The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume X Part 38

The resolutions, which have been communicated to the undersigned in the name of Congress, appear to him to leave nothing to be desired; he only hopes that the public will be informed of the opinions of Congress, in whatever form they shall think the most suitable; and the Minister Plenipotentiary is persuaded, that his Court will regard the said resolutions as a suitable and sufficient satisfaction for the proceedings which they condemn, and the offence which has resulted from them.

It is under this impression, that the undersigned Minister takes the liberty to request Congress not to carry into execution that one of their resolutions which orders, that those who on this occasion may have violated the laws of nations shall be prosecuted. The King's greatness of mind forbids his Minister to insist upon such a measure.

Between nations closely connected by the most powerful motives of friendship and interest, even the most lawful reparations ought always to stop short of revenge. It is sufficient to undeceive the public, and to restrain the evil-disposed men, who sometimes conceal themselves under the pretence of the common good. The said Minister, consequently, earnestly requests Congress to stop the said prosecutions, and he dares hope this from the moderation of Congress, provided that motives foreign to France and independent of the present affair do not cause this august body, or the Executive Council of Pennsylvania, to see in this indulgence inconveniences, which are out of the sphere of the undersigned Minister.

GERARD.

In Congress, August 9th, 1779.

Resolved, that the Minister of France be informed, that the resolutions alluded to in his Memorial of the 5th instant will be published in the journals of Congress, and that in the meantime he consider himself at liberty to make such use of the copies transmitted to him, as he may think expedient.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Translation.

Philadelphia, August 11th, 1779.

Sir,

It is with the greatest regret that I learn, that the attempt made at Martinique to obtain military stores has been fruitless. You will see the reasons of it in the letter of the Marquis de Bouille, which I have the honor to send you. Nothing but the impossibility of the thing could prevent the servants of the King from rendering all possible services to the American cause, and compel them to delay complying with the requests of Congress.

I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, Sir, your most humble and most obedient servant.

GERARD.

THE MARQUIS DE BOUILLe TO M. GERARD.

Translation.

Martinique, July 11, 1779.

Sir,

I have received the letter, which you did me the honor to write on the 8th of June, in which you inform me of Congress' want of powder. I am very sorry that the supplies for this colony, which are much less than they ought to be, will not permit me to furnish any to the United States of America. The immense and unforeseen consumption occasioned by Count d'Estaing's fleet, and his unhappy expedition against St Lucia, have laid me under the necessity of purchasing up all the powder in the hands of merchants to the amount of fifty thousand pounds, and you must be sensible, that nothing but the most urgent necessity could have induced me to go to such expense on account of the King, at a time when I am in so much want of money. Mr Bingham who is here, an agent of Congress, will be able to purchase lead of the merchants. As to arms, they are become scarce.

I have the honor to be, &c.

BOUILLe.

_P. S._ I beg of you, Sir, to use all your efforts, that we may receive as much provisions as possible before the month of November next at farthest, and cause them to be addressed to me either at Fort Royal, at St Pierre, or at Trinite in this Island, and that you would not let the price of freight prevent you. You will thereby do us the most essential service.

In Congress, August 23d, 1779.

Resolved unanimously, that a committee consisting of one member from each State be appointed to congratulate the Minister of France on the anniversary of the birth of his Most Christian Majesty, and to a.s.sure him that the pleasure, which we feel on this occasion, can be estimated by those only who have a just sense of the extensive blessings, which many nations have already derived from his wisdom, justice, and magnanimity, and of the prospect of general happiness to mankind through the influence of his Majesty's virtuous exertions and glorious example.

M. GERARD TO THE COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS.

Translation.

Philadelphia, August 23d, 1779.

Gentlemen,

The manner in which Congress are pleased to express their sentiments on the occasion of the anniversary of the birth of the King, my master, is a mark of their friendship and respect for his Majesty.

Your expressions are truly worthy of a faithful ally, and I dare a.s.sure you, that the account, which I shall render to his Majesty of them, will be in the highest degree agreeable to him.

GERARD.

THE COUNT DE VERGENNES TO M. GERARD.

_In Congress, September 7th._ The President laid before Congress a paper of intelligence, which he received from the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, and which is as follows, being an extract of a letter from Count de Vergennes to M. Gerard, dated Versailles, June 29th, 1779.

Translation.

"Sir,

"The decision of Spain is public. Her Amba.s.sador quitted London on the 18th of this month; he is now at Paris. Her forces are on their march to join with ours. The junction made, they will endeavor to inflict on England a blow sufficiently heavy to force her to acknowledge the independence of America. To free herself if possible from this hard necessity, and to procure herself the power of opposing at some future time a nation, which she will not without great reluctance consent to free from the servitude, which she wished to impose upon them, it seems that she has sent two emissaries to Congress with the offer of a truce, and even with power to withdraw all the English forces, if America will determine to give up our alliance, and to separate herself from us.

"I do not imagine that this treachery can even enter into the mind of Congress, but if they should be enticed by the love of peace, a single reflection ought to stop it. As soon as England shall have proved the defection, she can settle her affairs with us, and we shall have no reason to refuse to do it; she will then fall upon America with the whole ma.s.s of her power, very certain that no nation in Europe will afterwards take any interest in a nation, which shall have signalized its birth by the most unworthy cowardice of which a government can be guilty. I am persuaded, Sir, that this reflection seasonably presented, will be of great effect. There are many other reflections, which certainly will not escape your wisdom."

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Translation.

Philadelphia, September 15th, 1779.

Sir,

The Minister Plenipotentiary of France has the honor to inform the Congress of the United States of America, that he has appointed Mr James Wilson Attorney-General of the French nation, in order that he may be intrusted with all causes and matters relative to navigation and commerce. The said Minister thought it proper to communicate this proceeding to Congress.

GERARD.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.