congress and our ability.
We have the honor to be, &c.
B. Franklin,
Arthur Lee,
John Adams.
THE COMMISSIONERS TO COUNT DE VERGENNES.
Passy, 1 January, 1779.
Sir,—
Some late proceedings of the enemy have induced us to submit a few observations to your Excellency’s superior light and judgment.
His Britannic Majesty’s Commissioners, in their manifesto of the 3d of October, have denounced “a change in the whole nature and future conduct of the war;” they have declared, “that the policy as well as the benevolence of Great Britain has thus far checked the extremes of war,” when they tended “to distress the people and desolate the country;” that the whole contest is changed; that the laws of self-preservation must now direct the conduct of Great Britain; that these laws will direct her to render the United States of as little avail as possible to France, if they are to become an accession to her, and by every means in her power to destroy the new connection contrived for her ruin. Motions have been made and supported by the wisest men in both houses of parliament to address the King to disavow these clauses, but these motions have been rejected by majorities in both houses, so that the manifesto stands avowed by the three branches of the legislature.
Ministers of state made in parliament a question concerning the meaning of this manifesto; but no man who reads it, and knows the history of their past conduct in this war, can doubt its import. There is to be a “change in the nature and conduct of the war.” A change for the worse must be horrible indeed! They have already burned the beautiful towns of Charlestown, Falmouth, Norfolk, Kingston, Bedford, Egg Harbor, and German Flatts, besides innumerable single buildings and smaller clusters of houses wherever their armies have marched. It is true they left Boston and Philadelphia unhurt, but in all probability it was merely the dread of a superior army that in these cases restrained their hands, not to mention that burning these towns would have been the ruin of the few secret friends they have still left, of whom there are more in those towns than in all America besides. They have not indeed murdered upon the spot every woman and child that fell in their way, nor have they in all cases refused quarters to the soldiers that at all times have fallen into their power, though they have in many. They have also done their utmost in seducing negroes and Indians to commit inhuman barbarities upon the inhabitants, sparing neither age, sex, nor character. Although they have not in all cases refused quarter to soldiers and sailors, they have done what is worse than refusing quarters; they have thrust their prisoners into such dungeons, loaded them with such irons, and exposed them to such lingering torments of cold, hunger, and disease, as have destroyed greater numbers than they could have had an opportunity of murdering, if they had made it a rule to give no quarter. Many others they have compelled by force to serve and fight on board their ships against fathers, brothers, friends, and countrymen; a destiny to every sensible mind more terrible than death itself.
It is, therefore, difficult to comprehend what they mean by a change in the conduct of the war, yet there seems to be no room to doubt that they mean to threaten something more cruel, greater extremes of war, measures that shall distress the people and lay waste the country more than any thing they have yet done. “The object of the war is now entirely changed.” Heretofore their massacres and conflagrations were to divide us, and reclaim us to Great Britain. Now, despairing of that end, and perceiving that we shall be faithful to our treaties, their principle is by destroying us to make us useless to France. This principle ought to be held in abhorrence, not only by all Christians, but by all civilized nations. If it is once admitted that powers at war have a right to do whatever will weaken or terrify an enemy, it is not possible to foresee where it will end. It would be possible to burn the great cities of Europe. The savages who torture their prisoners do it to make themselves terrible; in fine, all the horrors of the barbarous ages may be introduced and justified.
The cruelties of our enemies have heretofore more than once exasperated the minds of the people so much as to excite apprehensions that they would proceed to retaliation, which, if once commenced, might be carried to extremities; to prevent which, the congress issued an address exhorting to forbearance, and a further trial, by examples of generosity and lenity, to recall their enemies to the practice of humanity amidst the calamities of war. In consequence of which, neither the congress nor any of the States apart have ever exercised, or authorized the exercise of the right of retaliation. But now, that commissioners vested with the authority of the nation have avowed such principles and published such threats, the congress have, by a resolution of the 30th of October, solemnly and unanimously declared that they will retaliate. Whatever may be the pretences of the enemy, it is the manifest drift of their policy to disgust the people of America with their new alliance, by attempting to convince them, that instead of shielding them from distress, it has accumulated additional calamities upon them.
