The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution
Chapter 49 : M. DE SARTINE TO THE COMMISSIONERS.Translation.Marly, October 20th, 1778.Gentlemen, I h

M. DE SARTINE TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

Translation.

Marly, October 20th, 1778.

Gentlemen,

I have replied only to the first part of your letter of the 12th inst.; the second also contains important matter. It would, doubtless, be desirable to restore to their country the American seamen, who have been retained by the force of habit or by compulsion in the English service, and to gain the double advantage of increasing the strength of the Americans, while we destroy that of the enemy. But the means appear to me as difficult as to yourselves, and in the present state of things, we cannot flatter ourselves that we shall succeed in the attempt.

You request, at the least, that the citizens of the United States, taken since the commencement of hostilities in the English service, should be surrendered to you. This general demand requires a serious attention, and I shall lay it before his Majesty. With respect to the four prisoners, whose liberation you more particularly request, it is with great pleasure, that I transmit orders to Denant, to place them at your disposal.

I have the honor to be, &c.

DE SARTINE.

M. DUMAS TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

Translation.

Hague, October 27th, 1778.

Gentlemen,

I received your favor of the 16th last Sat.u.r.day. It is precisely what I should have desired. The Grand Pentionary is highly pleased with it.

I went the same day to read it to our friend, and gave him a copy attested by my signature. It gave him much pleasure, and he has repeatedly a.s.sured me that it would be extremely agreeable to the Burgomasters of the city, whom he was eager to inform how you would answer to the measure he had engaged them to adopt, in procuring from them authority to make the declaration[53] and write me the letter, of which you have copies, and the duplicates of which are lodged in the city-house. He urged me to a.s.sure you, that the mention of England was not introduced with the design of making any thing depend on the pleasure of that power, but merely to show the situation of the city, which, for the present, can only wish that the English may be prevented from making any further opposition to our mutual connexion.

In fine, he is now prepared to act on his return, at a convenient opportunity.

The memorial of the merchants has been presented to their High Mightinesses. Herewith I transmit that presented to the Prince last Sat.u.r.day. Our friend remitted it to me the same day, and I have thought it deserving of a translation for your inspection. He inquired anxiously for good news from America, and I replied, that the situation of America was by no means critical, and that I was less anxious about it than about this republic.

M. de Welderen has sent the reply of Lord Suffolk to the representations of their High Mightinesses. "The Court of London," he says, "is willing to restore all the vessels seized, with costs and charges, and to pay for the naval stores which it shall retain; but its amba.s.sador will submit to their High Mightinesses a proposition to alter the treaties on this point, and to consent to declare these articles contraband in future."

Fortunately, unanimity is necessary to grant this consent, and Amsterdam will not allow even the entering upon such a negotiation.

Suffolk adds, as a proof of his king's moderation, "that he has not yet called for the aid which the republic is obliged by treaties to furnish him;" as if the republic had guarantied to England the monopoly of America. This is extraordinary. Three of us here believe, that this letter was not written in England, and has only returned hither.

The Secretary of their High Mightinesses is very much piqued, on account of the freedom with which the Committee of merchants addressed him, who, by reason of his equivocal answer, accused him of being in the English interest, like the majority of the chief men here. It is said, that it is truth only which is offensive.

I have finished the translation of the opinion of the city of Amsterdam, inserted in the Acts of the Republic, September 8th. I am preparing copies of it for you, Gentlemen, and for Congress. When yours is finished, I shall forward it with the request, that you will have two copies of it made by a skilful and exact French copyist, and send them to Congress as duplicates and triplicates of that, which I shall transmit to it from this place; for on the one hand, I consider this paper important and useful to the United States, both for the precise and authentic information which it affords relative to the present condition, political, military, &c. of this republic, and as an example of the evils it has drawn upon itself for the last century, by interfering too much with the imaginary balance of power, and with the wars of the European States, thus imposing upon itself the burden of a standing army, which has swallowed up its navy and subjected it to an imperious rival, &c. &c.; and on the other hand, this long paper occupies my time, which is valuable to me, and fatigues my hand, which unfortunately is not steady. My translation has been approved by our friend. It would be well to have it translated into English also, and if you had a translator who understood Dutch, I could transmit you the original.

I am, Gentlemen, &c.

DUMAS.

FOOTNOTES:

[53] See Van Berckel's Declaration, above, p. 457, dated Sept 23d.

TO E. T. VAN BERCKEL, BURGOMASTER OF AMSTERDAM.

Pa.s.sy, October 29th, 1778.

Sir,

Upon maturely considering the letter and declaration, which we have had the honor of receiving from you, we are of opinion, that there are some propositions relative to that business, which can only be properly discussed in a personal interview. We therefore wish that you, or a person authorised by you, would meet one of us at Aix-la-Chapelle, or any other place, which you may judge more convenient, for conducting this business with the most perfect secrecy.

Should this proposal meet with your approbation, you will have the goodness to apprise us of the time and place you think proper for the interview. It may be proper, that we should inquire for one another, whenever we meet, under fict.i.tious names; the fixing upon which we also wish to leave to you.

We shall be glad of an answer as soon as is convenient to you; and have the honor to be, with great respect, Sir, your most obedient, and most humble servants,

B. FRANKLIN, ARTHUR LEE, JOHN ADAMS.

TO COUNT DE VERGENNES.

Pa.s.sy, October 29th, 1778.

Sir,

We have the honor to inform your Excellency, that we are ready to execute and exchange the declarations, concerning the omission of the 11th and 12th articles of the treaty of commerce, and to request your Excellency to appoint a day to wait on your Excellency for that purpose.

We have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, &c.

B. FRANKLIN, ARTHUR LEE, JOHN ADAMS.

COUNT DE VERGENNES TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

Translation.

Versailles, October 30th, 1778.

Gentlemen,

I have received the reply, with which you honored me, regarding the arrangements to be made with the Barbary powers, for the protection of the American flag in the Mediterranean. Before the king can make any efforts to forward your views in this respect, I think it proper, that you should be provided with full powers from Congress, and that you should be not only authorised to propose the presents, which you may be expected to bestow, but also supplied with the necessary funds to satisfy these expectations. When all these preliminaries shall be complied with, you may rest a.s.sured, Gentlemen, that the king will hasten to forward, as far as he is able, the wishes and views of Congress. I have the honor to be, &c.

DE VERGENNES.

TO M. DE SARTINE.