Captain Gillon, of the frigate South Carolina, in order to secure an
unexceptionable conveyance for a further remittance of specie, as well
as for other reasons to be mentioned hereafter. This conveyance being
approved by the Ministry, it was proposed by M. Necker, that one
million should be remitted by this opportunity, two in the frigate
from France as above mentioned, and that an arrangement should be made
with the Spaniards for a further remittance from Vera Cruz, agreeably
to an offer from their agent in Paris. Unfortunately, while this
latter plan was in agitation, the agent received intelligence that the
whole of the Spanish treasure destined for Europe had arrived safe at
the Havana, in consequence of which he changed the terms of his first
proposal, from an order payable at sight, to bills at six months'
date; this, joined to the disagreeable intelligence from Holland of
the failure of the loan proposed on account of the United States,
occasioned my giving a Memorial to the Director-General, and
insisting, in several interviews with him, on the necessity of
something decisive in his department, adding, that the administration
could not pursue a better plan for securing the triumph of Great
Britain than the present system of giving inadequate and dilatory
succor to America.
All that I could obtain was an addition of half a million to the
specie to be embarked at Brest, and about the same sum to that in
Gillon's ship. The Director-General informed me, that he had passed
the sum of the proposed loan to the debit of the King's finances, and
repeated his assurances, that our further remittances should be made
successively.
I have already informed Congress, that the reduced list of supplies
had been referred to the War Department, where it had to undergo a
recopying and more methodical distribution under several heads. I used
my endeavors to hasten the decisions on this subject, and to procure
orders at least with respect to some particular articles, the
providing of which obviously required a more early notice than others;
but he said no partial arrangement could be made, and that a decision
must be definitively given in council upon the whole business,
previous to his engaging in the execution of his part.
On the 1st of April I received a letter from M. de Corney, Provincial
Commissary, informing me, that the Marquis de Segur had appointed M.
de Viemerange in conjunction with him to confer with me on the objects
of the estimate, and the time and means of procuring them. I
immediately repaired to Versailles for this purpose.
As the ancient administration for clothing the French troops was
abolished, and each regiment in France makes its own contracts for
habiliments and equipments, there exists no public magazine of
supplies in this way, either in the War or Marine Department, and
there was no other resource for this article than the remainder of
some supplies at Brest, which had been provided for General
Rochambeau's army; it was proposed then to cede these to the United
States, and continue the provision upon the same terms as had been
settled for the King's service. The quantity was extremely
inconsiderable, compared even with the reduced list, which I had
presented; the time proposed for augmenting it was long, and my
prospects upon the whole were very discouraging, but the
impracticability of doing better in present circumstances obliged me
to yield. The difficulties and delays, however, which occurred in this
transaction, and a persuasion that it would not be so economical as I
had at first been taught to expect, were powerful additional motives
with me for accepting Captain Gillon's offer relative to the South
Carolina frigate, in order to avail myself of the supplies in his
possession, and to complete his vacant tonnage by purchases in
Holland, where the vicinity of the seaport and manufacturing towns
insured despatch. Copies of all the papers, relative to the supplies,
are in the hands of the Minister Plenipotentiary. I apprized him of
the necessity of watching the punctual execution of the terms of
Sabatier & Co's agreement, notwithstanding the superintendence of the
War Department. The artillery, arms, ammunition, and encamping
supplies, were to be collected at Brest from different arsenals in
Brittany and elsewhere, at the same rates at which they were provided
for the national service.
When the subject of casting howitzers, conformably to the British
calibre, came to be more minutely and definitively discussed,
difficulties with respect to the scarcity of materials, the danger of
errors in the proportion, the want of a proper person to inspect the
business, in a word, objections of different kinds were started;
these, added to the facility of casting shells in America, determined
me finally to substitute six inch howitzers of French calibre.
Experience has proved, on a comparison of their effects with those of
the larger sized howitzers, that the difference is trifling, and that
the former will answer all the purposes of the latter, while their
proportions render them more manageable, and economise ammunition. The
French artillerists, enlightened by this discovery, have determined
the reform of all their larger howitzers.
