The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 11

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

I cannot however depart, without entreating your Excellency to
communicate to them my warm acknowledgements for the manner, in which
they have treated with me during my mission, which has lasted near
five years. I have had the satisfaction of agreeing with Congress on
all the subjects, which I have had the honor of negotiating with them;
and I owe my success to the good fortune I had of being the
Representative of a just and generous Monarch, to a wise and virtuous
Republic. I shall ever retain a grateful remembrance of this, and
shall always consider the time I have spent on this continent, as the
most honorable period of my life. My satisfaction would be complete,
were it not accompanied with regret, at parting from a Senate composed
of members, on whose friendship I flatter myself I have a just claim,
by an intimate acquaintance of several years. Your Excellency permits
me to rank you among those who honor me with their friendship; and I
am persuaded, that the expression of my attachment and respect for
Congress will lose nothing of its force, if you will be pleased to
convey it.

The letters, by which I have received advice of my having obtained
leave to return, inform me also, that M. de Marbois will be his
Majesty's _Charge d'Affaires_ with the United States. His zeal, and
his attachment for the cause, which unites France and America, are
well known to Congress, and I have not the least doubt, but his
Majesty's choice will be agreeable to that assembly.

I am, Sir, with great respect, &c.

                                                              LUZERNE.

       *       *       *       *       *

                    TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

                             Translation.

                                       Philadelphia, April 28th, 1784.

  Sir,

You will see by the subjoined letter of Mr Pierce, the situation of
the Baron de Kalb with regard to the United States, at the time when
he was killed at Camden. The continental money which he had received
must have been employed in subsisting the body of troops under his
command; or, if any part of these funds remained in his hands, it must
have been plundered and taken by the enemy, with all the baggage of
this General.

I think, then, that Congress will be pleased to take these
circumstances into consideration, and excuse the heirs of the Baron de
Kalb from producing vouchers, which circumstances do not allow them to
procure. I pray your Excellency to be pleased, also to induce Congress
to determine whether the resolutions of the 15th of May, 1778, and the
24th of August, 1780, extend to the widow and orphans of the Baron de
Kalb.

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

Opening the text

History

The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 11

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

I cannot however depart, without entreating your Excellency to
communicate to them my warm acknowledgements for the manner, in which
they have treated with me during my mission, which has lasted near
five years. I have had the satisfaction of agreeing with Congress on
all the subjects, which I have had the honor of negotiating with them;
and I owe my success to the good fortune I had of being the
Representative of a just and generous Monarch, to a wise and virtuous
Republic. I shall ever retain a grateful remembrance of this, and
shall always consider the time I have spent on this continent, as the
most honorable period of my life. My satisfaction would be complete,
were it not accompanied with regret, at parting from a Senate composed
of members, on whose friendship I flatter myself I have a just claim,
by an intimate acquaintance of several years. Your Excellency permits
me to rank you among those who honor me with their friendship; and I
am persuaded, that the expression of my attachment and respect for
Congress will lose nothing of its force, if you will be pleased to
convey it.

The letters, by which I have received advice of my having obtained
leave to return, inform me also, that M. de Marbois will be his
Majesty's _Charge d'Affaires_ with the United States. His zeal, and
his attachment for the cause, which unites France and America, are
well known to Congress, and I have not the least doubt, but his
Majesty's choice will be agreeable to that assembly.

I am, Sir, with great respect, &c.

                                                              LUZERNE.

       *       *       *       *       *

                    TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

                             Translation.

                                       Philadelphia, April 28th, 1784.

  Sir,

You will see by the subjoined letter of Mr Pierce, the situation of
the Baron de Kalb with regard to the United States, at the time when
he was killed at Camden. The continental money which he had received
must have been employed in subsisting the body of troops under his
command; or, if any part of these funds remained in his hands, it must
have been plundered and taken by the enemy, with all the baggage of
this General.

I think, then, that Congress will be pleased to take these
circumstances into consideration, and excuse the heirs of the Baron de
Kalb from producing vouchers, which circumstances do not allow them to
procure. I pray your Excellency to be pleased, also to induce Congress
to determine whether the resolutions of the 15th of May, 1778, and the
24th of August, 1780, extend to the widow and orphans of the Baron de
Kalb.

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

The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 11

The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 11

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