278 



Peter Tenet among the Oneida Indians. 



rated if you had somebody here duly authorized to make 

 bargains, and to pass engagements in the name of the 

 Thirteen United Colonies, on terms which would be 

 readily owned agreeable." 1 



He was first received with that caution due to a stranger 

 in a delicate negociation, where the action and intentions 

 of the French government were as yet concealed under an 

 assumed reserve, yet when M. Dubourg assured him of 

 the favorable wishes of the court and nation in behalf of 

 the colonies, he saw upon his countenance such a natural 

 diffusion of joy, as completely determined him that he 

 might confide in him. 2 



Penet was recalled from Nantes to be secretly presented 

 to the minister of foreign affairs, for consultation upon 

 the condition, resources and prospects of the colonies, and 

 he managed to procure and forward a considerable amount 

 of arms under his contract. 3 The following letter to Gen- 

 eral Washington, indicates the progress of these negocia- 

 tions : 4 



Nantes, August 3, 1776. 

 " My General : I am pleased to present you my respects, 

 and to inform you of the success of my operations in France ; 

 I can assure you, you need not fear the want of ammuni- 

 tion. I have found the means to furnish your armies, and 

 to provide your garrisons. There will go to you imme- 

 diately four subjects, two of which are of distinction and 

 great merit, and who will deliver into proper hands, the 

 political state of France, England, Spain and Portugal. 

 We wish every success to your armies, and also if possible, 

 that we may lend a hand. The letter which will be sent to 

 you by one of these gentlemen, will inform you well of 

 interesting and advantageous circumstances, which I can- 

 not communicate to you but by them. I have, my General, 



1 American Archives IV Series, vi, 779. 

 *Ib. 771. 



3 Sparks's Washington, iv, 145. 



4 Diplomatic Correspondence, i, 11. 



