respect which both in London and Versailles is supposed to be due to the honor, dignity, and interests of royalty would probably have for ever prevented our bringing this article so near to the views of congress, and the sovereign rights of states, as it now stands. When it is considered, that it was utterly impossible to render this article perfectly consistent both with American and British ideas of honor, we presume that the middle line adopted by this article is as little unfavorable to the former, as any that could in reason be expected. As to the separate article, we beg leave to observe that it was our policy to render the navigation of the river Mississippi, so important to Britain, as that their views might correspond with ours on that subject. Their possessing the country on the river, north of the line from the lake of the woods, affords a foundation for their claiming such navigation. And as the importance of West Florida to Britain was for the same reason rather to be strengthened than otherwise, we think it advisable to allow them the extent contained in the separate article, especially as before the war it had been annexed by Britain to West Florida, and would operate as an additional inducement to their joining with us in agreeing that the navigation of the river should for ever remain open to both. The map used in the course of our negotiations was Mitchell's. As we had reason to imagine that the articles respecting the boundaries, the refugees, and fisheries, did not correspond with the policy of this court, we did not communicate the preliminaries to the minister until after they were signed; and not even then the separate article. We hope that these considerations will excuse our having so far deviated from the spirit of our instructions. The Count de Vergennes on perusing the articles appeared surprised, but not displeased at their being so favorable to us. We beg leave to add our advice, that copies be sent us of the accounts directed to be taken by the different states, of the unnecessary devastations and sufferings sustained by them from the enemy in the course of the war; should they arrive before the signature of the definitive treaty, they might possibly answer very good purposes. With great respect, we have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient and most humble servants, SIR, TO M. LE COMTE DE VERGENNES. Passy, Dec. 15, 1782. I have the honor to acquaint your excellency, that our courier is to set out to-morrow at ten o'clock, with the dispatches we send to congress, by the Washington, Captain Barney, for which ship we have got a passport from the king of England. If you would make any use of this conveyance, the courier shall wait upon you to-morrow at Versailles, and receive your orders. I hoped I might have been able to send part of the aids we have asked by this safe vessel. I beg that your excellency would at least inform me, what expectations I may give in my letters. I fear the congress will be reduced to despair, when they find that nothing is yet obtained. With the greatest and most sincere respect, I am, sir, your excellency's most obedient and most humble servant, B. FRANKLIN. THE ANSWER. Je puis être surpris, Monsieur, après l'explication que j'ai eue avec vous, et la promesse que vous m'aviez faite que vous ne presseriez pas l'obtention d'un passeport Anglois pour l'expédition du pacquebot le Washington, que vous me fassiez part que vous avez reçu le même passeport, et que demain à dix heures du matin votre courier partira pour porter vos dépêches. Je suis assez embarrassé, Monsieur, à expliquer votre conduite et celle de vos collègues à notre égard. Vous avez arrêté vos articles préliminaires sans nous en faire part, quoique les instructions du congrès vous prescrivissent de ne rien faire sans la participation du Roi. Vous allez faire luire un espoir certain de paix en Amérique sans même vous informer de l'état de notre négociation. Vous êtes sage et avisé, Monsieur; vous connoissez les bienséances, vous avez rempli toute votre vie vos devoirs. Croyez-vous satisfaire à ceux qui vous tiennent au Roi? Je ne veux pas porter plus loin les réflexions, je les abandonne à votre honnêteté. Quand vous aurez bien voulu satisfaire à mes doutes, je prierai le Roi de me mettre en état de répondre à vos demandes. J'ai l'honneur d'être, avec une véritable considération, Monsieur, votre très-humble et très-obéissant serviteur, DE VERGENNES. Versailles, le 15 Xbre, 1782. SIR, TO M. LE COMTE DE VERGENNES. The proposal of having a passport from England was agreed to by me the more willingly, as I at that time had hopes of obtaining some money to send in the Washington, and the passport would have made its transportation safer, with that of our dispatches, and of yours also, if you had thought fit to make use of the occasion. Your Excellency objected, as I understood it, that the English ministers by their letters sent in the same ship, might convey inconvenient expectations into America. It was therefore I proposed not to press for the passport till your preliminaries were also agreed to. They have sent the passport without being pressed to do it, and they have sent no letters to go under it, and ours will prevent the inconvenience apprehended. In a subsequent conversation your excellency mentioned your intention of sending some of the king's cutters, whence I imagined that detaining the Washington was no longer necessary; and it was certainly incumbent on us to give congress as early an account as possible of our proceedings, who might think it extremely strange to hear of them by other means, without a line from us. I acquainted your excellency however with our intention of dispatching that ship, supposing you might possibly have something to send by her. Nothing has been agreed in the preliminaries contrary to the interest of France; and no peace is to take place between us and England, till you have concluded yours. Your observation is however apparently just, that in not consulting you before they were signed, we have been guilty of neglecting a point of bienséance. But as this was not from want of respect for the king, whom we all love and honor, we hope it will be excused, and that the great work which has hitherto been so happily conducted, is so nearly brought to perfection, and is so glorious to his reign, will not be ruined by a single indiscretion of ours. And certainly the whole edifice sinks to the ground immediately, if you refuse on that account to give us any farther assistance. We have not yet dispatched the ship, and I beg leave to wait upon you on Friday for your answer. It is not possible for any one to be more sensible than I am, of what I and every American owe to the king, for the many and great benefits and favors he has bestowed upon us. All my letters to America are proofs of this; all tending to make the same impressions on the minds of my countrymen, that I felt in my own. And I believe that no prince was ever more beloved and respected by his own subjects than the king is by the people of the United States. The English, I just now learn, flatter themselves they have already divided us. I hope this little misunderstanding will therefore be kept a perfect secret, and that they will find themselves totally mistaken.* With great and sincere respect, I am, sir, your excellency's most obedient and most humB. FRANKLIN. ble servant, * Dr. Franklin thus adroitly endeavored to soothe the minister's justifiable discontent; but the private motives which induced the American plenipotentiaries to deviate from their instructions, and from the expectations of the French government, by signing Preliminary Articles of Peace with the British commissioner, while the negotiation between France and Great Britain was undeter |