Identifier: pennsylvaniagermv15pbpenn (find matches)
Title: The Pennsylvania-German Society : (Publications)
Year: 1891 (1890s)
Authors: Pennsylvania-German Society. cn
Subjects: Germans
Publisher: (S.l.) : The Society
Contributing Library: Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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agent in Berlin (Dip. Cor., Vol. 9, p. 346) and Deane asked if Carmichael would be received, and Carmichael went in the autumn of I776 by way of Amsterdam to Berlin. Carmichael showed ability in explaining the mutual advantage of trade between Prussia and America, but the King was not ready for a treaty, nor even to recognize Carmichael in any other than his private and personal character. Appointed in September, 1776, Franklin, Deane and Arthur Lee addressed the Prussian government on the subject of establishing trade relations with the colonies. The King promptly pointed out the practical impossibility of commerce, in the absence of either Prussian or American ships to carry it on, and asked for further information as to the method of exchanging Prussian and American products. The commissioners tried to enlist Fredericks help in preventing the shipment of German soldiers to serve the English in America, and promised to send a minister to Berlin to discuss commercial relations. The King replied
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Frederick the Great and the United States. 13 through his minister that an American agent might come to Berlin, but could have no official recognition, and that until America had established its independence, he could not enter into any treaty with it. Lee went to Berlin and at once set to work to point out the advantages and possibility of direct commercial relations between Prussia and America. There was an active correspondence between Lee and the Prussian minister, but the King simply allowed it to be carried on that he might gain time and information. He refused absolutely to open Emden to American privateers, lest he should be involved with England, much as he disliked the English government and its American policy. In his correspondence and conversation he never spoke of the Americans as rebels and in writing to Voltaire, he sneered at the English, and in a letter to D'Alembert he anticipated American independence as early as October 5, 1777. He said that England had treated its colonies

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