The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume XI Part 43

CIRCULAR TO THE GOVERNORS OF THE STATES.

Philadelphia, December 23d, 1782.

Sir,

The steps that may lead to so important an event as peace upon safe and honorable terms, are too interesting to be withheld from you; I have the honor, therefore, to enclose a copy of Mr Oswald's commission to treat with the Thirteen United States of America, which will certainly smooth the way to it, though the variety of interests to be adjusted at a general Congress (and, perhaps, too, the success of the British arms at Gibraltar) may place it further off than our wishes would otherwise lead us to imagine.

Your Excellency will see the propriety of not suffering copies of this commission to be taken for the press, and of accompanying the communication you may think proper to make of it, with such recommendations to exertion and vigilance, as prudence and the critical state of our affairs may require, since on a review of the conduct of the enemy, it will not appear extravagant to suppose, that this may be another of those artifices so often practised to deceive and put us off our guard. Though we have no official accounts, yet we have every reason to believe, that the treaty of commerce with the United Provinces was signed on the 7th of October.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

TO WILLIAM GREENE, GOVERNOR OF RHODE ISLAND.

Philadelphia, January 4th, 1783.

Sir,

Agreeably to the order of Congress, I have the honor to lay before your Excellency the enclosed copy of a motion made by Mr Howel, and the resolutions of Congress thereon, together with the state of the applications for foreign loans, and the results thereof.

Without troubling your Excellency with those inconsiderable and secret aids, which we received at the beginning of the controversy, I shall take the applications and the grants, that were made in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventynine, and since. To begin with

_Spain._

The 9th of September, 1779, Congress proposed to obtain a subsidy from Spain during the continuance of the war, which they offered to purchase by a very important cession. Spain having hitherto declined an alliance with the United States, no such subsidiary treaty took place.

In the same month Mr Jay was instructed to borrow five millions of dollars. After long and continued solicitations, he obtained one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and was compelled to protest bills of exchange drawn upon him by Congress, on the presumption, that Spain would certainly enable him to redeem them. This protest, which was made on the 16th of March last, was as follows;

"Mr Jay says, that when he accepted the bills hereunto annexed, he had good reason to expect to be supplied with funds necessary to pay them; that he has been disappointed in the expectation he was encouraged to entertain on this subject, and that his endeavors to obtain money, both here and elsewhere, have been unsuccessful, although the bills which remain to be paid by him, together with his other engagements, do not exceed twentyfive thousand pounds sterling, but these disappointments being unexpected, he cannot for want of time have recourse to Congress, and therefore finds himself reduced to the mortifying necessity of permitting them to be protested." These bills were redeemed after the protest, by money borrowed in France. I have reason to believe, that no money has since been obtained on account of the United States in Spain; so that the application for five millions of dollars has only been answered by the grant of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

_Portugal._

On the 11th of January, 1782, Mr Jay was directed, in conjunction with the Superintendent of Finance, to undertake a loan in Spain or Portugal, without limiting the amount of such loan. And Mr Jay was directed to send Mr Carmichael to aid their endeavors. This power was restricted by a subsequent resolution, directing Mr Jay not to send Mr Carmichael, unless he had some prospect of succeeding. Not having sent him, it is to be presumed he had no prospect of succeeding.

_Holland._

On the 26th of October, 1779, Mr Laurens, having been appointed a commissioner for that purpose, was directed to borrow a sum not exceeding ten millions of dollars. Mr Laurens having been captured, his place was supplied by Mr Adams, who had similar powers and instructions. He made several attempts to open a loan, but with so little success, that he never has transmitted an account of the amount, but has since informed me, that he had applied it in part of payment for a house purchased at the Hague. His salary has. .h.i.therto been paid by money drawn from France. A loan, however, has been opened with success in Holland on our account by his Most Christian Majesty, and under his special guarantee for ten millions of livres. Mr Adams informs Congress by a letter dated the 5th of July last, that he also has opened a loan in Holland on account of the United States for five millions of florins, but adds, that he does not expect to obtain that sum for a long time, that if he gets a million and a half by Christmas, it will be more than he expects.

In a letter of the 18th of August, the last I have received from Mr Adams, he says, that "when he receives the ratification of his treaty for a loan, there will be thirteen or fourteen hundred thousand guilders to be paid to the orders of Congress." This is confirmed by a letter to the Marquis de Lafayette, of which he sends me an extract.

As that ratification must have been received long since, we may set the loans actually made in Holland on our credit, at

Three millions of livres, 3,000,000 Those made under the guarantee and on the credit of France, at 10,000,000 ---------- Ten millions of livres, 13,000,000

Our further prospects of borrowing are too uncertain to be stated. As this is a private loan it is reasonable to suppose, that the clamors of the public creditors here, when heard in Holland, will have some effect upon our credit there.

