Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 27 September 1778: résumé
Vergennes to the American Commissioners7
LS: National Archives; L (draft):8 Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: National Archives (three), Library of Congress (two), Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, Massachusetts Historical Society; transcript: National Archives
<Versailles, September 27, 1778, in French: In your letter of the 28th of last month you recalled the King’s promise in article 8 of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce to employ his good offices with the regencies of Barbary on behalf of American trade. I have communicated your request to M. de Sartine. In his enclosed reply9 he thinks the request well founded but needs further information, which I ask that you address to me. Be assured the King will do all in his power.>
7. Published in Taylor, Adams Papers, VII.
8. In Gérard de Rayneval’s hand.
9. A translation of Sartine’s letter to Vergennes of Sept. 21 is published in Wharton, Diplomatic Correspondence, II, 731–2.