To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 16 March 1782
From Benjamin Franklin
Passy March 16th. 1782
Dear Sir,
I have received your several favors of January 30th. February 11th. and March 1st.1 and propose to write fully to you pr. the next Post.2 In the mean time, this Line may serve to acquaint you that I have paid Duly all your former Bills drawn in favor of Mr. Cabarrus;3 and that having obtained a promise of six Millions for this year, to be paid me Quarterly, I now see that I shall be able to pay your Drafts for discharging the Sums you may be obliged to borrow for paying those upon you, in which however I wish you to give me as much Time as you can, dividing them so that they may not all come upon me at once.4 Interest should be allowed your friends who advance for you. Please to send me a compleat List of all the Bills you have accepted, their Numbers, and Dates, marking which are paid, and what are still to pay.5 I congratulate you upon the change of Sentiment in the British Nation.6 It has been intimated to me from thence, that they are willing to make a separate Peace with us exclusive of France, Spain, and Holland, which, so far as relates to France, is impossible;7 and I believe they will be content that we leave them the other two: But Holland is stepping towards us, and I am not without hopes of a second Loan there. And since Spain does not think our Friendship worth cultivating, I wish you would inform me of the whole Sum we owe her, that we may think of some means of paying it off Speedily.8 With sincerest Regard, I am, &c. &c.
(signed) B. F
The Marquis de la Fayette has your Letter.
ALS, First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Boston. LbkC, DLC: Franklin (EJ: 10336); LbkCs, embedded in JJ to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 28 Apr. 1782, below, DNA: PCC, item 110, 2: 106–7 (EJ: 4219); CSmH (EJ: 3468); NNC: JJ Lbks. 1 and 6. Text from DNA:LbkC.
2. The next letter JJ received from BF was that of 22 Apr. 1782, below.
3. On these bills, see , 37: 5–6.
4. BF had learned the French would provide the needed funds by early March, but he did not convey the information to JJ until the present date. Vergennes did not inform Montmorin about the new loan until 14 Mar. , 36: 650; 37: 8.
5. See JJ to BF, 18 Mar. 1782, below.
6. On 27 Feb., following renewed opposition attacks on the North ministry, the House of Commons had voted to end further prosecution of offensive warfare in North America. Ian R. Christie, The End of North’s Ministry, 1780–82 (London, 1958), 299–325; , 253.
7. In his meeting with Richard Oswald on 12 Apr. 1782, BF had rejected the idea of a separate peace. See , 261. For JJ’s views on a separate peace with Great Britain, see his reply to BF of 29 Mar., below.
8. For JJ’s response, see his letter to BF of 29 Mar., below.