The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume XI Part 44

The Chevalier de Ville Brune was so kind as to communicate to me your Excellency's letter to him of January, together with the intelligence therein referred to. I feel myself bound to return you my thanks for your orders to the Guadeloupe frigate to receive me. If I should think a pa.s.sage should be hazarded under present circ.u.mstances, according to this information, (which is the most worthy of credit of any we have received here,) it would seem, that our capture would be unavoidable were we to go out now. This then is a risk, to which I cannot think of exposing his Majesty's vessel and subjects, however I might be disposed to encounter personal hazards, from my anxiety to execute with all the prompt.i.tude in my power a service, which has been a.s.signed to me. I shall, therefore, wait with patience the arrival of the moment, when the Chevalier de Ville Brune shall be of opinion, that the one or the other of the vessels may venture out without any greater risk, than he shall think proportioned to her proper object, independently of mine.

It has been suggested to me this evening, that perhaps their safe departure might be greatly forwarded by their falling down to York or Hampton, there to be ready at a moment's warning, to avail themselves of those favorable circ.u.mstances, which the present season sometimes offers, but of this yourself will be the proper judge.

I cannot close my letter without expressing to you my obligations to the Chevalier de Ville Brune for the particular attention he has shown to my accommodation on board his ship. The apartments he has had constructed for me are ample and commodious, and his politeness and merit as an officer are an agreeable presage of everything, which shall depend on him.

I have the honor to be, with the highest sentiments of esteem, &c.

THOMAS JEFFERSON.

TO GENERAL GREENE.

Philadelphia, February 14th, 1783.

Dear Sir,

Receive my congratulations on the important event, you have announced in your favor by Major Burnet. The influence that the evacuation of Charleston will have on our affairs if the war continues is obvious.

The southern States, by this means relieved from their burdens, will be capable of contributing largely to the general cause, and I doubt not when they have breathed a little, that they will be as willing as they are able. I feel, Sir, a personal interest in this great event from the distinguished honor it reflects upon you. In every other department our expectations have gone beyond our means of satisfying them. You have afforded the first instance of the contrary, and by creating the means have exceeded our most sanguine expectations.

We have the highest reason to conclude, that the preliminaries of a peace are signed before this. I have reason to hope that the terms of peace will comprize most of the great objects we have in view, and in some points almost exceed our expectations. The present policy of Britain is to make sacrifices to the Manes of the affection, which once subsisted between her and us. I have just put the last hand to our treaty of amity and commerce with the United Provinces by signing the ratification, which Congress have directed. I congratulate you upon this event, which adds not a little to our political importance.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Philadelphia, February 14th, 1783.

Sir,

I have delayed answering your favor of the 7th instant, till I could obtain the sense of Congress on the matter it contains. I conceive it hardly possible, while the British cruisers retain their present station, for you to elude their vigilance, in either of the ships offered to your choice. This, concurring with the late advices, from England, has induced Congress to pa.s.s the enclosed resolution. We have reason to conjecture that peace is already concluded, whether it is or not, a few days must determine.

I transmit you the speech of His Britannic Majesty, which, with what you already know of the state of our negotiations, will enable you to form your opinion on the same ground that we do.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Philadelphia, February 18th, 1783.

Sir,

I was honored yesterday with your favor of the 14th, which I shall lay before Congress this morning. As you have by this time received their resolution, which I had the honor to send you by the last post, and again enclose, you will be relieved in some measure from your embarra.s.sments, though not entirely from your suspense with respect to their final determination. But that cannot be long doubtful, since the negotiations have certainly arrived at such a crisis, as either to terminate soon in a peace, or a total rupture. In the latter case, you will necessarily be obliged to proceed on your voyage, as Congress seem anxious to avail themselves of your abilities and information in the negotiations; unless they are fully a.s.sured that a speedy peace will preclude them from that advantage.

I enclose a paper, which contains all that we have yet received on this interesting subject. It may, perhaps, be difficult to account for our Ministers having signed before those of France. But if this letter is genuine, it serves, when compared with their instructions, to prove that the terms are acceptable to us, and not disagreeable to France.

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

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Office of Foreign Affairs, February 18th, 1783.

Sir,

I have the honor to lay before Congress, the enclosed letter from Mr Jefferson, upon which I presume they will not think it necessary at present to take any other resolution than that already transmitted to him. I also enclose an extract from a letter of Mr William Lee to me, dated the 31st of March last, which merits attention, though, in the present state of our affairs, Congress may not think it advisable to pa.s.s any resolutions thereon, till they are more perfectly acquainted with the actual state of our affairs in Europe, and what alterations may be occasioned by a peace.

I have letters from Messrs De Neufville of the 27th of September and 24th of October; but as they contain little more than a pressing request to have their accounts settled, and the balance paid, I shall not trouble Congress with them, but deliver copies to the Superintendent of Finance.

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

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Philadelphia, February 26th, 1783.

Sir,

I have the honor to lay before Congress a letter received yesterday from Mr Dana. I must confess, I am at a loss to discover any reason for detaining that gentleman longer at a Court, where it is, as he justly observes, improbable that he can be publicly acknowledged till Britain has no longer any objections to such acknowledgment. After which a treaty can be concluded, if necessary, here or at the Hague; a commission for that purpose being sent to Mr Adams, with as much ease as at Petersburg. Congress will then judge whether it will be proper to have a Minister at the Court of St Petersburg, or whether a Resident, with consular powers, will not answer all their purposes, and save expense.

The desire which Mr Dana expresses to return, takes from me the delicacy I before felt in stating this matter so fully to Congress. I also enclose, in obedience to the commands of Congress, a list of the names, t.i.tles, salaries, and places of residence, of the officers of the United States, employed in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

I take the liberty to remind Congress that a variety of matters, which have been submitted by me, remain yet not acted upon; and that the business of the office is very much obstructed as well by this delay, as by the detention of the letters and papers which refer to them. As this has probably been occasioned by a change in the Committees, I humbly submit to Congress the propriety of directing them to be filled up.

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

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Philadelphia, February 26th, 1783.