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Hamilton, as being better qualified for a mission of so much importance, should be sent. But Washington would hear no refusal.

Hence, armed with his credentials, this young man, truly the hope of the nation, set sail from 5 Boston in the frigate Alliance, under the command of that fine old sailor, Commodore John Barry. With him went Major William Jackson of Philadelphia, who had been appointed his secretary and who was also his bosom friend.

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As soon as Colonel Laurens reached Paris he called on Benjamin Franklin, who was at that time the representative of the United States at the French court, and received the necessary recognition. It might not be unfair to state that it was 15 somewhat grudgingly given. Beyond all doubt good Dr. Franklin looked upon Laurens's presence as a reflection upon his own ability.

When Laurens presented his credentials he was most graciously received at court. But to be pre- 20 sented and to obtain influence in royal circles are two different things. Although he had made ready with great care the reasons for his visit, and was prepared to prove the reciprocal interests of America and France, he perceived at the outset that 25 there was opposition.

Every day from the sixth of March to the second of May, Laurens sought to gain the allimportant recognition of his claims. He called on the French Minister of Foreign Relations, and the 5 latter was busy; he called again, and the minister was surrounded by people upon other important missions; or he found him at some court function, with powdered ladies in silks and satins present, and from that atmosphere of frivolity he could 10 not stir him to listen to weighty questions. At other times an audience was denied Laurens. Prolific were the excuses, generously polite were the reasons, determined was the opposition.

One day after fruitless efforts to bring matters 15 to a settlement, Laurens returned to his apartments, and the conviction that had grown on him of late framed itself definitely in his mind. Franklin had counseled patience; etiquette demanded waiting. But underlying everything the young minister saw 20 the reason that the French minister was putting him off. By delaying the aid for which America, exhausted and impatient, was waiting, France would serve her own ends best. The longer America could struggle unaided, the more men and ships 25 England would be forced to send, and the weaker both nations would become. France would profit

by their weakness; at the right time she would be ready to step in and make both nations do her will.

The good, aged Dr. Franklin, the appearance of whose rotund figure on the streets was the sig- 5 nal for all Parisians to doff their hats, was against any hasty action, and when Laurens sent him a message stating that he intended to go over the head of the French ministry and to apply to the King direct, Franklin objected. Such things were 10 unheard of in courts! It might prejudice the royal mind, it might jeopard the cause itself; but Laurens was determined. The King, he felt assured, was not hostile to either his mission or his country, despite the attitude of the ministers. With 15 his secretary he sat up late into the night preparing a paper that embraced a luminous statement of the facts, and in which the conclusions from them were clearly proved. Etiquette would have to stand aside when on the morrow the King held 20 his afternoon reception at Versailles.

Having now determined to stake all on his proposed visit to court, young Laurens considered nothing too trivial in preparing for what was ahead of him. Little things count for a great deal 25 at court; appearances go a great way where royal

favor is solicited, and John Laurens dressed for the event of the afternoon with scrupulous care. The bright costume then in fashion set off his well-built figure, and the way in which he dressed 5 and powdered his hair had already set a fashion in the place where fashions were set for the world. Already the ladies had termed him "the handsome American." But he only smiled at this, as he smiled at his friend Jackson's admiring comments 10 as they looked each other over before they started for the palace.

When Laurens and Major Jackson entered the audience chamber they found gathered there all the wit and beauty of the capital. Dandies in silk 15 smallclothes and jeweled buckles, with their powdered hair carefully curled and tied with widths of ribbon, moved about from group to group, orders and decorations sparkling upon their breasts; and ladies with their high headdresses and panniered 20 gowns courtesied and coquetted.

"The Special Minister of the United States of America," announced the gentleman-in-waiting; and Laurens stepped forward. The King was standing in the center of a semicircle, and the 25 Queen, Marie Antoinette, was beside him. Laurens bowed low before his Majesty, and then, instead of

passing on and taking his position among the foreign ministers, he advanced to within half a pace of the royal presence and bowed again. At the same time he extended the precious memorial toward King Louis.

His action was an innovation in the forms of court, and was so unexpected that the King for an

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instant was taken aback. He stood there perplexed, as if not knowing what to do. But Marie Antoinette was looking at the handsome figure before her. 10 Laurens was not at a loss. No embarrassment showed in his features, no awkwardness in his gestures. Gracefully he dropped on one knee and

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