e could not accept it as yet, because he has allies
whose concurrence is necessary. Dr Franklin is requested to acquaint
Congress of this overture and the answer, and to engage them to send
their instructions to their Plenipotentiaries. It is supposed that
Congress will eagerly accept the mediation."

In my first interview with the Count de Vergennes, I represented to
him, in the strongest terms, the insufficiency of the above mentioned
succor, and the danger to which France was exposed of losing all her
past efforts in favor of America, unless the requests of Congress were
complied with. I afterwards addressed to him the enclosed letter, in
which I transcribed the result of my conference with General
Washington on the objects of my mission, contained in a letter from
the General to me of the 15th of January. In consequence of the Count
de Vergennes' desire, that I would select from the estimate of the
Board of War the articles of most urgent necessity, I extracted a list
in which I confined myself to the artillery, arms, military stores,
clothing, tents, cloth, drugs, and surgical instruments, and
accompanied it with a letter.

My personal solicitations have not been wanting to hasten an answer to
these letters, and render them favorable. The constant language of the
Count de Vergennes is, that our demands are excessive, that we throw
the burthen of the war upon our ally, that the support of it in
different parts of the world has cost France exertions and expenses,
which fully employ her means, that the public credit, however well
established, has its limits, to exceed which would be fatal to it. He
adds, at the same time, the strongest assurances of the good will of
our ally. This Minister and M. de Maurepas inform me, that nothing can
be determined until the return of the Marquis de Castries, which will
be the day after tomorrow; that the matter must be deliberated, and
that they will consider what can be done. My expectations are very
moderate.

We have received no intelligence of the sailing of the Brest fleet. It
consists of twentyfive sail, five of which are destined for the East
Indies with troops, but it is said they will be detained for want of
transports. The remaining twenty are to proceed to the West Indies,
where ulterior dispositions will be made, of which the Chevalier de la
Luzerne is instructed. The British fleet, of twentyeight sail of the
line, with the convoy for Gibraltar, sailed the 13th instan