These instructions do not reveal that in conjunction with them various
members of Congress had opened a campaign to undercut
Franklin's authority as minister to the French court. This was the first
concerted attack upon him since the failed recall attempt in the spring
of 1779. On November 22 Congress had resolved to appeal to Louis
XVI for a loan of at least 25,000,000 l.t. in specie; President of Congress
Huntington here encloses a copy of the resolution, but he does
not tell Franklin that on the same day Congress had received its first
nomination for a secretary to “the Embassy at the Court of Versailles”
and that the election was scheduled for December 2. The title is sig-nificant;
hitherto Congress had been concerned merely with providing
Franklin a personal secretary. There was support, moreover, for
further broadening the powers of the new position; on November 30
James Lovell told Elbridge Gerry, “There has been much Manoeuvre
you know, for a Resident instead of Secretary to Doct. F, and
since you left us, for an Envoy extraordinary. The Cat is out.” He im-plied
that Franklin's failure to communicate with Congress was responsible,
pointing out that Congress had received only two letters
written by the minister in 1780, those of March 4 and May 31. Perhaps
more important than the scarcity of letters was the contents of the
ones that did arrive. In his communication of March 4, Franklin reported
his failure to obtain most of the military supplies he had been
ordered to request from the French government. On May 31 he reported
on the supplies he did manage to procure, but when few of
them reached America his reputation in Congress suffered. One indi-cation
of this is the implicit criticism of him in this letter. Another is
the creation by Congress of a rival authority at the American mission
in France to procure both money and supplies. The election of a secretary
was postponed and then not held; on December 8 Congress instead
resolved to elect an envoy extraordinary to proceed to Versailles
“for the special purpose of soliciting in conjunction with our Minister
Plenipotentiary at that court the aids requested by Congress, and forwarding
them to America without loss of time.” Within a month Congress
would give a more elevated title to its representative and elimi-nate
the reference to Franklin.
In Congress November 28th 1780.
1. The letter to his most christian Majesty which accompanies
these Instructions you will deliver without loss of time. You will
on all occasions and in the strongest terms represent the unal-terable
resolutions of these United States to maintain their liberties
and Independence and inviolably to adhere to the Alliance
at every hazard and in every event. That the misfortunes of the
last campaign instead of repressing have redoubled their ardor:
That Congress are resolved to employ every resource in their
power to expel the enemy from every part of the United States,
by the most vigorous and decisive co-operation with the marine
and troops of our illustrious Ally: That they have called for a
powerful army and ample supplies of provisions; and that the
States are disposed effectually to comply with their requisitions:
that if in aid of our own exertions the Court of France can be
prevailed on to assume a Naval superiority in the american seas:
to furnish the arms, ammunition and Cloathing specified in the
Estimate herewith transmitted and to assist us with the loan
mentioned in the letter. We flatter ourselves that under the divine
blessing the war must be speedily terminated with glory &
advantage to both nations. To procure these necessary aids you
will employ unremitted attention & your utmost abilities. Your
own knowledge of our circumstances and the facts suggested in
the letter will supply You with abundant arguments to enforce
our requisition.
2. You will give Col. Palfrey lately paymaster General for our
armies and now our Consul in France all the support which is
necessary for the exercise of his Consular functions; as well as
for the effectual execution of the special authority and instructions
which he will communicate. The sufferings of our army for
want of the cloathing & arms which the grant of his most christian
Majesty & your own dispatches gave us reason to expect;
and the absolute & encreasing necessity of their being immediately
forwarded to give efficacy to our future operations; will
sufficiently impress upon you the dangerous consequences of a
further disappointment.
3. With respect to the loan we forsee that the sum which we
ask will be greatly inadequate to our wants: we wish however to
depend as much as possible on our internal exertions. In this negotiation
the state of our finances requires that you should endeavour
to procure as long a respite after the war for payment of
the principal as may be in your power. You may agree for an Interest
not exceeding the terms allowed or given on National security
in Europe endeavouring to suspend the discharge of the
Interest for two or three years if possible.
You are hereby empowered to pledge the faith of the United
States by executing such securities or obligations for the payment
of the money as you may think proper And also that the Interest
shall not be reduced nor the principal paid during the term
for which the same shall have been borrowed without the consent
of the lenders or their representatives.
You are to stipulate for the payment of both principal and Interest
in specie.
The loan must prove ineffectual unless the specie is Actually
remitted. Experience has shewn that the Negotiation of bills is
attended with unsupportable loss & disadvantage. His most
Christian Majesty we are persuaded will see in the strongest light
the necessity of dispatching an effective naval armament to the
American seas. This is a measure of such vast moment that your
utmost address will be employed to give it success. By such a
conveyance the specie may be remitted in different Ships of War
with a prospect of safety.
4. We have received a letter from Monsr. Stephen D'Audibert
Caille at Salé, of which the enclosed is a copy wherein he stiles
himself Consul for unrepresented Nations at the Court of the
Emperor of Morocco. If you shall see no objections to the contrary
you will correspond with him & assure him in the name of
Congress, and in terms the most respectful to the Emperor that
we entertain a sincere disposition to cultivate the most perfect
friendship with him; and are desirous to enter into a treaty of
commerce with him; and that we shall embrace a favorable opportunity
to announce our wishes in form.
By order of Congress
(Copy)
Instructions to the honble. Doctr. Benjamin Franklin Minister
plenipotentiary for the United States at the Court of Versailles.