The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume XI Part 12

I have the honor of conveying to your Excellency the enclosed address of the officers of the American army under my immediate command, on the auspicious event of the birth of a Dauphin.

Happy in this opportunity of presenting to you this united testimony of respect and veneration for your royal Master, I pray you to believe, that I enjoy the highest satisfaction in having such an occasion of manifesting to your Excellency the very particular pleasure I feel in every event, which affects the happiness of his Most Christian Majesty, especially in one which is so interesting and important to his domestic felicity and that of his people.

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

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.

Office of Foreign Affairs, June 7th, 1782.

Sir,

I have the honor to enclose you an account of the moneys received by Baron de Kalb and Lieutenant Colonel La Radiere, as extracted from the Paymaster's books. By this it will appear, that both have received more than the amount of their pay, even if the depreciation is allowed. If their friends have furnished you with vouchers to account for the expenditure of still further sums upon the public account, the whole, when stated, will be liquidated at the treasury offices, and the balance paid.

I have applied to Congress for direction on the subject of the Baron de Holzendorff, though it would appear to me, that if he had received the thousand dollars directed to be paid him, there can be nothing further due to him, since the resolution itself implies, that there would probably be a balance to be repaid in bills of exchange. You must see, Sir, the extreme difficulty of settling these accounts, unless the gentlemen, who have demands, will be at the trouble of stating their accounts precisely, and produce vouchers for the money, which has pa.s.sed through their hands. This is never dispensed with in the case of our own citizens. I shall, however, do myself the honor to lay before you the determination of Congress in this case.

I have written to Mr Morris on the subject of the interest due on the loan office certificates, and shall transmit to you his answer as soon as I shall receive it.

I enclose for your perusal a very extraordinary letter from Mr Deane to Governor Trumbull, together with his reply, which was unanimously approved by the Legislature of Connecticut. You will please return them after you have read, or, if you think proper, taken copies of them.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.

Office of Foreign Affairs, June 9th, 1782.

Sir,

I have the honor to enclose the copy of a letter from the Superintendent of Finance in answer to one I wrote him on the subject of the loan office certificates. I am sorry for the necessity which dictated it, and look forward with some degree of impatience to the period when ample justice shall be done to all the public creditors.

In the meanwhile foreigners will not feel themselves hurt when we make no distinction between them and our own citizens.

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

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

TO GEORGE WASHINGTON, COMMANDER IN CHIEF, AND OTHER OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN ARMY, ON HUDSON'S RIVER.

Translation.

Philadelphia, June 10th, 1782.

Gentlemen,

I shall transmit to his Majesty the address you have been pleased to send me on the birth of an heir to his crown.

It will afford him infinite satisfaction to find with what joy this event has inspired you, and he will see with pleasure, that the same army which has given so many proofs of courage and patriotism, and which has in the most perfect harmony and concert with his own troops fought the common enemy, now hastens to show, that nothing which affects the French nation can be indifferent to them.

The young Prince, whose birth is the object of your congratulations, will, from his infancy, hear recounted the glorious actions, by which you have effected the independence and happiness of a vast continent; and when there shall be cited to him examples of disinterestedness, constancy, courage, and every other military virtue, there will be repeated the names of ill.u.s.trious chiefs.

He is born at a moment when victory has crowned both our nations. This circ.u.mstance is a happy presage of his future glory, and promises, that he will one day be the support of your independence as well as of the alliance, which unites France with the Thirteen United States.

The veneration that your actions and virtues have inspired me with, Gentlemen, augments the pleasure I have in conveying your sentiments to the King, my master.

I beg you to be persuaded, that no one is with more sincere respect, Gentlemen, your very humble and obedient servant.

LUZERNE.

CONGRESS TO THE KING OF FRANCE.

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

Great, Faithful, and Beloved Friend and Ally,

We learn with extreme grief, an event which has disturbed your Majesty's felicity, and unite with you in offering that tribute of sorrow to the memory of your most dear and beloved aunt, the Princess Sophia Philippina Elizabeth Justina of France, which is due, as well to the eminent virtues she possessed, as to the relation in which she stood to your Majesty. We trust that our sensibility on this occasion, will be considered as a fresh proof of the interest we take in every event, which may affect your Majesty, and that our sincere condolence, when such afflictions as are the lot of humanity put it out of our power to offer more effectual consolation, will evince our earnest desire on every occasion to contribute to your Majesty's happiness.

We pray G.o.d, Dear, Great, Faithful Friend and Ally, always to preserve and keep you under his holy protection.

Done at Philadelphia, the 13th day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eightytwo, and in the sixth year of our independence. By the United States in Congress a.s.sembled. Your Majesty's Faithful Friends and Allies.

JOHN HANSON, _President_.

TO COUNT DE ROCHAMBEAU.

Translation.

Philadelphia, June 14th, 1782.

My Dear General,

I have just received your letter of the 8th of this month, and the packets which accompanied it. I have not now time to reply to it, as I profit by an express on the point of departure, and whom I cannot detain.

The movements of the English troops at New York, indicate an intention of sending off detachments from that garrison. It is even possible, though not very probable, that they propose to evacuate that place, either to reinforce the English Islands, or to act offensively against the conquered Islands, which will not be in so good a state of defence as our ancient possessions. This last supposition cannot take place, unless they retain their superiority, and although I hope that this will not be the case, it is, however, but prudent to be in readiness against every event.

The most sure means of preventing the enemy from making any detachment from New York, is to approach that place, and to give a jealousy to General Carlton, of a combined attack. Congress regard the matter in this light, and think that General Washington will make a movement towards New York, in case such a measure is agreeable to his designs, or to the intelligence he may have. I am ignorant what steps he will take in this conjuncture. It is possible that he may think it proper not to quit his present station, till he hears that you approach. In all cases the enemy will be cautious of weakening themselves, if they hear that you are on the march to form a junction.

I submit these ideas to you, my Dear General, and am persuaded that you will take such measures as are most advantageous.