Facing the unstoppable British army, the Continental Congress once again turned its gaze towards France.
In May 1775, just days after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary war, Louis XVI, the king of France, ascended to the throne at less than twenty years old. His Foreign Minister, Vergennes, saw an opportunity for France to profit from the conflict between Britain and her Colonies.
However, Vergennes was very cautious about whether to willingly help the United States simply to harm Britain.
He worried that if the dispute was resolved peacefully, Britain would be free to deal with any country that had interfered. But missing such an opportunity to weaken Britain would, of course, displease the minister greatly.
While the Continental Congress was fruitlessly negotiating with Britain in 1775, Vergennes received news from London that the American Colonies were preparing to seek French aid.
In the summer of 1775, the Continental Congress in Philadelphia was still hoping to avoid a final break with Britain, while one of Vergennes' agents in London observed that the collapse of the unified British Empire was imminent, and France should strike a heavy blow against Britain while she was plagued by internal troubles.
In September, a spy in London named Bumage returned to Paris and reported to Vergennes that he had recently spoken with a Philadelphia resident who had held talks with British cabinet ministers, leaving the ministers terrified. He also reported that the struggle between the Whigs and Tories in London was quite fierce, and that as soon as the British army suffered its first defeat in America, Britain's domestic political situation would inevitably undergo drastic changes, and France and Spain should be ready to seize the opportunity to strike at Britain.
In the same month, Vergennes sent Bonflores to Philadelphia to encourage the Continental Congress. At the same time, he and Bumage began to formulate a plan to aid the American Colonies.
Vergennes also used many of Bumage's arguments to persuade Louis XVI and his council that providing secret military assistance to the United States was a wise move, provided the Americans promised to grant France legitimate trading rights. Bumage would also establish a commercial entity to implement this plan. France and Spain would raise the initial capital for this commercial entity.
Vergennes' plan was opposed by France's Finance Minister, Turgot, who predicted that all European powers' American Colonies would eventually gain independence, and that Britain would gain more from trading with her former Colonies as independent nations than she had from exercising commercial monopoly over them in the past, rather than being weakened by the loss of her Colonies. Turgot believed that France could not afford an unnecessary war.
The king of France and his council heeded Vergennes' proposal. By March, when Continental Congress Representatives Silas Deane left America to seek French aid, France had already reached an agreement with Spain to each provide one million francs to Bumage. By the time Deane arrived in Paris in July, Bumage had already received one million from France and was ready to establish the company for trade with America.
French arms were shipped to Haiti and Martinique in the West Indies of Latin America, where American agents received the goods and then transshipped them to the thirteen Colonies. To prevent Britain from obstructing this trade and to protect American ships entering French ports, Vergennes did not hesitate to use warships.
But the use of warships was always temporary. After the high-ranking officials of the Continental Congress learned that Charles had secured passage to New Orleans, they felt that the arms from Haiti and Martinique could be shipped directly to New Orleans, and then transported via the mississippi River and Ohio River to the newly constructed canal in Pittsburgh, and eventually through the canal to Philadelphia.
However, at that time, France was not yet ready to ally with America. After weapons and ammunition were transported to the ports in the West Indies, the Americans had to retrieve them themselves.
The high-ranking officials of the Continental Congress agreed that this situation must be kept secret from other representatives to prevent leaks that could expose France's actions and put American diplomacy in a passive position.
In May 1776, France virtually recognized the Americans as a belligerent party. However, France was slow to declare war on Britain and politically claimed that the Continental Congress was not an official government and could not recognize the United States.
For the ordinary representatives in the Continental Congress who valued official recognition, not recognizing America was not considered true aid. As soon as the Declaration of Independence was issued, they began to call for political recognition from France and prepared to send an Ambassador to France.
However, in October, Vergennes, having heard of the Declaration of Independence's publication, was preparing to initiate hostile actions against Britain, and Spain was also ready to join France's actions by October, hoping this would aid in conquering Portugal and Minho, and that signing a treaty with the thirteen American Colonies would help control its own Colonies in America.
However, news of Washington's defeat on Long Island and the fall of New York arrived one after another, halting Vergennes' actions, as he was no longer willing to side with the losing party.
However, the representatives in the Continental Congress, of course, could not have known what impact the news of the New York battle would have in France. They only knew that France was the only country that could help them now, so in this critical juncture, they once again thought of France.
Many in the Continental Congress were influenced by French Enlightenment thought, held France in high esteem, and maintained friendships and correspondence with many French philosophers and revolutionaries. Among them, the highly respected Franklin had the widest network of connections.
If others only had contact with scholars, Franklin had good relationships with both high-ranking officials and academics. Previously, when the Continental Congress sent representatives to France, king Louis had not officially agreed to politically aid America. Some had already advised Franklin to step forward and request French recognition, but Franklin had refused.
In this unfavorable situation, Franklin's French friend, Dubourg, sent another long letter. His letter expressed his enthusiasm for the American cause and assured him that the French cabinet was very interested.
This time, during discussions in the Continental Congress, Franklin expressed his views on seeking foreign aid, saying:
"A virgin nation should maintain its virginity, not chase after allies everywhere, but rather wait with dignified reserve for invitations from other nations."
With this unofficial invitation, Franklin finally agreed to step forward and request French aid, and his stance was to personally travel to France to lobby officials and the king to support America's independence movement.
