1From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 11 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
My hand recovering very slowly from the effects of it’s dislocation, I am advised by the Surgeons to try the waters of Aix in Provence. From thence I think it possible I may go as far as Nice. As circumstances might arise under which a passport might be useful, I take the liberty of troubling your Excellency for one. I propose to set out on Thursday next. I would at the same time ask an...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 20 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor of communicating to your Excellency the copy of a treaty of amity and commerce concluded between the United States of America and his late Majesty the King of Prussia, in the two languages in which it was written, each of which was agreed to be equally original. The exchange of ratifications was made but a little before the death of the King. This circumstance with the delays...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, with Enclosure, 15 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor some time ago of asking from your Excellency by letter a permission to export from the Ports of Bourdeaux and Havre certain arms and accoutrements which I had had made for the State of Virginia, which request I now take the liberty to repeat. I beg leave to sollicit at the same time a passeport for the entrance of certain articles for my own private use, some of which are...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 16 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of repeating what I had the honor of mentioning to your Excellency yesterday, that, by order of the state of Virginia, a contract has been made in France for 3400. stand of arms, as many cartouch boxes with their accoutrements, and that I am yet to purchase as much gunpower, gunflints and Cartridge paper as will, with the arms and cartouch boxes, employ the sum of 180,000...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 31 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s Letter of Yesterday, inclosing a Copy of the Resolutions of the Committee on the Subject of Tobacco, and am bound to make my Acknolegements for this Attention to the Commerce between this Country and the United States, which will I hope by this Measure be kept alive till more simple and permanent Arrangements become practicable. I have communicated it...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 3 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
After begging leave to present my respects to your Excellency on my return to this place, I take the liberty of offering to your attention some papers which I found on my arrival here, written by sundry merchants of l’Orient, and others, some of whom are citizens of the United states, and all of them concerned in the trade between the two countries. This has been carried on by an exchange of...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 28 February 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Circumstances of public duty calling me suddenly to London, I take the liberty of mentioning it to your Excellency, and of asking a few minutes audience of you, at as early a day and hour as will be convenient to you, and that you will be so good as to indicate it to me. I could wish to leave Paris about Friday or Saturday, and suppose that my stay in London will be of about three weeks. I...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 20 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received the honor of your Excellency’s letter of the 18th. instant, and will avail myself of the first occasion of transmitting it to Congress. The pleasure of meeting your desire, will, I am persuaded, induce them to do for Mr. Dumas whatever the establishment which they think themselves bound to keep up at the Hague, together with the rules to which they have submitted all their...
9Otto to Vergennes, 10 January 1786 (Jay Papers)
Mr. Jay’s political importance increases every day. Congress appears to be directed only by his promptings, and it is as difficult to obtain anything without his cooperation as to have a measure he has proposed rejected. The indolence of most of the members of Congress and the ignorance of some others account for this Superiority. People find it far easier to ask the opinion of the Minister of...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 21 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I receive this moment a letter of which I have the honor to inclose your Excellency a copy. It is on the case of Asquith and others, citizens of the United States, on whose behalf I had taken the liberty of asking your interference. I understand by this letter that they have been condemned to lose their vessel and cargo, and to pay six thousand livres and the costs of the prosecution before...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 2 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the honour of receiving your Excellency’s letter of November the 30th. in which you are pleased to inform me of the late abatement of the duties on all fish oils, made from fish taken by citizens of the United States and brought into this kingdom, in French or in American bottoms: and I am now to return thanks for this relief given to so important a branch of our commerce. I shall...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 20 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I found here on my return from Fontainebleau the letter of Octob. 30. which your excellency did me the honour there of informing me had been addressed to me at this place, and I shall avail myself of the first occasion of transmitting it to Congress, who will receive with great pleasure these new assurances of the friendly sentiments which his Majesty is pleased to continue towards the United...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, with State of the Case of the William & Catherine, 14 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the Liberty of troubling your Excellency on Behalf of six Citizens of the United States who have been for some Time confined in the Prisons of St. Pol de Léon, and of referring for particulars to the inclosed State of their Case. Some of the material Facts therein mentioned are founded on the Bill of Sale for the Vessel, her Clearance from Baltimore and her Logbook. The Originals of the...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 21 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honour of inclosing to your Excellency a report of the voiage of an American ship, the first which has gone to China. The circumstance which induces Congress to direct this communication is the very friendly conduct of the Consul of his Majesty at Macao, and of the Commanders and other officers of the French vessels in those seas. It has been with singular satisfaction that Congress...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 12 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
In the enclosed letter Mr. Adams and myself have the honor to inform your Excellency of the measures ultimately taken for procuring arrangements between the United States of America and the States of Barbary, and to ask his Majesty’s interposition. To the information therein contained it is necessary for me to add that Mr. Barclay who is charged with the commission to Morocco will set out in...
16American Commissioners to Vergennes, 11 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
The friendly dispositions which his Majesty has been pleased to shew to the United States of America on every occasion, as well as the assurances given them in the 8th. Article of the treaty of Amity and Commerce that he would employ his good offices and interposition with the powers on the coast of Barbary to provide for the safety of the Citizens of the United States, their vessels and...
