Dr. Franklin to Lord Howe-In Reply. join to hide from her eyes every view of her true interest, and continually goad her on in these ruinous, distant expeditions, so destructive both of lives and of treasure, that they must prove as pernicious to her, in the end, as the Crusades formerly were to most of the nations of Europe. I have not the vanity, my Lord, to think of intimidating, by thus predicting the effects of this war, for I know it will in England have the fate of all my former predictions-not to be believed till the event shall verify it. Long did I endeavor, with unfeigned and unwearied zeal, to preserve from breaking that fine and noble porcelain vase―the British empire; for I knew that, being once broken, the separate parts could not retain even their share of the strength and value that existed in the whole; and that a perfect reunion of those parts could scarce ever be hoped for. Your Lordship may possibly remember the tears of joy that wetted my cheek when, at your good sister's in London, you once gave me expectations that a reconciliation would soon take place. I had the misfortune to find these expectations disappointed, and to be treated as the cause of the mischief I was laboring to prevent. My consolation, under that groundless and malevolent treatment, was, that I retained the friendship of many wise and good men in that country; and, among the rest, some share in the regard of Lord Howe. The well-founded esteem, and, permit me to say, affection, which I shall always have for your Lordship, make it painful to me to see you engaged in conducting a war, the great ground of which (as described in your letter) is "the necessity of preventing the American trade from passing into foreign channels." To me, it seems that neither the obtaining nor retaining any trade, Gen. George Washington to Col. Lewis Nicola—“Would not be King." how valuable soever, is an object for which men may justly spill each other's blood; that the true and sure means of extending and securing commerce are the goodness and cheapness of commodities; and that the profits of no trade can ever be equal to the expense of compelling it, and holding it by fleets and armies. I consider this war against us, therefore, as both unjust and unwise; and I am persuaded that cool and dispassionate posterity will condemn to infamy those who advised it; and that even success will not save from some degree of dishonor those who have voluntarily engaged to conduct it. I know your great motive in coming hither was the hope of being instrumental in a reconciliation; and I believe, when you find that to be impossible on any terms given you to propose, you will then relinquish so odious a command, and return to a more honorable private station. With the greatest and most sincere respect, I have the honor to be, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient humble servant, B. FRANKLIN. XV.-REBUKING A SUGGESTION FOR ESTABLISHING A MONARCHY, AND PLACING HIM AT ITS HEAD. General Washington to Col. Lewis Nicola. NEWBURG, May 22d, 1782. SIR: With a mixture of great surprise and astonishment, I have read with attention the sentiments you have submitted to my perusal. Be assured, sir, no occurrence during the course of the war has given me more painful sensations, than your information of there being such ideas existing in the army as you have expressed, and I must view with abhorrence and reprehend with severity. For the present the communication of them will John Adams to John Jay-Reception of first American Minister by George the Third. rest in my own bosom, unless some further agitation of the matter shall make a disclosure necessary. I am much at a loss to conceive what part of my conduct could have given encouragement to an address, which to me seems big with the greatest mischiefs that can befall my country. If I am not deceived in the knowledge of myself, you could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable. At the same time, in justice to my own feelings, I must add, that no man possesses a more sincere wish to see ample justice done to the army than I do; and as far as my powers and influence in a constitutional way extend, they shall be employed to the utmost of my abilities to effect it, should there be any occasion. Let me conjure you then, if you have any regard for your country, concern for yourself or your posterity, or respect for me, to banish these thoughts from your mind, and never communicate as from yourself or any one else, a sentiment of the like nature. I am, sir, etc., GEO. WASHINGTON. XVI.-RECEPTION OF FIRST AMERICAN MINISTER BY John Adams to Secretary Jay. BATH HOTEL, WESTMINSTER, June 2d, 1785. DEAR SIR: During my interview with the Marquis of Carmarthen, he told me that it was customary for every foreign minister, at his first presentation to the King, to make his * It will be interesting to compare with this narrative of Mr. Adams, contained in the fourth volume of his works, the account given by Mr. Rush, in his Memoranda of his residence at the Court of St. James's, of his own recent reception. "February 12th:-Had my reception. A competant knowledge of the world may serve to guide any one in the com John Adams to John Jay-Reception of first American Minister by George the Third. Majesty some compliments conformable to the spirit of his letter of credence; and when Sir Clement Cottrell Dormer, the master of the ceremonies, came to inform me that he should accompany me to the Secretary of State at Court, he said