_France._

In France various applications were made, and several grants obtained previous to the year 1779, though they are not clearly stated, from the irregular manner in which the books of the Secret Committee, and the Committee of Foreign Affairs were formerly kept. It appears, that the whole sum obtained from France previous to the year 1780, exclusive of one million obtained on a contract for tobacco with the Farmers-General amounted to nine millions of livres. In November, 1780, Congress applied to the Court of France for an aid of twenty five millions of livres in money, exclusive of a considerable supply of arms, ammunition, and military stores, which they declared would fall short of their wants for the ensuing year without the greatest internal exertion.

They sent Mr Laurens as a Minister on this special occasion, and in this year and the year 1781, Congress received fourteen millions of livres, including the goods and military stores, without counting the loan opened for the United States in Holland, of which mention is made before.

But as this sum fell very far short of our wants, Dr Franklin was instructed on the 8th of February, 1782, to borrow twelve millions of livres. In answer to which, that Minister, writing to me on the 25th of June, after acknowledging the receipt of my letters, one of which was written on the subject of the above instruction, says, "the second (the second letter) enforces some resolutions of Congress sent me with it respecting a loan of twelve millions of livres to be demanded of France for the current year. I had already received the promise of six millions, together with the clearest and most positive a.s.surances, that it was all the King could spare us, that we must not expect more, that if drafts and demands came upon me beyond that sum, it behooved me to take care how I accepted them, or where I should find funds for the payment, since I could, certainly not be further a.s.sisted out of the royal treasury. Under this declaration, with what face could I ask for another six millions? It would be saying, 'you are not to be believed, you can spare more, you are able to lend me twice the sum, if you were but willing.' If you read my letter to Mr Morris of this date, I think you will be convinced how improper any language capable of such a construction would be to such a friend."

On the 14th of September Congress were pleased to direct that four millions of dollars be borrowed in Europe, exclusive of the loan negotiating in Holland. A copy of which resolution is directed to be communicated to his Most Christian Majesty, with directions to Dr Franklin to a.s.sure his Majesty of the high sense the United States in Congress entertain of his friends.h.i.+p and generous exertions, their reliance on a continuance of them, and the necessity of applying on the present occasion to him. And on the 23d of September Congress resolved further, in answer to the above letter from Dr Franklin, and one of a similar nature to the Superintendent of Finance of the same date, that, notwithstanding the information contained in those letters, it is the direction of Congress, that he use his utmost endeavors to effect the loan, which, by the resolve of the 14th instant is to be negotiated.

I should observe that in the above statement of the grants made to the United States, I have not distinguished between loans and gifts, but included both in the gross sums above mentioned, though about eight millions of that granted by France has been given, without any expectation of being repaid.

It is unnecessary to draw those inferences from the above facts, which they naturally suggest. They cannot escape your Excellency's observation. I can only wish, that the low state of our credit abroad may excite us to such internal exertions as must be its best support.

Those only can borrow with dignity, who give unequivocal proofs of the design to repay their debts with honor.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

Baltimore, February 7th, 1783.

Sir,

I arrived here on the 30th of last month, and had a short interview the same evening with the Chevalier de Ville Brune, commander of the Romulus. There appeared at that time little apprehension, but that we might sail within a few days, but we were not very particular in our conference, as we expected so soon to see each other again; the severity of the cold, however, which commenced that night, obliged the Chevalier de Ville Brune to fall twelve miles below this place, and excluded all correspondence with him till yesterday, when I found means to get through the ice on board his s.h.i.+p. He then communicated to me, by direction of his Excellency the Minister of France, intelligence as to the number and force of the cruisers now actually watching the Capes of the Chesapeake.

I must acknowledge, that these appear such as to render a capture certain were we to hazard it. The Minister was pleased at the same time to submit the Guadeloupe to my wishes, if I chose to adventure. I take the liberty of troubling you with a copy of my letter to him on that subject.

I should certainly be disposed to run very considerable risks myself to effect my pa.s.sage, but I should think it an unfortunate introduction to an ally, who has already done so much for us, were I to add to his losses and disburs.e.m.e.nts, that of a valuable s.h.i.+p and crew. I wish that the present delay offered some, period less distant than the la.s.situde of an avaricious enemy to watch for prey. Perhaps you may be able to put me on some more expeditious mode of pa.s.sage than the one under which I am acquiescing at present. I shall be much pleased to adopt any such, which may come recommended from you, without regard to personal risk or trouble. In the meantime, any intelligence which you can be able to collect, and will be pleased to give me as to the state of our coast, will be of utility in determining whether and when we shall depart hence.

I have the honor to be, &c.

THOMAS JEFFERSON.

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.

Baltimore, February 7th, 1783.

Sir,