Another agent and intimate friend of Franklin was a certain Doctor Dubourg, a man more or less widely known as a scientist, but possessing as well a decided taste for mercantile operations. He had entered heartily into the cause of the Americans, and was very zealous in forwarding munitions of war to the insurgents. He seems at the beginning to have possessed to a considerable degree the confidence of the French minister, who deigned to correspond with him in person, and to consult him on several occasions. But as it became necessary “to act on a grander scale, the intervention of the friend of Franklin was no longer sufficient.” (Doniol, p. 374.) The “faithful and discreet agent” spoken of in the _Réflexions_ had long been fixed in the mind of the Minister of War. The good doctor who knew nothing of the relationship between the famous author of the _Barbier de Séville_ and the French Government or of his interest and services in the cause of American Independence, all along had been secretly aspiring to a complete control of the transactions. What succeeded in convincing him that he was the man destined for the place was that early in June, 1776, Silas Deane, the agent of the Secret Committee of Congress, arrived in Paris charged with a letter from Franklin to his “dear good friend Barbeu Dubourg,” with express instructions to regard this latter as “the best guide to seek after and to follow.” (Doniol, V. I, p. 485.) Elated at this mark of esteem shown him by the colonies, the good doctor undertook to fulfill then to the letter the instructions of Congress and to prevent Silas Deane from coming in contact with anyone but himself. Deane soon realized that though “inspired with the best intentions in the world,” the doctor would be a “hindrance rather than the essential personage pointed out by Franklin.” (Doniol.) He therefore insisted so strongly upon meeting the French minister that Dubourg was forced to yield. The meeting took place the 17th day of July, 1776. “It must be said of Silas Deane at this important meeting that he fulfilled the intention of his mandate not only with intelligence, but with a fecundity of reasoning which could only come from a vigilant patriotism. All the impression which he could desire to produce and which was hoped from his mission flowed from his replies.” (Doniol, V. I, p.491.) The Comte de Vergennes appeared to refuse to give the aid asked, but he led Silas Deane to understand that a confidential agent would take the matter in charge. This confidential agent was no other than Beaumarchais.