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PROPERTY OF THE LATE COMTE LOUIS DE CHASTELLUX
FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790). Letter signed (‘‘B Franklin”), to François-Jean de Beauvoir, Chevalier de Chastellux, Passy, 6 April 1782.
Details
FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790). Letter signed (‘‘B Franklin”), to François-Jean de Beauvoir, Chevalier de Chastellux, Passy, 6 April 1782.
Two pages, 313 x 201mm, bifolium, blindstamped "ARCHIVES DE CHASTELLUX" at top left (paperclip mark at top of second page, later ink notations). Body of text in the hand of William Temple Franklin (1760-1823).
"Establishing the liberties of America will not only make the people happy but will have some strong effect in diminishing the misery of those who in other parts groan under despotism."
Franklin anticipates peace negotiations, expecting that Parliament would endeavor "to detach us from France... but that is impossible," while also looking beyond the war: A fine war-time letter written while he waits for a new Parliament to propose terms for Britain to end hostilities.“It gave me great Pleasure to hear by the Officers returned last Winter from your Army, that you continued in good Health. You will see by the Public Papers, that the English begin to be weary of the War, and they have reason; having suffered many Losses, having four Nations of Enemies upon their Hands, few Men to spare, little Money left, and very bad Heads. The latter they have lately changed. As yet we know not what Measures their new Ministry will take. People generally think they will be employ’d by the King to extricate him from his present Difficulties by obtaining a Peace, and that then he will kick them out again, they being all Men that he abominates, and who have been forced upon him by the Parliament.” Indeed, Lord North's government had fallen to the Whigs under Rockingham on 22 March. The Whigs would remain in power (subsequently under Shelburne, following Rockingham's death in July 1782), and would oversee the peace negotiations.
"The Commons have already made a Sort of half Peace with us Americans, by forbidding the Troops on the Continent to act offensively; and by a new Law they have impower’d the King to compleat it. As yet I hear nothing of the Terms they mean to propose; indeed they have hardly had time to form them. I know they wish to detach us from France; but that is impossible.”
“I congratulate you on the Success of your last glorious Campaign [Cornwallis had surrendered his army to Washington at Yorktown on 19 October].” Franklin looks beyond that momentous military triumph and offers his opinion on the larger impact American independence might bring to the rest of the world: “Establishing the Liberties of America will not only make the People happy, but will have some Effect in diminishing the Misery of those who in the other parts of the World groan under Despotism, by rendering it more circumspect, and inducing it to govern with a lighter hand. A Philosopher endow’d with those strong Sentiments of Humanity that are manifested in your excellent Writings, must enjoy great Satisfaction in having contributed so extensively by his Sword as well as by his Pen to the Felicité Publique.II"
After sending the regards of "M. Le Compte de Segur," Franklin closes his letter, teasing Chastellux, "Dare I confess to you that I am your Rival with Madame G.? I need not tell you that I am not a dangerous one. I perceive that She loves you very much.”
Less than a week later, Richard Oswald, a representative of the newly-installed Rockingham Ministry arrived in Paris to commence negotiations with Franklin, who at the time was the only American in France at the time authorized by Congress to treat with Great Britain. Much to Vergennes's chagrin (and contrary to Franklin's assertions in the present letter), the American commissioners, which eventually included John Jay and John Adams, negotiated independently of France, but with the proviso that the peace not go into effect until preliminaries for a treaty with France had been ratified. On 5 November 1782 the two sides agreed on a set of preliminary articles that formed the basis for the final treaty that would be signed on 3 September 1783. Provenance: François-Jean de Beauvoir, Marquis de Chastellux (1734-1788) – by descent to the consignor.
Two pages, 313 x 201mm, bifolium, blindstamped "ARCHIVES DE CHASTELLUX" at top left (paperclip mark at top of second page, later ink notations). Body of text in the hand of William Temple Franklin (1760-1823).
"Establishing the liberties of America will not only make the people happy but will have some strong effect in diminishing the misery of those who in other parts groan under despotism."
Franklin anticipates peace negotiations, expecting that Parliament would endeavor "to detach us from France... but that is impossible," while also looking beyond the war: A fine war-time letter written while he waits for a new Parliament to propose terms for Britain to end hostilities.“It gave me great Pleasure to hear by the Officers returned last Winter from your Army, that you continued in good Health. You will see by the Public Papers, that the English begin to be weary of the War, and they have reason; having suffered many Losses, having four Nations of Enemies upon their Hands, few Men to spare, little Money left, and very bad Heads. The latter they have lately changed. As yet we know not what Measures their new Ministry will take. People generally think they will be employ’d by the King to extricate him from his present Difficulties by obtaining a Peace, and that then he will kick them out again, they being all Men that he abominates, and who have been forced upon him by the Parliament.” Indeed, Lord North's government had fallen to the Whigs under Rockingham on 22 March. The Whigs would remain in power (subsequently under Shelburne, following Rockingham's death in July 1782), and would oversee the peace negotiations.
"The Commons have already made a Sort of half Peace with us Americans, by forbidding the Troops on the Continent to act offensively; and by a new Law they have impower’d the King to compleat it. As yet I hear nothing of the Terms they mean to propose; indeed they have hardly had time to form them. I know they wish to detach us from France; but that is impossible.”
“I congratulate you on the Success of your last glorious Campaign [Cornwallis had surrendered his army to Washington at Yorktown on 19 October].” Franklin looks beyond that momentous military triumph and offers his opinion on the larger impact American independence might bring to the rest of the world: “Establishing the Liberties of America will not only make the People happy, but will have some Effect in diminishing the Misery of those who in the other parts of the World groan under Despotism, by rendering it more circumspect, and inducing it to govern with a lighter hand. A Philosopher endow’d with those strong Sentiments of Humanity that are manifested in your excellent Writings, must enjoy great Satisfaction in having contributed so extensively by his Sword as well as by his Pen to the Felicité Publique.II"
After sending the regards of "M. Le Compte de Segur," Franklin closes his letter, teasing Chastellux, "Dare I confess to you that I am your Rival with Madame G.? I need not tell you that I am not a dangerous one. I perceive that She loves you very much.”
Less than a week later, Richard Oswald, a representative of the newly-installed Rockingham Ministry arrived in Paris to commence negotiations with Franklin, who at the time was the only American in France at the time authorized by Congress to treat with Great Britain. Much to Vergennes's chagrin (and contrary to Franklin's assertions in the present letter), the American commissioners, which eventually included John Jay and John Adams, negotiated independently of France, but with the proviso that the peace not go into effect until preliminaries for a treaty with France had been ratified. On 5 November 1782 the two sides agreed on a set of preliminary articles that formed the basis for the final treaty that would be signed on 3 September 1783. Provenance: François-Jean de Beauvoir, Marquis de Chastellux (1734-1788) – by descent to the consignor.
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Please note that the body of the letter is in the hand of William Temple Franklin, but signed by Benjamin Franklin.