January 1-December 31, 1781 79

[Joshua Johnson, Nantes, 10^th October 1780 to His Excellency
Thomas Sim Lee, Esq^r.]
(P^r the Lady Lee, Capt. Dashiel)

I am extremely sorry to inform you that I have not been able to
succeed to the Commission the State of Maryland honored me with
on the receipt of those papers I made application to his Excellency
Benjamin Franklin for his assistance & support he gave me fair
promises but before I had obtained the Loan similar application was
made him by the agent of the other States & which caused this alter-
ation in his Sentiments that every loan obtained on public account
ought to be on account of Congress Since then he has set his face
against those negotiations & which has cuffled my most Sanguine
expectations my particular Friend Edmund Jennings Esq^r then re-
sided at Paris & did me the Honor to negotiate much of this Business
he will at any time Convince your Excellency & the Honble Com-
mittee that our facture was not through negligence By the Convey-
ance I forward you a Letter from D^r Franklin on the Subject of the
Maryland Funds in England his Letter will shew you the State of
that business & which makes it needless for me to enlarge. I am
much indebted to your & the States of Delegates friendship & good
opinion in nominating me one of the six to be approved by D^r Frank-
lin for the Sales & application of your Funds in England at present,
can see no prospect of Being needfull in that part but when anything
in which I can serve the state present itself I shall esteem it the high-
est honor to receive their Commands. I beg leave to tender your
Excellency my best Services
Nantes 20 Feb^ry '81
The foregoing is a Copy of my last which now confirm & not
having heard from you since leaves me very little to communicate to
you. The Trustees in England continue to Protest the Bills drawn
by virtue of an Act of your State on them, when at the same time
M^r Osgood Hanbury has paid those drawn on him as Trustee to the
Free school, I do not know the exact situation of the latter Funds
but should suppose that they are pretty near similar. In respect to
Public matters I can give you nothing pleasing on that Score, it is
reported here that the British Fleet is out while that of the French
remains in their Ports. I am also informed that a Reinforcement
of Ten thousand Men have Embarked for New York [damaged]
English are determined at all events to carry on the War with Amer-
ica. The Dutch are striving hard to accomodate matters with the
British & I am fearfull that they will do it & leave us to fight out the
Battle. I will do myself the honor to drop you a Line whenever I
have anything particularly interesting to the United States

February 20
Red Book
No. 29
Letter 36