Benjamin Franklin Papers
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Report of Thomas Story to the Committee of Secret Correspondence and the Committee’s Memorandum upon It, [1 October 1776]

Report of Thomas Story7 to the Committee of Secret Correspondence and the Committee’s Memorandum upon It8

DS and copy:9 National Archives

[October 1, 1776]

“On my leaving London Arthur Lee Esqr. requested me to inform the Committee of Correspondence, that he had several conferences with the French Embassador who had communicated the same to the French Court, that in consequence thereof the Duke De Vergennes had sent a gentleman to Mr. Lee, [who informed] him that the French Court could not think of entering into a War with England, but that they would assist America by sending from Holland this Fall £200,000 Sterling worth of Arms and Ammunition to St. Eustatius, Martinico or Cape Francois, that application was to be made to the Governors or Commandants of those Places, by enquiring for Monsr. Hortalez and that on applying Persons properly authorised, the above articles would be delivered to them.”1

Philada. October 1st. 1776. The above intelligence was Communicated to the Subscribers being the only two Members of the Committee of Secret Correspondence now in this City,2 and on considering the Nature and importance of it, We agree in opinion that it is our indispensable duty to keep it Secret, even from Congress for the following reasons.

First. Shou’d it get to the ears of our Enemies at New York they wou’d undoubtedly take measures to intercept the Supplies and thereby deprive us not only of these succours but of others expected by the same route.

Second. As the Court of France have taken Measures to Negotiate this loan and succour in the most cautious and Secret Manner, shou’d we divulge it immediately, we may not only loose the present benefit, but also render that Court Cautious of any further Connection with such unguarded People and prevent their granting other Loans and assistance that we stand in need of, and have directed Mr. Deane to ask of them, for it appears from all our Intelligence they are not disposed to Enter into an immediate War with Britain altho disposed to support us in our Contest with them, we therefore think it our duty to Cultivate their favourable disposition toward us, draw from them all the support we can and in the end their private Aid must assist us to establish Peace or inevitably draw them in as Parties to the War.

Third. We find by Fatal Experience the Congress Consists of too many Members to keep Secrets, as none cou’d be more strongly enjoined than the present Embassy to France, notwithstanding which Mr. Morris was this day asked by Mr. Reese Meredith3 whether Doctor Franklin and others were really going Ambassadors to France, which plainly proves, that this Committee ought to keep this Secret if Secrecy is required.

Fourthly We are also of opinion that it is unnecessary to inform Congress of this Intelligence at present because Mr. Morris belongs to all the Committees that can properly be employed in receiving and Importing the expected supplys from Martinico, St. Eustatia or Cape Francois and will immediately influence the necessary measures for that purpose. Indeed we have already authorized Wm. Bingham Esqr. to apply at Martinico and St. Eustatia for what comes there and remit part by the Armed Sloop Independance Capt. Young promising to send others for the rest.4 Mr. Morris will apply to the Marine Committee to send other armed Vessells after her and also to Cape Francois (without Communicating this advice) in Consequence private Intelligence lately recd that Arms, Ammunition and Cloathing can now be procured at those places.

But shou’d any unexpected misfortune befall the States of America so as to depress the spirits of the Congress, it is our opinion that on any event of that kind, Mr. Morris (if Doctr. Franklin shou’d be absent) shou’d communicate this Important matter to Congress. Otherwise keep it untill part of or the whole supplys arrive, unless other events happen to render the Communication of it more proper than it appears to be at this time.

B Franklin
Robt Morris

Endorsements: Communicated to me the 11th October 1776 and I concur heartily in the measure.

Richard Henry Lee

Communicated to me the 10th of October 1776 and I do also sincerely approve of the Measure.

Wm Hooper5

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

7For the little we know about Arthur Lee’s emissary see BF to Dumas above, Dec. 9. Story’s report brought the first definite news of the French decision to send aid, and of the means agreed upon. The news could not have come at a more welcome moment, for the future looked dark: Long Island had been lost, New York had been lost, and Washington’s army was waiting for the enemy to dislodge it from the hills of northern Manhattan. Hence the possibility of further misfortune mentioned in the last paragraph of the memorandum.

8The memorandum is in a different hand.

9The copy gives in an introductory statement the date of the report, which was used in a hearing in 1808 on the claim of Beaumarchais’ daughter to be reimbursed for what her father had spent for the United States, and adds that the committee, on Dec. 13, 1775, had sent Story on a mission to France, Holland, and England. Two words illegible in the DS are supplied from the copy.

1Story probably left London on his return in late May or early June, by which time Beaumarchais had assumed the pseudonym of Hortalez although the company had not yet been organized; see Lee to Dumas, May 20 to June 11, Deane Papers, I, 136. Lee said later that the grant was 200,000 louis d’or, which is close to £200,000 but vastly in excess of the actual sum, a million livres or less than £50,000; he said at the same time that the funds were a gift. Stevens, Facsimiles, III, no. 271. Story’s report may be so interpreted, but the committee speaks of a loan.

2Johnson and Jay had left to attend their respective state conventions, and Dickinson had withdrawn from Congress: Burnett, Letters, I, xlvi, liv, lix. On Oct. 1 Hancock had certified that BF and Morris were authorized to act for the full committee: ibid., II, 111–12.

3An elderly Quaker merchant in Philadelphia, frequently mentioned in passing in earlier volumes.

4The committee to Bingham above, Sept. 21 to Oct. 1, 1776.

5These were two of the three members elected to the committee on Oct. 11; the third was John Witherspoon: JCC, VI, 867. For all three see the DAB.

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