A SON EXCELLENCE M. FRANKLIN.

Versailles, le 25 Xbre, 1782.

J'ai l'honneur de vous envoyer, Monsieur, mes dépêches pour M. le Chevalier de la Luzerne: le paquet est volumineux, mais il renferme beaucoup de duplicats.

mined, and without the knowledge of Count de Vergennes, were their apprehension of a disposition in the Court of France to abridge the right of the Americans to fish on their own coasts; which apprehension had been excited by a letter written from Philadelphia to Count de Vergennes, by Mons. Marbois, (secretary of the French embassy,) and which being intercepted and deciphered by the British government, had been sent by the latter, through Mr. Oswald, to the American commissioners; also the apprehension of a design in the Court of Spain to hinder the United States from forming settlements to the westward of the Alleghany Mountains; which apprehension had been excited by the pretensions which Count d'Aranda, the Spanish ambassador, had advanced in his negotiation with Mr. Jay.

The following is a translation of the deciphered letter of M. de Marbois:

TRANSLATION OF AN INTERCEPTED AND DECIPHERED LETTER FROM M. DE MARBOIS TO M. LE COMTE DE VERGENNES.

SIR,

Philadelphia, March 13, 1782. South Carolina again enjoys the benefit of a legislative body, after having been deprived of it for two years; it was summoned together towards the end of last year, and met in January at Jacksonburgh, only ten leagues distant from Charlestown; where deliberations are carried on with as much tranquillity as if the state was in profound peace. Mr. Rutledge, who was then governor, opened the meeting with a speech greatly applauded, wherein he represents, in their full extent, the important services rendered by the king to the United States, expressing their just acknowledgments for the same. This sentiment prevails much, sir: the different states are eager to declare it in their public acts, and the principal members of government, and the writers em

Je voudrois pouvoir lui mander que notre négociation est au même point que la vôtre, mais elle en est

ployed by them, would forfeit their popularity were they to admit any equivocal remarks respecting the alliance. General Green affirms that in no one state is attachment to independence carried to a higher pitch, but that this affection is yet exceeded by the hatred borne to England. The assembly of Carolina is going to make levies of men, and has imposed pretty large sums; as there is but little money in the country, the taxes will be gathered in indigo; and what deficiency may then be found, will be supplied by the sale of lands of such Carolinians as joined the enemy while they were in possession of the country. South Carolina was the only state that had not confiscated the property of the disaffected. The step just taken puts her on a footing with the other states of the union. The assembly of this state has passed a resolution, in consequence of which a purchase of land is to be made of the value of 240,000 livres tournois, which Carolina makes a present of to General Green, as the saviour of that province.

Mr. Matthews, a delegate from Congress, lately arrived in Carolina, has, it is said, been chosen governor in the room of Mr. Rutledge: he has communicated to persons of the most influence in his state the ultimatum of the month of . last, who approved of the clauses in general, and particularly that one which leaves the king master of the terms of the treaty of peace or truce, excepting independence, and treaties of alliance. A delegate from South Carolina told me that this ultimatum was equally well known by persons of note in his state, and this had given entire satisfaction there; it is the same with regard to several other states, and I believe I may assure you, upon the testimony of several delegates, that this measure is approved by a great majority; but Mr. Samuel Adams is using all his endeavors to raise in the state of Massachusetts a strong opposition to peace, if the eastern states are not thereby admitted to the fisheries, and particularly to that of Newfoundland. S. Adams delights in trouble and difficulty, and prides himself on forming an opposition against the government, whereof he is himself president. His aim and attention are to render the minority of consequence, and at this very moment he is attacking the constitution of Massachusetts, although it be in a great measure his own work, but he

encore fort éloignée. Je ne puis même prévoir quelle en sera l'issue, car les difficultés naissent des facilités

