COMMISSION FROM THE UNITED COLONIES OF AMERICA TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, SAMUEL CHASE, AND CHARLES CAR ROLL, ESQUIRES.

The Delegates of the UNITED COLONIES of NEW-HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS-BAY, RHODE-ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, NEW-YORK, NEW-JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, the three Counties on DELAWARE, MARYLAND, VIRGINIA, NORTH-CAROLINA, SOUTH-CAROLINA, and GEORGIA, in Congress assembled:

TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at PARIS, F. R. S., &c., &c., &c., one of the Delegates of the Colony of PENNSYLVANIA; SAMUEL CHASE, Esq., one of the Delegates of the Colony of MARYLAND; and CHARLES CARROLL, of CARROLLTON, in the said Colony of MARYLAND, Esq., Greeting:

Know ye, that we, reposing especial trust and confidence in your zeal, fidelity, abilities, and assiduity, do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you, or any two of you, Commissioners for and on behalf of us, and all the People of the United Colonies whom we represent, to promote or to form an union between the said Colonies and the People of Canada, according to the Instructions herewith delivered you, and to such as you may hereafter receive; and to execute all such matters and things as you are, or shall be, directed by your said Instructions. And we do require all officers, soldiers, and others, who may facilitate your negotiations, or promote the success thereof, to aid and assist you therein; and you are, from time to time, to transmit and report your proceedings to Congress.

This Commission to continue in force until revoked by this or a future Congress.

By order of Congress:

Dated at Philadelphia.

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

In Congress, March 20, 1776.

Instructions to BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, SAMUEL CHASE, and CHARLES CARROLL, Esquires.

GENTLEMEN: You are, with all convenient despatch, to repair to Canada, and make known to the people of that country the wishes and intentions of Congress with respect to them.

Represent to them that the arms of the United Colonies, having been carried into that Province for the purpose of frustrating the designs of the British Court against our common liberties, we expect not only to defeat the hostile machinations of Governour Carleton against us, but that we shall put it in the power of our Canadian brethren to pursue such measures, for securing their own freedom and happiness, as a generous love of liberty and sound policy shall dictate to them.

Inform them that, in our judgment, their interest and ours are inseparably united. That it is impossible we can be reduced to a servile submission to Great Britain without their sharing in our fate; and, on the other hand, if we obtain, (as we doubt not we shall,) a full establishment of our rights, it depends wholly on their choice whether they will participate with us in those blessings, or still remain subject to every act of tyranny which British Ministers shall please to exercise over them. Urge all such arguments as your prudence shall suggest, to enforce our opinion concerning the mutual interests of the two countries, and to convince them of the impossibility of the war being concluded to the disadvantage of the Colonies, if we wisely and vigorously co-operate with each other. To convince them of the uprightness of our intentions towards them, you are to declare that it is our inclination that the people of Canada may set up such a form of Government as will be most likely in their judgment to promote this happiness; and you are, in the strongest terms, to assure them that it is our earnest desire to adopt them into our Union as a sister Colony, and to secure the same general system of mild and equal laws for them and for ourselves, with only such local differences as may be agreeable to each Colony respectively. Assure the people of Canada that we have no apprehension that the French will take any part with Great Britain; but that it is their interest, and we have reason to believe their inclination, to cultivate a friendly intercourse with these Colonies.

You are, from this and such other reasons as may appear most proper, to urge the necessity the people are under of immediately taking some decisive step to put themselves under the protection of the United Colonies. For expediting such a measure, you are to explain to them our method of collecting the sense of the people, and conducting our affairs regularly, by Committees of Observation and Inspection in the several Districts; and by Conventions and Committees of Safety in the several Colonies. Recommend these modes to them. Explain to them the nature and principles of Government among freemen; developing, in contrast to these, the base, cruel, and insidious designs involved in the late act of Parliament for making a more effectual provision for the government of the Province of Quebeck. Endeavour to stimulate them, by motives of glory, as well as interest, to assume a part in a contest by which they must be deeply affected; and to aspire to a portion of that power by which they are ruled; and not to remain the mere spoils and prey of conquerors and lords.

You are further to declare that we hold sacred the rights of conscience, and may promise to the whole people solemnly, in our name, the free and undisturbed exercise of their religion, and to the clergy the full, perfect, and peaceable possession and enjoyment of all their estates; that the government of everything relating to their religion and clergy shall be left entirely in the hands of the good people of that Province, and such Legislature as they shall constitute; provided, however, that all other denominations of Christians be equally entitled to hold offices, and enjoy civil privileges, and the free exercise of their religion, and be totally exempt from the payment of any tithes, or taxes, for the support of any religion.

Inform them that you are vested by this Congress with full powers to effect these purposes; and, therefore, press them to have a complete representation of the people assembled in Convention, with all possible expedition, to deliberate concerning the establishment of a form of Government and an union with the United Colonies. As to the terms of the union, insist upon the propriety of their being similar to those upon which the other Colonies unite. Should they object to this, report to this Congress those objections, and the terms on which alone they will come into our Union.

person he was placed; but the unfortunate death of that young Prince was the fall of the Baron of Woedtke. He, from his station, was obliged to inform his Majesty of the death of his beloved nephew, who therefrom took such an aversion to the Baron, that he could not bear him in his sight. So far did he carry this ill-placed aversion, that he obliged a man devoted to his service and to his native country, to seek an asylum in a strange county, without friends; but he has been happy enough to gain the countenance of some of the most illustrious in this place.

The Baron de Gotz, Minister Plenipotentiary from Prussia, has certified the above in a much more ample manner than it now appears in.

PARIS, August 30, 1775.

SIR: Before the Baron de Woedtke’s departure for Pennsylvania, (his country by adoption,) we have frequently talked over the men of merit with whom that country abounds more than any other I am acquainted with, and whom I profess to honour more particularly. I have not forgotten you, sir, in the number, though I had not the honour of seeing you more than one short day. Having told him that you are descended from one of the most ancient noble families of Picardy, and allied to the house of Mailly, and knowing that he is also allied to that noble family, it has made him desirous of being more particularly recommended to you than to others of his future countrymen.

The Baron is a man equally to be recommended for his birth, his sentiments, his talents, and his manners. Born a subject of the King of Prussia, was employed in his service from his youth, and arrived to the rank of Major of Horse, in which he has distinguished himself in the armies so celebrated in Europe; but, after being honoured with the most intimate confidence of this Monarch, as impetuous in his temper as enlightened in his understanding, he incurred his disgrace by the intrigues of the Court, (and what Court is without intrigues?) His revenues being stopped, he is under the necessity of quitting his country. Preferable to any other country, where his reputation would not fail of giving him honourable employ, the glory which the Colonies are daily acquiring, and the conformity there is between their 1st and his, have determined him to go and offer his services, dum defensoribus istis tempus eget—whilst the time requires such defenders. I am of opinion that this is one of the best presents which Europe can make at this critical time for America, to whom they hare so many crimes to expiate.

With this confidence, I flatter myself that I shall serve America by introducing this gentleman to you; and lay hold of the occasion of honouring myself by recalling me to your remembrance.

Europe now rings with the report of the exploits of the Bostonians, the eloquent writings of the Philadelphians, the courage of your Militia, and the wisdom of your Congress. If you continue united, Athens, Sparta, and Thebes, must yield to you. There is one thing that I am in pain about: it is, how you can get places for the numbers who must flock to you from all parts. If I was not sixty years of age, I would not be the last.

I have the honour to be, with the most distinguished and sincere sentiments, sir, your most humble servant,

DUBOURG.