The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-10

referred to Icy MI. Guthrie. the
French Government thought it best to
supply Washington with money 90
ihat he could strengthen his command
with American volunteers. Accord
ilgly 5000 600 livrcs We're promised. not
rs a loan. but a. "A free gift. To he
placed at Washinrton's disposal" This
: statement Perkins evidently bases IN
Don!ol, Vol ~, y. 81. TO which he re-
fers in a fnotuote. The Century Die
t.1na"y estimates that a. tho time "A
liVre was worth IN modern purchasing
power about lyi2 cents; 50 the pro-
posed gift by the French Government
may he regarded as the equivalent Of
approximately $ll70" oo Of American
m LcN
The Ministers OF France were more
than disposed to extend liberal aid
both in money and in men, but they
were 10y no means sanguine OF Ameri-
can success against the British. Year
after year had gone 10y without strik'
ing and convincing victory and now
Washington's officers aS well as Con-
grcss found the greatest difficulty in
securing recruits as well as keeping
an army in the field. Paris already
had heard Of the mutiny OF Pennsyl-
wanna regiments and not a few Of the
French leaders saw in this but the
first step in general dissolution OF
W~ashinGton's entire little force.
So the Vicomte de Rochamheau came
back from his mission with the prom
.sc of 5000 900 livres and the much
more important news that DE Grasse
x.. -, la.an ,.ttl A..
for the Antilles and that later in the
year le would sail to the coast Of
North America to cooperate with the
French and American armies in "A
joint movement against the British,
Later in the year II proved that the
americans were to receive much more
assistance from their French ally. In
desperation Congress decided to send
abroad a special commission to place
before the French Government a true
picture OF conditions In the Colonies
and TO ask for help sorely needed, for
money with which TO pay for a war
that could no longer he betrayed from
American resources" Therefore in
December, 1850. il passed n resolution
TO the effect that an envoy be sent to
Versailles 10 ask for n loan of .j,000.-
600 livres lin order that an army of
30. 900 American soldiers might be kept
under arms until The end OF the war"
This request was in the nature OF
almost a demand-an urgent appeal
from a weak nation facing what was
believed to he inevitable ruin. OF all
the men aVailahl" 10 larry out such a
delicate mission " stood before the
world as striking Observation-Disclosures
Franklin and Alexander Hamilton. Al
ready intrigue born Of jealousy was
trying to undermine Franklin and the
choice lay between Hamilton and John
~l.aurens, both aids of Washington.
Regardless OF opinion expressed by
far seeing men in private life. Con-
gress put aside Hamilton and sent
l.aurens.
At this time the situation OF the
Americans colonists was so critical that
Washington admitted It In his letter
to Mason, dated October %, 1880,
wherein he wrot as follows:
I'VE are without money, and have
been so for a great length Of time;
without provision or forage except
what is taken by impress; without
clothing and shortly shall be lin a
manner without men. In a word we
have lived upon e~xpedlents till We can
live no longer
Grave words indeed to be penned by
n man of Washington's reticence and
conservative mind. And a month later
he wrote still more emphatically to
sullivan, then d member 81 Congress.
II viii take the liberty in this place"
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