Part 19

That will be the happiest moment of my life, in which I shall be able to contribute to it in anything. I shall, at the same time fulfil my duty, as an officer charged with the orders of his Majesty, and I shall satisfy my principles and my inclination as an individual.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ESTAING.

_P. S._ Permit me to recommend to the favor of Congress, Messrs John Nicholson, Elias Johnson, and Henry Johnson. Mr Nicholson preserved the ship Tonnant, which is the second in the squadron, and Mr Elias Johnson conducted himself with the greatest zeal and the greatest bravery on board the frigate Engageante, in the engagement in which she took the privateer Rose, in the Chesapeake Bay.

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RESOLVES OF CONGRESS RESPECTING THE COUNT D'ESTAING'S LETTER, AND THE RECEPTION OF M. GERARD.

In Congress, July 11th, 1778.

Resolved, that General Washington be informed by the President, that it is the desire of Congress, that he co-operate with the Count d'Estaing, commander of a French squadron now on the coast of North America, and proceeding to New York, in the execution of such offensive operations against the enemy as they shall mutually approve.

His Most Christian Majesty, the King of France, having thought proper to send on the coasts a powerful fleet, in order to co-operate with the forces of these States in the reduction of the British army and navy, Resolved, that General Washington be impowered to call on the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, or such of them as he shall judge proper, for such aids of their militia as he shall think requisite for carrying on his operations, in concert with Count d'Estaing, commander of the French fleet; and that it be earnestly recommended to the abovementioned, to exert themselves in forwarding the force, which may be required of them with the utmost despatch.

Resolved, that the Marine Committee be directed to order the Commissioners of the navy to the eastward, to fit out as many continental frigates and armed vessels as possible, with the utmost despatch, to join the French squadron in their operations against the enemy.

Ordered, that the Board of War take measures for providing a suitable house for the accommodation of M. Gerard; and that they give the necessary orders for receiving M. Gerard with proper honor on his arrival.

Resolved, that a committee of five be appointed to wait on M. Gerard on his arrival, and conduct him to his lodgings.

The members chosen, Mr Hancock, Mr Lee, Mr Drayton, Mr Roberdeau, and Mr Duer.

Next morning the committee went to Chester to meet M. Gerard, who received them on board the frigate. In going on board they were saluted with fifteen guns. They then went on shore and waited on him to Philadelphia, and conducted him to General Arnold's head quarters, where a dinner was provided for him and his suit, and a number of the members of Congress. Before dinner he waited on the President.

On Tuesday he delivered to the President sundry papers to be laid before Congress,[23] desiring to know in what capacity Congress were willing to receive him; whether as Minister Plenipotentiary or resident, intimating, that in whatever quality he was received, it would be expected, that the Commissioners from the States at the Court of France should be vested with the same.

FOOTNOTE:

[23] Letters from the King, and notes of M. Gerard.

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TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Translation.

Philadelphia, July 14th, 1778.

Sir,

His Excellency, the Count d'Estaing, Vice-Admiral of France, commander of the squadron of the King, being desirous to procure for the armed vessels, whether public or private, of the United States, the means of availing themselves of the operations of this squadron, in order to take prizes from the common enemy, the undersigned has the honor to inform Congress, that all their armed vessels will enjoy the most extended protection of the squadron of his Most Christian Majesty, and that the prizes which they may be able to take will belong entirely to them. He leaves it to the wisdom of Congress to fix upon the means of deriving from this arrangement, the advantage of which it is susceptible. The American vessels, which shall apply to his Excellency the Vice-Admiral, will receive the signals which will be necessary; and the undersigned will successively communicate them to Congress, that information of them may be given to those who shall sail from the ports. He relies on the prudence of Congress in relation to the measures necessary to ensure success in this matter.

GERARD.

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TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Translation.

Philadelphia, July 14th, 1778.

Sir,

The squadron which the King, my master, has sent, in order to act in concert with the United States, against the common enemy, having taken some prisoners during its passage, the keeping of whom on board of the vessels would be embarrassing and even dangerous, the undersigned requests the Congress of the said United States to have the goodness to cause these prisoners, as well as those whom the King's squadron shall be able to take in the course of its operations, to be received, to cause provision to be made for their safe keeping and subsistence, in the same manner as that which it makes use of for its own prisoners, and to hold them at the disposal of the King, and subject to the orders of his Excellency, the Count d'Estaing, Vice-Admiral of France, and commander of his Majesty's squadron.

