The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 11
Chapter 20
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
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GEORGE WASHINGTON TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
Head Quarters, May 22d, 1782.
Sir,
I have been honored with your favor of the 13th, communicating to me the formal annunciation to Congress, by the Minister of France, of the birth of a Dauphin.
Measures are ordered to convey to the army the news of this happy event, which will be celebrated with such demonstrations of joy as the occasion requires, and our circumstances will admit.
This information will be transmitted to General Greene, that the army under his command may participate in the general joy.
I have the honor to be, &c.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
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GOVERNOR TRUMBULL TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
Hartford, May 23d, 1782.
Sir,
I do myself the honor to enclose you copies of a letter, which I received some time since from Mr Deane; as he appears to be somewhat knowing in the counsels of Great Britain, I thought it not improper to return him an answer; you will find copies of what I have written likewise enclosed, and it is my duty to acquaint you, that upon being laid before the General Assembly of the State, this answer was approved by both houses _nemine contradicente_.
You will be pleased to lay both papers before Congress and the Minister of France, and you will judge of the propriety of sending a copy likewise to Dr Franklin, or our other Ministers in Europe.
I beg leave also to recommend to your care for conveyance, the letter covered for Mr Deane, and am, Sir, with the sincerest sentiments of esteem, &c.
JONATHAN TRUMBULL.
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TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Office of Foreign Affairs, June 5th, 1782.
Sir,
I have the honor to submit to Congress, the enclosed letter from Mr Lee with his accounts. As Congress were pleased to give no directions relative to the brigantine Berkenbosch, I presume it was their intention, that I should transmit to Dr Franklin a state of the information I had collected on that subject, which I have accordingly done. If Congress have any further commands, I wish to be honored with them as soon as convenient.
I am, Sir, with the highest respect, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
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TO ROBERT MORRIS.
Office of Foreign Affairs, June 6th, 1782.
Sir,
I have the honor to enclose the translation of a letter from the Minister of France to me, on the subject of an interest due on Loan Office certificates, as this relates peculiarly to your department, you will do me the honor to enable me to return some answer to this application, which has been several times reiterated.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
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TO ROBERT MORRIS.
Office of Foreign Affairs, June 6th, 1782.
Sir,
I have the honor to enclose the translation of a correspondence between the Count de Vergennes and Dr Franklin, on the subject of complaints contained in the Memorial accompanying the letter from the Count, a translation of which is also enclosed. You will be pleased to cause an inquiry to be made into the facts, and to favor me with such information, as will enable me either to show, that the complaint is ill founded, or that it will be treated with the attention it merits.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
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ROBERT MORRIS TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
Office of Finance, June 7th, 1782.
Sir,
I received this morning the letter you did me the honor to write on the 6th. Congress have asked from the several States a five per cent duty on goods imported, and on prizes and prize goods, as a fund for paying the principal and interest of their debts, this fund when granted will not be sufficient, and it is not yet granted by all. I expect, however, the requisition will speedily be complied with. I shall not cease urging it, and also such further revenues as may be sufficient for the purpose. When they shall have been obtained, they will be duly applied in liquidation of the public debts; but until that period arrives, neither the principal nor the interest of such debts can be paid.
I have the honor to be, with very great respect,
ROBERT MORRIS.
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TO GOVERNOR TRUMBULL.
Office of Foreign Affairs, June 12th, 1782.
Sir,
I was honored with your letter of the 23d of May, with both the enclosures, which I laid before Congress, and furnished copies to the Minister of France. The spirit in which your answer to Mr Deane's letter is written, is such as must bring him to some sense of the disgraceful and contemptible part he is acting, and awake in him that remorse, which is the severest punishment of guilt. I shall avail myself of the permission you give me to transmit it to Dr Franklin, since I see that important advantages may result from declaring to Europe your sense, and that of so reputable a body as the Legislature of Connecticut, upon the important points it discusses.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
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GOVERNOR GREENE TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
Newport, June 15th, 1782.
