On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress’s Committee of Secret Correspondence set to gathering intelligence in Europe. Benjamin Franklin, John Dickinson and John Jay on behalf of the Committee wrote to Arthur Lee in London:

It would be agreable to Congress to know the Disposition of Foreign Powers towards us, and we hope this Object will engage your Attention. We need not hint that great Circumspection and impenetrable Secrecy are necessary. The Congress rely on your Zeal and Abilities to serve them, and will readily compensate you for whatever Trouble and Expence a Compliance with their Desires may occasion. We remit you for the present Two Hundred Pounds Sterling.

Benjamin Franklin also wrote to his acquaintance Prince Don Gabriel Antonio de Bourbon of Spain:

the Proceedings of our American Congress, just published, may be a subject of some Curiosity at your Court. I therefore take the Liberty of sending your Highness a Copy, with some other Papers which contain Accounts of the successes wherewith Providence has lately favoured us. Therein your wise Politicians may contemplate the first efforts of a rising State, which seems likely soon to act a part of some Importance on the stage of human affairs, and furnish materials for a future Salust. I am very old and can scarce hope to see the event of this great Contest: but looking forward I think I see a powerful Dominion growing up here, whose interest it will be to form a close and firm alliance with Spain , (their Territories bordering) and who being united, will be able, not only to preserve their own people in peace, but to repel the Force of all the other powers in Europe. It seems therefore prudent on both sides to cultivate a good understanding, that may hereafter be so useful to both; towards which a fair Foundation is already laid in our minds, by the well founded popular Opinion entertained here of Spanish Integrity and Honour.

Sources: “The Committee of Secret Correspondence to [Arthur Lee], 12 December 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-22-02-0176. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 22, March 23, 1775, through October 27, 1776, ed. William B. Willcox. New Haven and London:: Yale University Press, 1982, pp. 296–297.]; “Benjamin Franklin to Don Gabriel Antonio de Bourbon, 12 December 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-22-02-0177. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 22, March 23, 1775, through October 27, 1776, ed. William B. Willcox. New Haven and London:: Yale University Press, 1982, pp. 298–299.]; https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/ar/91718.htm; https://whatamericanhistoryisabout.com/post/espionage-instructions-from-congress-to-arthur-lee-december-12-1775