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THE

DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE

OF THE

AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

VOL. XI.




THE

DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE

OF THE

AMERICAN REVOLUTION;

BEING

THE LETTERS OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, SILAS DEANE, JOHN ADAMS, JOHN JAY,
ARTHUR LEE, WILLIAM LEE, RALPH IZARD, FRANCIS DANA, WILLIAM
CARMICHAEL, HENRY LAURENS, JOHN LAURENS, M. DE LAFAYETTE, M. DUMAS,
AND OTHERS, CONCERNING THE FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES
DURING THE WHOLE REVOLUTION;

TOGETHER WITH

THE LETTERS IN REPLY FROM THE SECRET COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS, AND THE
SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

ALSO,

THE ENTIRE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE FRENCH MINISTERS, GERARD AND LUZERNE,
WITH CONGRESS.


Published under the Direction of the President of the United States,
from the original Manuscripts in the Department of State, conformably
to a Resolution of Congress, of March 27th, 1818.


EDITED

BY JARED SPARKS.


VOL. XI.


BOSTON:

NATHAN HALE AND GRAY & BOWEN;

G. & C. & H. CARVILL, NEW YORK; P. THOMPSON, WASHINGTON.


1830.




Steam Power Press--W. L. Lewis' Print.

No. 6, Congress Street, Boston.




CONTENTS

OF THE

ELEVENTH VOLUME.


LUZERNE'S CORRESPONDENCE,

CONTINUED.


                                                                 Page.

    To the President of Congress. Philadelphia, September 10th,
    1781,                                                            3

        Communicating the commission of M. Holker, as Consul
        General of France.

    To the President of Congress. Philadelphia, September 18th,
    1781,                                                            4

        Desires the appointment of a committee, to whom he may
        communicate his despatches.

    Communications of the French Minister to Congress. In
    Congress, September 21st, 1781,                                  4

        Proposed mediation of the Imperial Courts.--The French
        Court requires the establishing of some preliminaries,
        as to the admission of an American Minister to the
        proposed Congress, and the character in which England
        will treat the United States.--The British Court
        requires the submission of its revolted subjects in
        America.--Necessity of vigorous operations in
        America.--Mr Dana's mission to St Petersburg.--The
        accession of Maryland to the confederacy should be
        followed by vigorous measures.--Mr Adams in
        Holland.--Aids to America.--No further pecuniary
        assistance can be furnished by the French Court.

    To the President of Congress. Philadelphia, September 24th,
    1781,                                                           17

        Transmitting the memorial of a Spanish subject.

    Memorial of Don Francisco Rendon to the Minister of France,     17

        Requesting the release of certain prisoners taken at
        Pensacola by the Spanish forces, and afterwards captured
        by an American vessel.

    Congress to the Minister of France. Philadelphia, September
    25th, 1781,                                                     19

        Relative to the preceding memorial.

    From Congress to the King of France,                            20

        Returning thanks for aid.

    The King of France to Congress,                                 21

        Birth of the Dauphin.

    Robert R. Livingston to M. de la Luzerne. Philadelphia,
    October 24th, 1781,                                             21

        Announces his appointment to the Department of Foreign
        Affairs.

    To Robert R. Livingston, Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
    Philadelphia, October 25th, 1781,                               22

        Expressing his pleasure at Mr Livingston's appointment.

    Robert R. Livingston to M. de la Luzerne. Office of Foreign
    Affairs, November 2d, 1781,                                     23

        Congress request permission to present to the Count de
        Grasse two pieces of ordnance taken at York.

    To George Washington. Philadelphia, November 4th, 1781,         24

        Acknowledging the receipt of certain papers.

    To the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Philadelphia, November
    4th, 1781,                                                      25

        Erection of a triumphal column at Yorktown.--The United
        States are named before the King in the resolutions.

    Robert R. Livingston to M. de la Luzerne. Office of Foreign
    Affairs, November 6th, 1781,                                    26

        The order in which the United States and France were
        named, was accidental.

    Robert R. Livingston to the President of Congress. Office of
    Foreign Affairs, November 6th, 1781,                            28

        Proposes the giving France the precedence in any
        subsequent acts, where the two countries are named.

    Robert R. Livingston to M. de la Luzerne. Office of Foreign
    Affairs, November 21st, 1781,                                   29

        Complains of the proceedings of the Court of Admiralty
        in the French islands.

    Heads of a verbal Communication made to the Secretary of
    Foreign Affairs by the Minister of France. In Congress,
    November 23d, 1781,                                             30

        Satisfaction of the King with the appointment of
        Ministers for negotiating a peace.--Refusal to accede to
        the mediation, unless the American Ministers were
        acknowledged.--Necessity of exertion in America to
        compel Britain to a peace.

    The Answer of his Most Christian Majesty to the Articles
    proposed by the two Mediating Courts,                           33

    The Answer of the Court of London to the Preliminary
    Articles proposed by the Mediating Courts,                      40

    The verbal Answer of the King of Great Britain to the verbal
    Observations made by the Count de Belgiojoso, Austrian
    Ambassador in London,                                           43

    Reply of the Mediators to the Belligerent Powers,               45

    Answer of the Court of France to the Reply of the Mediators,    48

    To Robert R. Livingston. Philadelphia, November 23d, 1781,      51

    Congress to the King of France,                                 51

        Congratulations on the successes of the French arms in
        America.--Services of de Grasse, de Rochambeau, and de
        Lafayette.

