The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume XI Part 10

In Congress, May 1st, 1782.

The Secretary of Foreign Affairs having laid before Congress the following minutes of a communication, made to him the 28th of April, by the Minister of France, from letters of the Count de Vergennes, dated the 24th of December and the 22d of January last, viz.

"After expressing his satisfaction in the success of our arms in Virginia, he laments the weakness of our army, and the incapacity in which it leaves us of pursuing so important a blow, before England can recover from it, he says, though the plan of the ensuing campaign is not yet determined on, he has reason to believe, that means will be used to aid us in the exertions we shall make to expel the enemy from this continent; and he wishes that this consideration, and the obstinate adherence of the British to their plan of subduing this country, evidenced by their answer to the mediators, may rouse the United States to an early and animated exertion. He observes, that the British are much embarra.s.sed with respect to the measures they ought to pursue; that they still continue to represent us as a weak and divided people, in the hope, that this may have some effect upon the powers of Europe, more particularly upon the mediators. He is of opinion, that England will endeavor to make proposals to the several States separately; and though he does not apprehend, that they will succeed in their attempt to detach them from the alliance, yet he presumes, while the issue is unknown, that they will avail themselves of it to induce a belief, that they have a considerable interest in this country, and that the people at large wish to be connected with them. He hopes the wisdom of Congress will devise some means to frustrate this design. He expresses in strong terms the resolution of his Majesty to adhere to the principles of the alliance, and to form no treaty of peace, which does not secure to the United States the objects of it."

And this communication having been referred to a committee, and the committee having reported thereon, it was

Resolved, That the Secretary of Foreign Affairs be, and he is hereby directed to make a confidential communication to the several States of the intelligence received by Congress on the 29th of April last through his department, in order that the States may be more fully impressed with the necessity of such united and determined exertions, as, with the co-operation of our generous ally, will expel the enemy from their remaining posts within the United States, and display to the world the falsehood of the a.s.sertions of the British Court, that the people of these States are neither united nor determined in support of their national independence.

DECREE OF THE KING'S COUNCIL IN FRANCE.

Translation.

Decree of the King's Council of State, prescribing the formalities to be observed on the exportation, from the ports of the kingdom, of merchandise obtained from prizes.

Extract from the records, of the Council of State.

"The King having been informed, that the facility granted by the Fourteenth Article of the decree of his Council of the 27th of August, 1778, concerning merchandise obtained from prizes, has been abused, so that merchandise of English origin is taken on board, when under sail, or in foreign countries, and is imported under the character of merchandise taken as prize, into nations in alliance with his Majesty, he has thought proper to explain his intentions. Wis.h.i.+ng to remedy this evil, and having heard the report of M. Joly de Fleury, one of the Common Council of State, and of the Royal Council of Finance, _the King in Council_ has commanded and commands, that all the merchandise named in the said Fourteenth Article of the regulation of August 27th, 1778, and the adjudication of which is made only upon condition of its re-exportation to a foreign country, cannot be exported from the ports of his kingdom, unless it be accompanied with the copy of the _proces-verbal_ of the sale made by the Admiralty, or by the Intendant or the Director of the Marine, duly certified by the register, or by the Controller of the Marine, and examined by the Receiver and Controller of the _Bureau des Fermes_, which, conformably to the Eighteenth Article of the same decree, must mention, that the goods have actually been taken from the mart, and embarked on board of the vessel designated. His Majesty forbids the clerks and overseers of the _Adjudicataire de ses Fermes_, under penalty of being deprived of their offices, and subjected to the severest punishment if it should be done, to allow any of the merchandise in question to be exported, without the previous formalities having been observed.

"Done, at the King's Council of State, his Majesty being there present, held at Versailles, the 4th of May, 1782.

LA CROIX CASTRIES."

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

Translation.

Philadelphia, May 7th, 1782.

Sir,

I have the honor of sending you the commission, by which the Chevalier d'Annemours has been appointed his Majesty's Consul in the five southern States. Be pleased to have the kindness to lay it before Congress, that they may pa.s.s an act for the recognition of his character, and that the necessary letters may in consequence be despatched to the different legislatures. I will myself see that they are forwarded, if you will send them to me. The representatives of Maryland and Virginia being now a.s.sembled, you will confer a particular favor on me, by bringing this affair to a termination as soon as possible.

I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.

Office of Foreign Affairs, May 8th, 1782.

Sir,

I was yesterday honored with yours of that date. I have this day presented the commission, with a draft of the necessary resolutions thereon to Congress, and I doubt not that they will immediately pa.s.s, when the letters and papers you request will be put into your hands.

I do myself the honor to enclose a letter from Mr Morris to me in answer to one I had written him on the subject of the volunteers, who served on board the Ariel. You will see by that a state of the accounts, and that the balance is ready to be paid to their order. I have requested the Paymaster General to make up the accounts of the late Baron de Kalb, and M. de la Radiere, and shall endeavor as soon as possible to enable you to give a satisfactory answer to their representatives on that subject. You will be pleased to return me the enclosed letter, after having made such use of it as you may think proper.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

Translation.

Philadelphia, May 9th, 1782.

Sir,

Several different bearers of certificates of the different loans obtained by the United States, have applied to me to induce Congress to pay them back their capitals, or to pay the interest stipulated.

Their claims are supported by recommendations from his Majesty's Ministers. I entreat you to be pleased to enable me to inform them of the measures taken on this subject. They have now suffered for a long time on account of the suspension of the payments, and it is a long time since I asked for the information, which has been successively promised to me.

I am, Sir, respectfully, &c.

LUZERNE.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.

Office of Foreign Affairs, May 9th, 1782.

Sir,

I have the honor to enclose resolutions of Congress, settling the ceremonial for the public audience on Monday.[6]

Mr Morris will deliver you the commission of the Chevalier d'Annemours; when you shall have made the alterations and returned it, I will immediately lay it before Congress.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

FOOTNOTES:

[6] See the result of this audience in the _Secret Journal of Congress_, Vol. III. p. 107.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.