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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 --FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1783
On the report of the Secretary for foreign affairs, to whom was referred a communication from the honble the Minister Plenipotentiary of France:
The minister plenipotentiary of France transmitted to the Secretary for foreign affairs a note, of which the following is a translation:
Note
Philadelphia, December 31, 1782.
The minister plenipotentiary of France underwritten, has had the honour to communicate to the Secretary for the department of Foreign Affairs several facts and circumstances relative to the negotiation that has been opened, at Paris, between the belligerent powers, in order to effect a general peace. That minister will communicate it to Congress; but the undersigned minister plenipotentiary has likewise received orders to express himself to that assembly the satisfaction which the King his master has felt for the conduct they have held on the overtures that were made at different periods by the British commissioners commanding at New York, to bring about a partial negotiation with the United States, or any of them. The King has seen with pleasure the resolutions taken by his allies in those circumstances, and has been pleased to see how much they agree with these he has taken himself. He
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has observed with an equal satisfaction the unanimity which has subsisted among the different states in the union, who have thought proper to express their sentiments on the subject of a partial peace. The determination they have expressed to reject with abhorrence every proposition of that kind, has fully confirmed his Majesty in the opinion he had formed of their fidelity to fulfil their engagements, and of the wisdom that presides over their councils. The communications made to the secretary for the department of foreign affairs give room to presume, that this just and wise as well as prudent and advantageous conduct will soon bring the allies to a happy termination of the present war. The undersigned minister believes, however, that it is his duty to inform Congress, that at the time the British minister manifested those pacifick dispositions, they entertained just apprehensions about the fate of several naval operations, which have, on the contrary, had a much more favourable issue than the court of London seemed to expect. It is possible that those unexpected successes may alter their dispositions; and on this supposition the undersigned minister thinks that it becomes the wisdom of the United States not to slacken in their efforts and preparations for an ensuing campaign.
Congress may rest persuaded that his Majesty will, on his side, take all the necessary measures to carry it on with vigour, and that all his resources will be applied to this important object.
(Signed) Le Chr. De La Luzerne.1
[Note 1: 1 This "note" was entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. Another translation of the note is printed in the Diplomate Correspondence of American Revolution Wharton, VI, 187.]
Resolved, That the Secretary for foreign affairs inform the Minister of France, that Congress learn with great pleasure
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that the steps taken by Congress and the respective states, their constituents, in opposition to the attempts of the British Court to bring about a partial negotiation, has been satisfactory to his Most Christian Majesty: that his Majesty's conduct, in the progress of the negotiations commenced in Europe, as it has been communicated to Congress, is sufficient to inspire a just abhorrence of every act derogatory to the principles of the alliance, and serves to fortify the resolutions which his repeated acts of friendship, and a sense of their own honour and dignity, had dictated to the United States in Congress assembled, and the states they represent.1
[Note 1: 1 This resolution was also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
The court constituted in pursuance of the 9th Article of the Confederation, to hear and finally determine the dispute between the states of Pensylvania and Connecticut, respecting certain lands, having heard and adjudged the said dispute, returned to Congress their proceedings and final sentence and decree:
Ordered, That in pursuance of the said Articles of Confederation, the proceedings and final sentence and decree of the said court be lodged among the acts of Congress.
The commission to the judges was returned with the following endorsement:
"The execution of this commission appears by the schedule to the same annexed.
Wm. Whipple, (l. s.)
Welcome Arnold, (l. s.)
Wm. C. Houston, (l. s.)
Cyrus Griffin, (l. s.)
David Brearley, (l. s.)
The schedule annexed is in the words and figures following: Proceedings of the court of commissioners, holden at Trenton, in the
State of New Jersey, 12 November, 1782, to determine a
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controversy subsisting between the State of Pensylvania and the State of Connecticut, relative to disputed territory.
At a court of commissioners, holden at Trenton, in the State of New Jersey, on the twelfth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, agreeably to the ninth Article of the Confederation, and by virtue and in pursuance of the commission and letters patent of the United States in Congress assembled, given under their seal, and dated the twenty-eight day of August, in the year aforesaid, constituting and empowering the persons therein named, to hear and finally determine a controversy subsisting between the states of Pensylvania and Connecticut, relative to their respective rights and claims to certain disputed lands;
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