The Minister told the committee, that the friendship and benevolence of the King for the Thirteen United States had engaged him to trust Congress with these details, observing at the same time, that it would be proper to keep them secret.
In giving an account of the subsidy granted by the King of France, the Minister concluded by observing, that the Count de Vergennes writes, that what remains of the six millions, after purchasing the supplies of arms and ammunition, would be at the disposal of Congress; or if they should so direct, at the disposal of the commander in chief, or of their financier, if there should be one; and that the resolution Congress took on this subject should be made known to the Ministry, that funds may be provided accordingly. In the course of the conference the Chevalier mentioned the sums, that had been procured for these States since the beginning of the year 1780. That in that year the Count de Vergennes had, on his own credit, procured for Dr Franklin three millions of livres. That in December Dr Franklin wanted one million more to honor the bills drawn by Congress; and that he received the fourth million. That in the course of the present year, the Count has procured for him on loan four millions of livres, which make eight millions borrowed on the guarentee of France, since the aforementioned period. And now the King makes a gratuitous donation of the subsidy of six millions, which in the whole make up the sum of fourteen millions, since the commencement of the year 1780.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Translation.
Philadelphia, July 1st, 1781.
Sir,
I am ready to go to the army of General Washington, and I shall have the honor of receiving your commissions this evening. My absence will, probably, be of short duration; I think it proper, however, to inform you, that M. de Marbois will perform, during this interval, the duties of _Charge d"Affaires_ of his Majesty, and I entreat you, Sir, to be pleased to honor him with your confidence, in case you have any communications to make to, or receive from, the King"s emba.s.sy.
I have the honor to be, &c.
LUZERNE.
M. DE MARBOIS TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Translation.
Philadelphia, July 9th, 1781.
Sir,
The undersigned, _Charge d"Affaires_ of France, has the honor of informing Congress, that the Count de Barras, commander of his Majesty"s squadron stationed on the coasts of the Thirteen States, labors at this moment under an urgent necessity of completing his crews. The diseases, which have prevailed on board of this squadron, the battle in which it has been engaged, a long absence from the ports of the kingdom, and the manoeuvres employed by many individuals to excite the French sailors to desertion, are causes, which have diminished in a considerable degree the number of those, who were employed on board of this squadron. The undersigned is instructed to communicate these circ.u.mstances to Congress. The French commander thinks, that if he may be authorised by the Legislatures of the New England States to impress French sailors, and to remove them from the different vessels, in which they may be found, he will very soon be enabled to remedy the diminution of numbers, which he has experienced.
MARBOIS.
M. DE MARBOIS TO THE SECRETARY OF CONGRESS.
Translation.
Philadelphia, July 11th, 1781.
Sir,
I have received, in the absence of the Chevalier de la Luzerne, the letter which you took the trouble to write, to inform that Minister of the King, that the Honorable Thomas McKean had been chosen President of Congress, in the place of the Honorable Samuel Huntington. I shall communicate this change to his Majesty"s Minister, on his return to Philadelphia, and also to the Minister having the direction of Foreign Affairs in France. We are very sorry to see that Mr Huntington is obliged, by ill health, to resign an office, in the exercise of which he has given frequent proofs of his wisdom, and of his attachment to the Thirteen States, and to the alliance. But the choice by Congress of the Honorable Mr McKean, leaves nothing to be wished for, and I can a.s.sure you, Sir, that his Majesty"s Minister will be eager to show to him the same confidence, which he has shown to his predecessor, and that we shall use all exertions to merit his in return.
I have the honor to be, &c.
MARBOIS.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Translation.
Philadelphia, July 20th, 1781.
Sir,
The undersigned, Minister Plenipotentiary of France, has the honor of informing Congress, that he has received despatches from his Court, the contents of which may be interesting to this a.s.sembly, and that he is desirous of communicating them to it through a committee, if Congress shall be pleased to appoint one to confer with him. These communications relate to the state of public affairs in Europe, in the months of January and February last, to the rupture between England and the United Provinces, and to the measures to be taken to facilitate an alliance between the Thirteen United States and that Republic.