Nothing, certainly, can more become a great and amiable character than to disappoint their purpose, stop the progress of their cruelties, and vindicate the rights of humanity which are so much injured by this manifesto. We therefore beg leave to suggest to your Excellency’s consideration, whether it would not be advisable for his Majesty to interfere by some declaration to the Court of London and to the world, bearing the royal testimony against this barbarous mode of war, and giving assurances that he will join the United States in retaliation, if Great Britain, by putting her threats in execution, should make it necessary.
There is another measure, however, more effectual to control their designs, and to bring the war to a speedy conclusion,—that of sending a powerful fleet, sufficient to secure a naval superiority over them in the American seas. Such a naval force, acting in concert with the armies of the United States, would, in all human probability, take and destroy the whole British power in that part of the world. It would put their wealth and West Indian commerce into the power of France, and reduce them to the necessity of suing for peace. Upon their present naval superiority in those seas depend not only the dominion and rich commerce of their islands, but the supply of their fleets and armies with provisions and every necessary. They have nearly four hundred transports constantly employed in the service of their fleet and army in America, passing from New York and Rhode Island to England, Ireland, Nova Scotia, and their West India Islands; and if any one link in this chain was struck off, if their supplies from any one of these places should be interrupted, their forces could not subsist. Great numbers of these vessels would necessarily fall into the hands of the French fleet, and go as prizes to a sure market in the United States. Great numbers of seamen, too, would become prisoners, a loss that England cannot repair. It is conceived that it would be impossible for Great Britain to send a very great fleet after the French into those seas. Their men-of-war, now in Europe, are too old, too rotten, too ill-manned, and their masts and yards are of too bad materials to endure such a navigation. The impossibility of their obtaining provisions, artists, and materials in that country, which would be easy to the French, makes it still clearer that they cannot send a great additional force, and the fear of Spain’s interfering, with her powerful navy, would restrain them. Whereas France has nothing to fear in Europe from them, as the number and excellence of her armies are an ample security against the feeble land forces of Great Britain.
This naval superiority would open such commerce between the United States and the French West India Islands as would enable our people to supply themselves with the European and West India articles they want, to send abroad the produce of the country, and by giving fresh spirit and vigor to trade, would employ the paper currency, the want of which employ has been one cause of its depreciation. The maintenance of such a fleet in America would circulate so many bills of exchange as would likewise in a great measure relieve them from that dangerous evil. And these bills would all return to France for her manufactures, thereby cementing the connection and extending the trade between the two countries. Such a naval superiority would contribute very much to extinguish the hopes of the remaining number of persons who secretly wish, from sinister motives, to become again subjected to Great Britain, and would enable the people of the several States to give such consistency and stability to their infant governments, as would contribute greatly to their internal repose, as well as to the vigor of their future operations against the common enemy. The late speedy supply and reparation of his Majesty’s fleet at Boston will show the advantages which this country must enjoy in carrying on a naval war on a coast friendly to her and hostile to her enemy. And these advantages will in future be more sensible, because the appearance of the fleet before was unexpected, and the harvest in that part of the country had been unfavorable. It is obvious to all Europe, that nothing less is at stake than the dominion of the sea, at least the superiority of naval power, and we cannot expect Great Britain will ever give it up without some decisive effort on the part of France. With such an exertion as that of sending a superior fleet to America, we see nothing in the course of human affairs that can possibly prevent France from obtaining such a naval superiority without delay. Without it the war may languish for years, to the infinite distress of our country, to the exhausting both of France and England, and the question left to be decided by another war.
We are the more earnest in representing these things to your Excellency, as all our correspondence from England for some time has uniformly represented that the intention of the cabinet is conformable to the spirit of the manifesto; that all parties grow more and more out of temper with the Americans; that it has become fashionable with the minority, as well as the majority and administration, to reproach us, both in and out of parliament; that all parties join in speaking of us in the bitterest terms, and in heartily wishing our destruction; that great clamors are raised about our alliance with France, as an unnatural combination to ruin them; that the cry is for a speedy and powerful reinforcement of their army, and for the activity of their fleet in making descents on the sea-coast, while murdering and desolating parties are let loose upon the frontiers of the Carolinas, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and New England; and that, very early in the year, they will carry all these projects into execution. This whole system may, as we conceive, be defeated, and the power of Great Britain now in America totally subdued (and if their power is subdued there, it is reduced everywhere) by the measure we have the honor to propose.
We submit the whole, merely as our opinions, to your Excellency’s superior wisdom, and have the honor to be, &c.
B. Franklin,
Arthur Lee,
John Adams.
Titles (by Subject) 