[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Garlic.
Zealot.
Agent.
Sense.

Franklin was something of a zealot with respect to his idealism towards the motives of the French for helping the fledging Americans. On the other hand, John Adams was very much a realist who put garlic on the dish served by Franklin to the French which really spiced things up between Franklin and Adams who rarely saw eye-to-eye. Adams even saw Franklin as sometimes being the champion and agent of the from countries whose people worshipped Ben Franklin. John Adams seemed in hindsight to have the best sense of where history would prove the real motives were. http://blogs.archives.gov/prologue/?p=9677

Mr Adams has given Offence to the Court here by some Sentiments and Expressions contained in several of his Letters written to the Count de Vergennes. I mention this with Reluctance, tho’ perhaps it would have been my Duty to acquaint you with such a Circumstance, even were it not required of me by the Minister himself. . . . It is true that Mr Adams’s proper Business is elsewhere, but the Time not being come for that Business, and having nothing else here wherewith to employ himself, he seems to have endeavour’d supplying what he may suppose my Negociations defective in. He thinks as he tells me himself, that America has been too free in Expressions of Gratitude to France; for that she is more obliged to us than we to her; and that we should shew Spirit in our Applications. I apprehend that he mistakes his Ground, and that this Court is to be treated with Decency & Delicacy.

The King [Louis XVI], a young and virtuous Prince, has, I am persuaded, a Pleasure in reflecting on the generous Benevolence of the Action, in assisting an oppress’d People, and proposes it as a Part of the Glory of his Reign: I think it right to encrease this Pleasure by our thankful Acknowledgements; and that such an Expression of Gratitude is not only our Duty but our Interest. A different Conduct seems to me what is not only improper and unbecoming, but what may be hurtful to us. Mr Adams, on the other Hand, who at the same time means our Welfare and Interest as much as I, or any Man can do, seems to think a little apparent Stoutness and greater Air of Independence & Boldness in our Demands, will procure us more ample Assistance. It is for the Congress to judge and regulate their Affairs accordingly. [French Foreign Minister] M. De Vergennes, who appears much offended, told me yesterday, that he would enter into no further Discussions with Mr Adams, nor answer any more of his Letters. He is gone to Holland to try, as he told me, whether something might not be done to render us a little less dependent on France.
(Letter from Franklin to Samuel Huntington, President of Congress, August 9, 1780. National Archives, Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, ARC 6277098)