Volume II Part 5 (2/2)
”In spite of the danger which I run in writing these daring things from London, I feel myself twice as much French in London as at Paris. The patriotism of this people stirs my own....”
As may be seen from this letter, Arthur Lee still inspired complete confidence in the agent of the French government, so much indeed that Beaumarchais gladly disclosed to him the plans which he had formed for coming to the aid of the Americans.
So certain was he that France would ultimately yield to the necessity of giving them secret support that he no doubt spoke with indiscreet a.s.surance on the subject. Exactly what pa.s.sed between the two men will never be known, but what is certain is, that during the spring of 1776, Arthur Lee addressed to the secret committee of Congress a letter in which he says:
”In consequence of active measures taken with the French Emba.s.sy in London, _M. de Vergennes has sent me a secret agent to inform me that the French court cannot think of making war on England but that she is ready to send five million worth of arms and ammunition to Cap Francais to be thence sent to the colonies._”
A careful a.n.a.lysis of this important missive will at once make clear the profound misunderstanding which arose in the mind of the secret committee of Congress regarding the true state of affairs in France. So completely was every statement perverted that though the whole bears a semblance of truth yet in reality nothing could be further removed from it.
For instead of sending an agent to confer with Arthur Lee, M. de Vergennes had steadily refused to enter into any relation whatever with him. Instead of promising munitions of war for which Beaumarchais had been pleading so long and so ardently, the government continued to refuse to compromise itself by making any statement regarding them.
And yet in judging Arthur Lee, whether he intentionally distorted the truth or only indulged in what he considered a harmless exaggeration, we must not forget that this letter with its a.s.surances of help, arriving at the moment which it did, had a profound influence in shaping men's minds for independence.
As regards Lee himself, the letter had the effect of greatly augmenting his credit with Congress. Silas Deane was already on his way to France, charged with an express commission to secure munitions of war on credit, so it was determined to join Arthur Lee to the commission as soon as it could be brought about.
But to return to the French court. The first intimation of anything like an avowed approval of the plans of Beaumarchais is to be found in a letter of M. de Vergennes under date of May 2, 1776. He wrote:
”I have received the first of this month, Monsieur, the letter with which you honored me, written the 26th of last month.”
Then follows a lengthy preamble in which the count, speaking as an observer of men and one used to dealing with them, continues:
”This preface is not destined to refute your foresight, which on the contrary I praise and approve. But do not suppose that because your plans are not immediately acted on, that they are rejected. Although the method which I employ is sure, I am forced to curb the desire which I feel to express to you all my thoughts, therefore, I rely upon your sagacity to divine them. Think well and you will find that I am nearer to you than you imagine.... A thousand thanks, Monsieur, for the news items which you communicate to me, they have been seen and relished....
I have delivered the letter which you recommended to me; if an answer comes I will forward it to you. I flatter you that you know my friends.h.i.+p and attachment for you.
”de Vergennes.”
In fact the hindrances were gradually disappearing from the path of the minister. In a resume, in all probability drawn up by Vergennes himself, ent.i.tled, ”_Reflexions sur la necessite de secourir les Americains et de se preparer a la guerre avec l'Angleterre_,” without date, but placed by Doniol the first of May, 1776, the following pa.s.sages occur:
”There is no obstacle, and it is even necessary to aid the insurgents indirectly by means of munitions or of money....
”We are to make no agreement with them until their independence is established. The aid must be veiled and hidden, and appear to come from commerce so that we can always deny it.
”It would be sufficient for an intelligent merchant, faithful and discreet, to be stationed in each one of the ports, where the American vessels would come to land their cargoes-he would treat directly with their captains and would mask the s.h.i.+pments to prevent the reproach of the court of England.”-Doniol.
This was not at all what Beaumarchais had been planning and preparing.
In the next chapter we shall see him with his usual flexibility abandon his own ideas and adopt those of the ministry, since they tended to the same end. In the meantime he was addressing the following letters to Vergennes:
”Monsieur le Comte:
”There is nothing very important here but the news of the evacuation of Boston, which arrived three days ago....
”The government a.s.sumes an air of approbation, of mystery, of intelligence even. It wishes to have it considered as a ruse of the ministry, but that does not take. It is too certain that the impossibility to hold Boston from lack of provisions has driven the English away....
”All this confirms what I announced in my last dispatch, that the Americans are in good condition everywhere, engineers and powder excepted. I thank you for your obliging goodness in regard to my affair at Aix. I thank you also for the honorable encouragement which the approbation of the king and your own gives to my enterprise.... Say what you will, M. le Comte, a little exaltation in the heart of an honest man, far from spoiling him for action vivifies everything he touches, and enables him to do more than he would have dared to promise from his natural capacity. I feel this exaltation, it remains for my prudence to direct it in a way that turns to the good of the affairs of the king. Conserve for me his esteem, Monsieur le Comte.
”Ah, Monsieur le Comte, as a favor ... some powder and engineers!
It seems to me that I never wanted anything so much....”
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