this support France was pledged to assist Spain
in obtaining certain additions to her territory. In so far as these
additions related to North America, the interests of Spain and those
of the United States were far from being identical; in fact, they were
frequently in direct opposition. Spain was already in possession of
Louisiana and, by prompt action on her entry into the war in 1780, she
had succeeded in getting control of eastern Louisiana and of practically
all the Floridas except St. Augustine. To consolidate these holdings
and round out her American empire, Spain would have liked to obtain
the title to all the land between the Alleghany Mountains and the
Mississippi. Failing this, however, she seemed to prefer that the region
northwest of the Ohio River should belong to the British rather than to
the United States.

Under these circumstances it was fortunate for the United States that
the American Peace Commissioners were broad-minded enough to appreciate
the situation and to act on their own responsibility. Benjamin Franklin,
although he was not the first to be appointed, was generally considered
to be the chief of the Commission by reason of his age, experience, and
reputation. Over seventy-five years old, he was more universally
known and admired than probably any man of his time. This many-sided
American--printer, almanac maker, writer, scientist, and philosopher--by
the variety of his abilities as well as by the charm of his manner
seemed to have found his real mission in the diplomatic field, where he
could serve his country and at the same time, with credit to himself,
preach his own doctrines.

When Franklin was sent to Europe at the outbreak of the Revolution,
it was as if destiny had intended him for that particular task. His
achievements had already attracted attention; in his fur cap and
eccentric dress "he fulfilled admirably the Parisian ideal of the forest
philosopher"; and with his facility in conversation, as well as by the
attractiveness of his personality, he won both young and old. But, with
his undoubted zeal for liberty and his unquestioned love of country,
Franklin never departed from the Quaker principles he affected and
always tried to avoid a fight. In these efforts, owing to his shrewdness
and his willingness to compromise, he was generally successful.

John Adams, being then the American representative at The Hague, was the
first Commissioner to be appointed. Indeed, when he was fi