or absence of Dr. Franklin-Is retained by the Assembly of that Pro-

vince to support their Petition to the King, to remove the Governor and

Lieut. Governor-Dr. Franklin's trial before the King and Council,

respecting the publication of certain letters-On the return of Doctor

Franklin, he becomes the Agent for the Province-Remains of a history

of the Revolution, by Mr. Lee.-His services to the Province of Massa-

chusetts, and the generous conduct of its Assembly-He becomes a friend

and correspondent of Samuel Adams-The character of their correspond-

ence---Letter of Dr. Rush-Letter on American affairs of Lee, to his

brother in Virginia-Anecdote of Lee and Wedderburne-The Petition

to the King and the Addresses of the first Congress are sent to Lee, to

be presented and published—Letter of Burke on this subject—Anecdotes

and letters of Lee respecting the reception of these Papers, by the King

and People of England---Letter of the second Congress to Lee and Penn,

with another Address-The case of Mr. Lovell-His letter to Mr. Lee-

Their subsequent friendship and correspondence.

CHAPTER III.

Mr. Lee is appointed in Dec. 1775, secret Agent of Congress-Letter of

the Secret Corresponding Committee" of Congress, acquainting him

of the appointment and the purpose of it-His Interviews with the French

Minister at London-He goes to France as secret Agent, in the spring

of the year 1776-His interviews with Vergennes and Turgot-The Re-

sult of his Mission-In the fall of 1776, he is appointed a Joint Com-

missioner to the court of France, with Dr. Franklin and Silas Deane-

Letter to Lord Shelburne---Interesting Anecdote of Voltaire-Agency for

the State of Virginia-His learned and political friends in France, Tur-

got, Adanson, Vergennes, Neckar, Breteuil, &c.--State of Affairs in

America in the winter of 1776-7-Memorial on this subject, from the

American Commissioners to the Court of France-Written by Mr. Lee-

Note of the Commissioners to the same, touching the capture of an Ame-

rican vessel on the coast of France---Mr. Lee is appointed sole Commis-

sioner to the Court of Madrid-Goes to Spain-Is desired by that Court

not to proceed to Madrid,-His letters to the Commissioners in Paris,

from Victoria in Spain---Their Reply written by Dr. Franklin---The Bri-

tish Court remonstrates with that of Spain against the reception of Mr.

Lee---His Correspondence on this subject-His Memorial to the Court of

Spain on the subject of his Mission-Results of it-He returns to Paris-

Is sent to Berlin as Commissioner to the court of Prussia-Letter from Ber-

lin to General Washington-Spanish Papers.

CHAPTER IV.

Difficulties in the way of negotiations with the Prussian Court-Note to the

Prime Minister the celebrated Schulenburg-Memoire of Mr. Lee to the

king of Prussia-Robbery of his papers at Berlin---Autographic note of

p. 29

52

Frederick the Great to Mr. Lee-He permits him to hold free though

secret conferences with his Minister---Negotiations with the Prussian Court

-Correspondence of Schulenburg-The results of Mr. Lee's mission to

Prussia-His return to Paris-His correspondence with Vergennes respect-

ing supplies of arms, &c. for Virginia-His letter by order of his col-

leagues to Lord North respecting the treatment of American prisoners—

His letter to the Earl of Shelburne on this subject---His spirited Memorial

to the Prime Minister of Spain on the subject of the Proclamation of the

British Commissioners in the United States, threatening a war of exter-

mination-Memorial of the American Commissioners to the French

Court is sent by Mr. Lee with a diplomatic note to the Spanish Minister

at Paris-The object of Mr. Lee in this--Letters of Mr. Lee on the sub-

ject of the capture of Burgoyne-Letter to the Marquis of Rosignan-An-

ecdote of Dr. Young and Voltaire-Letter to Sir William Jones.

CHAPTER V.

