492 Letters to Benjamin Franklin 



respecting America, and have burned them in effigy. Crisis in the 

 spring when a surrender looked imminent, but Lord Sandwich won 

 the King by his review and sights in the dockyards and by his flum- 

 mery. Inactivity of the French and Spaniards. The financial con- 

 dition. Prodigious effect of the accounts of America lately printed 

 in the newspapers; the people grown almost callous to National honor. 

 Condition of manufacturers and merchants; probabilities of trade being 

 shortly opened to America. His opinions concerning d'Estaing and 

 Clinton. His reasons for indignation against the Rockinghams. A. 

 L. 12 p. XI, ii8. 



From [Baron] J. D. Van der Capellen. 1778. September 6. Zwolle. 



Announcing his receipt of a letter from Jonathan Trumbull, Gov- 

 ernor of Connecticut, in which he finds ample compensation for all 

 the hardships incident to his connections with the affairs of America. 

 L. S. 3 p. (In French.) XI, 119. 



From Horneca, Fizeaux & Co., to The American Commissioners. 

 1778. September 7. Amsterdam. 



In receipt, by Mr. Whitehall, of the book containing the promissory 

 notes of Congress; nothing needed now to commence negotiations 

 but certain orders and instructions from the Commissioners. A. L. 

 S. 2 p. (In French.) XI, 120. 



From John Bondfield to The American Commissioners. 

 1778. September 8. Bordeaux. 



Announcing the arrival of the privateer schooner. Success, from 

 Virginia, with news that the Comte d'Estaing left the Bay of Chesa- 

 peake for New York on the 9th of July, leaving five French frigates 

 in the Bay. English prisoners brought into Bordeaux by American 

 privateers. Frequent altercations betwixt masters and their seamen. 

 Advantageous results to be expected, should all American vessels re- 

 port first to the agents of the Commissioners. A. L. S. 2 p. XI, 121. 



From Heitz. 1778. September 8. Strasbourg. 



Strong desire on the part of himself and two friends to establish 

 themselves in America; encloses a list of twenty-one questions which 

 he begs Franklin to answer. A. L. S. 4 p. (In French.) XI, 122. 



