The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-11

OF: I%nsurgent possessions of the
isritish crown. causing any supply
oCmunitions of war to them by a for
eiSn nation to partake Of the nature
of a hostile act toward Great Britain.
tAe Constitutional Congress was hard
put to secure arms and ammunition for
the sore need of Cen. Washington. 1t
formed a secret committee Of its most
attute members. with Benjamin
Franklin as its head, t. undertake the
dflicate matter.
The British Government was early
warned that the Colonies would resort
ID desperate measures to secure these
supplies by a bold and successful attack
oh its own stores in what 1t had hith-
crto considered a thoroughly loyal coll
ony. On August IA. 1775, the public
powder magazine at st. George. Ber-
muda. was broken into, and about one
hundred barrels of the explosive were
removed and shipped to Gen. WASH
ington, conducting the siege Of Boston.
The Bermudian House of Assembly re-
pudiated any responsibility for what
II denominated in its records as $50
fiagitous tsic) an act so
eniou tsic) a crime" and offered to
pay 100 pounds for information con-
corning the perpetrators of the deed:
but the reward was never claimed.
Probably melted by this act. the
British Government took care to in
form itself. undoubtedly through
American Tories acting as it's spies. Of
the plans of Congress to secure war
material. and was measurably success
III In learning these. Thus it seems to
have known of the appointment by the
secret committee on March .. 1875.
OF Silas Deane of Connecticut as a
secre; agent to 20 to Paris and procure
from the French court supplies for the
army and also sound the court on the
question of recognizing the independ-
c oil the Colonies. the declaration OF
which. when military and diplomatic
conditions should he favorable, il would
seem. was already determined upon by
the leading spirits in Congress.
Mr.. Deane vas instructed to as
sumo the character of a merchant
engaged I'm the ,West) Indian
trade This was to facilitate negotia-
lions with the French Minister. the
WHY Count de Nergennes. upon whose
c~onnivance in the proposed infraction
or international comfy then existing
between France and Great Britain the
m evidently had reason to
nope. That the Minister should sup
ply arms to the insurgent subjects OF
George Ill, with whom his sovereign.
Louis XVI. was at peace. and that he
should agree to recognize them as an
independent people We're certainly del
icate proposals for the Minister even
to receive. let alone accept. and il was
.nerelore advisable that every precsu-
ton should he taken by Mr.. Deone In
secure an audience with him.
s@r Deane very shrewdly yay
t0Paris by way of Bermuda, in order
10 represent himself when / IN France
as a merchant Of this British colony
Gaming to Paris to work up trade TO
replace that which had been los, hy
the American war, for the Bermu-
dams were great carriers of products
the West Indies and New
England and Europe.
This stop in passage occasioned 4
delay, and It was not until four
months later, on the last day of June
1J76, that Mr.. Deane stepped on
French soil at Bordeaux. AS the needs
or the Continental army were press
Ing. he proceeded at once to Paris.
stopping for a day, however. at An
t,ouieme to inspect the royal gun fac
'lry tnere, where most OF the cannon
IN, the kingdom were produced. Since
these were Of the order of the field
pieces which he was instructed 10 pro-
cure and which subsequently, piayed
~ mportant part in deciding the war.
II is in pace here to quote Mr.. Deane's
report to Congress Of the process of
their manufacture
The cannon are cast solid. after
which they are put as il a turner's
lame and bored out, and the outside
srnoothed and turned AT pleasure
'"eH can bore ana complete a TIVE We
lsaunder in one day in each Ia he,
which takes four men only To work
Up XXI SHOWED me every part
'f their furnace and foundry"
Quickly as Mr., Deane came to Paris
Ne found that a reprcs, ntatlve OF tor
ftitish Government was there before
hit', with instructions to nullifv his
mission. Probably notified of his sail
Ing from Bermuda, the British Fut-
eisn ONCE wa appriscd at once Of the
landing of Mr.. Dean, at bordeaux. ami
it despatched Lord Stormont post
haste to the French capital The noble
~missary had already made application
to the court to he heard on the subject
Of the probable proposals Of the Amer
var agent.
Or these facts Mr.. Deane was IN
formed by a Partisan gentleman. NJ
DubOurg, "A friend of America. letters
OF introduction to whom Franklin hal
given the agent of his committee. ny.
Dubourg expressed to Mr.. Deane the
fear hat Count de Nergennes tie
Prime Minister, would not see him. A.,
warned by the implied protest in Lpr,i
Stormont's application for a hcari""
on the subject, he meant to he very
secret in any count"nancr France
gave the United Colonies. This infoT-
nation did not deter tbs energc'i'
american but rather spurred him ia
instant and bold action.
He determined to secure n hearth.
IN advance Of the etiquette respectin d,
British diplomat, ana so had VI Du-
hourg write to the Minister fixing an
"arIv GATE FOR their audience with him
No answer was received, nevertheless
"fr. Dcane promptly presented himself
81 Versailles al the appointed date ac-
cnmpanied by NJ Dubourg, who prob
ani.v a. ....Y,. ,,.. ID, A. 49,