211From John Jay to Vergennes, 9 May 1780 (Jay Papers)
The Letter which your Excellency did me the Honor to write on the 13 th . March last, was delivered to me by the Count D’Montmorin on my Arrival at Madrid. I should not have thus long have delayed the Pleasure of replying to it, if I could have prevailed upon myself to have given your Excellency complimentary Professions, instead of sincere Assurances. Unreserved Confidence in an Embassador of...
212From 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...
213From John Jay to Vergennes, 22 September 1780 (Jay Papers)
I have never taken up my pen with so much reluctance as I now do, altho my Design is to write a letter to your Excellency But Sir! there are few sensations more painful than those which They Experience; who already covered with Benefits, are impelled by cruel necessity to ask for more— Such is my present situation—and hence proceeds my regret. My uniform and unreserved communications to Count...
214From John Jay to Vergennes, 27 January 1780 (Jay Papers)
It is with very sensible Pleasure that I commence a correspondence with a Minister of whose disposition and Abilities to promote the happiness of my Country we have received repeated proofs and on a subject that affords his most Christian Majesty an opportunity of perceiving the desire and endeavors of the united States to become cordial and steadfast Friends and Allies to an illustrious...
215From 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...
216From John Jay to Vergennes, [c. 11 September 1782] (Jay Papers)
The Question, whether we ought to exchange Copies of our respective Commissions with M r Oswald, and proceed to do Business with him under his , is not only important and consequential in itself, but derives an additional Degree of Weight from the Variance subsisting between your Excellency’s Sentiments and our own on that Subject. The Respect due to your Excellency’s Judgment, our Confidence...
217From 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...
218From 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...
219From 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...
220From 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...
221From 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...
222From 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...
223From 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...
224From 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...
225From 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...
226From 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...
227From 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...
228From 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...
229From 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...
230From 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...
231From 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...
232From 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...
233La Vauguyon to Vergennes: A Translation, 15 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have received, M. le Comte, the dispatches that you did me the honor to send. Mr. Franklin’s letter arrived as I expected, but I convinced the emissary, in accordance with my promise to you, to suspend the démarche he had been prescribed without revealing my motive. I indicated to him that it seemed wiser to me to explore deeply again the dispositions of our friend from Amsterdam and ask for...
234La Vauguyon to Vergennes, 15 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ai receu, Mr. le Comte, les depesches que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’addresser. La lettre de Mr. Franklin est arrivée, comme Je m’y attendois; mais j’ai engagé son Emissaire, ainsi que je vous en avois assuré, à suspendre la demarche qui lui étoit prescrite, sans lui faire connoitre mon motif. Je lui ai temoigné qu’il me paroissoit prudent, de sonder encore les dispositions de notre ami...
235Otto 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...
236From George Washington to Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes, 21 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
After I had the honor of receiving your Excellency’s letter of the 29 t h of July, I lost not a moment in transmitting it to Congress, who had then under deliberation, the proceedings of the British Court Martial upon Capt. Lippencot, for the Murther of Capt. Huddy, and the other documents relating to that inhuman transaction—What would otherwise have been the determination of that Honorable...