Letter from Benjamin Franklin to the Committee of Secret Correspondence

1/4/1777

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Benjamin Franklin wrote this letter to the Committee of Secret Correspondence to inform them of renegotiations with France. Notes on this document written by history scholars are available on Founders Online, a searchable archive of the correspondence and other writings of several of the Founders of the United States government.

Transcript

Paris Jan. 4. 1777

Gentlemen,

I arrived here about two Weeks since, where I found Mr. Deane. Mr. Lee has since join’d us from London. We have had an Audience of the Minister, Count de Vergennes, and were respectfully receiv’d. We left for his Consideration a Sketch of the propos’d Treaty. We are to wait upon him tomorrow with a strong Memorial requesting the Aids mentioned in our Instructions. By his Advice we had an Interview with the Spanish Ambassador, Count d’Aranda, who seems well dispos’d towards us, and will forward Copies of our Memorials to his Court, which will act, he says, in perfect Concert with this. Their Fleets are said to be in fine Order, mann’d and fit for Sea. The Cry of this Nation is for us; but the Court it is thought views an approaching War with Reluctance. The Press continues in England. As soon as we can receive a positive Answer from these Courts we shall dispatch an Express with it. I am, Gentlemen,

Your most obedient humble Servant

B Franklin

This primary source comes from the Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention.

National Archives Identifier: 6171405

Full Citation: Letter from Benjamin Franklin to the Committee of Secret Correspondence Regarding Renegotiations with France; 1/4/1777; Letters from Benjamin Franklin; Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774 - 1789; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/letter-franklin-committee-secret-correspondence, May 30, 2023]

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Letter from Benjamin Franklin to the Committee of Secret Correspondence

1/4/1777

Transcript

The National Archives