Franklin by Davidson Butler Page B

rumor drifted into Paris. An American ship had arrived with a messenger carrying dispatches for Franklin and his associates. The Americans and their French friends gathered at Franklin’s house to await the courier.
    The moment a carriage was heard rattling over the cobblestones of the courtyard, Franklin and his retinue rushed to greet Jonathan Loring Austin . “Sir,” Franklin asked, “is Philadelphia taken?”
    â€œYes, sir,” Austin replied.
    Franklin nodded. He had been hoping the story was another lie. Then, as he turned away, young Austin spoke again. “But, sir, I have greater news than that. General Burgoyne and his whole army are prisoners of war.”
    It was true. New England militiamen, armed with guns from a ship sent by Silas Deane that had broken through the British blockade, had trapped Burgoyne’s army near Saratoga, and he had surrendered.
    Franklin rushed into the house and began writing letters. Some went to friends in England to give the opposition in parliament ammunition against the ministry. Others went to friends in Paris; the most important went to Count Vergennes, French foreign minister, urging an alliance between France and America. To ensure everyone in Paris heard the news, Franklin had printed a French announcement to tell the story, newspaper style.
    â€œMail arrived from Philadelphia at Dr. Franklin’s home in Passy after 34 days.
    â€œOn October 14th, Burgoyne had to lay down his arms, 9200 men killed or taken prisoner. . . .”
    Vergennes said he was ready to sign a treaty of alliance. First he needed Spain’s approval. The Spanish king was an ally, as well as a Bourbon relative, of France’s King, Louis XVI. When Spain refused to sign the treaty, the alliance was threatened with a fatal delay. Franklin’s response was to have dinner with the head of the British Secret Service in Paris. The French, afraid he was about to sign a truce with England, were alarmed; they had no way of knowing what Franklin said to the spy at dinner. England, the spy told Franklin, was ready to fight ten years to prevent America from independence. America, Franklin shot back, was ready to fight sixty years to win it.
    Now the French implored Franklin to sign a treaty. He was reluctant, because he knew it would mean a longer war. He waited until the last moment, hoping to hear from England the opposition had brought down the government and a pro-American ministry had taken power. To Thomas Walpole , a friend from the proposed Ohio Company, he wrote, “Everything seems to be rejected by your mad politicians that would lead to healing the breach.” To another English friend, on February 5, 1778, he wrote, “Understanding that a certain person promised to make proposals for healing a certain breach, I postponed and delay’d a material operation till I shou’d hear what those proposals were. I am now told that he will not make them . . . Therefore, adieu, my dear friend.”
    The following day, Franklin went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and signed the treaty of alliance with France., Noticing he wore the same velvet suit he had worn the day Wedderburn had abused him before Privy Council, friends asked why. Franklin smiled and said, “To give it a little revenge.”
    The British refused to surrender, despite the French alliance, and the war dragged on. Envious of his fame, other Americans who were supposed to be helping Franklin in Paris quarreled with him and with each other. The chief troublemaker was Virginian Arthur Lee , who suspected everyone of being a traitor, even Franklin.
    One day, Deane and Lee were dining with Franklin, whose French neighbors had sent in a cake with the inscription, Le digne Franklin (The worthy Franklin).
    â€œAs usual, Doctor,” Silas Deane said, “we have to appropriate your present to our joint use.”
    Seeing a sour look on Arthur Lee’s face, Franklin said, “Not at all.