The Compleated Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (1757-1790)

by Benjamin Franklin

  I have long imagined that we let ourselves down in offering our alliance before it was desired; and that it would have been better if we had never issued commissions for ministers to the courts of Spain, Vienna, Prussia, Tuscany, or Holland, till we had first privately learnt whether they would be received, since a refusal from one is an actual slight that lessens our reputation, and makes others less willing to form a connection with us.

  LEE’S PAMPHLET AGAINST ME

  I heard that a motion was made in Congress by a Carolina member for recalling me, but without success, and that Arthur Lee printed a pamphlet against me.101 If my enemies would have a little patience, they would soon see me remov’d without their giving themselves any trouble, as I was then 75. I knew not what they meant by saying that I oppos’d the settling of Mr. Deane’s account. I had no interest to induce such opposition; and no opposition was made.

  By several letters to me from intelligent persons, it appeared that the great and expensive exertions of the last year were render’d ineffectual by the superiority of the enemy at sea. Their success in Carolina was chiefly owing to that superiority, and to our want of the necessary means for furnishing, marching, and paying the expense of troops sufficient to defend that province. The Marquis de Lafayette, who was back in America, wrote me of the distress of the troops and how they’d suffer’d for want of clothing. But the misfortunes of the last campaign, instead of repressing, had redoubled their ardour, and Congress was resolved to employ every recourse in their power to expel the enemy from every part of the United States by the most vigorous and decisive cooperation with the marine and other forces of their illustrious ally, France.

  A FRESH APPLICATION FOR MORE MONEY

  I was thus charged by Congress to write to the King of France requesting the most vigorous aid of our allies, and to make a fresh and strong application for more money. America had great expectations that a considerable supply of money would be obtained from Spain, but that expectation failed: The force of that nation had been employed to reduce small forts in Florida without rendering any direct assistance to the United States. Thus, we could rely on France alone, and therefore I wrote the following to his excellency, viz:Passy, Feb. 13, 1781

  To His Excellency the Ct. de Vergennes:

  I am grown old. I feel myself much enfeebled by my late long illness; and it is probable I shall not long have any more concern in these affairs. I therefore take this occasion to express my opinion to your Excellency, that the present conjuncture is critical; that there is some danger lest the Congress should lose its influence over the people, if it is found unable to procure the aids that are wanted; and that the whole system of the new government in America may thereby be shaken. If the English are suffer’d once to recover that country, such an opportunity of effectual separation as the present may not occur again in the course of ages; and the possession of those fertile and extensive regions and that vast sea coast will afford them so broad a basis for future greatness, by the rapid growth of their commerce, and breed of seamen and soldier, as will enable them to become the terror of Europe and to exercise with impunity that insolence which is natural to their nation, and which will increase enormously with the increase of their power.

  I am with great respect, your excellency’s most obedient and most humble servant,

  B FRANKLIN

  This request was well received: But the ministry being extremely occupied with other weighty affairs, and I obtaining for some time only general answers, that something would be done for us, &c., and Mr. Henry Laurens, the new envoy to this Court having not arrived, I wrote again and press’d strongly for a decision on the subject. Upon this I received a note appointing a meeting with the minister, which I attended punctually. He assured me of the King’s goodwill to the United States, remarking however that, being on the spot, I must be sensible of the great expense France was actually engaged in, and the difficulty of lending us 25 millions at present impracticable; and that the depreciation of our paper had hurt our credit on that side of the water, adding that the King could not possibly favour a loan for us in his dominions, because it would interfere with and be a prejudice to those under a necessity of supporting the war. But to give the States a signal proof of his friendship, his majesty had resolv’d to grant them the sum of six millions, not as a loan, but as a free gift.

  I PASSED MY 75TH YEAR AND SOUGHT TO RESIGN

  In January 1781, I passed my 75TH year. The long and severe fit of the gout which I had suffered the previous winter had shaken me exceedingly, and I was unable to recover the bodily strength I had before enjoy’d, and thus suffer’d a great diminution of my activity. I found also that the business was too heavy for me and too confining. The constant attendance at home which was necessary for receiving and accepting bills of exchange (a matter foreign to my ministerial functions), to answer letters and perform other parts of my employment, prevented my taking the air and exercise which my annual journeys formerly used to afford me, and which contributed much to the preservation of my health. I had been engag’d in public affairs and enjoy’d public confidence in some shape or another during the long term of fifty years, an honour sufficient to satisfy any reasonable ambition.

  Having long tired of the trade of minister, and wishing for a little repose to spend the evening of life more agreeably in philosophic leisure, I grew impatient and therefore troubled Congress to send somebody to supply my place (I suggested John Jay to succeed me), and permit me to retire, being oblig’d to perform all the functions of consul, judge of admiralty, merchant, banker, &c. &c. besides that of minister. I found the various employments too multifarious and too heavy for my old shoulders. For in this point I agreed even with my enemies, that another might easily be found who could better execute them. Yet it was not my purpose to return immediately home, unless ordered; hoping rather to remain in France till the peace, among a people that loved me and whom I loved, than to hazard an English prison. My proper situation indeed would have been in my own house, with my daughter to take care of me and nurse me in case of illness, and with her children to amuse me; but as this could not well be at the time, we had to manage as we could. I begged them to be assur’d that I had not the least doubt of our success in the glorious cause, nor had received any disgust in their service that induced me to decline it, but purely and simply the reasons mentioned above.