September 26. The Continental Congress decided to elect Franklin, Jefferson, and Silas Deane as the delegation to secretly meet the king of France.
They would serve both as Ambassadors of the Continental Congress to France and as a diplomatic body requesting aid.
With two prominent figures leaving at once, the Continental Congress became much quieter.
Charles, as a newcomer introduced by Franklin, specifically went to see him off before his departure.
Although Franklin, as a renowned scientist and social activist, had traveled between Europe and America several times, this trip to France was not as simple as previous exchanges or visits. He was undertaking a political mission.
If he were accidentally intercepted by a British Navy warship at sea, he would certainly end up in prison.
Seeing this respected elder, over seventy years old, resolutely leading the Continental Congress delegation to France for the sake of America, Charles could not help but once again suggest to Franklin and Jefferson, who was also present:
"Benjamin, Thomas, I really think it would be safer for you to go via the mississippi River and take a French ship from New Orleans. The British Navy has blockaded the eastern waters now. It would be very difficult and unsafe for you to try and pass through."
"Haha! Charles! It only takes a month to sail from the East Coast to France. If we go via the mississippi River, it would take at least two months. The war in America is so critical right now. The sooner we get French aid, the sooner we can reduce our losses. The East Coast has such a long coastline, and we have so many highly skilled captains, passing through the British blockade should not be a problem," Franklin said with a smile.
When Charles arrived earlier, Franklin had just instructed him about his duties as Postmaster General of Pennsylvania, entrusting the position to his son-in-law, Chad Beqi, as acting Postmaster General.
He instructed Beqi to use "all the money he could raise, between three and four thousand pounds," as a loan to the Continental Congress, "to show his confidence and encourage others to lend money to support the cause of the American people."
Another matter was a box of his letters from nearly twenty years, which he entrusted to Galloway, who had retired to the countryside at the time. That box contained the only manuscript of his autobiography. In fact, everyone knew that this trip was a matter of life and death, and this was almost like entrusting his last wishes.
"At your age, to endure the bumpy sea journey to France, such a task could entirely be left to a young man like Thomas." Charles glanced at Jefferson, who was also nearby, eliciting a wry smile from the latter.
"Hahaha! I have more old friends in France, so it's better for me to go in person! Besides, these old bones of mine are still very energetic, and the sea journey won't shake them apart!" Franklin burst into laughter.
Then he sighed:
"Alas! I asked you to come along, but you refused. Otherwise, our chances this time would be much greater, and I wouldn't have to busy myself as an old man."
"Hehe! Am I not busy dealing with matters in Pittsburgh? Without me, Pittsburgh might fall into chaos first. Besides, I am too young and lack the experience. Going to France might cause those officials to look down on me, and I wouldn't be much help," Charles said with an awkward smile.
Going to France, he might not only be of little help, but if he didn't play his role as Charles well, he might even be exposed.
Jefferson glanced at Charles, knowing that he genuinely cared about Franklin, and comforted him, saying:
"Charles! Don't worry, I will take good care of Benjamin throughout the journey."
"Good! Thomas, you must also be careful. Take care on your journey!"
Charles abandoned traditional etiquette and stepped forward to embrace and bid farewell to both of them.
"Oh, right!" Jefferson suddenly gripped Charles' hand and said, "The Continental Congress' financial situation is not good right now, Charles. While we are not in the United States, could you please help keep an eye on things?"
Charles did not answer, only nodded.
If the Continental Congress wanted to borrow money, he would, of course, agree. Although the situation currently seemed critical, from Charles' perspective, the current situation was already much better than in real history. At least the danger from the natives in the West and the British had already been eliminated by him. Now, the hope of winning the war was still very high, and lending money to the Continental Congress, as long as the interest rate was reasonable, could completely be considered a very rewarding investment.
A few days later, the secret delegation would board the armed schooner "Revenge" and sail to France. A ship full of indigo would be used to pay for the expenses of their mission. Because Jefferson had a last-minute engagement, the Continental Congress ultimately replaced him with Joseph Lee as a representative.
After visiting Franklin and Jefferson, Charles had originally planned to return to Pittsburgh to continue his work developing Ohio. However, he felt a little uneasy about the current battlefield situation.
He had initially left the decision to retreat to Washington, but now he suddenly felt that this might lead to the British army focusing its attack on Philadelphia after the Continental army withdrew from New York, just as it had happened in real history, putting Philadelphia to the test of war.
If it were before, Charles might have watched Philadelphia endure the war, and perhaps even taken the opportunity to attract immigrants and sell arms in Pittsburgh. But now, things were different. He already had extensive properties in Philadelphia, not to mention the bank and the branch company; he couldn't bear to let his castle in Pennsylvania endure the test of war.
Some matters were irrelevant until they potentially harmed his own interests. Charles naturally wouldn't sit idly by and wait for war to descend. After leaving Franklin's house, he immediately rushed to Independence Hall, the original State House, to meet with Continental Congress President Hancock.
"Your Excellency Hancock! Although I have already suggested that the commander-in-chief, Washington, decide on the front-line battles, and we have also sent envoys to France, I think we should still make some preparations in case the war goes poorly."
Hancock highly regarded Charles, who had suddenly entered his office, and did not reprimand him for his abruptness. Instead, he asked gently and in detail:
"Our situation is indeed not good. What do you think we should prepare?"