LUZERNE.
REPORT OF COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FRENCH MINISTER.
In Congress, July 23d, 1781.
The committee appointed to receive the communications of the Minister of France, delivered in the following report.
The Minister, from his despatches of the 9th of January, 1781, communicated to your committee the causes which delayed the measures, which the Court of France proposed to take for the naval operations of this campaign, the length of the pa.s.sage of Count d"Estaing to Brest, and, other circ.u.mstances not necessary now to be recapitulated; and then told us that he was desired, in the meanwhile, to continue to a.s.sure Congress, that the interest which his Majesty takes in the American cause will essentially influence his measures for the present campaign.
The Minister continued by observing, that the present situation of affairs between Great Britain and Holland presented a favorable opportunity for a union of the two Republics.
Your committee will not repeat the details of what has happened between the two powers of England and Holland; it is sufficient to observe, that Sweden and Denmark have adopted the plan of the armed neutrality, framed by the Empress of Russia; that the Dutch, upon invitation, had done the same, and the Court of London, irritated by this step, took hold of the pretence afforded by the papers found on Mr Laurens, and published a manifesto on the 21st day of December, as well as a proclamation for expediting letters of marque. That this state of affairs, and the other consequences of this step, deserve the attention of Congress. That, if their High Mightinesses should join in this war, it would bring the two Republics to terms of more intimate union. That the opinion of the Council of the King was, that Congress ought not to neglect to send to Holland a prudent and able man, with full powers. It would likewise be advantageous to give proper instructions to that Minister; and as it may happen in the course of the negotiations that unforeseen incidents may present themselves, and as it is impossible at this distance to have quick information, it would be proper to have further instructions given by Dr Franklin, in order to avoid all inconsistency or contradiction, and that the political operations of Congress, aiming towards the same end, may of course be more successful.
The Minister communicated to your committee the contents of another despatch, of the 19th of February last. After stating some facts relating to Mr Laurens"s capture, and its consequences, which Congress are already acquainted with, the Minister informed your committee, that the Empress of Russia had, on the 5th of January, received the accession of the United Provinces to the a.s.sociation of neutral powers, and that there was great probability, that her Imperial Majesty would support the Dutch against the tyranny of England, and that on every supposition, Congress would do well to take such measures, as to prepare, without delay, the means of uniting the interest of the two Republics, by making proper advances to the States-General. The Minister added, that he was authorised by the King to offer Congress his interposition for this purpose.
The Minister informed, that according to appearances the Empress of Russia seemed to be well disposed to the independence of the United States; and that these dispositions give reason to think, that the Empress will see with pleasure, that Congress have adopted her principles as to the neutrality, and that the Count de Vergennes has sent that resolution to the Marquis Verac, the Minister of France to the Court of Russia.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Translation.
Philadelphia, July 26th, 1781.
Sir,
The twentyninth article of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, between his Most Christian Majesty and the United States, reserves to the two contracting powers, "the liberty of having, each in the ports of the other, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, Agents, and Commissaries, whose functions shall be regulated by a particular agreement." In consequence of this stipulation, the Court of Versailles has caused a draft to be made of a convention, relative to the establishment of Consuls, which the undersigned, Minister Plenipotentiary of France, has the honor to communicate to Congress. It is the desire of his Majesty, that this draft should be examined by Congress, and those points marked which admit of no difficulty; and that the others should be submitted to the examination of delegates appointed by both parties, who may make such observations as they shall judge proper, and propose such alterations as they may think convenient. These objects will require discussion in repeated conferences, and the undersigned entreats, that Congress would determine in what manner these conferences shall be held. The proposed convention requires the most mature consideration of both parties; while at the same time, it is equally the interest of both with all speed to introduce consistency and uniformity into their respective commercial establishments, and the undersigned is of opinion, that Congress will think it necessary to prosecute this business with all possible despatch.[45]
LUZERNE.
FOOTNOTE:
[45] See the draft of this Convention in the _Secret Journal_, Vol.
III. p. 6.