please to communicate my letter to General Washington, though it is a public one, I may ask the favor from you, as I would otherwise have sent him a copy of it. With the highest regard, I have the honor to be, &c. LAFAYETTE. P. S. I have just received a note from the French Ambassador at Madrid, whereby I find that my letter had a good effect. TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Cadiz, February 5th, 1783. Sir, Whatever despatch I make in sending a vessel, I do not flatter myself to apprize Congress with the news of a general peace; yet such are my feelings on the occasion, that I cannot defer presenting them with my congratulations. Upon their knowledge of my heart, I depend more than upon expressions, which are so far inadequate to my sentiments. Our early times I recollect with a most pleasing sense of pride; our present ones make me easy and happy. To futurity I look forward in the most delightful prospects. Former letters have acquainted Congress, that, upon my intending to leave France, I had been detained by their Commissioners. To my letter of the 3d of December I beg leave to refer them for a further account of my conduct. Now the noble contest is ended, and I heartily rejoice at the blessings of peace. Fortynine ships of the line and twenty thousand men are now here, with whom Count d'Estaing was to join the combined forces in the West Indies; aud during the summer they were to co-operate with our American army. Nay, it had lately been granted, that, whilst Count d'Estaing acted elsewhere, I should enter the St Lawrence river at the head of a French corps. So far as respects me, I have no regret, but, independent of personal gratifications, it is known that I ever was bent upon the addition of Canada to the United States. On the happy prospect of peace I had prepared to go to America. Never did an idea please me so much as the hope to rejoice with those to whom I have been a companion in our labors; but however painful the delay, I now must defer my departure. In the discharge of my duty to America no sacrifice shall ever be wanting, and when it had pleased Congress to direct that their Ministers should consult with me, it became my first concern to deserve their confidence. From my letter to Mr Livingston an opinion may be formed of our situation in Spain; my advice has been called for, and I have given it; my presence is requested, and instead of sailing for America, I am going to Madrid, being so far on my way; and as Mr Jay is in Paris, I think it is better for me to go there. But unless Congress shall honor me with their commands, I shall embark in the course of June, and am eager for the moment when I may again enjoy the sight of the American shores. Now, Sir, our noble cause has prevailed; our independence is firmly settled, and American virtue enjoys its reward. No exertions, I hope, will now be wanting to strengthen the Federal Union. May the States be so bound to each other, as forever to defy European politics. Upon that union their consequence, their happiness, will depend. This is the first wish of a heart more truly American than words can express. With the highest respect I have the honor to be, &c. LAFAYETTE. TO THE COUNT DE FLORIDA BLANCA. Translation. Madrid, February 19th, 1783. Sir, Having had the honor to confer with your Excellency on the objects relative to the United States, and being soon to repair to the American Congress, I wish to be fully impressed with the result of our conversations. Instead of the indifference, and even of the divisions, which another nation would be glad to foresee, I am happy to have it in my power to inform the United States of your good dispositions. It is to you, Sir, I am indebted for this advantage, and in order to make it complete, and to make myself certain that I forget nothing, give me leave to submit to your Excellency the account which I intend to lay before Congress. His Catholic Majesty desires, that a lasting confidence and harmony may subsist between him and the United States, and he is determined on his part to do everything that will be necessary to keep it up. The American Chargé d'Affaires is at this moment received as such, and your Excellency is going to treat of the interests of the two nations. As you wish to show Mr Jay every kind of regard, you wait only till the Count d'Aranda shall have notified your dispositions to him, before you present Mr Carmichael to his Majesty. With respect to the limits, his Catholic Majesty has adopted those that are determined by the preliminaries of the 30th of November, between the United States and the Court of London. The fear of raising an object of dissension, is the only objection the King has to the free navigation of the river Mississippi. The Virginia tobacco, and the naval stores, may furnish matter for reciprocal conventions in the treaty, and by means of the productions of America, arrangements might be made which would be useful to her finances. When I had the honor to speak to you in favor of a diminution of the duties on codfish, you answered, that it would be necessary to give to France a similar advantage, and that by virtue of former treaties, the English might set up pretensions to the same; but that you will do in every respect all that will be in your power to satisfy America. I would with very great pleasure touch upon every detail, which may enter into a connexion between Spain and the United States, but I am not to be concerned in this happy work. The Ministers of the United States, and the one whom you may send thither are to make it their business, and I content myself with reminding you of the general ideas you have given me. A word from you will satisfy me that I have not omitted anything. The dispositions of his Catholic Majesty, and the candor of your Excellency, will leave no pretexts for misrepresentations. The alliance of the House of Bourbon with the United States is founded on reciprocal interest; it will still acquire greater strength from the confidence which your Excellency wishes to establish. Such, Sir, are the conclusions, which I have drawn from our conferences, and the account which I intend to give to Congress, without having any mission for that purpose. I am acquainted with the sentiments of Congress, and I am convinced they will set a just* value upon your dispositions. In permitting me to acquaint them with these particulars, you will have a claim to my personal gratitude. To the assurance of this I join that of the respect, with which I have the honor, &c. LAFAYETTE. COUNT DE FLORIDA BLANCA TO M. DE LAFAYETTE. Translation. Sir, Pardo, February 22d, 1783. I cannot comply better with your desire, than by asking your leave to give you here my answer. You have perfectly well understood whatever I have had the honor to communicate to you, with respect to our dispositions towards the United States. I shall only add, that although it is his Majesty's intentions to abide, for the present, by the limits established by the treaty of the 30th of November, 1782, between the English and the Americans, yet the King intends to inform himself particularly whether it can be in any ways inconvenient or prejudicial to settle that affair amicably with the United States. I have the honor to be, &c. COUNT DE FLORIDA BLANCA. |