17From John Jay to Vergennes, 6 September 1785 (Jay Papers)
I have received the Letter which your Excellency did me the Honor to write on the 20 th . June last. His Majesty having appointed the S r . De Marbois to an Intendancy in his Colonies, it gives me Pleasure to be informed that a Chargé des Affaires has been named to supply his Place, during the Absence of Chev r . de la Luzerne. My Confidence in your Excellency’s Attachment to the United...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 15 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
In the conversation which I had the honor of having with your Excellency a few days ago, on the importance of placing, at this time the commerce between France and America on the best footing possible, among other objects of this commerce, that of tobacco was mentioned as susceptible of greater encouragement and advantage to the two nations. Always distrusting what I say in a language I speak...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 27 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor now to inclose to your Excellency a copy of the letter from Congress to the king which I delivered yesterday. This copy was sent to me by Mr. Jay the Secretary of Congress for Foreign affairs. I also accompany it with a copy of the letter of Credence which I had the honour of delivering to the King, not having furnished you with a copy on that occasion. I am with sentiments of...
20The American Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 28 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
We have the honour to enclose an extract of a letter from the Commissioners of the United States of America to Your Excellency dated Aug st. 28 th. 1778. Copy of Your Excellency’s ans r dated 27. Sept r. 1778. & Copy of M. de Sartine’s letter to Your Excellency of the 21 st of Sept r. 1778 all relative to a proposed negotiation with the States of Barbary. Not having any particular authority or...
21American Commissioners to Vergennes, 28 March 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
We have the honour to enclose an extract of a letter from the Commissioners of the United States of America to your Excellency dated Augst. 28. 1778, Copy of Your Excellency’s answer dated 27 Septr. 1778. and copy of M. de Sartine’s letter to your Excellency of the 21st. of Sept. 1778 all relative to a proposed negotiation with the States of Barbary. Not having any particular authority or...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 18 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I was much obliged by the Readiness with which your Excellency favour’d my Request of a Sauf Conduit for Mr Bondfield, and I beg you to accept my thankful Acknowledgements. Permit me to ask another Favour of the same kind for my Nephew Mr Williams, who I am confident will make Use of it for the Advantage of his Creditors. With great and...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 11 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I beg leave to lay before your Excellency the enclos’d Papers, complaining of the improper Proceedings of the Admiralty at Nantes, in deciding on a Cause between the Captain of an American Ship and one of his Sailors, which ought only to have been judg’d by our Consul; and moreover in arresting the said Ship just on the Point of Departing for...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 28 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress I communicated immediately to Mr Williams the Letter your Excellency did me the Honour of writing to me the 26th. Instant, with the Memorial of Mr Denevers which accompany’d it.— I inclose a Letter from him to your Excellency, by which it will appear that the Complaint is not well founded; and I am persuaded...
25From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 3 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministere des affaires étrangères; transcript: National Archives I have the Honour to transmit to your Excellency by Order of Congress a Resolution of theirs, dated the 11th. of May last, which is in the Words following, Viz, “Resolved, That Doctor Franklin be instructed to express to the Court of France the constant Desire of Congress to meet their Wishes; That these States...
26From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 31 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Gilder Lehrman Collection; copy: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Some Inconveniencies are said to have arisen from a want of Certainty in the Powers of our Consuls. The Articles respecting that Matter have been some time prepared and agreed to between Mr de Raynevall and me. If there is no Change of Sentiment respecting them, I beg leave to request your Excellency would...
27From John Jay to Vergennes, 8 May 1784 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . & thank your Exy. for, the Passport inclos d . in y r . obliging Letter of the 5 Instant, & have now the Honor of transmitting the Acc t . necessary to compleat the order respecting my Baggage. There is a N York Vessel at London, in w h . I have engaged a passage. The Cap t . offers to take us i on board at Dover—but to avoid Embarrassments I at the Custom House there, I have...
28From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 5 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I received the Letter which your Excellency did me the honor of writing to me, respecting the Necessity of producing legal Proof of the Arrangements made with the Creditors mention’d in Mr. Williams’s State of his Affairs. I am much obliged by the Attention you are so good as to afford this Business...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 26 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Mr. Williams desiring no farther Surseance against the Bulk of his Creditors with whom he has amicably arranged his Affairs, and to whom he proposes to do exact Justice, I the more willingly join my Request with his, that he may be secured against the small Number remaining, who aim at forcing him to...
30From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 17 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; press copy of LS : Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 15th. Instant, inclosing one from a certain Schaffer, who calls himself Lieutenant Colonel of the Continental Militia, requesting that you would cause to be restored to him a Bill of Exchange for 60 Dollars, that has my Name on...
31From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 12 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress I duly received the Letters your Excellency did me the honor of writing to me the 24 of Octr., and the 3d of December past, respecting the Arrest of our Arms & Ammunition by the sieur Puchelberg, accompany’d by Copies of the Letters of M. Le Marquis de Castries and M. Chardon, and a Paper of the said...
32From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 15 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I understand that the Bishop or Spiritual Person who superintends or governs the Roman Catholic Clergy in the United States of America, resides in London, and is supposed to be under Obligations to that Court, and subject to be influenced by its Ministers. This gives me some uneasiness, and I cannot but wish that one should be appointed to...
33From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 14 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Permit me to introduce to your Excellency the Bearer Mr Nesbitt a very respectable American Merchant settled at L’Orient. He will himself have the honor of communicating to you the Business he is come to Paris upon, and I request your Excellency will give him a favourable Audience & that support which the nature of his Case seems to merit. With great Respect...
34From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 6 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Being now disabled by the Stone, which in the easiest Carriage gives me Pain, wounds my Bladder & occasions me to make bloody Urine, I find I can no longer pay my Devoirs personally at Versailles, which I hope will be excused. I have yet received from Congress no Answer to my Request of being recalled. In the mean time I must beg your...