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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 --TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present as before.
A letter from his Most Christian Majesty having been laid before Congress, announcing the birth of a son, the Duke of Normandy, in the following words:
Tres Chers Grands Amis et Alliés,
Nous nous empressons de vous informer que la Reine notre très chere Epouse a mis aujourd'huy au monde un prince que nous avons nommé Due de Normandie. Nous ne doutons pas que vous ne partagier bien sincèrement la satisfaction que nous cause cet heureux evénement et vous devez être bien convaincus du plaisir avec lequel nous recevrons ces temoignages que vous nous en donnerez. Nous en avons un bien veritable à saisir cette occasion pour vous renouveller ces assurances de notre
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affection et de notre constante amitie pour vous. Sur ce nous prions Dieu qu'il vous ait, très chers amis et alliés en sa sainte et digne garde.
Écrit a Versailles, ce 27 Mars, 1785. Votre bon ami et allie.
Louis.
Gravier de Vergennes.
To this, Congress returned the following answer.
Great, Faithful and Beloved Friend and Ally,
We have received the letter which your majesty did us the honour to write on the 27th March last.
The magnanimity of your conduct towards us in the day of our distress, will always lead us to consider every event as fortunate which adds to the domestick felicity of your family and the general happiness of your people.
We consider the birth of a prince as conducing to both these desirable objects, and we present to your majesty and the queen our sincere congratulations on that joyful occasion.
Permit us to assure your Majesty of our unceasing gratitude and attachment, and of the sincerity with which we pray that the Almighty may always keep you and yours in his holy protection.
Done at New York the 14 Day of June, 1785.
By the United States in Congress assembled.
Your Majesty's faithful friends and Allies.1
[Note 1: 1 The King's letter and the answer of Congress were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs No. 5, and in Secret Journal No. 4. A copy of the answer is in Secret Journal No. 6, Vol. III. Jay's report to Congress which drafts the above reply is dated June 13 and is in No. 81, I, folio 247. According to Committee Book No. 191 and the indorsement it was considered June 13 and on June 14 agreed to and referred back to the Secretary to take order.]
The Committee consisting of Mr. [Melancton] Smith, Mr. [Joseph Platt] Cook and Mr. [David] Howell to whom was referred the memorial of Comfort Sands and Joshua Sands late Contractors for supplying with Provisions the Garrison of West Point and its dependencies Report
That it appears to your Committee a claim was made by the Memorialists on the late superintendant of Finance for damages they alledge they have sustained by the failure on the part of the financier to make his payments according to his agreement, and by
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his depriving them of their Contract. That the settlement of the claims was together with the demands of the contractors for the moving army, by the mutual agreement of the late superintendant of Finance and the Memorialists, referred to the decision of John D. Mercier, William Malcom and Isaac I. Roosevelt, But that their report was not made by the time limited in the Bonds, and the superintendant of Finance, being about leaving his office, the claims were not adjusted. Your Committee therefore submit the following Resolve.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Melancton Smith, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 279. It is indorsed by Thomson as: "Entd. 14 June 1785 read Passed 27 June 1785 filed." The resolve submitted was adopted verbatim June 27 q. v.
June 14: The following committees were appointed:
Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [James] McHenry and Mr. [Abiel] Foster, on a letter of June 13 from the Board of Treasury on a letter of June 7 from Barbé Marbois regarding a pension for Lieut. Louis I. de Beauleau. The committee reported June 27, q. v. for personnel.
Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Samuel] Dick and Mr. [John] Lawrance, on the memorial of Marianne McClure. This was a renewal of the committee of March 23 and to it was committed the "Claim of du Cheneaux for 892 dollrs." A report was rendered July 13.
Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, Mr. W[illiam] Henry and Mr. [Abraham] Baldwin, on the memorial of James Willing for the settlement of his accounts. This committee was renewed August 8. See ante, March 17.
Committee Book No. 190.
On this day, according to indorsement and Committee Book No. 191, the report of the committee of June 7, on the ceremonial of reception to Gardoqui was read. It is in No. 25, II, folio 433, in the writing of Samuel Holten. On June 17, it was referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to take order. This report, with minor textual changes therefrom and from the report of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs of May 31, is spread on the Journals of June 17.]
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