Benjamin Franklin Papers

Arthur Lee to Franklin and Silas Deane, 14 February 1777

Arthur Lee to Franklin and Silas Deane

ALS: American Philosophical Society

Nantes, Feby. 14th. 1777

Gentlemen

Since my last, I have been informd of an agreement made between Mr. Morris and the Farmers general, by which he stipulates to let them have all the Tobacco which shall arrive in France during the war, on the account of the Congress, at seventy Livres a hundred. The ratification of this bargain they knew on the 30th of last month, which I think was about the time of their declaring off; and they were conducting the two negotiations at the same time. The price is good, but the uncertainty of arrivals will continue the same difficulties with regard to Funds.2

De Coudray is said to have saild for St. Domingo. There is nothing new here. I am, with great esteem Gentlemen Your most Obedient

Arthur Lee

PS. I set out to-morrow.

Addressed: A Monsr / Monsr. le Docteur Franklin / l’Hotel d’Hambourg / Rue Jacob / Paris

Notation: A Lee to BF. & SD Nantes Feb. 14. 1777.

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

2On Feb. 15 Lee gave his views at greater length to the committee of secret correspondence. The U.S. objectives, he wrote, were to insure the export to France of produce that could not be carried in American bottoms, a supply of ready money in France for purchasing military supplies, and protection for shipping them. Morris’ contract will not achieve those ends; it does not stipulate a cash advance for the tobacco, and ignores the problem of getting it to Europe. Wharton, Diplomatic Correspondence, II, 270.

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