The undersigned will take care to cause all the expenses incurred on this occasion to be reimbursed at certain periods, in such manner as the Congress shall be pleased to point out.[24]

GERARD.

FOOTNOTE:

[24] Congress took into consideration the Memorial respecting prisoners, and thereupon

"Resolved, that all prisoners taken, or which may be taken, by the squadron of his Most Christian Majesty, under the command of the Count d'Estaing, Vice-Admiral of France, be received by the Commissary-General of prisoners, and that he provide for their safe custody and subsistence in like manner as has been usual for the prisoners of these States. That he make monthly returns of all prisoners, which shall be by him so received, to the Board of War. That he make monthly returns to the treasury, of the accounts of all moneys expended for the purposes aforesaid, and that the prisoners be held at the disposal of his Most Christian Majesty, and subject to the orders of his Excellency Count d'Estaing.

"Ordered, that the paper relative to the encouragement given by the Count d'Estaing to American armed vessels, whether public or private, be published."

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CEREMONIAL OF ADMITTING THE FRENCH MINISTER TO CONGRESS.

In Congress, July 20th, 1781.

Resolved, That the ceremonial for a Minister Plenipotentiary, or Envoy, shall be as follows;

When a Minister Plenipotentiary, or Envoy, shall arrive within any of the United States, he shall receive at all places where there are guards, sentries, or the like, such military honors as are paid to a general officer of the second rank in the armies of the United States.

When he shall arrive at a place in which Congress shall be, he shall wait upon the President and deliver his credentials, or a copy thereof. Two members of Congress shall then be deputed to wait upon him, and inform him where and when he shall receive audience of Congress.

At the time he is to receive his audience, the two members shall again wait upon him in a coach belonging to the States, and the person first named of two, shall return with the Minister Plenipotentiary, or Envoy, in the coach, giving the Minister the right hand, and placing himself on the left, with the other member on the front seat.

When the Minister Plenipotentiary, or Envoy, is arrived at the door of the Congress Hall, he shall be introduced to his chair by the two members, who shall stand at his left hand. Then the member first named shall present and announce him to the President and the House, whereupon he shall bow to the President and Congress, and they to him. He and the President shall then again bow to each other and be seated, after which the House shall sit down.

Having spoken and being answered, the Minister and the President shall bow to each other, at which time the House shall bow, and then he shall be conducted home in the manner in which he was brought to the House.

Those who shall wait upon the Minister shall inform him, that if in any audience he shall choose to speak on matters of business, it will be necessary previously to deliver in writing to the President what he intends to say at the audience, and if he shall not incline thereto, it will, from the constitution of Congress, be impracticable for him to receive an immediate answer.

The style of address to Congress shall be, "Gentlemen of the Congress."

All speeches or communications in writing may, if the public Minister choose it, be in the language of their respective countries, and all replies or answers shall be in the language of the United States.

After the audience, the members of Congress shall be first visited by the Minister Plenipotentiary, or Envoy.

_July 30th._ Resolved, That Thursday next be assigned for giving audience to the honorable M. Gerard, Minister Plenipotentiary from his Most Christian Majesty.

_August 5th._ Resolved, That when the Minister is introduced to his chair by the two members, he shall sit down.

His Secretary shall then deliver to the President the letters of his Sovereign, which shall be read and translated by the Secretary of Congress. Then the Minister shall be announced. At which time the President, the House, and the Minister shall rise together. The Minister shall then bow to the President and the House, and they to him. The Minister and the President shall then bow to each other and be seated; after which the House shall sit down. The Minister shall deliver his speech standing, the President and the House shall set while the Minister is delivering his speech.

The House shall rise, and the President shall deliver the answer standing. The Minister shall stand while the President delivers the answer.

Having spoken, and being answered, the Minister and the President shall bow to each other, at which time the House shall bow, and then the Minister shall be conducted home in the manner in which he was brought to the House.

Resolved, That the door of the Congress chamber be open during the audience to be given to the Minister Plenipotentiary of his Most Christian Majesty.

