should  send  the  supplies  by  way  of  the  West  In-
dies, and  that  Congress  should  pay  for  them  i  u  to-
bacco and  other  American  products.  When  the
arrangement  was  completed,  Beaumarchais  de-
L— 34


spatched  vessels  from  time  to  time,  with  valua-
ble cargoes,  including  two  hundred cannous  and
mortars,  and  a  supply  of  small-arms  from  the
French  arsenals;  also  four  thousand  tents,  and
elothiugfor  thirty  thousand  men.  Deaue  was  sus-
pected of  some  secret  connection  with  the  French
governnieut,  and  was"closely  watched  by  British
agents;  and  the  French  court  would  trust  none
of  its  secrets  to  the  Congress,  for  its  must  pri-
vate deliberations  (the  sessions  were  always  pri-
vate) leaked  out,  aud  became  known  to  the  Brit-
ish ministry.  The  business  was  done  by  the  Se-
cret Committee.  Soon  after  the  declaration  of
iudependeuce,  a  plan  of  treaties  with  foreign
nations  had  been  reported  by  a  committee  aiid
accepted  by  Congress,  and  Franklin,  Deane,  and
Jefferson  were  appointed  (Sept.  28,  1776)  com-
missioners to  the  court  of  France.  Jefferson  de-
clined the  appointment,  aud  Arthur  Lee  was
substituted.  They  were  directed  to  live  in  a
style  "to  support  the  dignity  of  their  public
character"  (see  Diplomacy  of  the  Revolution'),  aud
provisiou  was  made  for  their  maiutenauce.
