Benjamin Franklin to Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes, July 24, 1782

Passy, July 24. 1782

Sir,

Inclos’d I have the honour of sending to your Excellency, Extracts from two Dispatches of the British Ministry, (one of them to the Commissioners for restoring Peace in America) which are communicated to me by Order of Lord Shelburne, expressly for the Purpose of restoring Confidence between him and me. Your Excellency will judge how proper they are for such a Purpose, when the first is evidently calculated to create Division not only between France & us, but among ourselves; 1 and the second is contradictory respecting a principal Point, the Independance. 2 I am, with great Respect, Sir, Your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble Servant

B Franklin

M. le Comte de Vergennes