Franklin was elected president of the Constitutional Convention, and on the 20th was chosen by that body a member of Congress by the highest number of votes cast for any candidate. When the Convention adjourned, they adopted unanimously the following resolution, "That the thanks of this Convention be given to the President for the honour he has done it by filling the chair during the debates on the most important parts of the bill of rights and frame of government, and for his able and disinterested advice thereon."

Lord Howe and his brother, General William Howe, were appointed joint commissioners to bring about a reconciliation with the colonies. Lord Howe's fleet of one hundred and twenty sail reached New York early in July, 1776. An exchange of letters immediately took place between Franklin and the admiral.' The "Declaration" issued by the latter, stating his powers to grant pardons, etc., was sent to Washington, who transmitted it to Congress. That body directed it to be printed in the newspapers, "that the few who still remain suspended by a hope founded either in the justice or moderation of their late King, may now at length be convinced that the valour alone of their country is to save its liberties." No other notice was taken of the commissioners. Military operations began. The battle of Long Island was fought, and General Sullivan who fell into the hands of the British was paroled and sent to Philadelphia to ask Congress to name representatives to treat with the British commissioners. Congress appointed Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge, a committee to ascertain from Lord Howe whether he had any authority to treat with persons authorized by 1 See Vol. VI, p. 458 et seq.

Congress for that purpose on behalf of America, and what that authority is, and to hear such propositions as he shall think fit to make respecting the same.

Franklin wrote to Howe, naming the house on Staten Island opposite to Amboy, or the governor's house at Amboy, as places suitable for the rendezvous. Howe preferred the first named, and Franklin and his colleagues started September 9 to keep the appointment. The admiral sent his barge to receive them and to leave an officer as a hostage. The committee took the officer back with them in the barge. Lord Howe met them at the landing and led them to a renovated room in an ancient stone house where they found an abundant collation of "good claret, good bread, cold ham, tongues, and mutton." Nothing satisfactory resulted from the conference. The committee reported to Congress, "Upon the whole it does not appear to your committee, that his Lordship's commission contained any other authority of importance than what is expressed in the act of Parliament, namely, that of granting pardons, with such exceptions as the commissioners shall think proper to make, and of declaring America, or any part of it, to be in the King's peace, upon submission."1

1 "Lord Howe was profuse in his expressions of gratitude to the State of Massachusetts for erecting a marble monument in Westminster Abbey to his elder brother, Lord Howe, who was killed in America in the last French war, saying, 'he esteemed that honour to his family above all things in this world. That such was his gratitude and affection to the country on that account that he felt for America as for a brother, and if America should fall, he should feel and lament it like the loss of a brother.' Dr. Franklin, with an easy air and a collected countenance, a bow, a smile, and all that naïveté which sometimes appeared in his conversation, and is often observed in his writings, replied, 'My Lord, we will do our utmost endeavours to spare your Lordship that mortification.' His Lordship appeared to feel this with more sensibility than I could expect; but he only returned, 'I suppose you will endeavour to give us employment in Europe.'" "The Life and Works of John Adams," Vol. III, p. 79; and see also "Life of Josiah Quincy,” p. 414.

CHAPTER VII

PLENIPOTENTIARY TO FRANCE

JOHN JAY related a strange incident which occurred in November, 1775. An old gentleman of French appearance, lame, and with a military bearing, appeared in Philadelphia and promised to Congress the assistance of Louis XVI. "Gentlemen," said the mysterious foreigner, "if you want arms, you shall have them; if you want ammunition, you shall have it; if you want money, you shall have it." Of all these things the Congress had urgent need, but it was also necessary that they should know the name and credentials of the envoy who promised so liberally. In answer to such inquiries he drew his hand with a significant gesture across his throat, and said, "Gentlemen, I shall take care of my head." Nothing further was learned of him, and in another day he had vanished from Philadelphia, rather than removed in any bodily sense.

Many were convinced that he was really an emissary of the French government. Help was eagerly and confidently looked for from abroad. Spain, Holland, and France were unsleeping enemies of Great Britain. Congress was prepared to believe that France would welcome an opportunity to loosen the ties between America and England. A committee of secret correspondence was appointed, and Franklin penned letters to his liberal friends in England, to a grandee in Spain, a physician in Paris, and a lawyer at The Hague. Silas Deane was despatched to France with instructions drawn up by Franklin to engage in extensive business operations for the

1 See "Life of John Jay," Vol. I, p. 39.

benefit of the colonies.1 Ten months passed away while the country tossed in nervous impatience, waiting for some word in answer to the letters, or for some sign from Silas Deane. The letter that then arrived, in September, 1776, from Dr. Barbeu Dubourg encouraged Congress to send an embassy to France. On the 26th of December they unanimously elected Franklin and Jefferson. The latter declined on account of the ill health of his wife, and Arthur Lee was chosen in his stead. Silas Deane was retained as the third commissioner. Turning to Dr. Rush who sat beside him, Franklin said, when the result of the balloting was announced, "I am old and good for nothing; but, as the store-keepers say of their remnants of cloth, 'I am but a fag end, and you may have me for what you please."" His last act at home, before departing upon a journey from which it was probable he would never return, was to lend to Congress between three and four thousand pounds.

He arrived in France on the Reprisal after a stormy voyage, beaten for thirty days by November gales. They brought in with them to Quiberon Bay two prizes, a brigantine laden with tar, turpentine, and claret, and another with a cargo of cognac and flaxseed. Franklin went ashore at Auray, in Brittany, so weakened by the voyage that he could scarcely stand, and on the 7th of December reached Nantes. His coming was unexpected, but he had friends in the city, and elaborate entertainment was at once prepared

1 Deane arrived in France, June, 1776, and was in Paris on the 5th of July. He travelled by Bermudas and Spain, the route of greatest security.

2 A sixteen-gun ship, commanded by Captain Wickes. Franklin was accompanied by William Temple Franklin (aged seventeen) the illegitimate son of William Franklin, and Benjamin Franklin Bache (aged seven), eldest son of Sarah (Franklin) Bache.

for him. Lord Stormont, the British ambassador in Paris, wrote to Lord Weymouth (December 11, 1776): "I learnt yesterday evening that the famous Doctor Franklin is arrived at Nantes, with his two grandchildren. They came on an American privateer, which took several English vessels in her passage. Some people think that either some private dissatisfaction or despair of success have brought him into this country. I cannot but suspect that he comes charged with a secret commission from the Congress, and as he is a subtle artful man, and void of all truth, he will in that case use every means to deceive, will avail himself of the general ignorance of the French, to paint the situation of the rebels in the falsest colours, and hold out every lure to the ministers, to draw them into an open support of that cause. He has the advantage of several intimate connexions here, and stands high in the general opinion. In a word, my Lord, I look upon him as a dangerous engine, and am very sorry that some English frigate did not meet with him by the way."

A second letter, written the next day (December 12) by Lord Stormont to the same correspondent, and marked "most confidential," read as follows:

"I am forced to trouble Your Lordship with a few Words more. My suspicions with regard to Franklin are confirmed. He came over in a Forty Gun Ship to give more Eclat to his Mission and was at Versailles last Night as I am positively assured. He pressed to be instantly recd as a Minister from the Independent Colonies but in a Council that was held last Night upon the occasion, It was resolved

1 A belief expressed by Franklin's old friend, Sir Grey Cooper, who wrote from New York (October 28, 1776), “The arch Dr. Franklin has lately eloped under the cloak of plenipotentiary to Versailles.”