Hoping that my voluntary excursion to Madrid may have somewhat prepared the way to fulfil the intentions of Congress, I hasten to join Mr Jay, whose abilities will improve the account I shall lay before him. I have the honor to be, with the most affectionate regard, &c. LAFAYETTE. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON TO M. DE LAFAYETTE. Dear Sir, Philadelphia, May 1st, 1783. I am now to acknowledge your favor of the 5th of February, by the Triomphe, and that of the 2d of March, from Bordeaux. You were the happy messenger of glad tidings on both occasions. Before her arrival we had received no account of the signature of the general preliminaries, or of the cessation of hostilities. You can easily conceive the joyful reception it met with here, where we began to be heartily tired of the war; nor was it less welcome intelligence to the army, than to the other citizens of America. The second letter, which promises a happy settlement of all differences with Spain, was flattering to those among us who knew the importance of her friendship, both in a commercial and political view. Congress feel themselves under great obligations to you, for the ardor you discovered in accelerating this happy event; and the address with which you placed it in such a train as to make it difficult for the Spanish Minister to go back from his engagements. By this conveyance I send our Ministers the ratification of the provisional articles. Carleton and Digby have sent out their prisoners, and we are making arrangements to send in ours. Congress having determined on their part to do, not only all that good faith may require, but by this mark of confidence to convince them, that they have no doubt of the sincerity of their professions. Our Ministers will show you the letters that have passed between Carleton and me. Some among us, from finding nothing yet done that leads to the evacuation of New York, have been apprehensive that the British will effect delays on that subject, till the tories are satisfied, which I can venture to tell you in confidence they never will be unless the English shall on their part repair all the cruel losses they have unnecessarily occasioned. I this moment received a letter from the General, informing me, that he had proposed a personal interview with Carleton, in hopes of learning something of his intentions with respect to the evacuation, but I fear he will be deceived in this hope, if I may judge from the debates of the 3d of March, which prove that no orders had then been transmitted. I cannot leave writing, without expressing how sincerely agree with you, in your wishes that unanimity may prevail, and the band of union among us be strengthened; there is no thinking man here, who does not at the same time feel the necessity and lament the difficulty of effecting a measure, on which our happiness so greatly depends. Congress have made some general arrangements in their finances, which if adopted by the several States, will render our national debt a national tie, which time and experience may strengthen. Our Ministers will show you those resolutions; I will not therefore unnecessarily burden Colonel Ogden with them. For general information I refer you to him, And have the honor to be, &c. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. Sir, TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Chavaniac, in the Province of of } Having been for some days in the country, where I am waiting for the arrival of the Trimophe, I am honored with your Excellency's favor of the 12th of April, which I hasten to acknowledge. It is for me a great happiness to think, that Congress have been pleased to approve my conduct, and that an early intelligence has proved useful to our American trade. To my great satisfaction I also hear, that my endeavors in Spain have been agreeable to Congress. Upon my arrival in Paris I made Mr Jay acquainted with my proceedings. The concessions I had obtained from the Spanish Court (without any on our part) were also put into his hands. Since which I could have no more to do in the negotiations, wherein I had taken the part of a temporary volunteer. However repeated may have been the marks of confidence, which Congress have conferred upon me, they ever fill my heart with a new satisfaction. What you have mentioned respecting payment of debts, will of course become my first and most interesting object. I have warmly applied to the French Ministry, and will on that point solicit the confidence of the gentlemen in the American. Commission. But upon hearing of an opportunity, I could not an instant defer to acknowledge your Excellency's letter. Agreeably to the last despatches, I am waiting for the orders which I hope to receive by the Triomphe. Any commands which Congress may have for me, shall be cheerfully executed, by one of their earliest soldiers, whose happiness it is to think, that at a less smiling moment he had the honor to be adopted by America, and whose blood, exertions, and affections, will in her good times, as they have been in her worst, be entirely at her service. It appears Russia is determined upon a Turkish war, and should they give it up now, the matter would only be postponed. What part the Emperor is to take, we cannot at present so well deterinine. Whenever the way is opened to me, I endeavor to do that which may prove agreeable to Congress, and intend to keep them acquainted with political occurrences. It is a pleasing idea for me now to think, that nothing can derange our glorious state of liberty and independence. Nothing, I say, for I hope measures will be taken to consolidate the Federal Union, and by those means to defeat European arts, and insure eternal tranquillity. With the highest respect, I have the honor to be, &c. P. S. Congress have no doubt received accurate accounts respecting the affair of free ports. On my arrival from Spain, I found that Bayonne and Dunkirk had been pitched upon, and I immediately applied for L'Orient and Marseilles. L'Orient is by far the most convenient on the coast, and we now have got it. That being done, I am again applying for Bayonne, which has some advantages, and I wish Congress would send orders to Mr Barclay. In the meanwhile, the more free ports we have the better. This affair of free ports, the subject which Congress have recommended, and the despatches I am directed to expect by the Triomphe, will determine the time when, having no more American business here, I may in dulge my ardent desire to return to the beloved shores of America. LAFAYETTE. TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Nantes, September 7th, 1783. Sir, In consequence of the late arrangements, the French September packet is about to sail, and I beg your Excellency's leave to improve that regular, speedy, and safe opportunity. At the same time, Congress will receive a definitive treaty. But upon this point, since I left Madrid, my services have not been wanting. From our Commissioners, Congress will of course receive better information. This one object I must however mention, which respects American debts. As soon as I knew the wishes of Congress, I did, as I ever shall in such a case, earnestly apply to the French Ministry and the American Commissioners. But I was answered that it could not be done, and did not even consist with the powers of the British Ministry. After which, and at that time of the negotiation, I had no means to improve the hint I had received from your Excellency. As to mercantile affairs in France, Mr Barclay will acquaint Congress with their present situation. Bayonne and Dunkirk having been pointed out as American free ports, and the opinion of Congress not being known, I took upon myself to represent the harbor of L'Orient as preferable to either of those abovementioned. It has lately been made a free port; and I now wish the affair of Bayonne may be again |