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...