Upon my arrival at Brest I found the whole of the articles agreed to
be furnished for the first convoy were not yet arrived. In these
circumstances I substituted some articles which I found in the
magazine there, that there might not be any further loss of time, and
that there should be the least possible interval between our sailing
and the embarcation of the specie, which once commenced could not be
kept secret in passing through a number of hands, and might be a
temptation to enterprises on the part of the enemy. The same motive
determined me not to shift the whole of the money into cases, which
would have been more portable. This precaution became indispensable
however with respect to two of the casks, that had suffered too much
from the violent shaking on the road to be embarked in that
condition, and although all the casks are double, I apprehend the most
scrupulous care will be necessary in their debarcation and removal. I
send herewith the Chevalier de l'Angle's receipt for the specie on
board the frigate Resolve, the copy of the Treasurer's note at Brest,
and invoices of the cargoes on board the Cibelle and the Olimpe.
Besides these, the whole of the surgical instruments, drugs, and tin
and wire for camp kettles, agreeably to the Board of War's estimate,
are supplied upon the same footing as the other articles. The drugs
and tin I expect in the brigantine Active. In addition to the list, I
left a statement of the ulterior demands. These, in addition to the
cargo expected by Gillon, and the invoices already cited, include the
total of the supplies.
The deduction of money for their payment was incompatible with so
ample a provision, as prudence might otherwise have dictated.
Necessitated to confine myself to a reduced list of the most
indispensable articles, in order to leave the sum for remittances as
unimpaired as possible, I avoided every purchase and additional
expense of workmanship, that could be readily supplied by our artisans
and manufacturers at home, as the money expended here, besides
accomplishing the primary object, after descending in various channels
to the encouragement of arts, and animation of industry among
ourselves, would return its contribution to the great reservoir of
public resources.
I am sorry not to be able to give Congress a more satisfactory and
definitive account of Captain Gillon's proceedings. The papers sent
herewith will show the measures I had taken, and all the intelligence
I had received relative to this business previous to my departure.
Relying on the zeal and activity of Captain Jackson, aided by the
counsels of the Minister Plenipotentiary in Holland, I cannot
apprehend any improper delay.
Captain Jackson alone was intrusted with the secret of the specie to
be embarked, I enjoined him not to communicate it to any one, until
the moment when it should become necessary to embark it; and, that the
bankers might not be apprized of its destination, I sent the order for
it enclosed to him.
I used every argument, at taking leave of the several Ministers, that
I thought could influence them, and previous to my departure from
Brest, renewed my solicitations in writing. I imagine some further
effort will have been made relative to the loan in Holland, but at all
events the ten millions are to be supplied from the King of France's
finances. The Marquis de Castries, and M. Necker, were to concert the
future remittances; they gave me fair promises on the subject, and
Count de Vergennes assured me he would press them; he likewise gave me
some hopes of credit for the supplies of military stores. The naval
superiority, it is expected, will be established on the American coast
for a sufficient time to enable us to enterprise something important.
Enclosed herewith is an answer from the Most Christian King to my
letter of credence. Count de Vergennes informed me, that an answer to
the other letter of Congress had been already despatched.
At taking my leave of his Most Christian Majesty, he desired me to
renew his assurances of affection to the United States. The succeeding
day his Majesty honored me with the accustomed present of his
portrait. Republican strictness, and the utility of the precedent,
lead me to refer it to the supreme representative of the majesty of
the American people, the organ of that sovereign will to which I am
devoted.
The Resolve sailed from Brest, with the Cibelle and Olimpe under her
convoy, the 1st of June. The judicious precautions, and unwearied
attention of the Chevalier de l'Angle, commander of the frigate,
relative to his convoy, during a passage in which we experienced every
contrariety, deserve the highest applause.
I entreat the further orders of Congress, being exceedingly solicitous
to lose no time in rejoining the army.
I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, &c.
JOHN LAURENS.