That the delegates of Pennsylvania be requested to inform the Vice President, the Supreme Executive Council, and the Speaker and Assembly of the said State, that the Minister Plenipotentiary of his Most Christian Majesty, the King of France, will receive his audience of Congress at twelve o'clock tomorrow, when the doors of the chamber will be opened.

That each member of Congress may give two tickets for the admittance of other persons to the audience, and that no other persons except those specified in the foregoing resolution, be admitted without such a ticket signed by the members appointed to introduce the Minister to the Congress.

_Thursday, August 6th._ According to order the honorable M. Gerard was introduced to an audience by two members of Congress, and being seated, his Secretary delivered to the President a letter from his Most Christian Majesty, directed "To our very dear and great Friends and Allies, the President and Members of the General Congress of the United States," in the words following;

[See this letter above, p. 235, dated March 28th, 1778.]

The Minister was then announced to the House, whereupon he arose and addressed Congress in a speech which, when he had finished, his Secretary delivered in writing to the President, and is as follows;

Translation.

"Gentlemen,

"The connexions which the King, my master, has formed with the United States of America, are so agreeable to him, that he has been unwilling to delay sending me to reside near you to unite them more closely. His Majesty will be gratified to learn, that the sentiments which are manifested on this occasion justify the confidence, with which the zeal and the character of the deputies of the United States in France, the wisdom and the firmness which have directed your resolutions, together with the courage and the constancy which the people have displayed, have inspired him. You know, Gentlemen, that this confidence has laid the foundation of the truly friendly and disinterested plan, upon which his Majesty has treated with the United States.

"It has not rested with him, that his engagements could not secure your independence and your tranquillity without the further effusion of blood, and without aggravating the miseries of mankind, of which it is his whole ambition to secure the happiness; but the hostile dispositions and resolutions of the common enemy having given a present force, positive, permanent, and indissoluble, to engagements wholly eventual, the King, my master, has thought that the two allies should occupy themselves only with the means of fulfilling them in the manner the most useful to the common cause, and of the most effect in obtaining peace, which is the object of the alliance. It is in conformity with this principle, that his Majesty has hastened to send you a powerful assistance. You owe it, Gentlemen, to his friendship, to the sincere interest which he takes in the welfare of the United States, and to the desire which he has of concurring effectually in securing your peace and your prosperity on honorable and firm foundations. He hopes, moreover, that the principles adopted by the governments will contribute to extend the connexions, which the mutual interest of the respective nations had already begun to form between them. The principal point of my instructions is to make the interests of France and those of the United States keep pace together. I flatter myself, that my past conduct in affairs which interest them, has already convinced you that I have no more earnest desire, than that of executing my instructions in such a manner as to deserve the confidence of Congress, the friendship of its members, and the esteem of all the citizens."

To this speech the President returned the following answer;

"Sir,

"The treaties between his Most Christian Majesty and the United States of America so fully demonstrate his wisdom and magnanimity as to command the reverence of all nations. The virtuous citizens of America in particular can never forget his beneficent attention to their violated rights, nor cease to acknowledge the hand of a gracious Providence in raising for them so powerful and illustrious a friend. It is the hope and the opinion of Congress, that the confidence his Majesty reposes in the firmness of these States will receive additional strength from every day's experience.

"This assembly are convinced, Sir, that had it rested solely with the Most Christian King, not only the independence of these States would have been universally acknowledged, but their tranquillity fully established; we lament that lust of domination, which gave birth to the present war and has prolonged and extended the miseries of mankind. We ardently wish to sheathe the sword, and spare the further effusion of blood; but we are determined, by every means in our power, to fulfil those eventual engagements, which have acquired positive and permanent force from the hostile designs and measures of the common enemy.

"Congress have reason to believe, that the assistance so wisely and generously sent will bring Great Britain to a sense of justice and moderation, promote the interests of France and America, and secure peace and tranquillity on the most firm and honorable foundation. Neither can it be doubted, that those who administer the powers of government, within the several States of this Union, will cement that connexion with the subjects of France, the beneficent effects of which have already been so sensibly felt.

"Sir, from the experience we have had of your exertions to promote the true interests of our country as well as your own, it is with the highest satisfaction Congress receive as the first Minister from his Most Christian Majesty, a gentleman, whose past conduct affords a happy presage that he will merit the confidence of this body, the friendship of its members, and the esteem of the citizens of America."

