To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes, 23 April 1782
From Vergennes
LS: Library of Congress; copy4 and transcript: National Archives; copy: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères
À Versailles le 23 Avril 1782.
Monsieur le Bon. de Bloôme, Monsieur, vint de m’addresser le mémoire ci-joint,5 et le Seul usage que je puis en faire, c’est de vous le communiquer, dans la persuasion que vous voudrez bien le faire parvenir au Congrès.
J’ai l’honneur d’être très sincèrement, Monsieur, Votre très-humble et très-obeissant Serviteur./.
De Vergennes
Mr. franklin./.
4. In the hand of L’Air de Lamotte, this is the one BF sent to Congress (BF to Livingston, June 25, below). An English translation is also at the National Archives.
5. The “Note,” in French, outlines the Danish Court’s protest over the capture of the Providence of Christiania (Oslo), on its way from London to St. Thomas, by the American privateer Hendrick, Capt. Thomas Benson. The prize was sent to a New England port under the pretense that its cargo might be English property. The Danish Court asks Vergennes to obtain prompt and complete restitution of the ship and its cargo, as well as reimbursement for damages, and to see that American privateers are ordered not to disturb the navigation and commerce of Denmark. The Danish court has the right to expect compliance since the Americans enjoy free access to Danish ports in the West Indies, a privilege which will continue as long as the Americans behave amicably toward Danish ships. For the Hendrick, 18, see Allen, Mass. Privateers, pp. 173–4.