that every foreign mon walks of life, wherever he may be thrown; more especially if he carry with him the cardinal maxim of good breeding everywhere, a wish to please, and an unwillingness to offend. But if, even in private society, there are rules not to be known but by experience, and if these differ in different places, I could not feel wholly insensible to the approach of an occasion so new to me. My first desire was, not to fail in the public duties of my mission; the next, to pass properly through the scenes of official and personal ceremony, to which it exposed me. At the head of them was my introduction to the Sovereign. I desired to do all that full respect required, but not more; 'yet—the external observances of it-what where they? They defy exact definition beforehand, and I had never seen them. From the restraints too, that prevail in these spheres, lapses, if you fall into them, are little apt to be told to you; which increases your solicitude to avoid them. I had, in some of my intercourse, caught the impression that simplicity was considered best adapted to such an introduction; also, that the Prince Regent was not thought to be fond of set speeches. This was all that I could collect. But simplicity, all know, is a relative idea, and often attainable, in the right sense, only through the highest art, and on full experience. "I arrived before the hour appointed. My carriage having the entré, or right to the private entrance, I went through St. James's Park, and got to Carlton House by the paved way, through the gardens. Even this approach was already filled with carriages. I was set down at a side door, where stood servants in the Prince's livery. Gaining the hall, persons were seen in various costumes. Among them were yeomen of the Guard with halberds in their hands; they had velvet hats with wreaths round them, and rosettes in their shoes. From the court-yard, which opened through the columns of a fine portico, bands of music were heard. Carriages, as in a stream, were approaching by this access, through the double gates that separated the royal residence from the street. The company arriving by this access entered through the portico, and turned off to the right. I went to the left, through a vestibule leading to other rooms, into which none went but those having the entré. These consisted of cabinet ministers, the diplomatic corps, persons in chief employment about the Court, and a few others, the privilege being in high esteem. Knights of the Garter appeared to have it, for I observed their insignium round the knee of several. There was the Lord Steward with his John Adams to John Jay-Reception of first American Minister by George the Third. minister whom he had attended to the Queen had always made a harangue to her Majesty, and he understood, though he had not been present, that they always harangued the King. me. On Tuesday evening, the Baron de Lynden called upon me, badge of office; the Lord Chamberlain, with his gold stick and silver stick. The foreign ambassadors and ministers wore their national costumes; the cabinet ministers, such as we see in old portraits, with bag and sword; the Lord Chancellor and other functionaries of the law, had black silk gloves with full wigs; the bishops and dignitaries of the Church had aprons of black silk. The walls were covered with paintings. If these were historical, so were the rooms. As I looked through them I thought of the scenes described by Doddington; of the Pelhams, the Bolingbrokes, the Hillsboroughs; of the anecdotes and personalities of the English Court and Cabinet in those days. The company stood conversing; here you saw an ambassador and cabinet minister engaged—there a couple of the latter; in the recess of a window a bishop and the Lord Chancellor, and so on. The Prince had not yet left his apartment. Half an hour went by, when Sir Robert Chester, master of ceremonies, said to me that in a few minutes he would conduct me to the Prince. The Spanish ambassador had gone in, and I was next in turn. When he came out, the master of ceremonies advanced with me to the door. Opening it he left I entered alone. The Prince was standing, with Lord Castlereagh by him. No one else was in the room. Holding in my hand the letter of credence, I approached, as to a private gentleman, and said, in the common tone of conversation, that it was 'from the President of the United States, appointing me their Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of his Royal Highness; and that I had been directed by the President to say, that I could in no way better serve the United States, or gain his approbation, than by using all my endeavors to strengthen and prolong the good understanding that happily subsisted between the two countries.' The Prince took the letter and handed it to Lord Castlereagh. He then said that he would' ever be ready, on his part, to act upon the sentiments I had expressed; that I might assure the President of this; for that he sincerely desired to keep up and improve the friendly relations which he regarded as so much to the advantage of both.' I replied I would do so. The purpose of the interview seeming to be accomplished, I had supposed it would here end, and was about withdraw; but the Prince prolonged it. He congratulated me on my arrival. He inquired for the health of Mr. Adams, and spoke of others who had preceded me in the mission; going back as far as the first Mr. Pinckney. Of him, and Mr. King, his inquiries were minute. He made |