To Benjamin Franklin from Silas Deane, 2 September 1778
From Silas Deane
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Philadelphia 2d Sepr 1778
My Dear sir
I wrote You by Capt. Cummins who sailed a few Days since, and I have been so particular to Docr. Bancroft who will communicate my Letter to You that I have very little to add.9 Genl. Sullivan by Accts. of the 25th Ulto. was endeavoring to make good his Retreat from Rhode Island, which it is thought he will hardly effect without some Loss.1 The Country and Army enjoy a good Share of health and are tolerably supplied, but Our Finances are in a most deplorable situation Exchange Five, Six, or at Times Seven for one, the Value of the Currency still depreciating tho not so rapidly as formerly, Congress are taking measures to regulate their Treasury and Finances but it is a Work of Time, and the Evil in the mean time increases. The People are excessively irritated at the Conduct of the Count D’Estaing, and complain loudly, while Our internal Enemies take the Advantage of it to depreciate Our Alliance.2 I have contented myself with stating the Facts in my Letter to Docr. Bancroft, and to Mons. Beaumarchais, and am of Opinion nothing else is necessary to be done to the Ministry to enable them to form their Judgment and take their Measures. The going to the southward, by which he miss’d the Jamaica Fleet, and suffered the Enemy to Escape from the Delaware was the first and capital misstep—and the finishing one was his quitting the harbor of New Port to go out after Lord Howe just at the Instant when Genl. Sullivan was ready, in Consequence of an express Agreement with the Count, to Attack the place. By this last measure he has left Genl. Sullivan exposed to suffer exceedingly in his retreat which will at best be disgraceful, and excessively Mortifying. I have not to this Moment settled any Measures with Congress, but I hope to Soon and that I shall have the pleasure of embracing You in Paris early Next Winter.3 My Compliments to Freinds. Mr. Beach, and Family, are still in the Country. Be assured that in whatever part of the World I am I shall never cease to be with the greatest respect, and Esteem Your sincere Freind and Most Humble servant
S Deane
his Excellency Dr Franklin
Addressed: To / his Excellency / Benja Franklin / Minister for the United / States of America / at / Paris
Endorsed: Mr Deane Sept. 2. 1778
9. Possibly John Cummings of Philadelphia: Charles H. Lincoln, ed., Naval Records of the American Revolution 1775–1788 (Washington, 1906), p. 444. We have not found Deane’s letters to Bancroft or to Beaumarchais, mentioned below.
1. For the siege of Newport see Peters’ letter of Aug. 13. Soon after it began, d’Estaing’s fleet put to sea to meet Admiral Howe’s fleet and was subsequently damaged in a storm. This damage and the reported arrival of British naval reinforcements led the French admiral to sail for Boston on Aug. 21/22. Gen. Sullivan managed a successful retreat a week later. See Christopher Ward, The War of the Revolution, (2 vols., New York, 1952), II, 590–3 and Emery’s letter of Oct. 7.
2. This dispute was quelled by Washington and others: Freeman, Washington, V, 73–6; William C. Stinchcombe, The American Revolution and the French Alliance (Syracuse, [1969]), 51–7; Smith, Letters, X, 636–7.
3. An expectation shared by BF: see his letter to Lovell, July 22. Deane had testified to Congress on August 17 and 21 about “his whole transactions in France”: JCC, XI, 801, 802, 826. His hopes of quick congressional approval were soon frustrated: see his letter to BF below, Oct. 21.