The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume XI Part 41

I have the honor to transmit a resolution of Congress, appointing you one of their Ministers Plenipotentiary for negotiating peace. I rejoice in this fresh proof of their confidence in your virtue and abilities. The sacrifices you have heretofore made to the interests of your country, induce me to hope that you will suffer no personal consideration to prevent their being employed in its service upon this important occasion.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

TO GOVERNOR MATTHEWS, OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

Philadelphia, November 20th, 1782.

Sir,

I have the honor to transmit the copy of a letter from Count de Vergennes to Dr Franklin, accompanied with a memorial from Messrs Le Marque and Fabre, on the subject of debts contracted by Mr Gillon, as is said, in behalf of the State of South Carolina. I wish, Sir, you would enable me to afford such an answer to it as will exculpate the State from any censure which Mr Gillon may have deservedly incurred.

If he was vested with such powers as enabled him to bind the State, they will doubtless have the justice to direct that his engagements be made good, notwithstanding any loss they may incur thereby. If he had no such powers, they will embrace the earliest opportunity of disavowing them.

I shall trouble your Excellency to apprize me of the steps, that may be taken in consequence of this information, that I may embrace the earliest opportunity, by placing this matter in its true light, to do that justice to the integrity and good faith of the State, which they will undoubtedly merit.

I have the honor to be, Sir, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

TO THOMAS BARCLAY.

Philadelphia, November 26th, 1782.

Sir,

I have the pleasure of transmitting a resolution of Congress, by which you are appointed a Commissioner for adjusting their accounts in Europe. I flatter myself, that this fresh mark of their confidence in you will be highly acceptable, and that you will take the earliest opportunity to enter upon the task a.s.signed you, since not only the interest, but the honor of the United States, has greatly suffered by the delay, which this necessary business has heretofore experienced.

I am, Dear Sir, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

Chesterfield, November 26th, 1782.

Sir,

I received yesterday the letter, with which you have been pleased to honor me, enclosing the resolution of Congress of the 12th instant, renewing my appointment as one of their Ministers Plenipotentiary for negotiating a peace, and beg leave through you to return my sincere thanks to that august body, for the confidence they are pleased to repose in me, and to tender the same to yourself for the obliging manner in which you have notified it.

I will employ in this arduous charge, with diligence and integrity, the best of my poor talents, which I am conscious are far short of what it requires. This I hope will ensure to me from Congress a kind construction of all my transactions; and it gives me no small pleasure, that my communications will pa.s.s through the hands of a gentleman, with whom I have acted in the earlier stages of this contest, and whose discernment and candor I had the good fortune then to approve and esteem.

Your letter finds me at a distance from home, attending on my family under inoculation. This will add to the delay which the arrangement of my particular affairs would necessarily occasion. I shall lose no moment, however, in preparing for my departure, and shall hope to pay my respects to Congress and to yourself some time between the 20th and the last of December.

I have the honor to be, &c.

THOMAS JEFFERSON.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Philadelphia, December 2d, 1782.

Sir,

Having lately been informed, that the business of the Court of Chancery in the State of New York has increased so much as to demand more of my attention than is consistent with the duties of the place, which I have the honor to hold under the United States, I must pray your Excellency to lay before Congress my request to be permitted to resign the latter, and to a.s.sure them at the same time, of the grateful sense which I shall always retain, not only of the honor done me by the appointment, but of those distinguished marks of confidence, which they have repeatedly shown me in the execution of my trust.

That the business of this office may sustain no injury by my resignation, I shall, if Congress approve, continue to perform its duties till they shall be pleased to appoint a gentleman to succeed me, or direct some other mode for carrying it on, in confidence that they will make their arrangements as early as is consistent with the deliberation they may conceive them to require.

I take the liberty to recommend to the protection of Congress, and the gentleman who is to succeed me, Mr Morris and M. Duponceau, my secretaries, having the greatest reason to confide in their fidelity and attention to the business intrusted to their care. The Reverend Mr Tetard, who is likewise employed in the office, has some claim to their attention; he rendered essential services to our army in Canada, suffered many personal inconveniences there, and finds himself reduced, at an advanced age, to absolute ruin by the enemy and our own army, both having contributed to lay waste his farm, destroy his buildings, and pillage his property. For these facts, I take the liberty to refer Congress to his Memorial.

As Congress in making a new appointment will probably wish to adapt the salary to the necessary expense of the department, of which they have heretofore had no opportunity to be fully informed, it is a duty I owe to them, as well as to my successor, to a.s.sure them that my expenses, exclusive of purchase and wear, carriages, horses, and household furniture, have exceeded my allowance from Congress, upwards of three thousand dollars. As I have now no personal interest in mentioning this circ.u.mstance, Congress will, I am persuaded, attribute the liberty I have taken, to my desire of seeing a department, in which I have had the honor to preside, supported with dignity.

Be pleased, Sir, to receive my thanks for your personal attention, and believe me to be, with the most respectful attachment and esteem, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

TO RICHARD HARRISON.

Philadelphia, December 5th, 1782.

Dear Sir,

I have this moment learned that a vessel will sail for Cadiz in an hour's time. I beg to recommend to your particular care the letter for Mr Carmichael, which the captain will deliver to you. It contains a cypher, and must not therefore pa.s.s through the post office.

Congress, as yet, have done nothing in your affair, though it has been particularly recommended to them, and now lies before them. One obstruction is the difficulty of appointing Consuls, till some treaty or convention between us and Spain shall authorise it.

The season of the year admits of no military operations here; and the packet of newspapers sent herewith, will give you the current news.

You will find by them, that we are still in suspense with respect to the fate of Charleston, though it is generally believed, that it cannot be long ere the evacuation will be completed. The French fleet are still at Boston, though prepared to sail. Nothing astonishes us more, than the effrontery of the British publications, which affirm boldly, that great tumults have been excited in the Eastern States, on account of their reluctance to the war, when there is not the slightest foundation in fact for such an a.s.sertion. This I suppose, is calculated to give a momentary popularity to Lord Shelburne.

I am, Sir, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Office of Foreign Affairs, December 9th, 1782.