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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, NOVEMBER 29, 1781
A draft of a letter to his Most Christian Majesty, being reported, and sundry amendments being made, was passed.
The secretary of foreign affairs reported the draft of a letter to his Most Christian Majesty; which, being amended, was agreed to as follows:
The United States in Congress assembled, to their great, faithful and beloved friend and ally, Lewis the sixteenth, king of France and Navarre.
Great, Faithful and Beloved Friend and Ally,
At a period so glorious to the arms of France, both by sea and land, and so favourable to the fortunes of America, it is with peculiar satisfaction that we congratulate the monarch, whose wise counsels and generous support have so largely contributed to events illustrious in themselves, and promising consequences truly important.
We wish to convey to your Majesty our sense of the victory obtained by the Count de Grasse over the enemy's fleet on our coast, and the subsequent reduction of the British armament in Virginia; and we repeat our grateful acknowledgments for the various aids so seasonably extended to us. From the benevolence and magnanimity which have hitherto interested your Majesty in the welfare of these states, we are convinced that you will on this occasion feel an equal pleasure with ourselves, whose immediate advantage is the result of such fortunate exertions.
We mention with very great pleasure the zeal and ability manifested by the Count de Rochambeau, commanding your Majesty's forces in the allied army. His conduct, and that of the officers under him, merit our fullest approbation; and we are made further happy by the perfect harmony and affection which have subsisted between the troops of the two nations.
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The distress occasioned to the common enemy by combined operations, will, we trust, point out to both nations the utility of similar measures in future; and whilst it induces your Majesty to supply that naval force which the situation of our country renders necessary, will urge the United States to every effort which their particular interests, added to their desire of seconding your Majesty's views, can call forth to ensure the complete success of attacks upon the enemy's strongholds.
It is with great pleasure that the United States continue to number some of your Majesty's subjects amongst their most able, spirited and faithful officers. It affords the world a striking proof of the intimate connection which subsists between the allied nations, and at the same time serves to cement the union which it manifests.
Major General the Marquis de la Fayette has in this campaign so greatly added to the reputation he had before acquired, that we are desirous to obtain for him, on our behalf, every notice, in addition to that favourable reception which his merits cannot fail to meet with from a generous and enlightened sovereign; and in that view we have directed our minister plenipotentiary to present the marquis to your Majesty.
We pray God, great, faithful and beloved friend and ally, always to keep your Majesty in his holy protection.
Done at Philadelphia, the twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord 1781, and in the sixth year of our independence. By the United States in Congress assembled. Your faithful friends and allies.
(Signed) John Hanson, President.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter was entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, and in Secret Journal, No. 4. A copy is in Secret Journal, No. 6, Volume III. The draft, in the writing of William Churchill Houston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 47, folio 331.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was read a letter of the same date from the Superintendant of Finance and referred to Mr. [Thomas] Bee, Mr. [William] Ellery, and Mr. J[oseph] Jones. It is in No. 137, I, folio 237.]
Charles Thomson, Secretary.
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