    To Robert R. Livingston. Philadelphia, December 11th, 1781,     53

        Enclosing papers.

    To Count du Durat, Governor of Grenada. Philadelphia,
    December 11th, 1781,                                            54

        Relative to an English ship carried into Grenada by
        American sailors.

    Robert R. Livingston to M. de la Luzerne. Office of Foreign
    Affairs, December 21st, 1781,                                   55

        Relative to captures.

    Robert R. Livingston to M. de la Luzerne. Office of Foreign
    Affairs, January 19th, 1782,                                    55

        Enclosing suspicious letters of Mr Deane.

    To Robert R. Livingston. Philadelphia, January 20th, 1782,      56

        Complains of the process in Massachusetts in regard to
        effects libelled.

    Robert R. Livingston to M. de la Luzerne. Office of Foreign
    Affairs, January 24th, 1782,                                    57

        Communicating certain resolutions.

    To Robert R. Livingston. Philadelphia, January 25th, 1782,      57

        Thanking him for the preceding.

    To the President of Congress. Philadelphia, January 28th,
    1782,                                                           58

        Propriety of instructing Mr Franklin, in relation to the
        acts necessary to bind the United States in their
        engagements with France on account of the loan raised in
        Holland.

    The Secretary of Foreign Affairs to the President of
    Congress. Philadelphia, January 29th, 1782,                     59

        Communicating extracts from letters of Count de
        Vergennes to the French Minister, expressing the desire
        of France to procure the most advantageous terms for
        America.--Indisposition of Great Britain to a
        peace.--Neither Holland nor Russia are disposed to an
        alliance with the United States.--France cannot furnish
        additional supplies.

    Count de Vergennes to Robert R. Livingston. Versailles,
    January 31st, 1782,                                             62

        On his appointment to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

    To Robert R. Livingston. Philadelphia, February 1st, 1782,      62

    Instructions to Dr Franklin. In Congress, February 5th,
    1782,                                                           63

        Empowering him to enter into engagements on the part of
        the United States to discharge the loan raised in
        Holland.

    Resolves of Congress respecting the Communications made by
    the Minister of France. In Congress, February 8th, 1782,        64

        Urging the necessity of further supplies from
        France.--Empowering Dr Franklin to raise a loan of
        twelve millions of livres.

    To Robert R. Livingston. Philadelphia, February 18th, 1782,     66

        Requesting the revision of a sentence of condemnation
        against certain prizes.

    The Marquis de Bouille to M. de la Luzerne. Without date,       67

        Relative to the recapture of neutral ships trading to
        Dominica by American privateers.

    Memorial of the Council of Dominica,                            69

        Same subject.

    Robert R. Livingston to M. de la Luzerne. Office of Foreign
    Affairs, February 20th, 1782,                                   71

        Case of the capture of the neutral ships trading to
        Dominica.

    To the President of Congress. Philadelphia, March 8th, 1782,    73

        M. de Marbois will remain as _Charge d'Affaires_ during
        his absence.

    To Robert R. Livingston. Philadelphia, April 7th, 1782,         73

        Requesting the settlement of the accounts of Baron de
        Kalb and others.

    To George Washington. Philadelphia, April 13th, 1782,           74

        Warlike appearances in Europe.--Want of preparation in
        America.--Requests information of the strength of the
        forces.

    Count de Rochambeau to M. de la Luzerne. Williamsburgh,
    April 16th, 1782,                                               77

        Plans and operations of the enemy.

    To George Washington. Philadelphia, April 18th, 1782,           78

        Recommending Count Beniowsky.

    George Washington to M. de la Luzerne. Newburgh, April 28th,
    1782,                                                           79

        Statement of his forces.--Enemy's force.

    Communication of the French Minister to the Secretary of
    Foreign Affairs. In Congress, May 1st, 1782,                    84

        Representing the necessity of vigorous exertion.--The
        English intend to push operations with vigor.

    Decree of the King's Council in France,                         85

        Relative to the exportation of merchandise taken from
        prizes.

    To Robert R. Livingston. Philadelphia, May 7th, 1782,           87

        Appointment of M. d'Annemours, as French Consul for the
        five Southern States.

    Robert R. Livingston to M. de la Luzerne. Office of Foreign
    Affairs, May 8th, 1782,                                         87

        Accounts of Baron de Kalb and others.

    To Robert R. Livingston. Philadelphia, May 9th, 1782,           88

        Applications of bearers of loan certificates for the
        repayment of their capital, or the payment of the
        interest.

    Robert R. Livingston to M. de la Luzerne. Office of Foreign
    Affairs, May 9th, 1782,                                         89

    Robert R. Livingston to M. de la Luzerne. Office of Foreign
    Affairs, May 12th, 1782,                                        89

        The address of Congress is, Gentlemen of the Congress.

    To George Washington. Philadelphia, May 17th, 1782,             90

        Reported actions in the West Indies.

    Congress to the King of France,                                 90

        Congratulations on the birth of the Dauphin.

    To Robert R. Livingston. Philadelphia, May 25th, 1782,          92

        Requests the execution of certain resolutions of
        Congress in relation to Baron de Holzendorff.

    Verbal Communication of the French Minister to the Secretary
    of Foreign Affairs. In Congress, May 28th, 1782,                93

        Attempts by the English to effect a