[Footnote 12:  The author has been favoured by his estimable friend, Major General Scott, with the perusal of an introduction written by Mr. L. De Sevelinges, to Botta’s “History of the war of the independence of the United States of America,” translated into French.

Mr. De Sevelinges professes to have received the most precious explanations, relative to incidents and motives, from a gentleman equally distinguished for his knowledge and his character, whose situation enabled him to become acquainted with facts which were concealed from the public.  Speaking of the attempt made by Mr. Johnson, he says, p. 19, it was essential “to break off all communication with the agents of the British minister.  Mr. Girard directed all his efforts to this object, and had the good fortune to effect it.

“But the English faction of tories subsisted.  It was powerful from the credit of its chiefs.”

In a note on this passage, he says, “The most influential were Samuel Adams and Richard Lee, (Richard H. Lee,) the brother of Arthur Lee, one of the deputies of congress in France.  He was convicted of having secret intelligence with the British minister.”

It would be injustice to the memoirs of these distinguished patriots to attempt their vindication against this atrocious and unfounded calumny.  A calumny supported by no testimony, nor by a single circumstance wearing even the semblance of probability, and confuted by the whole tenour of their lives.  The annals of the American revolution do not furnish two names more entirely above suspicion than Samuel Adams and Richard Henry Lee.  With the first gentleman the author was not personally acquainted.  With the last he was; and can appeal with confidence to every man who knew him, to declare the conviction, that he died as he lived, a pure and devoted, as well as enlightened friend of American independence.  The same character was maintained by Mr. Adams.

In casting about for the foundation of this calumny, the author is inclined to look for it in the opinions entertained by these gentlemen, on subjects connected with the negotiations for peace.

Since the publication of the secret journals of congress, it is generally known that France countenanced the claim of Spain to circumscribe the western boundary of the United States, by the line prescribed in the royal proclamation of 1763, for settlement of vacant lands.  After Great Britain had consented to acknowledge the independence of the United States, it was understood by those who were acquainted with the views of the belligerents, that a disposition existed on the part of France and Spain, to continue the war for objects in which the United States felt no interest,—­among others, for Gibraltar and Jamaica.  Some American statesmen, and the Lees were of the number, probably Mr. Adams also, were extremely apprehensive that the miseries of their country would be prolonged for these objects.  It is not impossible that the sentiments of these gentlemen on these subjects, being in opposition to the views of France, might, though founded entirely in American policy, be attributed to British intrigues.]