had disliked it since the people had shown their uniform attachment to it. It may be expected that with this disposition, no measure can meet the approval of Mr. S. Adams; and if the United States should agree relative to the fisheries, and be certain of partaking therein, all his manœuvres and intrigues would be directed towards the conquest of Canada and Nova Scotia : but he could not have used a fitter engine than the fisheries for stirring up the passions of the eastern people. By renewing this question, which had lain dormant during his two years' absence from Boston, he has raised the expectation of the people of Massachusetts to an extraordinary pitch. The public prints hold forth the importance of the fisheries; the reigning toast in the east is, May the United States ever maintain their right to the fisheries. It has been often repeated in the deliberation of the general court; No peace without fisheries. However clear this principle may be in this matter, it would be needless and even dangerous to attempt informing the people through the public papers; but it appears to me possible to use means for preventing the conséquences of success to Mr. S. Adams and his party, and I take the liberty of submitting them to your discernment and indulgence. One of those means would be for the king to cause it to be intimated to Congress or to the ministers, " His surprise that the Newfoundland fisheries have been included in the additional instructions; that the United States set forth therein pretensions without paying regard to the king's rights, and without considering the impossibility they are under of making conquests, and keeping what belongs to Great Britain." His Majesty might at the same time cause a promise to be given to Congress "of his assistance for procuring admission to the other fisheries, declaring however that he would not be answerable for the success, and that he is bound to nothing, as the treaty makes no mention of that article." This declaration being made before the peace, the hopes of the people could not be supported, nor could it one day be said that we left them in the dark on this point. It were even to be wished that this declaration should be made whilst New York, Charlestown and Penobscot are in the enemy's hands; our allies will be less tractable than ever upon these

auxquelles nous nous sommes prêtés. Il sera bon, Monsieur, que vous en préveniez le Congrès pour le

points whenever they recover these important posts. There are some judicious persons to whom one may speak of giving up the fisheries and the* . . . of the West for the sake of peace. But there are enthusiasts who fly out at this idea, and their numbers cannot fail of increasing, when, after the English are expelled this continent, the burthen of the war will scarce be felt. It is already observable that the advocates for peace are of those who lived in the country. The inhabitants of towns whom commerce enriches, mechanics who receive there a higher pay than before war, and five or six times more than in Europe, do not wish for it: but it is a happy circumstance that this division be nearly equal in the congress and among the states, since our influence can incline the beam either for peace or war whichever way we choose. Another means of preserving to France so important a branch of her commerce and navigation is that proposed to you, sir, by M. . . . ., viz. the conquest of Cape Breton; it seems to me, as it does to that minister, the only sure means of containing within bounds, when peace is made, those swarms of smugglers who, without regard to treaties, will turn all their activity, daring spirit and means towards the fisheries, whose undertakings congress will not perhaps have the power or the will to repress. If it be apprehended that the peace which is to put an end to the present war will prove disagreeable to any of the United States, there appears to me a certain method of guarding against the effects of this discontent, of preventing the declarations of some states and other resources which turbulent minds might employ for availing themselves of the present juncture. This would be, for his Majesty to cause a Memorial to be delivered to congress, wherein should be stated the use made by his ministers of the powers entrusted to them by that assembly; and the impediments which may have stood in the way of a fuller satisfaction on every point. This step would certainly be pleasing to congress; and should it become necessary to inform the people of this memorial, it could easily be done; they would be flattered by it, and it might probably beget the voice and concurrence of the public. I submit

prémunir contre tout ce qui peut arriver. Je ne désespère pas, j'espère plutôt, mais tout est encore incertain.

J'ai l'honneur d'être, avec une parfaite considération, Monsieur, votre très-humble et très-obéissant serviteur, DE VERGENNES.

SIR,

TO RICHARD OSWALD, ESQ.

Passy, Jan. 14, 1783. I enclose two papers* that were read at different times by me to the commissioners; they may

these thoughts to you early; and although peace appears yet to be distant, sir, by reason of delays and difficulties attending the communications, that period will be a crisis when the partizans of France and England will openly appear, and when that power will employ every means to diminish our influence, and re-establish her own it is true the independent party will always stand in great want of our support: that the fears and jealousies which a remembrance of the former government will always produce, must operate as the safeguard to our alliance, and as a security for the attachment of the Americans to us. But it is best to be prepared for any discontent, although it should be but temporary. It is remarked by some, that as England has other fisheries besides Newfoundland, she may perhaps endeavor that the Americans should partake in that of the Great Bank, in order to conciliate their affection, or procure them some compensation, or create a subject of jealousy between them and us: but it does not seem likely that she will act so contrary to their true interest; and were she to do so, it will be for the better to have declared at an early period to the Americans, that their pretension is not founded, and that his Majesty does not mean to support it.

I here enclose, sir, translations of the speech made by the governor of South Carolina to the assembly, and of their answer. These interesting productions convey in a forcible manner the sentiments of the inhabitants of that state, and appeared to me worth communicating to you. I am, &c.

(Signed)

BARBE DE MARBOIS.

*Uncertain what papers.