NOTES BY THE EDITOR. NO part of the diplomatic correspondence contained in this volume, has been before published. The first part of the correspondence, 'beginning with page 1, and ending with page 202; and the journal of Dr. Franklin from page 202 to page 303, have been derived from two different sources, and the copies compared word for word with each other. The illness of Dr. Franklin, noticed in page 298, under date 18th and 20th June, and in the subsequent correspondence, closed his journal on the first of July 1782. Mr. Adams and Mr. Jay had previously arrived, and in time to share in the arduous and momentous duties of the mission; each continued a journal down to the establishment of the peace of 1783. As the journals of these respectable citizens, do not properly belong to the works of Dr. Franklin, however closely interwoven with the history of the sage, and the great events in which they were concerned, they are omitted here; but are both in the possession of the Editor, and will at a day not very remote be offered along with other important historical matter to the public. That part of the diplomatic correspondence which follows, is derived from a third source, unconnected with the two preceding, but no less obviously authentic. Many of the articles of the correspondence may not possess intrinsic importance; but connected with the history of the events to which they appertain, they fix dates, unfold the true features of events as they arose, and throw the best lights on the characters of the actors, and display the spirit with which the delegates of a new nation conducted themselves among the courts and courtiers of Europe. A few articles, are necessarily introduced, which illustrate cotemporaneous events and correspondence. The passport to captain Cook on his tour of circumnavigation, from its original character, and the eclat which it produced for America in Europe, merits publication, and properly belongs to the diplomatic period. In like manner the article on paper credit, which was written, printed, and circulated at Paris, belongs to the same period. The effort of Dr. Jebb to bring about a federal union with Great Britain in 1780, is also remarkable and curious, and it is printed from the original, which is in the Philadelphia editor's possession. A few other smaller articles, as some letters of Mr. Adams, one of capt J. Paul Jones, and one or two of W. T. Franklin, throw some beams of light on other parts of the correspondence, and on the history for which this volume furnishes for the first time important and authentic materials. DIPLOMATIC MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. To Mr. Dumas. Passy, Jan. 27, 1780. DEAR SIR, I RECEIVED yours of the 10th instant. I shall be glad to learn how the taking of the Dutch ships has been accommodated. We have yet no news of the Alliance; but suppose she is cruizing. We are more in pain for the Confederacy, which sailed the 28th October from the Capes of Delaware. There is some hope that she went to Charleston to take in Mr. Laurens; for some passengers arrived in France who left Philadelphia several weeks after her sailing, say, that it was a general opinion she would call there before she departed for Europe. If this was not the case, we fear she must be lost, and the loss will be a very severe one. I send you inclosed a translation of a letter, that I think I sent you the original of before. Perhaps it may serve our Leyden friend. I am sorry you have any difference with the ambassador, and wish you to accommodate it as soon as possible. Depend upon it that no one ever knew from me that you had spoken or written against any person. There is one concerning whom I think you sometimes receive erroneous information. In one particular, I know you were misinformed, that of his selling us arms at an enormous profit, the truth is we never bought any of him. I am ever with great esteem, dear Sir, To the Same. DEAR SIR, Passy, March 29, 1780. IT is some time since I have written to you, having nothing material to communicate: but I received duly your several letters of Feb. 1, 18, 25; March 2, 11, 13, 17, and 23, and thank you for the intelligence they contain. The last this minute come to hand, and I shall answer it separately. I pray you to assure M F L X OP BNL Z P A APC of my respect, and that it was only on one packet for him that I put my name, when I thought to have sent it by a friend. The baseness of the post-office in opening it, surprises me. No other letter for him has since past through my hands. If any others come to me for him, I shall send them under cover to you. The suite you mentioned is not a North American, but a West Indian; i. e. a native of one of the English sugar isl ands. 17 is not 21 of 196. X. P. acts only