John Thornton’s Statement
Copy: Library of Congress
Paris Feby. 20th 1778

Being sent to Nantes by the Honble. A. Lee Esqr. the 27th of last month to demand from Mr. Carmichael some Dispatches he had receivd from him in the Spring 1776 for Congress. The two days I stayd there Mr. Carmichael unaskd and unsollicitd enterd into a long detail of Mr. Dean’s unfriendly and ungenerous treatment to him, said that Mr. Deane was a rascal, and that he had told him so. That Mr. Deane had made use of the public money to his mercantile purposes. That Mr. Deane had told the French Minister that it was not safe to treat with Mr. Lee as he was more attachd to England than to France. That Mr. Deane had wrote to America that Dr. Franklin was growing old, and just signd his name. That the whole burden of the negotiation was thrown upon him. That Dr. Franklin had wrote to Congress that he could not account for Mr. Lee’s extraordinary conduct, but that he was in a state of insanity. That he knew Mr. Deane had several shares in Ships, and in the goods sent out in them, and some of them in conjunction and fitting out by Mr. Jonathan Williams. That he had tricked him out of a consignment of £400000. That he had wrote to several commercial countries arguing their consignments. That Mr. Deane hopd by this underhand dealing with the French Ministers, to have vexd and obligd Mr. Lee to go to Spain, that he might then make use of the public money with impunity. That Mr. Lee was never consulted in things of consequence, that Dr. F——n and Mr. D——ne transactd the business without his concurrence. That he woud have calld Mr. Deane to an account before he left Paris, but he wantd a letter from Dr. F——n and Mr. D——ne with an approbation of his conduct, and a recommendation to Congress, that as he had now obtaind that he woud publish Mr. Deanes conduct and represent him to Congress the vilain he was. Mr. Carmichael’s abuses of Mr. D——ne were so bad that I cannot think to commit them to paper: and from a conversation I have had with Mr. Lloyd and Mr. Stevenson upon the matter, I found he had had similar ones with them.

J. Thornton

True Copy Ludwell Lee
629215 = 025-696a.html