The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, Vol. 27

This volume marks the beginning of hostilities between Britain and France.  Although Franklin and his fellow commissioners do not play a major role in the new wartime diplomacy and military strategy, the documents richly illustrate his relationship with his American colleagues, his neighbors in Passy, and a wide variety of French correspondents.  Franklin, in a moment of personal discouragement at the failure of his amorous pursuit of Mme. Brillon, writes a haunting literary piece the “Ephemera.”  Part of his wistful mood undoubtedly stems from his expectation of recall by Congress.  Instead Congress at the end of this volume elects him America’s first minister plenipotentiary to the French court.