for 824 Ca. I forwarded your letter to captain Jones. I do not know which of his English pilots it was that is mentioned in yours to the 647. I know he has been generous to an excess with them. Explain to me, if you please, the fact that is the subject of that letter, and who Mr. Gordon is. I am curious to know what the States will do about the confiscation of the goods taken in Byland's convoy. I received your large packets. That for captain Jones shall be carefully sent him. I thank you for the philosophical pieces, which I will read attentively as soon as I have a little time. The original acts of confederation are very curious, and will be acceptable to congress. Please to present my thanks to Mr. Enschédé for his curious specimen of characters; and request him to send me the price of the following articles by the pound weight, and what is the proportion between the Holland and the English pound weight. Nonparel (Fr. Mignonne) Romein and Curef. Caractere de Finance. Debbelde Descendiaan Geschreeven Schrift. Descendiaan Duits, No. I. Garmont Duits.-Brevier Duits. DEAR SIR, To the Same. Passy, March 29, 1780. I DID receive the letter you mentioned to have enclosed for Mr. Carmichael, in yours of the 25th February. I had 'before received a letter from him dated at Cadiz, acquainting me that he was just setting out for Madrid, and desiring I would send him a credit there for 200 louis. Mr. F. Grande our banker here, had undertaken to do this with his correspondent, a banker there. I not knowing how to address your letter to Mr. Carmichael at Madrid; sent it to Mr. Grand's to be put under his cover to his banker, who might deliver it to Mr. Carmichael, as he would necessarily find out his lodging to acquaint him with the credit. The day after Sir George Grand was gone for Holland his brother came to me, and expressing a great deal of concern and vexation, told me, that Sir George seeing that letter on his desk, said this superscription is M. Dumas's handwriting; and some time afterwards came to him with the letter in his hand open, saying, this letter is full of ingratitude, (or some words to that purpose) and I will carry it to Holland and show it to the ambassador; and that he had accordingly carried it away with him, notwithstanding all that was or could be said to the contrary. That it gave him infinite pain to acquaint me with this action of his brother, but he thought it right I should know the truth. I did not mention this to you before, hoping that upon reflection, Sir George would not shew the letter to the ambassador, but seal it up again and send it forward; and I was desirous to avoid increasing the misunderstanding between you and Sir G. But as I understood by yours to M. Boudoin, that he has actually done it, I see no reason to keep it longer a secret from you. If I had known it to be a letter of consequence, I should nevertheless have taken the same method of forwarding it, not having the least suspicion that any person in that house would have taken so unwarrantable a liberty with it. But I am now exceedingly sorry that I did not rather send it to the Spanish ambassador's. Let me know in your next what you may think proper to communicate to me of the contents of it. I am, with great regard, dear Sir, &c. DEAR SIR, B. FRANKLIN. Passy, March 30, 1780. I WROTE to you yesterday, relating to the affair of your letter to Mr. Carmichael, that you might know exactly the truth of the transaction. On reflection I think it proper to add, that what I wrote was for your satisfaction only; and that as the making it public would give infinite pain to a very worthy man, Mr. F. Grand who would then appear in the light of délateur de son frère; and it can serve no other purpose but that of vengeance on Sir George, and be of no advantage to you, I must insist on your generosity in keeping it a secret to yourself. In this you will also very much oblige me, who would by no means have my name publicly mentioned on this occasion; and I depend on your compliance. With great esteem, &c. B. FRANKLIN. Passy, April 23, 1780. DEAR SIR, I AM much pleased with the account you give me of the disposition with which the proposals from the empress of Russia have been received, and desire to be informed, from time to time, of the progress of that interesting busi ness. I shall be glad to hear of your reconciliation with the ambassador because a continuance of your difference will be extremely inconvenient. Permit me to tell you frankly, what I formerly hinted to you, that I apprehend you suffer yourself too easily to be led into personal prejudices by interested people, who would engross all our confidence to themselves. From this source have arisen, I imagine, the charges and suspicions you have insinuated to me against |