Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume X.djvu/301

ARTHUR LEE 295 sition who styled themselves " supporters of the bill of rights," he drew up a preamble and reso- lutions setting forth the principles upon which the club was founded, and these papers were commented upon and praised by " Junius," who declared that Lee was "plainly a man of abilities, though a little unreasonable." In order to vote in municipal elections, he purchased the free- dom of the city of London, and exerted himself actively in the opposition. By his influence, the complaints of America were introduced into Wilkes's Middlesex petition ; and he obtained the passage of a resolution by the " supporters of the bill of rights " that the members of the club would support no man for parliament who would not give pledges in favor of permitting America to tax herself. About this period Lee was elected a fellow of the royal society, an honor which he resigned at the commence- ment of the war, on the ground that he could not consent to continue his connection with an English institution requiring pecuniary as well as literary contributions from its mem- bers, when England was at war with his na- tive country. Lee's activity in the assertion of American rights soon brought his name prom- inently before the people of the colonies ; and in 1770 he was appointed by the assembly of Massachusetts agent for that colony in case of the absence or death of Dr. Franklin, then hold- ing that position in London. Between Frank- lin and himself a strong intimacy had sprung up, and the agent and his alternate consulted and acted in unison. ' The statement of his ap- pointment is made by Lee in his manuscript en- titled " Memoirs of the American Revolution," which he commenced in his latter years, but did not live to finish. When Franklin left England in 1774, Lee became sole agent for Massachu- setts, and continued as such until he went to Paris. In 1774 he presented the addresses of congress to the people of England and to the king. Lord Dartmouth, to whom the petition to the king was presented, returned that " no an- swer could be given," whereupon Lee expressed to him his " sorrow that his majesty had adopted a measure which would occasion so much blood- shed." In November, 1775, congress appointed a committee of secret correspondence with the friends of the colonies in England and other countries, and Lee was chosen agent for the purpose in London. He applied himself to the duties of this commission with great ac- tivity ; and in 1776, by order of the committee, he proceeded to Paris, to open friendly negotia- tions with the French government. His labors met with fair success. The count de Vergennes presented a memorial to the king, suggesting that it would be sound policy " to facilitate to the colonies the means of procuring, in the way of commerce, the articles and even the money which they needed; but without departing from neutrality, and without giving them direct succors." Through the French ambassador at the English court, Lee finally obtained the as- surance that the government would secretly furnish to the colonies 200,000 worth of arms and ammunition, to be transported from Hol- land to the West Indies. In September, 1776, congress proceeded to establish diplomatic in- tercourse with foreign nations ; and Lee, Silas Deane, and afterward Dr. Franklin, were ap- pointed commissioners to France. Lee had already accomplished two important objects. He had set on foot a private correspondence with the Spanish government, with the design of prevailing upon that court to unite with France in supplying the United States with money and arms; and had actually procured for the state of Virginia, from the royal arsenal of France, warlike stores of the value of nearly 260,000. The commissioners met in Paris in December, 'and decided that it was important for one of their number to proceed to Madrid. Lee was chosen, and set out in February, 1777. Soon after his departure, Franklin received from congress the appointment of commissioner to Spain, but declined it, and in May Lee was cho- sen in his place. As soon as the appointment became known in London, the English govern- ment, who were well acquainted with Lee's character, and no doubt divined the objects which he had in view, instructed their minister at Madrid to protest against his reception. Lee was accordingly met at Burgos by a messenger directing him not to proceed further. He re- turned an animated protest against this order, and the Spanish court finally withdrew it, per- mitting him to repair to the capital. Here he exerted himself with his accustomed activity, and presented to the government an eloquent memoir on "the present state of the dispute be- tween America and Great Britain," the object of which was to establish the propriety of for- mally receiving a commissioner from the United States, and opening diplomatic intercourse with that country. He also drew up the plan of a treaty, and placed himself in communication with leading statesmen, persistently urging the adoption of a policy favorable to the cause of America. The government assured him of the good will of the king and the people, but ad- hered to a course of secrecy and caution. Am- biguous promises were plentifully made ; but the only tangible success which Lee achieved was permission to make contracts for arms and am- munition with Spanish merchants. His resi- dence at Madrid was of no slight importance, however, to the American cause. He im- pressed upon the minds of the statesmen of that country a high idea of the prospects and resources of America, and induced the court to instruct the Spanish minister at Paris to keep up a close and confidential intercourse with the American commissioners; and this intercourse finally enabled him to obtain a large and important loan. He returned to Paris, and found that his associates had during his absence opened negotiations with the Prus- sian minister. William Lee, brother of Arthur, had just been appointed commissioner to the court of Berlin; but as he already filled the