_P. S._ My first intention was to have steered for Philadelphia, but
learning from a vessel, which we pursued for the purpose of
intelligence, that Count de Grasse was not arrived, I judged it most
prudent to make a safe eastern port, and arrived at Boston the
afternoon of the 25th ult.
J. L.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Philadelphia, September 6th, 1781.
Sir,
In consequence of the desire of the committee of conference on the
subject of my mission to France, I do myself the honor to communicate
to Congress all the information I am possessed of relative to the
present situation of Henry Laurens, and the prospect of his
enlargement or exchange. It appears from the letter of a gentleman in
London, who had access to him under certain restrictions, that though
the rigor of his confinement was in some degree abated, he still
labored under several interdictions and restraints, as unprecedented
as illiberal, and that the British Court still affected to consider
him as amenable to their municipal laws, and maintained the idea of a
future trial.
After I had finished the general business with which Congress had
charged me, I consulted the several Ministers at the Court of France
upon the proper measures to be taken, when such a flagrant violation
of the laws of nations had been offered in the person of a public
Minister, and solicited their intervention and assistance. They all
declared, that however anxious they were to restore to his country a
citizen, so valuable by his services, they had not the least hope,
that any benefit would be derived from their interference, the British
Court being as little disposed to gratify the Court of France, as they
were to gratify the United States; and the unanimous opinion of these
gentlemen further was, that nothing would determine the British to
pursue a reasonable conduct in the present case, but the most exact
retaliation on the part of Congress. For this purpose they advised,
that one or more British prisoners of sufficient note and importance
to cause a sensation by their own complaints, or those of their
friends, to their Court, should be held as security for the safety of
Mr Laurens, and that their mode of confinement and treatment should
invariably follow the rule of the conduct of the British government
towards him.
In addition to the report, which I had the honor to make the 2d
instant, I take the present opportunity of enclosing to Congress the
duplicate account of the frigate Alliance's disbursements, by Messrs
Gourlade and Moylan of L'Orient. The misfortune of Mr Palfrey left us
without other resource, than an application to a mercantile house.
The persons above mentioned offered their services, and were
recommended. The sum total appeared both to the Minister
Plenipotentiary and myself very considerable for the short stay of the
vessel in port, and the charge of advanced officers' pay
unprecedented; but Captain Barry had signed the original account, and
M. Moylan's house had advanced the money, and offered every authentic
voucher. I thought myself obliged to write from Brest, requesting Dr
Franklin to order payment after necessary security.
I found myself under the necessity of drawing, under the authority of
Congress, for three hundred and fifty louis, on their Minister
Plenipotentiary at the Court of France. Fifty of these were given to
Mr Jackson on his departure for Holland. On my arrival at Boston, I
borrowed on my private credit forty guineas, twentyfive of which have
been paid for the purchase of saddles, and the expense of the journey,
including that of an express with the despatches from France for the
French Minister and army, and that of an escort of dragoons, which it
became prudent, on account of my papers, to take from Danbury to a
place a few miles on this side of the North River.
I had recourse to the State of Rhode Island for horses, &c. a
particular account of which will be given to the Board of War.
I have the honor to be, with the greatest veneration, &c.
JOHN LAURENS.
THE
CORRESPONDENCE
OF
CHARLES W. F. DUMAS;
AGENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN HOLLAND.
Charles William Frederick Dumas was a native of Switzerland, but he
passed a large portion of his life in Holland, chiefly employed as a
man of letters. He was a person of deep learning, versed in the
ancient classics, and skilled in several modern languages, a warm
friend of liberty, and an early defender of the American cause. About
the year 1770, or a little later, he published an edition of Vattel,
with a long preface and notes, which were marked with his liberal
sentiments.