Sir,
I had the honor of receiving your address of the 14th of May past, informing me, that the Minister Plenipotentiary of his Most Christian Majesty, had announced to the United States in Congress assembled, at a public audience, the birth of a Dauphin of France, which I laid before the General Assembly, who were pleased to request me to transmit the enclosed letter of congratulation upon that happy event to his Excellency the Minister of France, which I request may be delivered to him in the name of the Governor, Council, and Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in General Assembly convened.
I have the honor to be, &c.
W. GREENE.
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ROBERT MORRIS TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
Office of Finance, June 20th, 1782.
Sir,
I do myself the honor to request that you will be pleased to make out accurate estimates for your Department during the year 1783, that I may form those general estimates for the service, which it is my duty to lay before the United States in Congress.
I am, with perfect esteem and respect, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
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ROBERT MORRIS TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
Office of Finance, June 20th, 1782.
Sir,
The copy of a Memorial from the Minister of France, of the 25th of last month, which you handed me, has been laid before the Controller of the treasury, who has examined the resolutions of Congress, and reported to me. I am now, therefore, to observe, that if the gentlemen mentioned in that Memorial, or their representatives, have any claims against the United States, they must form accounts thereof, and state them in the usual manner to the Controller of the treasury, with the vouchers, who will cause them to be examined, according to the rules and regulations in that behalf established, and any balances which may appear due will be by him certified to me, at which time, and not before, I can decide on the subject.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
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THE GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
North Carolina, June 24th, 1782.
Sir,
Your letters of the 18th and 19th of February, covered the resolutions of Congress, dated November 28th, January 25th, and February 11th, I was favored with in May last, which I did myself the honor to lay before the General Assembly.
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 passed 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.
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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 Assembly 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.
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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.
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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 Assembly 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 illustrious 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 Assembly, 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.
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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.
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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 passed 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, passed 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 entitled 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 assembled, 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.
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TO GOVERNOR WEARE, OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Office of Foreign Affairs, September 9th, 1782.
Sir,
I have the honor to enclose copies of letters, which have been received from the Governor of the Island of Granada, in consequence of letters written, on my application, by the Minister of France, and the state of Mr Mc Clintock's case, transmitted by me.
From this answer, I think the justice of Mr Mc Clintock's claim is put out of doubt; but, at the same time, redress will be rendered more difficult, by our being now obliged to seek it in another channel. I shall, however, direct a memorial to be presented on the subject to the Court of France, and send over authentic copies of the documents in my possession. It would greatly facilitate this business, if Mr Mc Clintock had an agent in France, who would prosecute his claim, and to whom I would afford all the facilities in my power. I mention this matter to your Excellency, because the Legislature of New Hampshire, having interested themselves therein, I presumed that it would be agreeable to them to know that it was not neglected.
I beg you to assure them, Sir, that I shall receive with pleasure any further instruction with which they may please to honor me, relative to this or any other subject, in which I may promote the views of the State, or the interest of its members.
Not having been honored with answers to my several letters to your Excellency of the following dates, 18th and 19th of February and 2d of May, 1782, I beg leave to ask, whether they have been received, and what measures have been taken in consequence of them.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
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TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Office of Foreign Affairs, September 9th, 1782.
Sir,
The situation of my affairs rendering my personal attention necessary, I take the liberty to request your Excellency to communicate to Congress my design, (if it meets their approbation,) to visit the State of New York for a few weeks. I shall take measures to have the earliest communication made to Congress of such intelligence as may be received in my absence, and for the general direction of the business of the department. Your Excellency will do me the honor to obtain the sense of Congress upon this subject, and to believe me, with the highest respect, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
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TO GOVERNOR MARTIN, OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Office of Foreign Affairs, September 9th, 1782.
