I refer to Caron de Beaumarchais, the author already of the
"Barbier de Seville," as he was afterwards of the "Mariage de Figaro,"
who, turning aside from an unsurpassed success at the theatre, exerted
his peculiar genius to enlist the French Government on the side of the
struggling Colonies, predicted their triumph, and at last, under the
assumed name of a mercantile house, became the agent of the Comte de
Vergennes in furnishing clandestine supplies of arms even before the
recognition of Independence. It is supposed that through this popular
dramatist Franklin maintained communications with the French Government
until the mask was thrown aside.[24]

Beyond all doubt, Turgot is one of the most remarkable intelligences
which France has produced. He was by nature a philosopher and a
reformer, but he was also a statesman, who for a time held a seat in the
cabinet of Louis XVI., first as Minister of the Marine, and then as
Comptroller of the Finances. Perhaps no minister ever studied more
completely the good of the people. His administration was one constant
benefaction. But he was too good for the age in which he lived,--or
rather, the age was not good enough for him. The King was induced to
part with him, saying, when he yielded,--"You and I are the only two
persons who really love the people." This was some time in May, 1776; so
that Franklin, on his arrival, found this eminent Frenchman free from
all the constraints of a ministerial position. The character of Turgot
shows how naturally he sympathized with the Colonies struggling for
independence, especially when represented by a person like Franklin. In
a prize essay of his youth, written in 1750, when he was only
twenty-three years of age, he had foretold the American Revolution.
These are his remarkable words on that occasion:--

"Colonies are like fruits, which do not hold to the tree after their
maturity. Having become sufficient in themselves, they do that which
Carthage did, _that which America will one day do_."[25]

One of his last acts before leaving the Ministry was to prepare a memoir
on the American War, for the information of the Comte de Vergennes, in
which he says "that the idea of the absolute separation of the Colonies
and the mother-country seems infinitely probable; that, when the
independence of the Colonies shall be entire and acknowledged by the
English, there will be a total revolution in the political and
commercial relations of Europe and Ame