The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 01

United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources

We enclose to you commissions and instructions for Ralph Izard and
William Lee; the first, appointed commissioner to the Court of
Tuscany, and the latter to the Courts of Vienna and Berlin. Their
instructions are so intimately connected with your own, that we have
thought proper to send them open to your confidential care, that you
may give information to the gentlemen, and take every due step to
forward the execution of the intention of Congress.

                                                          B. HARRISON,
                                                          R. MORRIS,
                                                          T. HAYWARD,
                                                          J. LOVELL.

       *       *       *       *       *

               COUNT DE VERGENNES TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

                             Translation.

                                          Versailles, 16th July, 1777.

  Gentlemen,

You cannot forget, that at the first conversation I had with both of
you, I assured you, that you should enjoy in France, with respect to
your persons, every security and comfort, which we showed to
foreigners; and as to your commerce and navigation, we would grant
every facility compatible with the exact observation of our treaties
with England, which the king's principles would induce him religiously
to fulfil. In order to prevent every doubt, with respect to the
vessels that may participate in the favors, which we grant in our
ports to nations in amity, I pointed out to you the article of the
treaty, which forbids the power of allowing privateers free access
into our ports, unless through pressing necessity, as also with
respect to the deposit and sale of their prizes. You promised,
gentlemen, to conform thereto.

After so particular an explanation, we did not press the departure of
the ship Reprisal, which brought Mr Franklin to France, because we
were assured it was destined to return with merchandise. We had quite
lost sight of this vessel, and imagined she was in the American seas,
when, with great surprise, we understood that she had entered
L'Orient, after taking several prizes. Orders were immediately given,
that she should depart in twentyfour hours, and to conduct her prizes
to the only admiralties, that were authorised to judge of their
validity. Captain Wickes complained of a leak. Being visited by proper
officers, his allegation was found to be legal, and admissible, the
necessary repairs were permitted, and he was enjoined to put to sea
again.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

History

The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 01

United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources

We enclose to you commissions and instructions for Ralph Izard and
William Lee; the first, appointed commissioner to the Court of
Tuscany, and the latter to the Courts of Vienna and Berlin. Their
instructions are so intimately connected with your own, that we have
thought proper to send them open to your confidential care, that you
may give information to the gentlemen, and take every due step to
forward the execution of the intention of Congress.

                                                          B. HARRISON,
                                                          R. MORRIS,
                                                          T. HAYWARD,
                                                          J. LOVELL.

       *       *       *       *       *

               COUNT DE VERGENNES TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

                             Translation.

                                          Versailles, 16th July, 1777.

  Gentlemen,

You cannot forget, that at the first conversation I had with both of
you, I assured you, that you should enjoy in France, with respect to
your persons, every security and comfort, which we showed to
foreigners; and as to your commerce and navigation, we would grant
every facility compatible with the exact observation of our treaties
with England, which the king's principles would induce him religiously
to fulfil. In order to prevent every doubt, with respect to the
vessels that may participate in the favors, which we grant in our
ports to nations in amity, I pointed out to you the article of the
treaty, which forbids the power of allowing privateers free access
into our ports, unless through pressing necessity, as also with
respect to the deposit and sale of their prizes. You promised,
gentlemen, to conform thereto.

After so particular an explanation, we did not press the departure of
the ship Reprisal, which brought Mr Franklin to France, because we
were assured it was destined to return with merchandise. We had quite
lost sight of this vessel, and imagined she was in the American seas,
when, with great surprise, we understood that she had entered
L'Orient, after taking several prizes. Orders were immediately given,
that she should depart in twentyfour hours, and to conduct her prizes
to the only admiralties, that were authorised to judge of their
validity. Captain Wickes complained of a leak. Being visited by proper
officers, his allegation was found to be legal, and admissible, the
necessary repairs were permitted, and he was enjoined to put to sea
again.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 01

The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 01

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