ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
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.
* * * * *
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.
* * * * *
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.
* * * * *
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 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.
* * * * *
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 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.
* * * * *
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.
* * * * *
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.
* * * * *
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.
* * * * *
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.
* * * * *
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 Vioménil,
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.
* * * * *
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.
With respect to the second report, I am led to make it by Mr Adams's
recommendation, and by my sense of the zeal and diligence, which M.
Dumas has so long testified in the cause of America, when it was very
far from being a popular one in Holland. Though I must confess I feel
some reluctance in seeing any but an American in the line, which ought
to serve as a school for future Ministers. But this case has peculiar
circumstances by which it must be determined. The commission of
_Chargé d'Affaires_ I should conceive too important and too
confidential to be placed in any hands, but those of a citizen of the
United States. There are other reasons, which will suggest themselves
to Congress, against this measure, which it is unnecessary to mention.
The salary I have left blank, as that subject is under the
consideration of a committee. The second resolution is to take away
the necessity of making it greater than our circumstances will allow.
The merits of the other gentlemen mentioned by Mr Adams, together with
his recommendation, might justly perhaps induce Congress to show them
some marks of their attention, if the situation of their finances
would permit, but as neither of those gentlemen are in the service of
Congress, it is to be presumed that they will not choose to take any
public notice of that part of his letter, till they are in
circumstances to satisfy the just claims of those who have demands
upon them.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Office of Foreign Affairs, September 12th, 1782.
Sir,
Having carefully examined Mr Laurens's letter,[25] I believe Congress
will think with me, that the subjects of it are such as I can in no
other way report on, than by recommending it to be submitted to a
special committee.
The two great points are his resignation and exchange. The first of
these Congress only are competent to decide upon; and the last, not
relating in any way to my Department, is intimately connected with a
subject already under the consideration of a committee. With respect
to his support, I believe that there can be no doubt that Mr Laurens's
salary is to be paid, till Congress determine to accept his
resignation. I have considered it as a part of the expenses of this
Department, and accordingly remitted the amount of two quarters'
salary to Dr Franklin, commencing in January last, previous to which,
that business was under the direction of Dr Franklin. I shall continue
to include his salary in my drafts on Mr Morris, till I receive
directions from Congress to discontinue it. Congress having empowered
Mr Laurens to appoint a secretary, there can be no doubt about the
propriety of discharging his salary.
The enemy having published an account of Mr Laurens's petition for
relief, &c. which appears by his letter to have been without
foundation, I beg leave to submit to Congress the propriety of
printing his own account of this transaction, since it evidences in
contradiction to their reports, that he always acted with the dignity
and firmness, which became his station and character.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
FOOTNOTES:
[25] See this letter in _Henry Lauren's Correspondence_, Vol. II. p.
463.
* * * * *
CIRCULAR TO THE GOVERNORS OF THE STATES.
Office of Foreign Affairs, September 12th, 1782.
Sir,
Agreeably to the direction of Congress, contained in the enclosed
resolution, I am to solicit your Excellency's attention to the object
of it, and to pray that means may be used by the State over which you
preside, to furnish the returns they require, sending quadruplicate
copies of them, under the seal of the State, to this office. I am
sorry to have reason to complain of the little attention that the
recommendations of Congress, and my letter of the 12th day of
November, 1781, relative to a similar object, has met with from your
State, since the want of those returns will, without doubt, be
severely felt by our Ministers, whenever they shall commence the
negotiations for a general peace.
I have the honor to be, Sir, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
* * * * *
CIRCULAR TO THE GOVERNORS OF THE STATES.
Office of Foreign Affairs, September 15th, 1782.
Sir,
I have the honor to inform you, by the direction of Congress, that I
have lately received official advices from Mr Adams, of the
resolutions of their High Mightinesses the States General, to receive
and acknowledge the said Mr Adams in quality of Minister
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, and to request your
Excellency to cause this interesting event to be made public. I have
the honor to enclose copies of the resolutions of their High
Mightinesses on this subject, and to inform you that the States
General did, on the 23d day of April, appoint a Grand Committee to
confer with Mr Adams, to whom, having been introduced in the usual
forms by two noblemen, he laid before them the plan of a Treaty of
Amity and Commerce, which was immediately printed, and sent to the
different members of the sovereignty.
I cannot conclude without congratulating your Excellency upon an
event, which widens the basis of our independence, and leads to an
immediate connexion with a powerful nation, whose alliance a variety
of circumstances in their origin and government render extremely
desirable.
I have the honor to be, Sir, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
* * * * *
GENERAL GREENE TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
Head Quarters, October 2d, 1782.
Sir,
Your letter of the 13th of May did not come to hand until some time in
August, before the receipt of which his Excellency, General
Washington, had communicated the agreeable information of the birth of
a Dauphin, and directed that some public declaration of our feelings
should be had upon the occasion. Accordingly, on the 4th of July, we
fired a _feu de joie_, and gave every testimony in our power of the
pleasure and happiness we felt upon an event so interesting to our
good ally, and so intimately connected with the welfare of America;
and I beg you will communicate to the Minister in Philadelphia, how
sincerely the officers of this army participate in the general joy,
which this public blessing diffuses through France and America.
It is with infinite satisfaction that I inform you, that the enemy is
making every preparation for the evacuation of Charleston, the last
and only place they hold in any of the Southern United States.
I hope a general peace will follow, and that America may long enjoy,
without interruption, the blessings she has been so long contending
for.
I have the honor to be, &c.
NATHANIEL GREENE.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Philadelphia, October 29th, 1782.
Sir,
I have the honor to enclose, for the inspection of Congress, a letter
from Mr Harrison. So much of it as relates to the state of his
accounts, has been sent to the Office of Finance. As this subject has
before been strongly insisted upon by Mr Jay, I doubt not that Mr
Morris will pay every attention to it, which the means in his hands
will permit.