THE DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. VOL. V. THE DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION; BEING THE LETTERS OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, SILAS DEANE, JOHN ADAMS, JOHN JAY, ARTHUR LEE, WILLIAM LEE, RALPH IZARD, FRANCIS DANA, WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, HENRY LAURENS; JOHN LAURENS, M. DE LAFAYETTE, M. DUMAS, AND OTHERS, CONCERNING THE FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES DURING THE WHOLE REVOLUTION; TOGETHER WITH THE LETTERS IN REPLY FROM THE SECRET COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS, AND THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. ALSO, THE ENTIRE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE FRENCH MINISTERS, GERARD AND LUZERNE, WITH CONGRESS. Published under the Direction of the President of the United States, from the original Manuscripts in the Department of State, conformably to a Resolution of Congress, of March 27th, 1818. EDITED BY JARED SPARKS. VOL. V. BOSTON: NATHAN HALE AND GRAY & BOWEN; G. & C. & H. CARVILL, NEW YORK; P. THOMPSON, WASHINGTON. 1829. Steam Power Press--W. L. Lewis, Printer. No. 6, Congress Street, Boston. CONTENTS OF THE FIFTH VOLUME. JOHN ADAMS' CORRESPONDENCE, CONTINUED. Page. To the President of Congress. Paris, April 17th, 1780, 3 Probable effects of the armed neutrality.--Critical situation of England.--The opposition carry the resolution, that the influence of the Crown is increasing, and ought to be diminished. To the President of Congress. Paris, April 18th, 1780, 6 Encloses a letter written from England on the subject of peace with America.--Exposes the errors of the writer; on the confederacy with France and Spain; on the probability of America violating her treaty with France; on the notion that the policy of France has been to expose the States in order to exhaust them; on the plan of a reconciliation and reunion of America with Great Britain. To the President of Congress. Paris, April 24th, 1780, 12 Proceedings of Russia in regard to the armed neutrality.-- Proceedings in Holland in relation to the same subject. To the Count de Vergennes. Paris, April 25th, 1780, 18 Enclosing papers from America. To the President of Congress. Paris, April 25th, 1780, 18 State of Ireland. To the President of Congress. Paris, April 26th, 1780, 24 Debate in the House of Lords on the declaration of Russia; Lord Camden expresses his astonishment at the doctrine of free ships and free goods; Lord Shelburne's remarks on the critical state of England.--Anti-English policy of Russia. To the President of Congress. Paris, April 28th, 1780, 27