The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. XI

Excerpt

Philadelphia, September 10th, 1781.

Sir,

The undersigned, Minister Plenipotentiary of France, has the honor of communicating to Congress the commission of M. Holker, as Consul General of France, in the States of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. He requests Congress to pass an act, or four different acts, in order to procure for this Consul the exequatur in each of the States, to which his functions are to extend.

LUZERNE.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Translation.

Philadelphia, September 18th, 1781.

Sir,

The undersigned, Minister Plenipotentiary of France, has the honor of informing Congress, that he has received despatches from his Court, containing important details relative to the communications, which have taken place between the belligerent and mediating powers. He wishes that Congress would be pleased to appoint a committee, to whom he shall communicate them, and with whom he shall confer upon the present state of affairs. He has also received orders from his Court, relative to the advances made on account of the Thirteen States, and concerning their finances; he will have the honor of communicating them to Congress through a committee.

LUZERNE.

In Congress, September 21st, 1781.

The committee, to whom was referred the Memorial of the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, dated the 18th instant, requesting a conference, report,

That they have this day held a conference with the said Minister Plenipotentiary, and received the following communications contained in sundry despatches from Count de Vergennes, Minister for Foreign Affairs to his Most Christian Majesty, viz.

From a letter of the 19th of April.—That Count de Vergennes had transmitted to the Minister the details respecting the proposed mediation of the Courts of Vienna and Petersburg. The Minister observed, that this had already been communicated to Congress through a committee. He repeated, for our recollection, that the acceptance on the part of France of the proposed mediation depended entirely, at that time, on the concurrence of the United States; and that with respect to Spain, its conduct would be determined by the dissolution of the negotiation with Mr Cumberland. That the Court of Spain had informed the Court of London, on the first proposal of the mediation of the Imperial Courts, that as a direct negotiation with the King of Great Britain was opened through Mr Cumberland, a mediation was unnecessary.

That affairs since that time had taken a different turn. Mr Cumberland has been recalled; and the Catholic King, being now entirely at liberty, has accepted the mediation of the two Imperial Courts. That the King, our ally, had done the same; but that both Kings had declared at the same time to the two mediators, that the mediation could not possibly have any activity, without previously establishing some fundamental preliminaries. Of this observation the two mediating Courts had already felt the propriety. That France was then (viz. the 19th of April) expecting the effect, which this communication would produce on the Court of London....