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The Secretary of Congress delivered to the Minister a copy of the foregoing speech, dated "In Congress, August 6th, 1778," and signed "Henry Laurens, President." Whereupon the Minister withdrew, and was conducted home in the manner in which he was brought to the House.

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TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Translation.

Philadelphia, November 9th, 1778.

Sir,

The Minister Plenipotentiary of France has the honor to inform the Congress of the United States of North America, that he has obtained, on account of his Majesty, the cargo of two schooners; the one called the Gentil, George André, Captain, and the other the Adventurer, commanded by Captain Joseph Taffier, these two vessels being now in the port of Petersburg, Virginia, and their cargoes delivered, consisting of from twelve to thirteen hundred barrels of flour, and about fifty barrels of biscuit. The destination of these provisions, requiring that they should depart immediately, the undersigned Minister Plenipotentiary requests Congress to be pleased to take the measures which it shall judge necessary, in order, that the departure of these two vessels with their cargoes may meet with no obstacle. An express will wait for the orders, which it may be necessary to send into Virginia, in relation to this object.

GERARD.

Whereupon Congress ordered, that the President write to the Governor of Virginia, explain to him the nature of this transaction, and the necessity of the vessels' immediate departure, and desire him to give orders accordingly.

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_November 18th, 1778._ Two letters from the Honorable the Minister Plenipotentiary of France were read, requesting a passage on board of one of the continental frigates, for the Chevalier de Raymondis, Captain of the Cæsar, and that a vessel on board of which are a number of invalids, may be taken under convoy of the frigate until she be safe at sea. These were referred to the Marine Committee, with directions to comply with the request therein contained.

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TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Translation.

Philadelphia, November 20th, 1778.

Sir,

The Minister of France thinks it his duty to have the honor of communicating to the President of Congress the reflection that, according to ordinary rules, treaties are not published until the respective ratifications have been exchanged, and that so far as he is informed, that of the King has not arrived. If Congress, however, has motives to proceed immediately to this publication, the Minister requests it not to be stopped by his reflection; the wisdom of their views deserving all preference over what can only be regarded as a mere formality.

GERARD.

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Philadelphia, December 2d, 1778.

The President communicated to Congress the following unsigned note from the Minister of France.

"It is thought proper to inform persons, who have business in France, that all judicial and extra-judicial acts, powers of attorney, &c. which are destined to be sent thither, ought to be invested with the authorisation of the Minister Plenipotentiary, or the Consuls of this Crown established in the different States of America. By means of this formality, all the acts valid in America will have the same validity in France in all cases."

_December 4th._ The President communicated to Congress another unsigned note from the Minister of France, relative to a plan he had proposed for discharging the debt due to Roderique Hortalez & Co. namely, by furnishing the French fleet in America with provisions, for the amount of which the Court would procure the United States a credit with Hortalez & Co. The note was delivered in English, in the words following.

"Leave is begged from the Honorable the President of Congress to submit to him some reflections upon a late conversation. The insinuation made was founded upon the consideration, that the method proposed would be more simple, more easy, and more convenient, than any other, and that besides, the troubles, the expenses, the dangers of the sea, and of the enemy, the spoiling of the cargoes, &c. would be avoided.

"The manner of executing this plan, if adopted, would be very simple, and attended with no inconveniency; the Court shall take upon itself to satisfy the furnisher of the articles in question, and Congress shall receive the discharge for ready money, in their accounts with the Court."

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TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Translation.

Philadelphia, December 6th, 1778.

Sir,

The Minister Plenipotentiary of France, considering that it is of great importance for the interests of France and the United States of America to prevent, or to delay as much as possible, the repairs, and consequently the activity of the enemy's ships, and that one of the most efficacious means would be, to intercept the masts which they are obliged to bring from Halifax, is firmly persuaded, that this subject has not escaped the consideration of Congress, but believing that it is for the interest of the King, his master, that his Majesty should contribute to the measures which may effect this object, his intention is to offer a reward to the owners of privateers, who shall take or destroy vessels loaded with masts proper for ships of the line or for frigates. This encouragement seemed necessary, in order to turn the efforts of privateers in this direction, considering the low price of this commodity in proportion to other cargoes, but the said Minister did not wish to execute this plan without communicating it to Congress, and before knowing its opinion on this subject.

GERARD.

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TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Translation.

Philadelphia, December 7th, 1778.

Sir,