The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 09 — A Closer Reading

Diction of Deference and Urgency

The correspondents adopt a vocabulary that signals both respect and pressing need. Franklin writes to Dumas of 'the circumstances of a rising State' that require consulting 'the law of nations.' Carmichael, in his dispatches, uses phrases like 'favorable reception' and 'kindness of the French Ambassador' to convey diplomatic progress, while also noting 'difficulty of communication' and 'English policy in Spain.' The language is never casual; even when discussing setbacks, the writers maintain a composed, almost legalistic register. This choice of words—'disposition,' 'temporising policy,' 'warlike preparations'—reflects an acute awareness that their letters might be read by multiple parties, including potential allies and adversaries.

Dialogue Across Distance

The correspondence is structured as a series of replies and anticipations, creating a dialogue that spans months. Franklin acknowledges Dumas's 'several favors of May 18th, June 30th, and July 8th' in a single December letter, compressing time. Carmichael writes to John Jay about an 'interview with the Count de Florida Blanca, who promises to answer Mr Jay's letter,' indicating that replies are often delayed or indirect. The writers frequently reference earlier letters—'Receives information of his appointment'—and ask for confirmation of receipt. This back-and-forth, preserved in the volume, shows how envoys managed uncertainty and maintained continuity in their negotiations.

Description of Political Landscapes

Descriptive passages in these letters serve to map the political terrain of Europe. Carmichael notes 'the disposition of the Dutch' and 'the English loan completed at home,' while Franklin observes that 'all Europe wishes us the best success.' The writers do not merely report events; they interpret them through a lens of potential advantage. For example, Carmichael remarks that 'the conduct of Congress in relation to Portugal has made a favorable impression,' linking a specific policy to diplomatic standing. Such descriptions are economical, often compressed into a single sentence, yet they convey the complexity of alliances, loans, and military preparations that shaped the Revolution's outcome.

Recurring Concerns: Credit and Commerce

Financial terms recur throughout the volume, reflecting the material basis of diplomacy. Franklin mentions 'our commerce, which amounted, before the war, to near seven millions sterling per annum.' Carmichael reports on 'offers of a House in Amsterdam to discount bills of Congress' and 'bills on Mr Jay.' The language of credit—'credit of the United States,' 'financial credit of the different powers'—is used with precision, indicating that economic viability was a constant preoccupation. These references are not abstract; they are tied to specific negotiations and the daily struggles of envoys like Dumas, who 'was obliged often to complain of the meagre compensation he received.'

Readers attentive to the authors' word choices will find a record not only of events but of the rhetorical strategies employed to secure foreign support. The letters reward careful reading for their blend of formality and urgency, and for the way they document the creation of a diplomatic language suited to a new republic. Sparks's editorial arrangement, grouping correspondents like Carmichael and Dumas, further highlights the individual voices within the collective effort.

There’s something intimate about those old despatches—Franklin’s careful civility, Adams’ bristling pride—as if you’re overhearing men think aloud. It reminded me of another quiet discovery, the vastness those same men once measured by foot and river. I found myself reaching for Pathfinders of the West Being the Thrilling Story of the Adventures of the Men Who Discovered the Great Northwest: Radisson, La Vérendrye, Lewis and Clark — Reading Notes afterward, just to feel that older, stranger wilderness again.