The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States, Volume 6
Franklin to Morris.*
[Note *: * MSS. draft in Dep. of State; 8 Bigelow's Franklin, 398; 10 Sparks' Franklin, 43. Of this letter the portions in brackets are omitted by Sparks (2 Dip. Rev. Corr., 499), while in what remains there are verbal changes.]
Passy, December 25, 1783.
Sir: [I have received your favor of the 30th of September, for which I thank you. My apprehension that the union between France and our States might be diminished by accounts from hence† was occasioned
[Note †: † In 8 Bigelow's Franklin 398, the word is given as "home," and so in 10 Sparks' Franklin, 43.]
by the violent and extravagant language held here by a public person, in public company, which had that tendency; and it was natural for me to think his letters might hold the same language; in which I was right; for I have since had letters from Boston informing me of it. Luckily here, and I hope there, it is imputed to the true cause--a disorder in the brain, which, though not constant, has its fits too frequent. I will not fill my letter with an account of these discourses. Mr. Laurens, when you see him, can give it to you; I mean of such as he heard, in company with other persons; for I would not desire him to relate private conversations. They distressed me much at the time; being then, at your earnest instance, soliciting for more aids of money, the success of which solicitation such ungrateful and provoking language might, I feared, have had a tendency to prevent. Enough of this at present.
I have been exceedingly hurt and afflicted by the difficulty some of your late bills met with in Holland. As soon as I received the letter from Messrs. Willink & Co., which I enclose, I sent for Mr. Grand, who brought me a sketch of his account with you, by which it appeared that the demands upon us existing and expected would more than absorb the funds in his hands. We could not indulge the smallest hope of obtaining further assistance here, the public finances being in a state of embarassment, private persons full of distrust, occasioned by the late stoppage of payment at the Caisse d'Escompte, and money in general extremely scarce. But he agreed to do what I proposed and lend his credit in the way of drawing and redrawing between Holland and Paris, to gain time till you could furnish funds to reimburse Messrs. Willink & Co. I believe he made this proposition to them by the return of the express. I know not why it was not accepted. Mr. Grand will himself, I suppose, give you an account of all the transaction and of his application to Messrs. Couteulx & Co., therefore I need not add more upon this disagreeable subject.]*
[Note *: * Passage in brackets omitted by Sparks in the Diplomatic Revolutionary Correspondence, though given with verbal changes in 10 Sparks' Franklin, 43.]
[I have found difficulties in settling the account of salaries with the other ministers that have made it impracticable for me to do it. I have, therefore, after keeping the bills that were to have been proportioned among us long in my hands, given them up to Mr. Grand, who, finding the same difficulties, will, I suppose, return them to you. None has come to hand for the two or three last quarters, and we are indebted to his kindness for advancing us money, or we must have run in debt for our subsistence. He risks in doing this, since he has not for it your orders.]*
[There arise frequently contingent expenses, for which no provision has yet been made. In a former letter to the Secretary for foreign affairs I gave a list of them, and desired to know the pleasure of Congress concerning them. I have only had for answer that they were under consideration, and that he believed house rent would not be allowed; but I am still in uncertainty as to that and the rest. I wish some resolutions were taken on this point of contingencies, that I may know how to settle my accounts with Mr. Barclay. American ministers in Europe are too remote from their constituents to consult them and take their orders on every occasion, as the ministers here of European courts can easily do. There seems, therefore, a necessity of allowing more to their discretion, and of giving them a credit to a certain amount on some banker, who may answer their orders; for which, however, they should be accountable. I mention this for the sake of other ministers, hoping and expecting soon to be discharged myself, and also for the good of the service.]*
[Note *: * Passage in brackets omitted by Sparks in the Diplomatic Revolutionary Correspondence, though given with verbal changes in 10 Sparks' Franklin, 43.]
The remissness of our people in paying taxes is highly blamable; the unwillingness to pay them is still more so. I see, in some resolutions of town meetings, a remonstrance against giving Congress the power to take, as they call it, people's money out of their pockets, though only to pay the interest and principal of debts duly contracted. They seem to mistake the point. Money justly due from the people is their creditors' money, and no longer the money of the people, who, if they withhold it, should be compelled to pay by some law.
All property, indeed, except the savage's temporary cabin, his bow, his match coat, and other little acquisitions absolutely necessary for his subsistence, seems to me the creature of public convention. Hence the public has the right of regulating descents and all other conveyances of property, and even of limiting the quantity and uses of it. All the property that is necessary to a man for the conservation of the individual and the propagation of the species is his natural right, which none can justly deprive him of; but all property superfluous to such purposes is the property of the public, who by their laws have created it, and who may, therefore, by other laws, dispose of it whenever the welfare of the public shall demand such disposition. He that does not like civil society on these terms, let him retire and live among savages. He can have no right to the benefits of society who will not pay his club towards the support of it.
The Marquis de la Fayette, who loves to be employed in our affairs and is often very useful, has lately had several conversations with the ministers and persons concerned in forming new regulations respecting the commerce between our two countries which are not yet concluded. I therefore thought it well to communicate to him a copy of your letter which contains so many sensible and just observations on that subject. He will make a proper use of them, and perhaps they may have more weight as appearing to come from a Frenchman than they would have if it were known that they were the observations of an American. I perfectly agree with you in all the sentiments you have expressed on this occasion.
[You have made no answer to the proposition I sent of furnishing tobacco to the Farmers General. They have since made a contract with Messrs. Alexander & Williams for the same purpose, but it is such a one as does not prevent them making another with you if hereafter it should suit you.]*
[Note *: * Passage in brackets omitted by Sparks in 2 Diplomatic Revolutionary Correspondence, 499, and also in 10 Sparks' Franklin, 43, and 8 Bigelow's Franklin, 398.]
I am sorry for the public's sake that you are about to quit your office, but on personal considerations I shall congratulate you; for I can not conceive of a more happy man than he who, having been long loaded with public cares, finds himself relieved from them and enjoying repose in the bosom of his friends and family.
[The government here has set on foot a new loan of an hundred million. I enclose the plan. It is thought very advantageous for the lenders. You may judge by that how much the money is wanted and how reasonable the peace was for all concerned.
If Mr. Alexander, who is gone to Virginia, should happen to come to Philadelphia, I beg leave to recommend him to your civilities as an old friend of mine whom I very much esteem.]†
[Note †: † Omitted by Sparks both in Diplomatic Revolutionary Correspondence, as above cited, and also in 10 Sparks' Franklin, 43, and 8 Bigelow's Franklin, 399.]
With sincere regard and attachment, I am ever, dear sir, your most, &c.
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