on the Left Bank. The Baron now had three substantial allies: St. Germain, Vergennes, and Beaumarchais. How could the Americans refuse him? 14
Beaumarchais arranged for Steuben to meet the American commissioners at Franklinâs Passy residence on June 25, 1777. Steuben had been in Paris for about two weeks when he strode that evening along the picturesque garden walk, between rows of elegant statuary, that led to the front door of the house at the Valentinoisâunless he was ushered quickly and quietly into the partially hidden back entrance. The Americans were primed for the meeting by Beaumarchaisâs enthusiastic endorsements. Deane, a frequent visitor at Beaumarchaisâs house, had already met the Baron, albeit briefly. The three men made an odd group as they sat together in Franklinâs salon. Steuben, now forty-six, was beginning to show signs of middle age, growing heavy in the face and the midriff, yet was still energetic, almost fidgety, resplendent in his new finery; Deane, the slave-owning Yankee aristocrat, was slim and serious, every inch the diplomat; and bespectacled Dr. Franklin, the oldest of the three by a quarter century, was dressed in the plain, almost peasant-like frock that had drawn so much comment atcourt. They chatted for a while in French, though Deane was still halting and uncomfortable with the language. 15
Silas Deane. Although overshadowed by Benjamin Franklin as ambassador to the court of Louis XVI of France, Deane was primarily responsible for encouraging Steuben to journey to the United States. His enemies in Congress succeeded in securing his removal from France shortly thereafter. (Library of Congress)
The Comte de Vergennes. Minister of foreign affairs under Louis XVI of France, Vergennes collaborated with Deane, Franklin, Beaumarchais, and the war minister St. Germain to get Steuben to America. At the end of the war, he refused to honor St. Germainâs promise to find Steuben a place in the French army. (Library of Congress)
Silas Deane took the lead. Unlike Franklin, who would have preferred not to act as talent scout for the Continental Army, Deane saw the task of feeding military experts into the American war machine as a vital part of his duties. He also took Beaumarchais seriouslyâagain, unlike Franklin, who referred disparagingly to the womanizing, sometimes flippant Frenchman as âMonsieur Figaro.â Beaumarchais, in turn, set great store by Deane. âI have found a great difference between the honest deputy Deane, with whom I have negotiated, and the insidious politician [Arthur] Lee and the taciturn Dr. Franklin,â he lamented to Vergennes after Congress recalled Deane from his post in November 1777. 16
Deane conducted the interview with Steuben while Franklin sat by quietly. âIâ¦could not bring the Doctor to pay the least attention to him, or to give the Baron any encouragement,â Deane later recounted. Deane knew what his Prussian guest wanted; he did not question Steubenâs qualities and character, nor did he doubt for a moment that Steuben had a great deal to contribute to the Continental Army. But he still did not dare to promise Steuben a commission, let alone put him on the Continental Army payroll. Congress would not tolerate it.Henry Laurens, president of Congress and no friend of Deaneâs, had already complained that Deane was incapable of âsay[ing] nay to any Frenchman who called himself Count or Chevalier.â 17 Deane also knew that, regardless of Vergennesâs and St. Germainâs support, the French crown would do little or nothing to help Steuben without being pushed to do so.
The crafty Deane took another tack: he told Steuben not to go to America.
I candidly and impartially stated to the Baron the situation of our affairs in America, and our unfavorable prospects in France, and told him that unless the Court of France had resolved to give us effectual aid it would, in my opinion, be to
Beaumarchais arranged for Steuben to meet the American commissioners at Franklinâs Passy residence on June 25, 1777. Steuben had been in Paris for about two weeks when he strode that evening along the picturesque garden walk, between rows of elegant statuary, that led to the front door of the house at the Valentinoisâunless he was ushered quickly and quietly into the partially hidden back entrance. The Americans were primed for the meeting by Beaumarchaisâs enthusiastic endorsements. Deane, a frequent visitor at Beaumarchaisâs house, had already met the Baron, albeit briefly. The three men made an odd group as they sat together in Franklinâs salon. Steuben, now forty-six, was beginning to show signs of middle age, growing heavy in the face and the midriff, yet was still energetic, almost fidgety, resplendent in his new finery; Deane, the slave-owning Yankee aristocrat, was slim and serious, every inch the diplomat; and bespectacled Dr. Franklin, the oldest of the three by a quarter century, was dressed in the plain, almost peasant-like frock that had drawn so much comment atcourt. They chatted for a while in French, though Deane was still halting and uncomfortable with the language. 15
Silas Deane. Although overshadowed by Benjamin Franklin as ambassador to the court of Louis XVI of France, Deane was primarily responsible for encouraging Steuben to journey to the United States. His enemies in Congress succeeded in securing his removal from France shortly thereafter. (Library of Congress)
The Comte de Vergennes. Minister of foreign affairs under Louis XVI of France, Vergennes collaborated with Deane, Franklin, Beaumarchais, and the war minister St. Germain to get Steuben to America. At the end of the war, he refused to honor St. Germainâs promise to find Steuben a place in the French army. (Library of Congress)
Silas Deane took the lead. Unlike Franklin, who would have preferred not to act as talent scout for the Continental Army, Deane saw the task of feeding military experts into the American war machine as a vital part of his duties. He also took Beaumarchais seriouslyâagain, unlike Franklin, who referred disparagingly to the womanizing, sometimes flippant Frenchman as âMonsieur Figaro.â Beaumarchais, in turn, set great store by Deane. âI have found a great difference between the honest deputy Deane, with whom I have negotiated, and the insidious politician [Arthur] Lee and the taciturn Dr. Franklin,â he lamented to Vergennes after Congress recalled Deane from his post in November 1777. 16
Deane conducted the interview with Steuben while Franklin sat by quietly. âIâ¦could not bring the Doctor to pay the least attention to him, or to give the Baron any encouragement,â Deane later recounted. Deane knew what his Prussian guest wanted; he did not question Steubenâs qualities and character, nor did he doubt for a moment that Steuben had a great deal to contribute to the Continental Army. But he still did not dare to promise Steuben a commission, let alone put him on the Continental Army payroll. Congress would not tolerate it.Henry Laurens, president of Congress and no friend of Deaneâs, had already complained that Deane was incapable of âsay[ing] nay to any Frenchman who called himself Count or Chevalier.â 17 Deane also knew that, regardless of Vergennesâs and St. Germainâs support, the French crown would do little or nothing to help Steuben without being pushed to do so.
The crafty Deane took another tack: he told Steuben not to go to America.
I candidly and impartially stated to the Baron the situation of our affairs in America, and our unfavorable prospects in France, and told him that unless the Court of France had resolved to give us effectual aid it would, in my opinion, be to
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