Silas Deane to John Jay, 3 December 1776
Paris Dec r 3 d : 1776
Dear Jay
If my Letters arrive safe they will give you some Idea of my situation–without Intelligence, without Orders, and without remittances, yet boldly plunging into Contracts, Engagements, &. Negotiations, hourly hoping that something will arrive from America– 1 By General Coudry I send 30.000 Fusils–200 ps. of Brass Cannon, Thirty Mortars 4000 Tents, &. Cloath g for 30.000 Men, with 200 Tons of Gun powder, Lead, Balls &c, &c; by which you may judge we have some friends here– 2
A War in Europe is inevitable; The Eyes of all are on You, and the fear of your giving up or Accommodating is the greatest Obstacle I have to Contend with–Monsr Beaumarchais has been my Minister in effect, as this Court is extreme cautious, and I now Advise you to Attend Carefully to the Articles sent you, I could not examine them here, I was promised they should be good & at the lowest prices, & that from persons in such station that had I hesitated it might have ruined my affairs but as in so large a Contract there is room for Imposition, my Advice is that you send back to me samples of the Articles sent you–Cannon, Powder, &c Mortars &c are Articles known, but of the Cloths the Fusils &c by which any imposition may be detected–large remittances are Necessary for your credit &c the enormous price of Tobacco, of Rice, of Flour and many other Articles, gives you an Opportunity of making your remittances to very great Advantage, 20.000. HHds [hogsheads] of Tobacco are wanted immediately for this Kingdom, and more for other parts of Europe–I have wrote you on several subjects some of which I will Attempt briefly to recapitulate Tho I have but a drop of Ink having received none from your Brother–The destruction of the Newfoundland Fishery, may be effected, by Two or Three of your Frigates, sent there early in February, and by that means a fatal blow given to G Britain I mean by distroying the Stages, Boats &c & bringing away the People left there as Prisoners–Glasgow in Scotland, may be plundered & burnt with ease, as may Liverpool, by two or three stout Frigates, which may find a shelter & protection in the ports of France & Spain afterwards–Blank Commissions are wanted here to cruise under your Flag against the British Commerce This is a Capital Stroke & must bring on a War Hasten them out I pray you–France, & Spain, are Freindly, & you will greatly oblige the Latter, by seizing the Portuguese Commerce, Wherever it is found. I have had overtures from the King of Prussia in the Commercial Way & have sent a person of great Confidence [to] 3 his Court in person, with Letters of Introduction from his Agent here, with whom I am on the best terms– 4 A Loan may be Obtained, if you make punctual remittances for the sum 5 now Advanced, for any sum at five per C t . Interest perhaps for less–The Western Lands ought to be held up to View as an encouragement for your soldiers, especially Foreigners and are a good fund to raise Mony on–You may if you judge proper, have any number of German, & Swiss Troops, They have been Offered me but you know I have no power to treat–A Number of Frigates may be purchased at Leghorn, The Great Duke of Tuskany being zealously in favor of America, & doing all in his power to encourage its Commerce–Troubles are rising in Ireland & with a little Assistance much work may be cut out for G Britain there, by sending from hence a few Preists, a little Money, & plenty of Arms Omnia Tentanda is my Motto, Therefore I hint they 6 playing their own Game on them by Spiriting up the Caribbs in St. Vincents, & the Negroes in Jamaica to revolt–On all These Subjects I have wrote to you–also on Various particulars of Commerce, Our Vessels have more Liberty in the ports of France, & Spain, & Tuscany, Than the Vessels of any other Nations & that Openly–I presented the declaration of Independancy to this Court after it had indeed become an Old Storey in every part of Europe, it was well received, but as you say you have Articles for Alliance under Consideration any resolution must be deferr–d untill We know what they are– 7 The want of Intelligence has more than once well nigh ruined my affairs–Pray be more Attentive to this important Subject, or drop at once all Thoughts of a Foreign Connection–I must mention some Trifles–The Queen is fond of parade, & I believe wishes a War, & is our Friend, She loves riding on horseback, could you send me a fine Narragansett Horse or Two The present might be Money exceedingly well laid out–Rittenhouses Orrery–or Arnolds Collection of Insects 8 –a Phaeton of American make and a pair of Bay Horses–A few barrells of Apples–of Walnutts–of Butter Nutts &c would be great Curiosities here where everything American is gazed at and where the American Contest engrosses the Attention of all Ages, Rank & Sexes–had I Ten Ships here I could fill them all with passengers for America–I hope the Officers sent will be Agreable They were recommended by the Ministry here, and