The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume XI Part 17

GEORGE WASHINGTON TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Head Quarters, October 25th, 1782.

Sir,

I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency the copy of two letters[11] from the Count de Vergennes, which were sent out in the packet from England, and have just come to my hands by a flag of truce from New York. They contain a very pathetic and affectionate interposition in favor of the life of Captain Asgill.

I lose no time in forwarding them by a special messenger to Congress, without any observations, being persuaded that Congress will not fail to give a very early decision respecting his further treatment.

The enclosed newspaper contains all the information I have been able to obtain since the arrival of the packet.

I have the honor to be, &c.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

FOOTNOTES:

[11] That is, the copy of a letter from Count de Vergennes, and one from Lady Asgill to him. See these letters above, pp. 105, 107.

TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Translation.

Philadelphia, October 25th, 1782.

Sir,

I have received the letter your Excellency did me the honor to write me on the 10th instant, with the amount of expenses incurred by the expresses, which formed the communication with the Marquis de Vaudreuil. The treasurer of our army will pay to your Quarter Master General the five hundred and thirtyseven dollars he has been so kind as to advance for that purpose. I beg also, that you will please to send me the amount of expenses incurred in procuring the intelligence from New York, and that you will accept my thanks for the trouble you have had in these details.

I will be exceedingly obliged to your Excellency to inform me where the seventyfifth regiment of grenadiers actually is.

I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

GEORGE WASHINGTON TO M. DE LUZERNE.

Head Quarters, October 25th, 1782.

Sir,

The enclosed letter, which I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency, was received this moment by a flag of truce from New York.

It was accompanied by one addressed to me from the Count de Vergennes, on the same subject.[12]

The case of Captain Asgill having, before the receipt of these letters, been submitted to Congress, I have immediately transmitted to that body, copies of the Count's letters to me, and have permitted myself to solicit from them, an early decision of his fate, which, judging from my own feelings, I persuade myself cannot be an unfavorable one.

I send your Excellency a transcript of intelligence, which I have this day forwarded to the Marquis de Vaudreuil.

I am, &c.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

FOOTNOTES:

[12] See this letter above, p. 105.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Translation.

Philadelphia, October 28th, 1782.

Sir,

The undersigned, Minister Plenipotentiary of his Most Christian Majesty, has had too frequent opportunities of satisfying himself, that Congress fully perceives how intimately the interests of the two nations are connected, not to be convinced that they will learn with pain, that very considerable quant.i.ties of provisions have been sent by the Raritan to New York, and along the river opposite to Staten Island. The undersigned Minister cannot enter into the details of this proceeding, which he knows only by reports, though by reports upon which he has the strongest reasons for believing that he can depend.

This trade is, moreover, carried on in the most open manner, and he is convinced, that by inquiries, inst.i.tuted with promptness and secrecy, he shall be able to obtain proofs of it, and to procure the means of putting a stop to it. Cattle of all kinds have served to furnish with provisions the enemy's fleet, which has just sailed down to the Hook.

It is a.s.serted, that the quant.i.ties sent from the Jerseys are immense, but the Chevalier de la Luzerne thinks it unnecessary to attempt at present, to determine them exactly, and contents himself with observing, that the nineteen vessels thus supplied, will not, perhaps, depart immediately, and that it will be necessary to shut up the channels by which these provisions have reached them.

There are, besides, eight other ships of the line at New York, which they intend to supply with provisions in the same way. Congress are aware how important it is to prevent the enemy from obtaining from the United States the means of putting to sea, and even of supplying the garrison. The undersigned also knows what efforts have been made by that body, on different occasions, to put a stop to those illegal operations, and how desirous it is effectually to guard against them.

He also knows, that all the good citizens of the Jerseys grieve to see the enemy obtaining from their own State, supplies, which are employed against the allies of the United States, and he is convinced, that it is only necessary to point out the evil, in order that all may cordially unite in providing a remedy for it.

LUZERNE.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.

Office of Foreign Affairs, October 30th, 1782.

Sir,

The Secretary of the United States for the Department of Foreign Affairs has the honor to inform the Minister Plenipotentiary of his Most Christian Majesty, that a pet.i.tion has been presented in behalf of the owners and officers of the brig Laet.i.tia, commanded by Robert Collins, and commissioned by the United States. That the said brig, while at anchor in the road of Ba.s.seterre, on the 3d day of May last, near the Island of St Christophers, captured by her boat a brig called the Francis, belonging to the subjects of his British Majesty, bound from the port of Liverpool in England to the Island of Tortola, and having on board a valuable cargo.

That after the prize had been brought to anchor in the road of Ba.s.seterre, by the officers and mariners of the said brig Laet.i.tia, the harbor master of the Island of St Christophers, aided by a guard, took possession of her, under pretence, that she was included in the capitulation, though the contrary appears from the affidavits annexed; that the said prize was afterwards advertised and sold as a prize to the subjects of his Most Christian Majesty, without any condemnation in the Courts of Admiralty of the Island. As the sale of this prize fully demonstrates, that she could never have been included in the number of those vessels protected by the capitulation, it is not doubted, that the justice of his Most Christian Majesty's Ministers will induce them to direct, that the value of the prize be repaid to the legal captors, when the Chevalier de la Luzerne shall have submitted the above state of facts, and the annexed affidavits to their inspection, together with such observations as his own candor and equity will induce him to wake thereon.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.