  CONGRESS REFUSES MY RESIGNATION

  However, I received dispatches from Congress dated the 19TH of June refusing to accept my resignation, and insisting on my continuing in their service till the peace, and ordering me upon an additional service, that of being join’d with Mr. Adams and Messrs. Jay, H. Laurens, and T. Jefferson in directing us to negotiate for peace. Also Congress empowered us to accept in their behalf the mediation of the emperor of Germany and empress of Russia. I was the more encourag’d by this resolution and honour, and I really esteemed it to be a greater one than my first appointment, when I considered that all the interest of my enemies, united with my own request, were not sufficient to prevent it. But these sorts of considerations should never influence our conduct. We ought always to do what appears best to be done, without much regard to what others may think of it. I therefore buckled again to business, and thanked God that my health and spirits were improved. I immediately went to Versailles and presented the letter address’d to the King, which was graciously received.

  ONE MORE REQUEST FOR MY GRANDSON

  I had one request more to make which, if I had serv’d the Congress to their satisfaction, I hoped they would not refuse me. It was that they would take my grandson William Temple Franklin under their protection. I had educated him from his infancy, and had brought him over with an intention of placing him where he might be qualified for the profession of the law; but the constant occasion I had for his service as a private secretary during the time of the commissioners, and more extensively since their departure, had induced me to keep him always with me; and indeed being continually disappointed by the s
ecretary Congress had at different times intended me, it would have been impossible for me without this young gentleman’s assistance, to have gone thro’ the business incumbent on me! He thereby lost so much of the time necessary for law studies that I thought it rather advisable for him to continue in the line of public foreign affairs, for which he seemed qualified by a sagacity and judgment above his years, great diligence and activity, exact probity, a genteel address, a facility in speaking well the French tongue, and all the knowledge of business to be obtain’d by four years’ constant employment in the secretary’s office, where he might be said to have served a kind of apprenticeship. After all the allowance I was capable of making for the partiality of a parent to his offspring, I could not but think he might in time make a very able foreign minister for the Congress, or employed as a secretary to their minister at any European court. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

  A PROPOSED MARRIAGE FOR MY GRANDSON

  At this time I also spoke to Monsieur and Madame Brillon about my proposal of a marriage between their oldest daughter and my grandson Temple. I loved their whole family with no exceptions, and wanted to strengthen the tender ties of our friendship in this manner. Having almost lost my own daughter because of the wide distance between us, I hoped to find another one in Madame Brillon, and still another in their daughter, to take care of my old age if I stayed in France, and to close my eyes after I die. I had a very good opinion of that amiable young lady, and having observed her for the four years of our acquaintance, I believed that she would make a good wife. I also believed that my grandson, who had no vices, would make a good husband. I noticed that they felt friendly toward one another, and when I talked to Temple about my plans for getting him married in France, he told me that he had only this objection, that his marriage in France would occasion a separation for us, should I go back to America. But when I told him that if he married Mademoiselle Brillon I would remain in France till the end of my days, he was very pleased, and agreed to the marriage.

  Monsieur Brillon raised two objections with me. First was that his daughter could be taken away to America by my grandson, and second, the difference in religions. I myself had thought of those two things. For the first one, it was my intention to try to establish him in France in hopes that he would succeed me. For the second question, my thought was that in every religion, besides the essential things, there are others which are only forms and fashions, as a loaf of sugar may be wrapped in brown or white or blue paper, and tied with a string of flax or wool, red or yellow; but the sugar is always the essential thing. Now the essential principles of a good religion consist, it seems to me, of the following 5 articles, viz.:1. That there is one God who created the universe, and who governs it by his providence.

  2. That He ought to be worshipped and served.

  3. That the best service to God is doing good to men.

  4. That the soul of man is immortal, and

  5. That in a future life, if not in the present one, vice will be punished and virtue rewarded.

  These essential principles appeared both in their religion and mine, and divergencies were only the paper and the string.

  However, Monsieur Brillon had other objections, and the matter was thus concluded.102

  A RETURN TO PHILOSOPHICAL AFFAIRS

  I was so engag’d in public affairs that I could not give the attention I wished to philosophical subjects, which used to afford so much pleasure. I was very sensible to the honour done me by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in choosing me one of their members, and often wished I could be of some utility in promoting the noble design of their instruction.

