The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume XI Part 5

Philadelphia, November 23d, 1781.

Sir,

I have the honor of sending to you a letter, which I wrote to the commanding officer of St Domingo, in consequence of that with which you honored me yesterday.

Be pleased to send the two despatches to those interested, in order that they may send them to their _Fonde de Procuration_ by safe opportunities.

I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

CONGRESS TO THE KING OF FRANCE.

The United States in Congress a.s.sembled to their Great, Faithful, and Beloved Friend and Ally, Lewis the Sixteenth, King of France and Navarre.

Great, Faithful, and Beloved Friend and Ally,

At a period so glorious to the arms of France, both by sea and land, and so favorable to the fortunes of America, it is with particular satisfaction that we congratulate the Monarch, whose wise counsels and generous support have so largely contributed to events, ill.u.s.trious in themselves, and promising consequences truly important.

We wish to convey to your Majesty our sense of the victory obtained by the Count de Gra.s.se over the enemy's fleet on our coast, and the subsequent reduction of the British armament in Virginia; and we repeat our grateful acknowledgments for the various aids so seasonably extended to us. From the benevolence and magnanimity, which has. .h.i.therto interested your Majesty in the welfare of these States, we are convinced, that you will on this occasion feel an equal pleasure with ourselves, whose immediate advantage is the result of such fortunate exertions.

We mention with great pleasure the zeal and ability manifested by the Count de Rochambeau, commanding your Majesty's forces in the allied army. His conduct, and that of his officers under him, merit our fullest approbation; and we are made further happy by the perfect harmony and affection, which has subsisted between the troops of the two nations.

The distress occasioned to the common enemy by combined operations will, we trust, point out to both nations the utility of similar measures in future; and whilst it induces your Majesty to supply that naval force, which the situation of our country renders necessary, will urge the United States to every effort which their particular interests, added to their desire of seconding your Majesty's views, can call forth to ensure the complete success of attacks upon the enemy's strong holds.

It is with great pleasure, that the United States continue to number some of your Majesty's subjects amongst their most able, spirited, and faithful officers. It affords the world a striking proof of the intimate connexion, which subsists between the allied nations, at the same time serves to cement the union which it manifests.

Major General the Marquis de Lafayette has in this campaign so greatly added to the reputation he had before acquired, that we are desirous to obtain for him, on our behalf, even notice in addition to that favorable reception, which his merits cannot fail to meet with from a generous and enlightened Sovereign; and in that view, we have directed our Minister Plenipotentiary to present the Marquis to your Majesty.

We pray G.o.d, Great, Faithful, and Beloved Friend and Ally, always to keep your Majesty in his holy protection.

Done at Philadelphia, the twentyninth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eightyone, and in the sixth year of our independence. By the United States in Congress a.s.sembled.

Your faithful Friends and Allies.

JOHN HANSON, _President_.

CHARLES THOMSON, _Secretary_.

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

Translation.

Philadelphia, December 11th, 1781.

Sir,

I have received the letter, with which you yesterday honored me. I have, consequently, the honor of sending you triplicate copies of a letter, which I wrote to the Count du Durat, Governor of Grenada. Be pleased to send it to the persons whom it concerns, and at the same time to advise them to annex to it copies of their memorial in French.

I hope that it may prove satisfactory to them. I can do nothing else in affairs of this kind, except to invite the Admiralties of our Islands to take them into consideration.

I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

TO COUNT DU DURAT, GOVERNOR OF GRENADA.

Translation.

Philadelphia, December 11th, 1781.

Sir,

I have the honor of sending you a copy of a memorial presented to the State of New Hamps.h.i.+re, and sent by that State to Congress, relative to a s.h.i.+p carried to Grenada by some American sailors, whom the English had compelled to serve on board of her. I do not know what are the rules or usages, to which the Admiralty of Grenada conform in such cases, I merely inform you, Sir, that by the laws of Congress, when insurgent sailors bring an English vessel into the ports of the United States, it is adjudged as a prize to them. The Admiralty of St Domingo, knowing these laws, have not hesitated, in a similar case, to restore the prize to the Americans, who had conducted it into port, after deducting the expenses of the proceeding.

I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.

Office of Foreign Affairs, December 21st, 1781.

Sir,

I do myself the honor to enclose an extract of my letter to Dr Franklin, on the subject of the late ordinance of Congress, relative to captures. Though in it I suggest a mode, by which the ident.i.ty of goods captured and s.h.i.+pped may be authenticated, yet I have not thought it prudent to give it the preference to any other, which Dr Franklin, upon communicating with the Minister, may think more proper.

I have only to request, that you will by your representations second his, and urge the Court of France to adopt the regulation above suggested, or any other that will best guard against this illicit commerce on the one hand, or the injury of innocent dealers on the other.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.

Office of Foreign Affairs, January 19th, 1782.

Sir,

I do myself the honor to enclose two letters from Mr Deane, which were delivered with his own hand to a Mr Marshal, who has sworn to their ident.i.ty. These add so much weight to the suspicions already entertained against him, that they may probably be of use to your Court in justifying any measure, which they may deem it proper to adopt, to prevent the ill effects of the principles he endeavors to disseminate, and to invalidate the ill-founded a.s.sertions he makes.

I beg to be informed whether you think it probable that the Hermione has sailed yet, and if not, whether you have any express going down to her.