Sir,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 24th of June, by Mr Blount, together with the map you were pleased to transmit. I shall expect at your leisure, the other documents you mention as explanatory of your boundaries. Copies of the most westerly grants, that have been made by the Crown within your State, would tend greatly to elucidate your claim, as would also copies of acts of the Legislature laying out the back country into counties or parishes, if any such exist.
I receive, with great pleasure, the account you give of the exertion of your State in filling their line, though I think we have some reason to hope, that you will not be able to find employment for them near home.
I could wish to have had it in my power to give your Excellency some account of our foreign negotiations, but by an extraordinary neglect, or, which is more probable, by some accident, we have had no official information either from our own Ministers, or through the Minister of France, for a very long time past. As to public news, it is not worth while to trouble you with it, as this letter will probably lay some days before the gentleman, who has promised to charge himself with it, calls. I shall therefore direct, as the best means of giving the news of the day, that the latest papers of this place be sent with it, when he is just about to set out.
I have the honor to be, Sir, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
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TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Office of Foreign Affairs, September 11th, 1782.
Sir,
I have the honor to lay before Congress a number of letters received last night by Captain Smedley, from Mr Adams, Mr Dana, and Mr Barclay. I have arranged and numbered them, and translated those of Mr Dumas. The compliment of the merchants of the town of Schiedam being very long, it is not yet translated, when it is, it will be laid before Congress. Mr Dana has by some accident neglected to put up the first sheet of his letter, so that the subject is broken in upon, and we are ignorant of its date.
I take the liberty to recommend that some attention be paid to Mr Adams's request with respect to Mr Dumas, who has certainly been a very assiduous servant of the United States; I could wish at least to be enabled to inform him of the sense of Congress thereon. Perhaps it would be expedient to commit it to the committee appointed to consider the salaries of foreign Ministers, &c. Mr Adams has as yet received no answer to the letter on the subject of his purchase at the Hague. Should Congress approve the form, which Mr Adams proposes for the ratification of his agreement, I presume Mr Thomson will have their orders for endorsing it, and the agreement will be immediately returned to this office, so that Congress may avail themselves of the means, that now offer for transmitting it.
I also lay before Congress a large packet, containing Mr Deane's accounts, which I shall deliver to the Office of Finance, unless Congress would choose to have it disposed of in some other way. I must beg, Sir, that the letters be returned to this office, as soon as Congress have examined them as I wish to avail myself of the present opportunity to answer them.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
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TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Office of Foreign Affairs, September 12th, 1782.
Sir,
I have the honor to lay before Congress two letters from Messrs de Neufville and Son, under cover of which last I received the enclosed letter, which contains what I suppose to be the first sheet of Mr Dana's letter, probably sent immediately after he had discovered his mistake. I send the other parts with it. I also enclose for the perusal of Congress an act of the British Parliament for the exchange of American prisoners, which, when returned to the office I shall have published.
I find in a Leyden paper some account of Mr Grenville's negotiation, and the alterations proposed by the committee of the States General to the treaty submitted to their consideration by Mr Adams. These may be objects of curiosity, and as such I enclose them. They will be printed on Saturday if the papers are returned in time.
A Dutch paper of the 13th of July, mentions that the Baron Viomenil, the Marquis de Lavall, and other officers, left Paris the beginning of July, in order to sail in the ---- frigate; that the Marquis de Lafayette was not to accompany them, as it was proposed; that he was waiting the issue of the negotiation in Paris.
The Count D'Artois has obtained leave of the King of Spain to serve as a volunteer at the siege of Gibraltar. This may perhaps be concluded as an indication of their hope of success in the attempt to reduce it.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
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TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Philadelphia, September 12th, 1782.
Sir,
I have the honor to enclose two reports upon Mr Adams's letters. I would propose in addition to the first to direct the substance of Mr Adams's letter of the 23d of April, containing his note, and the appointment of a committee, to be printed as articles of intelligence, not under the express direction of Congress, since the business is not concluded.