to furnish them with the fullest and most extensive powers. In this case it will, in my opinion, be proper that I should depart with one or more of your Ministers, and it is an additional motive for urging this whole arrangement, with which your own interest inspires me, by increasing my eagerness to go where I shall think myself happy to announce, that union and unanimity prevail in America.

Moreover, Sir, I request you to inform me in what manner Congress will judge proper that I should take my leave, with regard to the secrecy, which I endeavor to keep as to my speedy departure. I also flatter myself, that if they shall think proper to give me any commission, they will rely upon my carrying into France the same zeal for the interests of the United States and of the common cause, of which I have sought to give proofs during my residence in America. I have the honor to be, with respect and esteem, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

GERARD.

Sir,

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Translation.

Mount Pleasant, April 6th, 1779.

I have the honor of sending you the abstract of news, which I have just received from Martinique. It is not very interesting, but it will at least make known the present state of things. I send at the same time a paper relative to a financial operation, which has been performed in France. I request you to send it

back to me again, and to accept the sentiments of respect with which I have the honor to be, Sir, &c. GERARD.

Abstract of several Letters, dated Martinique, February 25th.

"The King's vessels, Robuste of seventyfour guns, commanded by the Count de Grasse, commander of the squadron; Magnifique of seventy four, by M. de Branche; Dauphin Royal of seventy, by M. de Mitton; and Vengeur of sixtyfour, by M. de Retz, having sailed from Brest the 14th of January, arrived at Fort Royal the 20th of this month. They had on board the second field regiment, eight hundred and fifty recruits, and a company of miners."

March 6th. "We learn that Admiral Byron has on his part also received a reinforcement, but we do not know the force of it. He has not yet undertaken any operation. He has only twice sailed out with some ships, but he returned the day after. It is true, that he has not troops enough to make conquests and to preserve them. Sickness continues to make great ravages among those that are at St Lucia."

March 9th.

"The convoy from France, so much wished for, has just arrived, attended by many vessels. "The islands of St Martin and St Bartholomew, which

the English had taken from us, without much exertion by three

have just been retaken

of our frigates, and an

end put to the triumph, which our enemies had reaped from this easy conquest.

"M. de Kersin, the lieutenant of the ship, took two

of

prizes last week; one a merchant store-ship called Eliza, armed with twentyeight twelve pounders. Her crew consisted of one hundred and forty men, and her cargo provisions and sails, to the value of twentyfive thousand livres. The store-ship was sheathed with copper. The other is a privateer of eighteen guns, and with a crew of seventysix men. Some American privateers have sent here two prizes coming from Halifax, loaded with fish and boards. The Minerva has also carried to Cape François another English frigate of twentyfour guns. The ability of the captain saved her from the danger of being taken by a ship of war and three frigates, by which she had been surprised in a calm."

Baltimore, April 2d. "The captain of a sloop, which has arrived in twentytwo days from Martinique, reports that sickness had made dreadful ravages in the English army and fleet at St Lucia, that the two squadrons are supposed to be nearly equal in force, that the French frigates, are constantly at sea, often engaging with the English, that one of the former has taken the frigate Liverpool of twentysix guns, that in other respects, the situation of the French is entirely satisfactory to them, and that they appear to be unconcerned with regard to the success of the operations, which Admiral Byron intends to undertake."

Martinique, March 14th. "We learn from France, that news has been received by Portuguese vessels returned from India, that the English commenced hostilities against the French in the month of April. A ship of war and a frigate attacked at that time the Brilliant, of seventyfour guns, commanded by M. de Tronjoly, who repelled the attack. We learn also, that they are making great exertions for the repair and arming of a force of fortyfive

privateers, which the royal navy has taken from the English, and that the greater part of these vessels will in a short time be ready to sail."

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Translation.

Philadelphia, April 24th, 1779.

Sir,

Although the undersigned is not invested with any power on the part of his Catholic Majesty, he hopes that the Congress of the United States of North America, knowing the closeness of the union subsisting between his Catholic and his Most Christian Majesty, will not be surprised if the Minister of France has the honor to submit to them the representations, which two captains of Spanish vessels have made to Don Juan de Mirales. The facts on which these representations rest are contained in the annexed memorial, being taken from the letters of the captains. In a short time, the proceedings, and the act of appeal relating to one of the Spanish ships, whose cargo has been confiscated, will be laid before Congress, as well as the papers relating to the second ship, if this suffers the same fate; in order to implore the justice of Congress. Meanwhile it has been thought proper to communicate the facts to Congress, in order that they may be pleased previously to examine this affair, on which we are persuaded that they will be pleased to bestow the greater attention, as it involves the observance of a law generally adopted by commercial nations, for the maintenance of the public security upon the sea, as well as of the right of neutrality, which affects the interests of the United States, as much

and more than those of any other nation, and in order not to give just cause of discontent to a power like Spain, by violating the immunity and dignity of her flag, and by depriving her subjects of their property without cause or pretext. GERARD.

Memorial respecting two Spanish Vessels.

Translation.

Memorial or relation of the injury sustained by two Captains of Spanish merchantmen, which had sailed, the one from the river of London, loaded with merchandise for Cadiz, on the account and at the risk of Spanish merchants; and the other from the port of Cadiz, loaded with wines, fruits, cochineal, and other articles, of the growth of the Spanish territory, belonging also to Spaniards, bound for London. These two vessels were stopped by two different privateers, carrying the flag of the United States of America, and brought the one to Newbury and the other to Beverly, and then on the demand of the owners of the privateer, the cargo of one of them was declared a lawful prize at Boston, the 28th of last March. They were on the point of passing sentence on the other at the same place, and not doubting that it will suffer the same fate as the first, according to the letters written by the said Captains from the said port of Boston to Don Juan de Mirales, one of which is without date, and the other bearing date of the 3d of this month, he has the honor to impart their contents to his Excellency M. Gerard, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Court of France to the United States of America, requesting him to have the goodness to lay the information before the honorable Con