  It had been a long time since I had had the pleasure of writing to Mr. Ingenhousz on various subjects: his experiments on the conducting of heat; the finishing of my remarks on the stroke of lightning in Italy, &c. I wished him continued success in industry, sagacity and exactness in making experiments, adding: “You will have much pleasure immediately by that success, and in time great reputation. But for the present, the reputation will be given grudgingly and in as small a quantity as possible, mix’d too with some mortification. One would think that a man so labouring disinterestedly for the good of his fellow-creatures could not possibly by such means make himself enemies; but there are minds who cannot bear that another should distinguish himself even by greater usefulness; and tho’ he demands no profit, nor anything in return but the good will of those he is serving, they will endeavour to deprive him of that, first by disputing the truth of his experiments, then their utility, and being defeated there, they will finally dispute his right to them, and would give the credit of them to a man that liv’d 3,000 years ago, or at 3,000 leagues distance, rather than to a neighbour or even a friend. Go on, however, and never be discouraged. Others have met with the same treatment before you, and will after you. And whatever some may think and say, it is worthwhile to do men good for the satisfaction one has in the reflection.

  “Go on with your excellent experiments, therefore; produce facts, improve science and do good to mankind. Reputation will follow, and the little injustices of contemporary labourers will be forgotten. My example may encourage you, or else I should not mention it. You know that when my papers were first published, the Abbe Nollet, then high in repute, attack’d them in a book of letters. An answer was expected from me, but I made none, to that book nor to any other. They are now all neglected, and the truth seems to be established. You can always employ your time better than in polemics.”

  Those whom I had heard speak of Dr. Ingenhousz’s book spoke well of it. But it was not so much talked of as might have been expected. This however is a matter that is subject to accidents. The death of a prince, a battle, or any other important event happening just on the publication of a new book, tho’ a very good one, occasion it to be little spoken of, and for sometime almost forgotten. We printers and booksellers are well acquainted with this.

  THE LOSS AT SEA WAS A HEAVY ONE

  The ship having the honour of bearing the name Marquis de Lafayette sail’d the 29TH of March [1781] under the convoy of the Alliance, with a fair wind, and a large cargo of clothing for near 20,000 men, with arms, ammunition &c., valued at 1 million livres, sufficient to put the army into comfortable and respectable circumstances. Unfortunately the Marquis de Lafayette was lost at sea to the enemy, and the loss was a heavy one. I succeeded in having the goods replac’d, having received a letter from M. de Vergennes in favour of my solicitation of additional supplies of clothing, arms, ammunition, &c., but observing how badly our shipping and transporting our supplies were being managed, the French took that business entirely into its own hands in the case of replacing the cargo of the Marquis de Lafayette.

  The Indiana, as she had been formerly call’d, then the South Carolina , was at last sail’d for Philadelphia from Amsterdam. She was a fine ship, well arm’d and well mann’d, and convoyed two others with clothing, &c. for our army. We received from America news that the Carolinas and Georgia were recovered by General Green, except the capitals of each province. The Marquis de Lafayette had receiv’d reinforcements, and Cornwallis was retiring after having burnt a great deal of tobacco.

  HAZARD NO MORE DRAFTS FROM CONGRESS!

  I begged Mr. Adams to concur with me in writing earnestly to Congress to hazard no more drafts where they had no funds. I believed there was hardly another instance in the world of a people risking their credit so much who unfortunately had so little and who must, by this proceeding, soon have none at all. The necessity of their affairs was the only excuse for it. The French Court was our firm friend, but even the best friends were wearied and worn out by too frequent and unexpected demands. We had obtained the promise of 20 millions in aid for the year, but as this sum was swallow’d in the bills already drawn by Congress, including drafts for interest money in favour of M. Beaumarchais and those drawn on Mr. Jay in Spain and Mr. Adams, who was in Holland, and the supplies going out, it was still necessary to entreat them not to continue that di
stressing practice. I was really afraid that by these proceedings, we would, as the saying is, ride a free horse to death.

  Mr. Ferdinand Grand, our banker at Paris, and his brother Sir George Grand, our banker in Holland, had been our zealous and firm friends ever since our arrival in France. They aided us greatly by their personal interest and solicitations and often had 600,000 or 700,000 livres in advance for us, and were houses of unquestionable solidity. The commission charg’d to us by Mr. Grand for receiving and paying our money was a half per cent, which, considering the trouble given by the vast number of small drafts for interest of the loans, appeared to me a modest consideration.

  HOW TO PAY OFF THE WAR DEBTS

  I had no doubt that America would easily pay off not only the interest but the principal of all the debts she had contracted during the war. But whether duties upon her exports would be the best method of doing it, was a question I was not so clear in. England raised indeed a great revenue by duties on tobacco. But it was by virtue of a prohibition of foreign tobaccos, thereby obliging the internal consumer to pay those duties. If America were to lay a like duty of 5 pence sterling per pound on the exportation of her tobacco, would any European nation buy it? Would not the colonies of Spain and Portugal and the Ukraine of Russia furnish it much cheaper? Was not England herself obliged for such reasons to drop the duty on tobacco she furnish’d to France? Would it not cost an immense sum in officers &c to guard our long coast against the smuggling of tobacco, and running it out to avoid the duty? And would not many even of those officers become corrupted and connive at it? It is possibly an erroneous opinion, but I find myself rather inclined to adopt that modern one, which supposes it best for every country to leave its trade entirely free from all encumbrances.103 Perhaps no country does this at present: Holland comes the nearest to it; and her commercial wealth seems to have increased in proportion.