Benjamin Franklin, American Commissioner in Paris, Ushers in the Terms of Peace With Great Britain and Seeks to Honor American Financial Commitments in Europe

He summons the new American commissioner of debt to Paris and notifies him that he awaits delivery of the first official act of peace, passports to permit once again peaceful transit of vessels between the two countries

 

The Commissioner was charged with detailing loans, charges made for war-time supplies, and to account for diplomatic expenses, paying them when possible, noting them and attesting to them when not

 

Two days after this letter, Franklin would learn that King George III had officially declared the cessation of all hostilities; 2 days after that, the Americans would follow with their own declaration; but the writing was already on the wall, the wheels of peace already in motion

 

“Your Appointment to this Service gives me great Pleasure, as I am sure your Execution of it will be of great Use to the United States…We daily expect from London 100 Passports that have been promis’d us, for American Ships. As soon as they arrive We shall forward a Number to you, to be dispos’d of as you shall judge proper…”

 

Benjamin Franklin, the most distinguished scientific and literary American of his age, was also the first American diplomat. He served from 1776 to 1778 on a three-man commission to France charged with the critical task of gaining French support for American independence. French aristocrats and intellectuals embraced Franklin as the personification of the New World Enlightenment. His likeness appeared on medallions, rings, watches, and snuffboxes, while fashionable ladies adopted the coiffure a la Franklin in imitation of the fur cap he wore instead of a wig. His popularity and great diplomatic skill – along with the first American battlefield success at Saratoga – convinced France to recognize American independence and conclude an alliance with the United States in 1778. Franklin presented his credentials as Minister Plenipotentiary to the French court in 1779, becoming the first American Minister (the 18th American century equivalent of ambassador) to be received by a foreign government. Franklin’s home in Passy, just outside Paris, became the center of American diplomacy in Europe.

The year 1782 saw the approach of peace. Franklin rejected initial peace overtures from Great Britain for a settlement that would provide the thirteen states with some measure of autonomy within the British Empire. Franklin insisted on British recognition of American independence and refused to consider a peace separate from France. Franklin did agree, however, to negotiations with the British for an end to the war, and these commenced on September 27, 1782. Two months of hard bargaining resulted in preliminary articles of peace in which the British accepted American independence and boundaries, resolved the difficult issues of fishing rights on the Newfoundland banks and prewar debts owed British creditors, promised restitution of property lost during the war by Americans loyal to the British cause, and provided for the evacuation of British forces from the United States. The preliminary articles signed in Paris on November 30, 1782, would only be effective when Britain and France signed a similar treaty, which French Foreign Minister Vergennes quickly negotiated. France signed preliminary articles of peace with Great Britain on January 20, 1783. A formal peace – the Treaty of Paris – was now in sight.

With the original preliminary agreement signed in November 1782, it was clear that the end of the war was imminent and all reasons for a continued halt in trade between the fledgling United States and Great Britain were removed, and the sooner trade resumed, the better for both parties. The first official act between the former belligerent nations would be resumption of trade and the free movement of vessels in areas that had formerly been the scene of hostilities. This would be accomplished by exchanging ships’ passports to vessels that needed protection until the news of the armistice was generally known, and whose owners/merchants were anxious to race their cargo to newly opened ports. On February 1, 1783, the British negotiator, Alleyne Fitzherbert, called at Passy and informed Franklin that the British were prepared to issue passports for American merchantmen if the Americans would do likewise.

There would be 100 passports. Franklin composed one that very day. Five days later, on February 6, the Americans began issuing passports for American ships to trade in British ports. A week later, King George III issued a proclamation of cessation of hostilities, and Franklin followed this a similar proclamation on February 20. Thus, the swapping of free passage passports for ships was the first tangible diplomatic step taken to end the American Revolution.

Thomas Barclay was appointed America’s first consul to France on October 5, 1781. He worked closely with Franklin and his grandson, William Temple Franklin, arranging shipments of much needed supplies such as uniforms and blankets for George Washington’s troops in America. As the war neared its end and peace was on the horizon, the need to account for public money spent across Europe to sustain the war effort grew especially urgent. On November 18, 1782, Congress passed a resolution appointing Barclay Commissioner of Public Accounts in Europe, with the express purpose “to liquidate and finally to settle the accounts of all the servants of the United States, who have been entrusted with the expenditure of public money in Europe, and all other accounts of the United States in Europe, and to commence and prosecute such suits, causes, and actions, as may be necessary for that purpose, or for the recovery of any property of the said United States, in the hands of any person or persons whatsoever…” The document concluded, “Congress proceeded to the election of a Commissioner, and the ballots being taken, Mr. Thomas Barkley was elected.” A copy was sent to Franklin for implementation. Morris wrote to Barclay to notify him of his appointment, making sure he arbitrated such cases and accounted for them with justice to the interests of the United States. He was also to note the loans obtained by the United States in Europe.

On January 29, Barclay wrote to Franklin, informing him that with peace now upon them, the first peace-time ships were set to leave London for the United States. These would carry goods to be sold to settle some American debts: “I had the Honour of receiving the Letter which your Excellency was so kind as to Write me the 21st. instant5 and I very heartily and sincerely Congratulate you on your having seen such Important Events take place as the Independence of America, and General Peace of Europe. There are now in this port several American Vessels ready to push to Sea, and if there is nothing improper in the application, I woud be very glad that Passports from the British Minister cou’d be obtaind to permit them to Sail without delay. It is of much consequence to the owners, as the Seamen are shipped upon the terms usually allow’d in time of War, and an other reason I have to wish to see them get away is, that all of them have Public supplies onboard.— If those supplies can be got to Philadelphia before the Shipments from England &c get there, Mr. Morris will be enabled if he chuses to Sell them, to raise a very considerable sum from them.”

Franklin wrote to Barclay sending him his instructions, summoning him to Paris once he had completed his work at hand, offering to send him the passports those vessels needed, etc..

Autograph letter signed, three pages, Passy, February 16, 1783, to Barclay, informing him of his appointment, discussing the ship’s passports the issuance of which had just commenced and were the practical end of the American Revolution, and saying it was Barkley’s job to distribute the passports. “Sir, The within is a Copy of a Resolution of Congress, which I forward to you, lest you should not have receiv’d it by any direct Conveyance. Your Appointment to this Service gives me great Pleasure, as I am sure your Execution of it will be of great Use to the United States. I hope therefore that as soon as you have expedited the Congress’ Goods, you will come up to Paris, and enter upon the Business. In the mean time I will endeavour to prepare every thing, so far as may depend on me, for rendering the Work easy to you. We daily expect from London 100 Passports that have been promis’d us, for American Ships. As soon as they arrive We shall forward a Number to you, to be dispos’d of as you shall judge proper; With great Esteem I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Servant B Franklin.” Thus, the passports heralding the peace, though signed by Franklin, John Adams and John Jay, were to be distributed by Barkley.

On one page, Franklin’s French secretary, Jean L’Air de Lamotte, wrote out the entire Resolution of Congress that Franklin had received. According to the Franklin Papers, the “ed” inserted after “proceed” on the first line of the second page of the Resolution is in Franklin’s hand. The job Barkley was given was burdensome, because of shoddy bookkeeping and scattered financial records. As a historian of the period wrote, “The task confronting Barclay and his audit team was to meet the need John Adams had perceived five years earlier when he observed that ‘prodigious’ sums were being spent but he could find no books of account showing what was being received for those sums.”