The effect of the capture of Burgoyne in France and other parts of Eu-

rope-The French Court resolves on a Treaty of Alliance with the Unit-

ed States-Debates on the subject of the 11th and 12th Articles of the

Treaty-Mr. Lee refuses to concur with his colleagues in these Articles

-The French Court consents that congress may strike them out of the

Treaty without affecting its validity-Congress concurs with Mr. Lee and

strikes out those Articles-Mr. Lee's efforts to induce Spain to join the

Alliance-He procures a secret and separate Article from the French

Court in relation to Spain-His endeavours to procure a loan of two mil-

lions of pounds sterling from Spain for congress---His correspondence

with Mons. Dumas of Holland---Intrigues of British secret Agents in Paris

-Mr. Lee detects and exposes them—Invitation of the Congress to Dr.

Price, to remove to America and become a citizen of the United States

-Mr. Lee's letter and Price's reply-Sketch of the labours and services

of Mr. Lee while in France-His journal of negotiations with the French

and Spanish minister-His correspondence with Congress---Return of Mr.

Lee to America; causes of it-His arrival and reception in the United

States-- His reception by Congress—He is elected a member of the Vir-

ginia Assembly, and is chosen by that body a delegate to Congress---Is

appointed by Congress a Commissioner to treat with all the northwestern

tribes of Indians--Is chosen by Congress one of the Board of Treasury,

at which he continued from the year 1784 to 1789--His retirement-

His continued correspondence with eminent foreign persons of distinc-

tion-His literary honours---His death and character.

P. 89

123

Early letters of Arthur Lee, written principally from the year 1767 to his

departure from London in 1776, on British and American politics during

that period,

185

The commencement of a Memoire of the American Revolution, which Mr.

Lee did not live to complete,

p. 243

Spanish Papers,

NO. III.

277

NO. IV. (a)

Instructions to Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee, Commis-

sioners appointed by the Congress of the United States of America to the

Court of France,

(b) Extracts from the Journal of Mr. Lee. Journal continued,

280

333

(c) Continuation of Extracts from the Journal of Arthur Lee, kept by him

while he was a Commissioner of the United States, at the Court of

France,

404

Supplies for the State of Virginia,

413

(d) Memoire to the French Court,

430

PREFACE.

THE truest wealth of nations consists in the character and deeds of their great men. It is these, which impart to their histories more interest than any other subject which they present to our contemplation. The histories of the republics of ancient times, especially those of Greece and Rome, continue to this distant day to be read with intense interest. Who does not recognise the pleasure imparted to his mind, by an acquaintance with the characters and actions of their heroes? The mind delights to dwell on the characters of the "mighty dead," and glows with pleasure at the remotest allusion to any event, which recalls to the recollection, Solon and Socrates, Leonidas and Philopomon, Decius and Cincinnatus, Cicero and Thrasea! The glory of the "nursing mother of the 4th Henry and the 12th Lewis, will henceforth burnish into brighter light, at the name of Lafayette." How proud is the Briton of his Newton and Locke, his Hampden and Chatham! How shall the consciousness of freedom and glory throb in the heart and glow on the cheek of an American, at the name of a revolutionary worthy! Distant nations exult in whatever approximates them to the fame, or characterizes them with a feature of the "country of Washington!"

To accumulate the examples of great and good citizens; to revive and perpetuate a just sense of their services; to excite and cherish national sentiments and sympathies, and thus to add to the glory (the moral wealth) of our country, is no unworthy task. These are prevalent motives with one, who, with diffidence submits to his fellow-citizens a memoir of the life of Arthur Lee, one of the useful and distinguished men of the great era of our nation. These motives will be justly appreciated by every intelligent, and cheered by every virtuous reader.

Of biography it may be said, as truly as of history, that it is "philosophy teaching by example." The force of example is known to have a powerful influence in impressing the heart; and is thus effective in producing laudable emulation and virtuous imitation. If the author of this memoir of a great and distinguished patriot shall have succeeded in presenting his character in a light so pleasing and impressive, as to produce, in any degree, the designed effect of biographical writing, he will have accomplished the end of his labours, and enjoy their best reward.