" Of all which
and much more, Colonel Laurens and myself, when in France, informed
Dr. Franklin, who had not before heard of it. And to complete the
character of traitor, he has, by letters to his country since, some of
which, in his own handwriting, are now in the possession of
Congress, used every expression and argument in his power, to injure
the reputation of France, and to advise America to renounce her
alliance, and surrender up her independence.* Thus in France he abuses
America, and in his letters to America he abuses France; and is
endeavoring to create disunion between two countries, by the same arts
of double-dealing by which he caused dissensions among the
commissioners in Paris, and distractions in America. But his life
has been fraud, and his character has been that of a plodding,
plotting, cringing mercenary, capable of any disguise that suited
his purpose. His final detection has very happily cleared up those
mistakes, and removed that uneasiness, which his unprincipled
conduct occasioned. Every one now sees him in the same light; for
towards friends or enemies he acted with the same deception and
injustice, and his name, like that of Arnold, ought now to be
forgotten among us. As this is the first time that I have mentioned
him since my return from France, it is my intention that it shall be
the last. From this digression, which for several reasons I thought
necessary to give, I now proceed to the purport of my address.
* Mr. William Marshall, of this city [Philadelphia], formerly a
pilot, who had been taken at sea and carried to England, and got
from thence to France, brought over letters from Mr.
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