The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume XI Part 38

The important observations you are pleased to make relative to our affairs, our friends, allies, and enemies, have their just weight, which the Legislature are very sensible of. To be prepared, therefore, for whatever measures the enemy may take, they have pa.s.sed a law to draft every twentieth man in the State, to serve in our Continental battalions eighteen months; as enlistments during the war cannot be obtained in this State, so as to answer any general purpose. I flatter myself, we shall have a respectable body of men soon in the field, under Major General Greene. In August they are to rendezvous. One hundred wagons, for the Continental service, the State is also to furnish, in lieu of one hundred men.

I have given directions for the damages, which the inhabitants of this State have received from the British, to be ascertained as nearly as may be, agreeably to your request.

The records of our Secretary's office being scattered in different parts, to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy, during their incursions and marches through the State, I have been prevented from procuring you copies of the papers you mention; but I have sent by Mr Blount, the bearer, and one of our Delegates, a map, or short sketch of the outlines of the State; extending to the westward as far as Mississippi, the boundary formed by the treaty of Paris in 1763, which we consider ourselves not absolutely bound by, having a previous right by the charter of Charles the Second, which I shall shortly transmit to you. By this our territory extends from sea to sea, that is from the Atlantic to the Western ocean.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ALEXANDER MARTIN.

TO THE MINISTER OF FRANCE.

Philadelphia, July 3d, 1782.

Sir,

The undersigned, Secretary of the United States for the Department of Foreign Affairs, has the honor to deliver the enclosed letter of congratulation, on the birth of the Dauphin, in the name and behalf of the Governor, Council and Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in General a.s.sembly convened, agreeably to the request of his Excellency, Governor Greene. The undersigned will do himself the honor to transmit to them any reply, which the Minister of France shall think it proper to make thereto.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

TO WILLIAM LEE, AT BRUSSELS.

Philadelphia July 18th, 1782.

Sir,

I have the honor to enclose a resolution of Congress, directing Dr Franklin to discharge the balance of your account against the United States. I have written to him upon the subject, and doubt not that the money will be paid immediately upon your application.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

GOVERNOR MARTIN TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

North Carolina, August 20th, 1782.

Sir,

Only a few days ago I was favored with your letter, of the 2d of May, 1782, covering a resolution of Congress of the 1st, on a report of a committee to whom was referred a communication of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

However insidious the designs of the Court of Britain may be in representing us as a divided people to the several mediating European powers, the several great exertions making by the Continental Union, to prosecute the war with vigor against her, I make no doubt, will shortly undeceive them, and expose our enemy to the just contempt and ridicule he will draw upon himself by such false and illusive insinuations.

Whilst the enemy held the important post of Wilmington, the above suggestion might be too true respecting its environs, and the disaffected settlements of this State, but since they have abandoned the same, our late revolted citizens, conscious of their delusion, return with cheerfulness to their allegiance and duty in support of the common cause, and I flatter myself we shall soon be a reunited people, and join our efforts with more efficacy to those of our sister States, in terminating the war with honor to our arms.

Sensible of the great attention paid to the several States by the Congress in this resolution, and the pertinent observations you have made thereon, with a zeal becoming its importance, in putting our Legislature on their guard against any separate overtures that may be made to them by Britain, without the intervention of Congress, I shall with pleasure do myself the honor to lay the same before them at their earliest meeting, which will be on the 1st of November next, at Hillsborough. In the meanwhile, Sir, I can venture to pledge the faith of the State, that the General a.s.sembly will listen to no negotiation, however flattering, and apparently advantageous, but what is made through the great Council of the Continent.

Yours of the 14th of May, announcing the birth of the Dauphin of France, I have had the honor to receive, which joyful event as it concerns the happiness of our great and ill.u.s.trious ally, and future welfare of his kingdom, I have communicated to the good citizens of this State.

Enclosed you have a copy of the acts of our last General a.s.sembly, agreeably to your request, which by the delay of the printer could not reach you sooner. I hope my letter, accompanied with a map, has safely come to hand.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ALEXANDER MARTIN.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Philadelphia, August 23d, 1782.

Sir,

By a late arrangement of the Superintendent of Finance, he has directed that the salaries of the Ministers and their Secretaries be paid here, and only one account opened with the office of Foreign Affairs; in consequence of which I have, at his request, stated their accounts quarterly, and laid out the proceeds in the purchase of bills, which I have remitted to Dr Franklin, with direction to answer their several drafts to the amount of the money so remitted. But as these bills are endorsed by me, I by that means render myself responsible for their payment in my private character; and as I am not authorised by Congress, or by the gentlemen in whose behalf the money is remitted, to act as their agent, I am liable to answer to them for the money received here, if they should disapprove of its having been laid out in the purchase of bills. I also render myself accountable to them severally, if the money remitted to Dr Franklin should, by neglect or other cause, be applied to some other use than that for which it was remitted.

I have endeavored to obviate these inconveniences by writing to the Ministers and their Secretaries, informing them of this arrangement, and requesting them to appoint agents, who shall manage their business here. In the meanwhile, I must request, for my justification, some resolutions of Congress, authorising me to act as their agent till they shall make such appointments. I have thought it reasonable to charge them the usual commission upon the purchase of bills, and shall continue to do so, till they appoint other agents.

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

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

TO WILLIAM MOORE, PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Office of Foreign Affairs, September 8th, 1782.

Sir,

The State of Pennsylvania not having as yet pa.s.sed laws conformably to the eleventh Article of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between his Most Christian Majesty and these United States, agreeably to the requisition of Congress to the several States, pa.s.sed the 14th day of January, 1780, a copy of which is enclosed, I find myself called upon by the Minister Plenipotentiary of his Most Christian Majesty, in behalf of such of the subjects of France, as in confidence thereof have purchased real property in this State, to solicit for them the security they are ent.i.tled to by this article.

I have the honor, therefore, to request your Excellency to take measures for calling the attention of the Legislature to this stipulation in the Treaty, when at their earliest leisure from such business as they conceive requires more immediate despatch. I beg also to be informed, whether any, and what steps, have been taken to carry into effect the several resolutions of the United States in Congress a.s.sembled, contained in the letters I did myself the honor to write to your Excellency, of the following dates, 18th and 19th of February, and 2d of May, 1782.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

TO GOVERNOR WEARE, OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Office of Foreign Affairs, September 9th, 1782.

Sir,