e
borders of the Atlantic, and that I have been on the gallop ever since
I parted with you at Leyden. No Saint in the calendar ever ran
through countries with more zeal to gain inhabitants for heaven, than
I have to do miracles on earth. But unfortunately it is not an age for
miracles. I am at present here to botch up a piece of work, which was
originally well imagined but badly executed.

You will no doubt have our Paris news from the prophet, who draws down
fire from heaven. I shall, therefore, only give you my comment on the
text, which is, that France has done too much and much too little. Too
much, since she alarmed England, and made that country put itself in a
better posture of defence than before; or at least, strengthened the
hands of her Ministers for that purpose; much too little, because,
depending even on that little, we looked not out elsewhere in time.

I am, &c.

WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.

* * * * *

ARTHUR LEE TO C. W. F. DUMAS.

Paris, January 26th, 1777.

Dear Sir,

My having quitted London some time since to join my colleagues here,
is the reason you did not hear from me, as you complain in your last
letter to Mr Deane. As I am soon to leave this place for one very
remote,[26] I am afraid this will be the last letter I shall have the
honor of writing to you.

There are so many and more immediate calls for the attention of the
Congress, that we are not surprised at not receiving any intelligence
from them. We learn too, from Havre, that despatches for us have been
intercepted at sea, so that we remain totally uninformed by authority
relative to the state of things in America. We hope the best, and if
the powers of Europe are not so totally blind to their own interest as
to refuse maintaining that freedom and enjoyment of our commerce,
which our declaration of Independence offers them, their support will
save us much distress and blood. The liberties, however, and
redemption which we work out through labor and endurance will be more
precious.

By accounts from London, the press for seamen produces little, though
their merchant ships are stopped in their ports, and insurance from
Jamaica, with convoy, is risen to twentyfive per cent. During the last
war it never amounted to more than seven.

Our cruisers, therefore, appear to do their duty. Had we an