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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875

Journals of the Continental Congress --THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1778

Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1778

A letter, of this day, from Cornelius Sweers, was read:¹

[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XX, folio 245.]

Ordered, That it be referred to the committee appointed to report the mode of trying Cornelius Sweers; and that

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the committee be directed to take the examination, upon oath, of Cornelius Sweers, deputy commissary of military stores, touching his accusation of Colonel Benjamin Flower, commissary general of military stores; and that the same committee be authorized to send for persons and papers, which they may deem proper for the better prosecution of the business, and to seize and keep such papers of the said Flower and Sweers.

According to order, the hon. Sieur Gérard being introduced to an audience by the two members for that purpose appointed, and being seated in his chair, his secretary delivered to the President a letter from his most Christian Majesty, which was read in the words following:¹

[Note 1: 1 "Messrs. Richard H. Lee and Samuel Adams, a Committee of Congress, present their respectful compts. to the Hon. the Vice President and Council of the State of Pennsylvania, and beg the favor of them to order a sufficient number of Peace Officers to prevent any interruption of the Minister of France, on his passage to and from the Congress Chamber this day, August 6, 1778."]

Trés Chers, Grands Amis Et Alliés:

Les traités, que nous avons signés, avec vous, en conséquence des propositions, que vos députés nous ont faites de votre part, vous sont un garant assuré de notre affection pour les États-Unis en général et pour chacun d'eux en particulier, ainsi que de l'intérest que nous prenons et que nous prendrons constamment à leurs bonheurs et à leur prospérité. C'est pour vous en convaincre d'une manière plus particulière, que nous avons nommé le sieur Géard, sécrétaire de notre conseil d'état pour résider auprès de vous en qualité

TRANSLATION
• • Trés Chers, Grands Amis Et Alliés:

    Les traités, que nous avons signés, avec vous, en conséquence des propositions, que vos députés nous ont faites de votre part, vous sont un garant assuré de notre affection pour les États-Unis en général et pour chacun d'eux en particulier, ainsi que de l'intérest que nous prenons et que nous prendrons constamment à leurs bonheurs et à leur prospérité. C'est pour vous en convaincre d'une manière plus particulière, que nous avons nommé le sieur Géard, sécrétaire de notre conseil d'état pour résider auprès de vous en qualité

  • Very Dear, Great Friends And Allies:

    The treaties which we have signed with you, in consequence of the proposals your commissioners made to us in your behalf, are a certain assurance of our affection for the United States in general, and for each of them in particular, as well of the interest we take and constantly shall take in their happiness and prosperity. It is to convince you more particularly of this that we have nominated the Sieur Gérard, secretary of our council of state, to reside among you in the quality of minister plenipotentiary. He is the better acquainted

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• • de notre ministre plénipotentiaire. Il connoît d'autant mieux les sentimens, que nous vous pottons, et il est d'autant plus en état de vous en rendre témoignage qu'il a été chargé de notre part de négocier, avec vos députés, et qu'il a signé avec eux les traités, que cimentent notre union. Nous vous prions d'ajouter foi entière à tout ce qu'il vous dira de notre part, principalement lorsqu'il vous assurera de notre affection et de notre constante amitié pour vous. Sur ce nous prions Dieu, qu'il vous ait, très, chers, grands amis et alliés, en sa sainte et digne garde.

    Écrit à Versailles, le 28 Mars, 1778. Votre bon ami et allié,
    Louis.

    Gravier de Vergennes.

    A nos très chers grands amis et alliés les président ets members du Congrès général des États-Unis de l'Amérique Septentrionale.

  • quainted with our sentiments towards you, and the more capable of testifying the same to you, as he was entrusted on our part to negotiate with your commissioners and signed with them the treaties which cement our union. We pray you to give full credit to all he shall communicate to you from us, more especially when he shall assure you of our affection and constant friendship for you. We pray God, very dear, great friends and allies, to have you in his holy keeping.

    Versailles, 28th March, 1778.

    Your good friend and ally,
    (Signed,) ... Louis.

    (Undersigned,)

    Gravier de Vergennes.

    To our very dear great friends and allies, the president and members of the general Congress of the United States of North America.

The Minister was then announced to the President and the house: and having bowed and being bowed to according to the ceremonial, delivered the following speech: whereupon he arose and addressed Congress in a speech, which, when he had finished, his secretary delivered in writing to the President, and is as follows:

TRANSLATION
• • Messieurs: Les liaisons, que le roi mon maître a formées avec les États-Unis de l'Amérique lui sont si agréables; qu'il n'a pas voulu différer de m'envoyer résider auprès de vous pour les cimenter.
  • Gentlemen: The connexion formed by the king my master, with the United States of America, is so agreeable to him, that he could no longer delay sending me to reside among you for the purpose

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• • Sa majesté apprendra avec satisfaction que les sentimens, qui so sont manifestés à cette occasion, justifient la confiance que lui avoient inspiré le zèle et le caractère des députés des États-Unis en France; la sagesse et la fermeté qui out dirigé vos résolutions ainsi que la constance et le courage, que les peuples out fait éclater. Vous savez, messieurs, que cette confiance a fait la base du plan vrayment amical et désintéressé sur leà el sa majesté a traité avec les Éats-Unis.

