To Thomas Jefferson from C. W. F. Dumas, 1 December 1786
From C. W. F. Dumas
Lahaie 1er. Dec. 1786
Monsieur
Nayant pas en ce moment le pouvoir de consulter la date d’où Votre Excellence m’a accusé pour la derniere fois la réception des miennes, parce que je n’étois pas chez moi, je la supplie de vouloir bien par un mot m’instruire du sort de toutes celles que je lui ai adressées pendant les 3 derniers mois, afin que je sache si elle les a bien reçues, pour ma tranquillité.
L’incluse, y compris ce qui parviendra à Votre Excellence de ma part par un Courier de Mr. l’Ambassadeur est de très-grande importance. Je n’ai aucune objection à ce que Votre Excellence les fasse voir chez Elle en confidence à Mr. le Ms. de la Fayette seul; mais il ne faut pas que personne en prenne copie, ni en parle.
Je suis avec le plus respectueux dévouement, De Votre Excellence, le très humble et très obéissant serv.,
C W F Dumas
Je joins ici 2 Lettres arrivées ici pour MM. Wm. Livingston et Jn. Rutledge. Le nom de Beaune, d’où elles viennent, me fait conjecturer qu’elles sont de quelque Marchand de Vin de ladite Ville, qui a vu leurs noms sur la Gazette et qui sollicite leur chalandise. Quoiqu’il en soit, j’ai cru ne pouvoir mieux faire que de mettre leur sort entre les mains de Votre Excellence.
RC (DLC). FC (Rijksarchief, The Hague, Dumas Papers; photostats in DLC). Noted in SJL as received 10 Dec. 1786. Enclosures (FC in same): (1) Dumas to Jay, 29 Nov. 1786, transmitting three extracts and stating that in order to understand them it is necessary to know that on 21 Nov. Dumas had been asked by Messrs. de G[oertz] and “P—” to assist in translating letters from Lestevenon and Swan; that these translations were taken to the French ambassador who, with Rayneval, agreed that a letter should be sent to Lestevenon at once; that the following evening their Royal Highnesses sent off similar messages, including one to Swan ordering him to keep the mouth of the Swin closed, which should have been done two years ago. (2) Another letter to Jay, same date, reporting that Rayneval arrived on the 18th and had a conference at the French ambassador’s which included Goertz. The King wishes peace and a secret meeting was arranged to further this end, but Dumas believes that a French alliance will be difficult to arrange. Rayneval believes he was sent to sound out the opinion of the Prussian court secretly but when Prussia starts negotiating, the question of the status of the Stadtholder and his constitutional rights will arise; the Stadtholder has no constitutional rights but his position is based on the esteem and affection of the regency and the people. Dumas believes no deliberations on government can be effective—especially for Gelderland, as long as the oppressive laws of 1674 are in effect there. He will report on future conferences. Hopes he may receive the money due him from Congress. (3) Two letters from unidentified persons to Livingston and Rutledge.