When Dr Franklin was in Holland on his way to France, a short time
before his return to his own country, at the beginning of the
Revolution, he became acquainted with M. Dumas. Having thus witnessed
his ability, his love of freedom, and his zeal in favor of America, he
considered him a suitable person to act as agent in promoting our
affairs abroad. When the Committee of Secret Correspondence in
Congress was formed, towards the close of the year 1775, of which Dr
Franklin was chairman, it was resolved to employ M. Dumas for
executing the purposes of the Committee in Holland. A letter of
general instructions was accordingly written to him by Dr Franklin in
the name of the Committee, and from that time M. Dumas commenced a
correspondence with Congress, which continued without interruption
during the Revolution, and occasionally to a much later period. He
acted at first as a secret agent, and after John Adams went to Holland
as Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States, M. Dumas
performed the office of Secretary and translator to the Minister. On
the departure of Mr Adams for Paris, to engage in the negotiations for
peace, M. Dumas remained in the character of _Charge d'Affaires_ from
the United States. In this capacity he exchanged with the Dutch
government the ratification of the treaty, which had been previously
negotiated by Mr Adams.
It will be seen by M. Dumas's correspondence, that his services were
unremitted, assiduous, and important, and performed with a singular
devotedness to the interests of the United States, and with a warm and
undeviating attachment to the rights and liberties for which they were
contending. Congress seem not to have well understood the extent or
merits of his labors. He was obliged often to complain of the meagre
compensation he received, and of the extreme difficulty with which he
and his small family contrived to subsist on it. Both Mr Adams and Dr
Franklin recommended him to Congress as worthy of better returns, but
with little effect. This indifference to his worth and his services
while living renders it the more just, that his memory should be
honored with the respect and gratitude of posterity.
M. Dumas was still living in 1791, when Mr John Quincy Adams went to
Holland as Minister from this country, but he died soon afterwards at
an advanced age.
THE
CORRESPONDENCE
OF
CHARLES W. F. DUMAS.
* * * * *
B. FRANKLIN TO M. DUMAS.
Philadelphia, December 19th, 1775.
Dear Sir,
I received your several favors of May 18th, June 30th, and July 8th,
by Messrs Vaillant & Pochard, whom if I could serve upon your
recommendation, it would give me great pleasure. Their total want of
English is at present an obstruction to their getting any employment
among us; but I hope they will soon obtain some knowledge of it. This
is a good country for artificers or farmers, but gentlemen of mere
science in _Les Belles Lettres_ cannot so easily subsist here, there
being little demand for their assistance among an industrious people,
who, as yet, have not much leisure for studies of that kind.
I am much obliged by the kind present you have made us of your edition
of Vattel. It came to us in good season, when the circumstances of a
rising State make it necessary frequently to consult the law of
nations. Accordingly, that copy which I kept, (after depositing one in
our own public library here, and sending the other to the College of
Massachusetts Bay, as you directed,) has been continually in the hands
of the members of our Congress now sitting, who are much pleased with
your notes and preface, and have entertained a high and just esteem
for their author. Your manuscript "_Idee sur le Gouvernement et la
Royaute_," is also well relished, and may, in time, have its effect. I
thank you, likewise, for the other smaller pieces, which accompanied
Vattel. "_Le court Expose de ce qui est passe entre la Cour Britanique
et les Colonies, &c._" being a very concise and clear statement of
facts, will be reprinted here for the use of our new friends in
Canada. The translations of the proceedings of our Congress are very
acceptable. I send you herewith what of them has been farther
published here, together with a few newspapers, containing accounts of
some of the successes Providence has favored us with.
We are threatened from England with a very powerful force to come next
year against us. We are making all the provision in our power here to
prevent that force, and we hope we shall be able to defend ourselves.
But as the events of war are always uncertain, possibly, after another
campaign, we may find it necessary to ask aid of some foreign power.
