Phila. April 26, 1779
My dear brother
I sincerely condole with you for the loss of our amiable and worthy friend Colo. Tayloe, but he is happy, far happier than those he has left upon this turbulent wicked stage. The inclosed paper will shew you the fortunate success of our little fleet from Boston. The Marine enemies stare and are ashamed of their purblind policy which has so often condemned exertions in this way. We go slowly on in foreign affairs. It has however been resolved not to recall Dr. Franklin, and so far the party have failed, because the plan was to recall them all to make room.1 This day I have heared all the artillery discharged with great vehemence against Dr Lee, and prodigious aid is derived from the whispers of G - d.2 A doctrine quite new in the history of politics is broached now, which is, that it becomes the dignity, and consists with the interests of Sovereign powers to consult foreign Courts, and less then that, foreign Ministers, who the first shall send to represent them abroad - And this altho such resident Minister shall clearly and unequivocally engage in faction, and party doings, to support a Man whose conduct is insupportable. What will such things lead to in the end? I see nothing but disgrace, contempt, and ruin. Perhaps the Man3 whose understanding, zeal, and spirit, prevented the 12th article from being closed upon this Country may have been on that account not quite so agreeable, but surely we have no cause to complain of him - And to this may be added that an host of plunderers have been disconcerted in the Mercantile way, which has raised a prodigious cry. But this Great evidence4 has given it from under his hand that the Court of France did not adopt the sentiments of those who represented Dr. Lee as antigallican or favoring England and being averse to the Alliance. Mr. Laurence said in Congress, the whole convinced him that Dr. Lee was an honest, faithful, able & diligent Servant of the United States. How these affairs will end I know not but this I do know, that I am quite tired of the wickedness and folly of such part of the world as I have lately had an opportunity of considering, and wish for a few days to pass over when I may retire. Things are not worse to the Southward, but they are not very pleasing. I think our State has not exerted itself properly for the relief of its oppressed and endangered Sisters.5 The enemy have lately sent 9 more regiments from N. York, but whether for Georgia or the W. Indies is uncertain. They are weak now in this quarter.
My love to Mrs. Lee, and remember me to Dr. Jones and Mr. Gibberne. I would not change an hour of the sensible conversations of the former and the facitiousness of the latter for an age of Congress wisdom.
I should have written by this post to our freind Mr Page of Mannsfield, but I suppose he is with you. Salute him for me.
Adieu,
Richard Henry Lee
Lee PapersHoughton Library
Printed in James Curtis Ballagh, The Letters of Richard Henry Lee, Volume 2, 1779 - 1794, pp. 49 - 51.
1 For the origins of the "recall" debate, see John Fellâs Diary entry for 6 April, note 2.
2 Conrad Alexandre Gerard. In his 18 April letter to William Snippen, Jr., Lee had referred to the French minister as a "little great whispering Politician."
3 That is, Arthur Lee. For his opposition to the twelfth article of the commercial treaty with France, see Lee to Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane, 30 January 1778, as well as their reply and their letters to Gerard and comte de Vergennes, 1 February 1778, in Wharton, Diplomatic Correspondence, 2:481 - 83. See also Ralph Izard to Henry Laurens, 16 February 1778, ibid., pp. 497 - 99; and these Letters,11:132 - 33.
4 That is, Gerard. Lee is apparently alluding to the French ministerâs 21 April statement to Samuel Adams, for which see Henry Laurensâ Notes Respecting Gerardâs Views of that date.
5 See Committee of Congress to George Washington, 28 April 1779.