[ [18] This letter was drawn up and communicated in the French language.
[ [19] Caron de Beaumarchais.
[ [20] In another part of his correspondence, Mr Lee speaks as follows on this subject.
“Three months before Mr Deane’s arrival, (in Paris) M. Beaumarchais settled with me in London the sending these supplies of money and munitions of war, by the Cape, under the firm of Hortalez & Co., and that I should apprize Congress of it, which I did by Mr Story and other opportunities, as the gentlemen of the Secret Committee know. Upon M. de Beaumarchais’ return to Paris, he wrote me several times concerning these supplies, mentioning the difficulties which arose in the execution, from the timidity of the Court, but that he was putting it into the mercantile train, which would soon overcome all difficulties. I did not fail to press the despatch of them, and proposed too the sending some ships of war to protect our coast, exactly similar to what we were afterwards instructed by Congress to obtain.
“I do not state this to assume any merit to myself for these supplies. I had none. M. de Beaumarchais sought me out in London. He found me by means of Mr Wilkes, and communicated to me what I was to convey to Congress; that the sum of two hundred thousand louis d’ors from this Court were ready for our support. It was therefore no address of mine, that procured this aid. I was only the instrument of conveying this intelligence. As far as I know, the merit is due to M. de Beaumarchais. I never refused it to him. But I objected to his making demands directly contrary to what he had repeatedly assured me, and not only desired but urged me to report to Congress.”
On the 16th of September, 1778, Count de Vergennes wrote as follows to M. Gerard, at that time French Minister in the United States.
“Mr Franklin and his colleagues wish to know what articles have been furnished to them by the King, and what M. de Beaumarchais has furnished on his own account; and they have insinuated to me, that Congress is in the belief, that all the articles which have been sent, of at least a great part of them, were on his Majesty’s account. I have just answered them, that the King has furnished nothing; that he has simply permitted M. de Beaumarchais to be provided with articles from his arsenals, upon condition of replacing them.”
[ [21] This letter was agreed upon by the Commissioners, and sent by them conjointly as a circular “To the Captains or Commanders of all ships of war, armed vessels, and privateers from the United States of North America.”
[ [22] Dr Berkenhout had been formerly a friend of Arthur Lee in London, and was employed by the government as a secret agent to endeavor to obtain from the Commissioners in Paris the terms of an accommodation with England.
[ [23] From Baron de Schulenburg.