are at this instant really in their Army but This must be a secret,–Do you want heavy Iron Cannon, Sea Officers of distinction or Ships your Special Orders will enable me to procure them–For the situation of Affairs–in England refer you to M r . Rogers Aid De Camp to Mons r . du Coudry 9 I have presented a Number of Memorials 10 which have been very favorably received, & the last by his Majesty but my being wholly destitute of other than Accidental & gratuitous Assistance will not permit my sending you Copies as they are lengthy–indeed I was obliged to make them as to explain the rise, the nature, and the progress of the dispute–I have been assured from the Ministers that I have thrown much light on the subject & have Obviated many Difficulties,–But his Majesty is not of the Disposition of his Great Grand Father Louis 14 th –, If he was, England would soon be ruined;–Do not forget, or omit, sending me blank Commissions for Privateers, under these infinite damage may be done, to the British commerce, and as the prizes must be sent to you, for Condemnation, the eventual profits, will remain with you.–Tell M rs Trist that her Husband, & Cap t . Fowler, were well, the 16 th instant I had a Letter from the latter– 11 pray be careful who You trust in Europe one Williamson a Native of Pennsylvania is here as a spy, yet I believe he Corresponds with very good People on your side of the Water, 12 The Villain returns to London once in about six Weeks to discharge his Budget–Doct r . Bancroft has been of very great service to Me, No Man has better Intelligence in England in my Opinion but it costs something– 13 The following Articles have been shewn to me They have been seen by both the Courts of France, & Spain, & I send them to you for speculation– 14
1 st . The Thirteen United Colonies now known by the [Name of] 15 the Thirteen United States of North America shall be acknowledged, by France, & Spain, and treated with as Independant States & as such shall be guarantead in the possession of all that part of the Continent of North America, which by the last Treaty of Peace was ceded, & Confirmed, to the Crown of Great Britain.
2 d The United States, shall guaranty, & Confirm To the Crowns of France, and Spain, all, and Singular, their Possessions, and Claims, in every other part of America, whither North, or South of the Equater, & of the Islands, possess–d by them in the American Seas.
3 d Should France, or Spain, either, or both of them, possess themselves of the Islands in the West Indies now in possession of the Crown of Great Britain (as an indemnity for the Injuries sustained in the last War in Consiquence of its being Commenced on the part of Great Britain in Violation of the Laws of Nations The United Colonies shall assist The s d . powers in Obtaining such satisfaction, and Guaranty & Confirm to them the possession of such Acquisition.
4. The Fisheries on the Banks of Newfoundland, of Cape Breton, & parts adjacent commonly known, & called by the Name of the Cod Fishery shall be equally Free to the Subjects of France, Spain, and the United states 16 of North America and to the subjects of no other State, or Nation. And the Islands of Newfoundland & Cape Breton, equally free to either for curing, and carrying on such Fisherys, under such regulation as may prevent the utmost possibility of any Misunderstanding on the subject–
5. There shall be free Liberty of Commerce, between the subjects of France, and Spain, and the United States respectively, and they shall mutually engage to protect and Defend each other in such Commerce
6 The more effectually to preserve this Alliance & to Obtain the great Objection Viz it shall be Agreed, that any and every British ship or Vessel found, or met with, on the Coasts of North America, of South America, or of the Islands, adjacent, and belonging thereto, within a Certain Degree or Distance to be agreed on, shall be for ever hereafter considered as Lawfull prize, to any of the subjects, of France, Spain or the United Colonies, and treated as such as Well in Peace as in War. Nor shall France, Spain, or The United [Colonies] 17 ever hereafter admit British Ships into any of their Ports in America North or South, or the Islands, Adjacent This Article never to be altered, or dispenced with, but only by and with the Consent of each of the Three Contracting States–
7 During the Present War, between The United States, and Great Britain France and Spain, shall send into North America and support there a Fleet to defend, & protect The Coasts, and the Commerce of the United States in Consequence of which if the Possessions of France or Spain shall be Attacked in America by Great Britain or her Allies, The United Colonies, 18 will Afford them all that Aid & Assistance in their Power–
8 No Peace or Accomodation shall be made with Great Britain, to the infringment or Violation of any one of These Articles–
I have sent you this in secret hand, & am with the utmost impatience to hear from you Dear Sir Your–s
S. Deane