    Il n'a pas dépendu d'elle, que ses engagemens n'assurassent votre indépendence et votre repos sans effusion ultérieur de sang et sans aggraver les maux de l'humanité dont tout son ambition est d'assurer le bonheur; mais les dispositions et les résolutions hostiles de l'ennemi commun ayant donné à des engagemens purement éventuels une force, actuelle, positive, permanente et indissoluble, le roi mon maître a pensé que les deux alliés ne doivent plus s'occuper que du moyens de les remplir de la manière la plus utile à la cause commune, et la plus efficace pour parvenir à la paix, qui est l'objet d'alliance. C'est d'après ce principe, que sa majesté s'est hâtée de vous envoyer un secours puissant: vous ne le devez, messieurs, qu'à son amitié, a l'intérest sincère,

  • pose of cementing it. It will give his majesty great satisfaction to learn, that the sentiments which have shone forth on this occasion justify that confidence with which he hath been inspired by the zeal and character of the commissioners of the United States in France, the wisdom and fortitude which have directed the resolutions of Congress, and the courage and perseverance of the people they represent; a confidence which you know, gentlemen, has been the basis of that truly amicable and disinterested system on which he hath treated with the United States.

    It is not his majesty's fault that the engagements he hath entered into did not establish your independence and repose, without the further effusion of blood, and without aggravating the calamities of mankind, whose happiness it is his highest ambition to promote and secure. But, since the hostile measures and designs of the common enemy have given to engagements purely eventual, an immediate, positive, permanent, and indissoluble force, it is the opinion of the king my master, that the allies should turn their whole attention to fulfil those engagements in the manner most useful to the common cause, and best calculated to obtain that peace which is the object of the alliance.

    It is upon this principle, gentlemen, his majesty hath hastened to

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• • qu'elle prend aux avantages des États-Unis, et au désir qu'elle a de concourir efficacement à affirmir, votre repos et votre prospérité sur des bases honorables et solids elle espère d'ailleurs, que les principes adoptés par lea gouvernemens contribueront à étendre les liaisons, que l'intéret mutuel des peuples respectifs avoit déjà commencé à établir entre eux. La principale pointe de mes instructions est de faire marcher sur la même ligne les intérets de la France et ceux des États-Unis. Je me flatte, messieurs, que ma conduite passe dans les affaires, qui les interressent, vous aura déjà convaincu, que je n'ai point de désir plus cher que celui d'exécuter rues instructions de manière à mériter la confiance du Congrès, l'amitié de sea membres et l'estime de tous les citoyens.

    Gérard.

  • send you a powerful assistance, which you owe only to his friendship, to the sincere regard he has for every thing which relates to the advantage of the United States, and to his desire of contributing with efficacy to establish your repose and prosperity upon an honorable and solid foundation. And further, it is his expectation that the principles which may be adopted by the respective governments, will tend to strengthen those bonds of union which have originated in the mutual interests of the two nations.

    The principal object of my instructions is, to connect the interests of France with those of the United States. I flatter myself, gentlemen, that my past conduct in the affairs which concern them, hath already convinced you of the determination I feel to endeavor to obey my instructions in such manner as to deserve the confidence of Congress, the friendship of its members, and the esteem of the citizens of America.

    (Signed,) ... Gérard.

To which the president returned the following answer:

Sir: The treaties between his most Christian majesty and the United States of America, so fully demonstrate his wisdom and magnanimity as to command the reverence of all nations. The virtuous citizens of America, in particular, can never forget his beneficent attention to their violated rights, nor cease to acknowledge the hand of a gracious Providence in raising them up so powerful and illustrious a friend. It is the hope and opinion of Congress that the confidence his majesty

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reposes in the firmness of these states, will receive additional strength from every day's experience.

This assembly are convinced, sir, that had it rested solely with the most Christian king, not only the independence of these states would have been universally acknowledged, but their tranquillity fully established. We lament that lust of domination which gave birth to the present war, and hath prolonged and extended the miseries of mankind. We ardently wish to sheath the sword, and spare the further effusion of blood; but we are determined, by every means in our power, to fulfil those eventual engagements which have acquired positive and permanent force from the hostile designs and measures of the common enemy.

Congress have reason to believe that the assistance so wisely and generously sent, will bring Great Britain to a sense of justice and moderation, promote the interests of France and America, and secure peace and tranquillity on the most firm and honorable foundation. Neither can it be doubted that those who administer the powers of government within the several states of this union will cement that connection with the subjects of France, the beneficial effects of which have already been so sensibly felt.

Sir: From the experience we have had of your exertions to promote the true interests of our country as well as your own, it is with the highest satisfaction Congress receive as the first minister from his most Christian majesty, a gentleman whose past conduct affords a happy presage, that he will merit the confidence of this body, the friendship of its members, and the esteem of the citizens of America.

In Congress August 6, 1778.

(Signed)Henry Laurels,
President.¹

[Note 1: 1 This reply, in the writing of Charles Thomson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 53.]

The secretary of Congress then delivered to the Minister a copy of the foregoing reply, signed as above.

Whereupon the Minister withdrew, and was conducted home in the manner in which he was brought to the house.

Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.

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