It gives us great pleasure to learn from you, that "all Europe wishes
us the best success in the maintenance of our liberty." But we wish to
know whether any one of them, from principles of humanity, is disposed
magnanimously to step in for the relief of an oppressed people, or
whether if, as it seems likely to happen, we should be obliged to
break off all connexion with Britain, and declare ourselves an
independent people, there is any State or Power in Europe, who would
be willing to enter into an alliance with us for the benefit of our
commerce, which amounted, before the war, to near seven millions
sterling per annum, and must continually increase, as our people
increase most rapidly. Confiding, my dear friend, in your good will to
us and our cause, and in your sagacity and abilities for business, the
Committee of Congress, appointed for the purpose of establishing and
conducting a correspondence with our friends in Europe, of which
Committee I have the honor to be a member, have directed me to request
of you, that as you are situated at the Hague, where Ambassadors from
all the Courts reside, you would make use of the opportunity, which
that situation affords you, of discovering, if possible, the
disposition of the several Courts with respect to such assistance or
alliance, if we should apply for the one or propose for the other. As
it may possibly be necessary, in particular instances, that you
should, for this purpose, confer directly with some great Ministers,
and show them this letter as your credential, we only recommend it to
your discretion, that you proceed therein with such caution, as to
keep the same from the knowledge of the English Ambassador, and
prevent any public appearance, at present, of your being employed in
any such business, as thereby, we imagine, many inconveniences may be
avoided, and your means of rendering us service increased.
That you may be better able to answer some questions, which will
probably be put to you concerning our present situation, we inform
you, that the whole continent is very firmly united, the party for the
measures of the British Ministry being very small, and much dispersed;
that we have had on foot the last campaign an army of near twentyfive
thousand men, wherewith we have been able, not only to block up the
King's army in Boston, but to spare considerable detachments for the
invasion of Canada, where we have met with great success, as the
printed papers sent herewith will inform you, and have now reason to
expect that whole Province may be soon in our possession; that we
purpose greatly to increase our force for the ensuing year, and
thereby, we hope, with the assistance of well disciplined militia, to
be able to defend our coast, notwithstanding its great extent; that we
have already a small squadron of armed vessels to protect our coasting
trade, which have had some success in taking several of the enemy's
cruisers and some of their transport vessels and store-ships. This
little naval force we are about to augment, and expect it may be more
considerable in the next summer.
We have hitherto applied to no foreign power. We are using the utmost
industry in endeavoring to make saltpetre, and with daily increasing
success. Our artificers are also everywhere busy in fabricating small
arms, casting cannon, &c. Yet both arms and ammunition are much
wanted. Any merchants, who would venture to send ships laden with
those articles, might make great profit; such is the demand in every
Colony, and such generous prices are, and will be given, of which, and
of the manner of conducting such a voyage, the bearer, Mr Story, can
more fully inform you. And whoever brings in those articles is allowed
to carry off the value in provisions to our West Indies, where they
will fetch a very high price, the general exportation from North
America being stopped. This you will see more particularly in a
printed resolution of the Congress.
We are in great want of good engineers, and wish you could engage and
send us two able ones in time for the next campaign, one acquainted
with field service, sieges, &c. and the other with fortifying
sea-ports. They will, if well recommended, be made very welcome, and
have honorable appointments, besides the expenses of their voyage
hither, in which Mr Story can also advise them. As what we now request
of you, besides taking up your time, may put you to some expense, we
send you, for the present, enclosed, a bill for one hundred pounds
sterling, to defray such expenses, and desire you to be assured that
your services will be considered and honorably rewarded by the
Congress.
We desire, also, that you would take the trouble of receiving from
Arthur Lee, agent for the Congress in England, such letters as may be
sent by him to your care, and of forwarding them to us with your
despatches. When you have occasion to write to him to inform him of
anything, which it may be of importance that our friends there should
be acquainted with, please to send your letters to him under cover,
directed to Mr Alderman Lee, merchant, on Tower Hill, London, and do
not send it by post, but by some trusty shipper, or other prudent
person, who will deliver it with his own hand. And when you send to
us, if you have not a direct safe opportunity, we recommend sending by
way of St Eustatia, to the care of Messrs Robert & Cornelius Stevens,
merchants there, who will forward your despatches to me.
With sincere and great esteem and respect, I am, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.
* * * * *
B. FRANKLIN TO C. W. F. DUMAS.
Philadelphia, March 22d, 1776.
Dear Sir,