The Freeman's Journal, Or, New Hampshire Gazette

PHILADELPHIA, August 18.

Extract of a letter from Paris to a Gentleman in Pennsylvania, dated April 10, 1777.

"I think it my duty to give you every information in my power, which through your means in your public character, can possibly be useful to the United States of America.

I found the ministry at this Court anxious to know the success of our opposition to the violent attempts of Great-Britain; they were surprised they had not received more frequent intelligence and applications. Partly through the representations which I had the honor of making a commercial company, with the sanction of Administration, is formed under the firm of one of the most reputable houses; by that channel you will soon receive arms, cloathing, tents, cannon, mortars, gunpowder, and every other necessary article for an army of 35,000 men, together with a few good officers of artillery.

We had for a long time received no certain intelligence from Congress, while English emissaries were busy in retailing the grossest falsehoods, first, that the dispute was like to be soon accommodated, and when the declaration of Independence made that impossible, they pretended that defections prevailed among the Colonies, and that the vast armaments employed by Great-Britain would infallibly finish the contest in one campaign.

Our total want of intelligence had for some time rendered the ministry at Versailles timid and apprehensive: in this situation of affairs I quitted France, in order, if possible, to negotiate a loan in Holland, and to open an intercourse with the Court of Prussia, which by its Ambassador in France had expressed a desire of knowing the true state of the thirteen United Colonies, & of making some essay in our trade.

At Amsterdam, Bremen and Hamburgh, I endeavoured to excite speculators to open a direct commerce with us, and nothing but the total want of proper and due intelligence from Congress, or of an equal share of ability in the art of coining to counteract the abominable lies of England who stuck at nothing to make Europe believe we were on the point of subjugating, has hitherto prevented my success. Companies, however, are actually formed even in the heart of Germany, from whence our wants will certainly be supplied, and good markets found for vending our commodities.

At Berlin I met a more favourable reception than I could possibly have expected. I made there proper representations to the King and minister, who gave me strong assurances that all the great powers in Europe wished our Independence, but his Majesty was pleased to say, "that until we throw off the fetters they must keep up appearances with England."

I shall have the honor of corresponding with the Prussian minister, and several persons of rank about the Court, and I long to be enabled to inform the King that we have thrown off the fetters. The present King is infirm; his presumptive successor is rather inclined to ease & pleasure, whence 'tis to be presumed he will prefer commerce to war. I will soon transmit you a sketch of the Prussian trade and manufactures.

In my way through Saxony, Luace & the Palatine, I found the capital merchants meditating a future commerce with us. I received a thousand civilities from them: they sent after me to Paris, patterns of various manufactures, of different countries. I have cultivated this good disposition, & make these merchants the vehicles of communicating through Germany, true accounts of every important event in the American States, to confront the false reports spread by the creatures of the British ministry.

There is no doubt of obtaining you very large supplies of money to enable you to carry on the war, as long as England is mad enough to continue it, and very large sums are already actually obtained for your use. The French nation is clamorous for war with England; the nobility breathe the same sentiments, and the Court in general lean towards us. The Ministers wish to provoke Great-Britain to attack them: in that event their allies the Emperor, Spain, Sweden, &c. will be obliged to support them. Your Commissioners are provoking them by taking English ships in the British channel and selling them in French ports. Upon the whole it appears that war on this side is inevitable, although to deprecate the stroke, the Court of London has stooped very low.

This letter will be put in your hands by the Marquis De [blank], of a noble and ancient family in France, connected by birth and marriage with the first in the kingdom, and in possession of an estate of upwards of 140,000l. sterling per annum, beloved and almost adored by his numerous acquaintance, but preferring glory to every enjoyment which the arms of a young and beautiful wife and young family, could give him, he courts danger in defence of our cause, which is here universally celebrated as the cause of mankind: and nothing amazes sensible men in Europe more than to hear there are any disaffected people among you.

The situation of every friend to America residing in England is now become critical. The American refugees are parcelling already your spoils, and disputing about offices and their different shares of our estates. The infatuation of the people of England almost equals the wickedness of their Ministry. We had an opportunity of seeing their intended Mercy, when before the affair of Trenton they expected an entire conquest. I hope no proposals for accommodation will be accepted by you until that country shall be so reduced as to leave America no room to fear her further tyranny. From the best authority I can assure you their force this year will not equal that of the former. Their new German hirelings go out with great reluctance, and many of them have been bound hands and feet & sent down the river to the ports of embarkation. Be firm on your part, your cause is good and must therefore be crowned with success."