Lafayette to the American Peace Commissioners, 22 July 1783
Lafayette to the American Peace Commissioners
Chavaniac, 22 July 1783
Gentlemen,
Having Been Honoured With Letters from Congress, it Becomes my duty to Consult You Upon a point Which they Have particularly Recommended—in the late preliminaries no time is Mentionned for the American Merchants paying their English debts—a Matter of Great Moment to our Merchants who Require at least three or four Years to Accomplish the Business. Upon the Receipt of the Letter, I Have Adressed Count de Vergennes and Represented to Him How important a favorable decision on this point would Be to the french trade: Knowing the Uneasiness of our American Merchants on that affair, I Cannot Help Partaking of it, and Would Consider it as a Great favor to Be Acquainted With the present Situation of things, and With the farther Measures You Might think proper for me to Undertake.1
The General Satisfaction Which arose from the terms of peace, is a Matter of justice to You, Gentlemen, that Affords Me a Most Unfeigned pleasure— Give me leave to present You with the Assurances of an Affectionate Respect.2 I Have the Honour to Be Sirs Your obedient Humble Servant,
Lafayette
ALS, MHi: Adams, reel 361 (EJ: 12417). Endorsed.
1. In a private letter to Lafayette of 12 Apr. 1783 ( , 20: 168–70), the President of Congress Elias Boudinot reported general satisfaction with the peace terms except for the fact that the time to be allowed for American merchants to pay their English debts had been stipulated. Since the merchants had suffered greatly during the war, he recommended that the American peace commissioners ask for a three- to four-year grace period. The commissioners had already suggested that the article on debts be amended to delay execution on a judgment of an American debt to a British creditor for three years from the date of the treaty in their letter to Hartley of 17 July 1783, above.
Boudinot also suggested to Lafayette that France should back the request for a grace period to avoid throwing American merchants “too absolutely into the hands of the English Creditor.” In his 5 Aug. response to a letter from Lafayette asking for his support for this proposal, Vergennes stated that Hartley’s commission allowed him to negotiate for the interests of his nation, but not those of private individuals. For Lafayette’s letter to Vergennes of 21 July, and his reply to Boudinot of 20 July, see
, 5: 142–45.2. No reply from the commissioners to Lafayette’s letter has been found.