the intention of Congress, what expenses should be deemed public, and what private, I have charged any article to the public, which should be defrayed by me, their banker has my order, as soon as the pleasure of Congress shall be made known to him, to rectify the error by transferring the amount to my private account, and discharging by so much that of the public.

I was not apprised, until within a few hours, of the arrangements, which you have made for your departure. Had I been informed of it sooner, I should have proposed to the King to order a frigate to convey you to your own country, in a manner suitable to the known importance of the services you have been engaged in, to the esteem you have acquired in France, and the particular regard which his Majesty entertains for you.

I pray you, sir, to accept my regrets and a renewed assurance of the most entire consideration with which I have the honor to be, sir, your very humble and very obedient

servant.

DE CASTRIES.

1

Sir,

FROM B. FRANKLIN TO JOHN JAY.

Philadelphia, September 19, 1785.

I have the honor to acquaint you, that I left Paris the 12th of July, and, agreeably to the permission of Congress, am returned to my country. Mr. Jefferson had recovered his health, and was much esteemed and respected there. Our joint letters have already informed you of our late proceedings, to which I have nothing to add, except that the last act I did, as Minister Plenipotentiary for making treaties, was to sign with him, two days before I came away, the treaty of friendship and commerce, that had been agreed on with Prussia, and which was to be carried to the Hague, by Mr. Short, there to be signed by Baron Thulemeier on the part of the King, who, without the least hesitation, had approved and acceded to the new humane articles proposed by Congress. Mr. Short was also to call at London for the signature of Mr. Adams, who I learnt, when at Southampton, was well received at the British Court.

The Captain Lamb, who, in a letter of yours to Mr. Adams, was said to be coming to us with instructions respecting Morocco, had not appeared, nor had we heard any thing of him; so nothing had been done by us in that treaty.

I left the Court of France in the same friendly disposition towards the United States, that we have all along experienced, though concerned to find that our credit is not better supported in the payment of the interest money due on our loans, which, in case of another war, must be, they think, extremely prejudicial to us, and indeed may

contribute to draw on a war the sooner, by affording our enemies the encouraging confidence that those who take so little care to pay, will not again find it easy to borrow. I received from the King at my departure, the present of his picture set round with diamonds, usually given to Ministers Plenipotentiary, who have signed any treaties with that Court; and it is at the disposition of Congress, to whom be pleased to present my dutiful respects.

I am, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

P. S. Not caring to trust them to a common conveyance, I send by my late Secretary, who will have the honor of delivering them to you, all the original treaties I have been concerned in negotiating, that were completed. Those with Portugal and Denmark, continue in suspense.

B. F.

FROM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TO JOHN JAY.

Sir,

Philadelphia, July 6, 1786.

The enclosed paper will inform you of what has passed here, between Scotosh, a Chief of the Wyandot nation, and this government, on his way to Congress. He is recommended as having been always very friendly to our people; and the Council have defrayed the expense of him and his company here, and to New York; where, as Colonel Harmar informs, he is to visit Congress. He expresses a strong desire of going to France, but, as it must cost something considerable to support him thither,

there and back again, we have given him no expectation that the Congress will approve of it. But if it could be well afforded, I should conceive it might be of use to our affairs in that part of the country, if, after viewing the Court, and troops, and population of France, he should return, impressed with a high idea of the greatness and power of our ally, and thence be able to influence the western Indians, with opinions proper to defeat the insinuations of the English, who are posted on those frontiers.

With great regard, &c.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

Philadelphia, July 3, 1786.

Scotosh, an Indian Chief of the Wyandots, and son to the half King of that nation, visited the President, accompanied by Monsieur Pierre Douillier, a French trader, of Detroit, as interpreter, who acquainted the President that the Chief had a few words to deliver from his father.

The Chief, then taking in his hands three strings of White Wampum, said—

Brother,

I come from my father to speak to you of good and bad affairs, good and bad news, my father now speaks.

"My Brothers,

"I inform you that among my people all is good, we "have no bad affairs, no bad news to relate to you, nor "have I heard of any bad news from Detroit.

String.

A

"Near the falls I have heard there are bad affairs; "but that country is far from mine. There are some "bad people thereabouts, vagabonds from different na"tions, but none of my people are among them."

A

"I shall be very glad to hear that the measuring the "Indian country may be delayed. For the bad people "will, I fear, take occasion from the measuring to do "more mischief. Perhaps the measurers will be killed, "and it would give pain to me and my nation to hear “ such bad news."

The Chief then spoke as from himself.

Brothers,

You have made a good clear road for us to come to you without danger or inconvenience, I have found it good and safe, having been kindly treated every where by your people. We will do the same for them, when they have occasion to pass through our country.

Brothers,

I request you would, as soon as possible, let me know what you think of the words I brought from my father, that I may acquaint him therewith, and that mischief to the measurers may be prevented.

He added, that he was going to New York, to visit the Congress, and that he had a curiosity to cross the seas, and see France.

The President replied, that he would communicate the words to the Council, and on Wednesday give an answer. He had no expectations of so much formality in this visit, or he should have requested a meeting of Council to receive it.