Mr. Morris’s Letter to B. Franklin decypher’d

In my Letter of Yesterday, I have dwelt on the Resolutions of Congress, in the Manner required by my Duty as their Servant. I will now add a few Hints as your Friend, Your Enemies industriously publish that your Age and Indolence have unabled you for your Station: that a sense of Obligation to France seals your Lips when you should ask their Aid, and that (whatever your Friends may say to the Contrary) both your Connections and Influence at Court are extreamly feeble. I need not tell you that Messr. Lee & Compy are among the foremost who make these Assertions, and many others not worthy the mention. I should not have given you the Pain of reading even these but that (as you will see from the Resolution of the twenty third Inst.) Congress have believ’d your grateful Sensibility might render you unwilling to apply with all that warmth which the Sense of their Necessity convinces them is necessary. In addition to the general Reflection how Envy has pursued superior Merit in all Ages, you will draw a farther Consolation from this, that many who censure you are well disposed to place like Censure on France, and would fain describe her as acting only the Part of self Interest, without a Wish to render us effectual Aid. You will I am sure attribute what I now say to a friendly desire of apprizing you of Things useful for you to know, and you will so act, as to convince every Man that your Exertions are what I verily believe them to be. I am Sir, Your most obedient Servant