American Independency, while their peace continues
with England. To make us more easy with this, they tell us, we enjoy
all the advantages already, which we propose to obtain by such a
treaty, and that we may depend on continuing to receive every
indulgence in our trade, that is allowed to the most favored nations.
Feeling ourselves assisted in other respects, cordially and
essentially, we are the more readily induced to let them take their
own time, and to avoid making ourselves troublesome by an unreasonable
importunity. The interest of France and Spain, however, in securing
our friendship and commerce, seems daily more and more generally
understood here, and we have no doubt of finally obtaining the
establishment of that commerce with all the formalities necessary.

We submit it to your consideration, whether it might not be well to
employ some of your frigates in bringing your produce hither, ordering
them after refreshing and refitting, to make a cruise in the northern
seas, upon the Baltic and Hamburg trade, send their prizes home, north
about, then return to France, and take in a loading of stores for
America.

The Marquis de la Fayette, a young nobleman of great family connexions
here, and great wealth, is gone to America in a ship of his own,
accompanied by some officers of distinction, in order to serve in our
armies. He is exceedingly beloved, and every body's good wishes attend
him; we cannot but hope he may meet with such a reception as will
make the country and his expedition agreeable to him. Those who
censure it as imprudent in him do nevertheless applaud his spirit, and
we are satisfied, that the civilities and respect, that may be shown
him, will be serviceable to our affairs here, as pleasing not only to
his powerful relations, and to the Court, but to the whole French
nation. He has left a beautiful young wife, and for her sake
particularly, we hope that his bravery and ardent desire to
distinguish himself, will be a little restrained by the General's
prudence, so as not to permit his being hazarded much, but on some
important occasion.

We are very respectfully, &c.

B. FRANKLIN,
SILAS DEANE.

_P. S._ We enclose a copy of Messrs Gardoqui's last letter.[38] We
have received Mr Morris's of March 7th, 25th, and 28th, and are much
obliged by the intelligence contained. We send a quan