The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume XI Part 27

Philadelphia, April 28th, 1784.

Sir,

You will see by the subjoined letter of Mr Pierce, the situation of the Baron de Kalb with regard to the United States, at the time when he was killed at Camden. The continental money which he had received must have been employed in subsisting the body of troops under his command; or, if any part of these funds remained in his hands, it must have been plundered and taken by the enemy, with all the baggage of this General.

I think, then, that Congress will be pleased to take these circ.u.mstances into consideration, and excuse the heirs of the Baron de Kalb from producing vouchers, which circ.u.mstances do not allow them to procure. I pray your Excellency to be pleased, also to induce Congress to determine whether the resolutions of the 15th of May, 1778, and the 24th of August, 1780, extend to the widow and orphans of the Baron de Kalb.

A difficulty has also arisen with regard to M. de Fleury, Lieutenant Colonel, and it can be removed only by a resolution, which I request your Excellency to solicit from the goodness of Congress in favor of this officer. He did not quit the American army without leave granted, and Congress, in consideration of his services and good conduct, has been pleased to consider him as always being attached to the American army. It seems, then, right to ask, that he should enjoy the same advantages as the other officers, and the rather, that he was attached to the French army, which served on this continent. General Lincoln, in 1782, did not place him on the list of officers retained in the service; but this omission ought not to be prejudicial to the prior resolutions of Congress. He was, at this very time, detached to the Roanoke, with the troops of the French division, that he might support General Greene, in case the latter were attacked. Thus, ignorant of what was pa.s.sing in Congress, as well as in the War Department, it was impossible for him to make any representations on this subject. He was born without fortune, and if he did not, like the other officers, enjoy his pay to the 3d of November, 1783, his affairs would be found rather involved than meliorated by his residence in this continent.

The payments, which Mr Morris has been authorised to make, have been claimed for the years 1782 and 1783; and M. de Fleury would be found excluded, unless the justice of Congress should allow him the same treatment, which the other officers receive, and the advantages of the commutation. The third resolution of Congress of December 31st, 1781, seems to protect the rights of M. de Fleury, and authorise the demand, which I pray you to present to Congress in his favor.

The different articles subjoined will enable Congress to judge of the justice of the demands, concerning which I beg you, Sir, to inform me of the intentions of that body.[19]

I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

FOOTNOTES:

[19] The following is the statement of Baron de Kalb's account. Mr Pierce's letter is missing.

Office of Accounts, April 19th, 1784.

Sir,

I have examined sundry papers relative to the claim of the Baroness de Kalb, for the pay of her husband, (the late Baron de Kalb, deceased) as a Major General in the service of the United States of America, and find,

That from the 31st of July, 1777, the date of his appointment, to the 19th of August, 1780, the day of his death, being thirtysix months and twenty days, his pay, at $166-2/3 per month, amounts to $6,111 10-90

That per certificate of John Pierce, Paymaster General, it appears he received sundry sums, in money of the old emissions, on account of his pay, which are extended to his debit in specie, by the Ma.s.sachusetts scale, as follows, viz.

1778, February, 830 dollars, at 464 per cent $178 79-90 " May, 664 " " 580 " " 114 43-90 " October, 664 " " 690 " " 96 21-90 1779, January, 664 " " 834 " " 79 55-90 " May, 664 " " 1414 " " 46 86-90 " September, 664 " " 1695 " " 39 15-90 1780, November, 664 " " 2387 " " 27 73-90

That said certificate also includes a charge for $2000 old emissions, advanced him in August, 1777, which at 238 per cent are equal to 840 30-90

That he is also chargeable with the following sums, viz.

Received from Silas Deane, in France, on the 22d of November, 1776, as appears per receipt annexed to his agreement with said Deane, 6000 livres, at 5 livres and 5 sols per dollar, are equal to 1,142 79-90

Six thousand livres paid him in bills of exchange, agreeable to a resolve of Congress of September 14, 1777, at 5 livres 8 sols per dollar, equal to 1,171 10-90

That on this account, there appears a balance of two thousand four hundred and thirtythree dollars and 61-90 due to the estate of the Baron de Kalb 2,433 61-90 ------------ $6,111 10-90

Exclusive of the sums carried to the Baron's debit in the foregoing state, he is charged in the Paymaster General's books with the following, in old emissions, viz.

November 17th, 1777. Fifty dollars paid for transporting his baggage.

If he was in actual service at the time, and in such a situation as rendered extra means necessary for this purpose, I am of opinion that he ought not to be charged with this sum.

May, 1780. Two hundred and twentysix thousand dollars, said to be for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Maryland line, on their march to the southward, or for defraying the deficiencies of clothing due to the Maryland line. To oppose to this charge there is nothing yet produced. I therefore submit to consideration, the propriety of admitting to the credit of his estate the balance, which appeals due on account of his pay, as per the foregoing adjustment.

WILLIAM RAMSEY, _Clerk of Accounts_.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Translation.

Philadelphia, May 6th, 1784.

Sir,

The King having as yet made no appointment to the Consulate of Charleston, the intention of his Majesty was, that M. de la Forest, Vice-Consul at Savannah, should in the interim perform its duties. I have, consequently, transmitted to him, as well as to M. de Marbois, letters of recommendation, which we thought sufficient to induce the Governor and Council of South Carolina to recognise him in this provisional capacity. Our hopes with regard to this subject were built upon the second article of the draft of a contract for the establishment of Consuls; and we thought that its provisional execution, presenting no inconveniences, would meet with no difficulty, although we are yet ignorant whether this contract has been signed.

As the interests of commerce render the actual establishment of a Vice-Consul at Charleston of very urgent necessity, I pray your Excellency to propose to Congress, to pa.s.s a resolution for the provisional execution of this second article of the draft of the contract. This measure is so much the more necessary, as it is the only means of preventing the suspension of the Consular duties, which has often occurred in case of the absence or death of Consuls or Vice-Consuls, and a year might sometimes pa.s.s before the arrival of new appointments or commissions, and before resolutions should be pa.s.sed by Congress. Such an interruption of the office of Consul would be attended with inconveniences, which Congress will easily perceive.

Moreover, Sir, we ask nothing on this occasion, but what is customary in the other Consulates, and it is a power which will be readily allowed to Mr Barclay.

I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Translation.

Philadelphia, May 13th, 1784.

Sir,

I have received the letter, which your Excellency did me the honor to write to me on the 6th of the present month, and the acts of Congress accompanying it.

I pray you, Sir, to be pleased to inform Congress, that I have received a letter from the Count de Vergennes, which grants me the absence, which I had asked. This minister informs me at the same time, that his Majesty has appointed M. de Marbois, his _Charge d'Affaires_ to the United States. I repeat to your Excellency the request that you will be pleased to express for me to Congress, the regret with which I leave this continent, and the sentiments of respect, which I shall cherish through life towards that body.

Permit me to recall to your mind, Sir, the business of M. de Fleury, and of the widow of the Baron de Kalb. I pray you, also, to be pleased to enable me to make known here the intentions of Congress relative to M. de la Radiere, and to the money which was due to him at the time of his death, as well as with regard to the communication, if it takes place.

I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

CONGRESS TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.

In Congress, May 17th, 1784.

Sir,