The treaties which we have signed with you in consequence of the propositions made to us on your part, by your deputies, are a certain guarantee to you of our affection for the United States in general, and for each one of them individually, as well as of the interest which we take, and shall always continue to take, in their happiness and prosperity. In order to convince you of this in a more particular manner, we have appointed M. Gerard, Secretary of our Council of State, to reside near you in quality of our Minister Plenipotentiary. He is the better acquainted with the sentiments which we entertain towards you, and is the more able to answer for them to you, as he has been intrusted on our part with negotiating with your deputies, and as he has signed with them the treaties which cement our union, we request you to give full credit to all that he shall say to you on our part, particularly when he shall assure you of our affection and of our constant friendship for you. Moreover, we pray God, that he will have you, very dear and great Friends and Allies, under his holy and worthy protection. Written at Versailles, the 28th of March, 1778. Your good Friend and Ally, LOUIS. * * * * * APPOINTMENT OF CONSUL-GENERAL OF FRANCE IN THE UNITED STATES. Louis, by the Grace of God, King of France and Navarre, to all those to whom these presents shall come, Greeting. Thinking it necessary to create the office of our Consul-General at Boston, and other ports belonging to the United States of North America, and being desirous to confer a favor on M. Gerard, we have thought that we could not make choice of a better person than he, to fulfil the duties of this office, by our knowledge of his zeal and affection for our service and for the interests of our subjects, and of his judgment and ability in naval affairs; for these reasons, and others moving us thereto, we have nominated and appointed the said M. Gerard, and by these presents signed with our hand, do nominate and appoint him our Consul-General at Boston, and other ports belonging to the United States of North America, with power to appoint consuls and vice-consuls in the places where he shall judge them necessary; to have and to hold the said office, to exercise, enjoy, and use it, so long as it shall please us, with the honors, authorities, advantages, prerogatives, privileges, exemptions, rights, benefits, profits, revenues, and emoluments which belong to it, such, and the same as those which our other Consuls-General enjoy. We prohibit all French merchants, and all persons sailing under the French flag, from disturbing him in the possession, duties and exercise of this consulate. We enjoin on all captains, masters and commanders of ships, barks and other vessels, armed and sailing under the said flag, as well as on all our other subjects, to acknowledge the said M. Gerard,