"The King having been informed, that the facility granted by the Fourteenth Article of the decree of his Council of the 27th of August, 1778, concerning merchandise obtained from prizes, has been abused, so that merchandise of English origin is taken on board, when under sail, or in foreign countries, and is imported under the character of merchandise taken as prize, into nations in alliance with his Majesty, he has thought proper to explain his intentions. Wishing to remedy this evil, and having heard the report of M. Joly de Fleury, one of the Common Council of State, and of the Royal Council of Finance, _the King in Council_ has commanded and commands, that all the merchandise named in the said Fourteenth Article of the regulation of August 27th, 1778, and the adjudication of which is made only upon condition of its re-exportation to a foreign country, cannot be exported from the ports of his kingdom, unless it be accompanied with the copy of the _proces-verbal_ of the sale made by the Admiralty, or by the Intendant or the Director of the Marine, duly certified by the register, or by the Controller of the Marine, and examined by the Receiver and Controller of the _Bureau des Fermes_, which, conformably to the Eighteenth Article of the same decree, must mention, that the goods have actually been taken from the mart, and embarked on board of the vessel designated. His Majesty forbids the clerks and overseers of the _Adjudicataire de ses Fermes_, under penalty of being deprived of their offices, and subjected to the severest punishment if it should be done, to allow any of the merchandise in question to be exported, without the previous formalities having been observed. "Done, at the King's Council of State, his Majesty being there present, held at Versailles, the 4th of May, 1782. LA CROIX CASTRIES." * * * * * TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. Translation. Philadelphia, May 7th, 1782. Sir, I have the honor of sending you the commission, by which the Chevalier d'Annemours has been appointed his Majesty's Consul in the five southern States. Be pleased to have the kindness to lay it before Congress, that they may pass an act for the recognition of his character, and that the necessary letters may in consequence be despatched to the different legislatures. I will myself see that they are forwarded, if you will send them to me. The representatives of Maryland and Virginia being now assembled, you will confer a particular favor on me, by bringing this affair to a termination as soon as possible. I have the honor to be, &c. LUZERNE. * * * * * ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON TO M. DE LA LUZERNE. Office of Foreign Affairs, May 8th, 1782. Sir,