Arthur Lee to Franklin and Silas Deane, 27 May 1777
Arthur Lee to Franklin and Silas Deane
Three copies:3 National Archives
Vienna May 27. 1777
Dear Sirs
I reached this three days from Munich and in expectation of hearing from you to Morrow shall not proceed till the 29th. Dresden will be my next Stage.
There is a Cold tranquillity here, that bodes us no good. On ne peut pas echauffer la froi deur alle magne [froideur allemande]. From what I learn we need be under no apprehensions from Russia.
I hope you will not forget to Sound the two Courts, whether they will join mine in declaring us independent. But I am afraid that will not be obtained, and not then unless they are in our favour. I am Dear Sirs Yours
To the Hond. the Commissioners at Paris
3. Two of the copies contain, after the signature, a sentence that does not appear to be part of the letter itself: “And Mr. Lee had proposed to the other Commissioners that they should endeavour to unite France, Spain, and Prussia in this by telling each, the other would do it, if they wou’d.”