92 Choate: Franklin 



had expired, no one conceived it possible to refuse fleets 

 and armies to the countrymen of Franklin." 



The German, Schlosser, says: 



" Franklin's appearance in the Paris salons, even before 

 he began to negotiate, was an event of great importance 

 to the whole of Europe. Paris at that time set the fash- 

 ion for the civilized world, and the admiration of Frank- 

 lin, carried to a degree approaching folly, produced a 

 remarkable effect on the fashionable circles of Paris. 

 His dress, the simplicity of his personal appearance, the 

 friendly meekness of the old man, and the apparent 

 humility of the Quaker procured for freedom a mass of 

 votaries among the Court circles." 



But all this incense never turned his head, which was 

 always clear and level for the important business which 

 he had in hand and of which he never lost sight. In 

 view of the constant obstacles which prevented and hin- 

 dered his communication with Congress, he was in his 

 own person the American government in Europe, and 

 obliged to act not merely as an Ambassador, but as a 

 War Department, a Treasury Department, a Navy De- 

 partment, a Prize Court, a Bureau for the Relief and 

 Exchange of Prisoners, a Consul, and a dealer in cargoes 

 which came from America. He procured large and in- 

 creasing loans from the almost exhausted treasury of 

 France, and when, at last, peace became possible, he took 

 an active and the leading part in the negotiation of the 



