Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens to George Washington, 24 March 1781
From Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens
Passy near Paris—24th March 1781.
My dear General.
Upon my arrival here, I found that our Minister plenipotentiary had received the instructions &ca transmitted to him, and commenced the negotiation with which we were charged1—and that he had received the followg communication from the Count de Vergennes.
“It is impossible for His Majesty to favor a loan in this kingdom—because it would prejudice those which he has occasion to make himself for the support of the war—but His majesty to give the United States a signal proof of his friendship, grants them under the title of a donation Six millions of livres tournois.
[“]As the American Army is in want of Arms, Clothing, &ca Mr Franklin will be so good as to give a note of those articles—they will be procured of the best quality and at the most reasonable price—General Washington will be authorised to give draughts for the remaining sum—but the draughts must be at long sight, in order to facilitate the payments from the Royal Treasury.
[“]The Courts of Petersburg & Vienna have offered their mediation— The King has answered that it would be personally agreeable to him— but that he could not as yet accept it, because he has Allies whose concurrence is necessary—Mr Franklin is requested to communicate the Overture and Answer to Congress, and to engage them to send their instructions to their plenipotentiaries—It is supposed the Congress will accept the mediation with eagerness.”2
After my first interview with the Count de Vergennes, I presented him a memorial in which I transcribed the principal part of the letter Your Excellency delivered me at New Windsor—& represented the insufficiency of the succour proposed by His Majesty3—I have since given in an Extract of the Estimate of the board of war, accompanied with a letter urging the necessity of dispatch in furnishing those essential supplies4—My personal sollicitations have not been wanting to induce a prompt and favorable answer—but Mr de Maurepas and Count Vergennes both inform me that nothing can be determined until the return of Mr de Castries, who is expected the day after to morrow5—that the matter must be deliberated, and they will consider what can be done—Mr de Neckar will be consulted to day6—Mr de Vergennes complains very much of the excessive demands of Congress—and seems to entertain an idea that they wish to throw too much of the burthen of the war on their Ally—he says that the exertions and expence with which france supports the war in different parts of the world fully employ her means—that her public credit has it’s limits—to surpass which would be fatal to it.
Upon the whole My expectations are very moderate—the Naval dispositions were made before My arrival—five Ships of the line for the East Indies with troops7—Twenty commanded by de Grasse for the W. Indies—twelve of which are to proceed to America they will probably arrive on our Coast in July.8
We have no news yet of their departure. Your Excellency will see that I have written in a great hurry—in my next I hope to be able to give you more particular intelligence of our affairs9—In the mean time I take the liberty of troubling you to present my respects to Mrs Washington, my love to the family10 and the Marquis de la fayette, the want of whose letters is a great disadvantage to me.11
My only hope of obtaining additional succor is founded on the exalted opinion which the Ministers have of your Excellency and every thing which comes from you. I have the honor to be with the greatest respect and most tender attachment Your Excellencys most obedt serv.
John Laurens.
ALS, DLC:GW; ALS (letterpress copy), DLC:GW. GW received this letter on 26 May (see , 3:371–72).
The text of paragraphs six and eight (except for the closing), originally written in code on the ALS, is taken from deciphered passages that GW wrote on a separate sheet under the headings “First Cypher” and “Secd Cypher,” which accompanies the ALS. Marginal notations appear next to both paragraphs on the ALS with instructions to omit the code and “copy the explanation”; the initial notation continues “at the end of the letter.” A statement on the back of the separate sheet reads: “This is Copied in the foregoing Letter in the place of the figures.”
To translate the code, GW consulted an undated key headed “To decypher” (DLC:GW, under 1783; see Fig. 1). The two-page key contained printed numbers through 660, and handwritten insertions provided characters for the first 600. Some numbers represented only one letter or syllable; others signified entire words. Blanks after the final 60 numbers presumably allowed for additions to the key.
Laurens probably shared this key, or discussed ciphered communications, during conferences with GW while at headquarters (see GW to Laurens, 15 Jan.; see also , 175). Laurens was among the first to employ this new two-part nomenclator system, which became prevalent around 1781. He also used it in letters to president of Congress Samuel Huntington and French foreign minister Vergennes. For GW’s likely use of this new cipher, see his letter to Laurens, 9 April, n.8. The new system was thought to be less easily deciphered, a weakness of Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge’s code system, where each number represented a whole word. For more on the different codes, see Ralph E. Weber, United States Diplomatic Codes and Ciphers, 1775–1938 (Chicago, 1979); see also Tallmadge to GW, 25 July 1779.
1. Congress had appointed Laurens special minister to the French court to secure a loan and military supplies. Laurens departed Boston in February and reached the Paris suburb Passy around 15 March (see Laurens to GW, 23 Dec. 1780, found at Laurens to GW, 6 Nov., n.2; see also Laurens to GW, 7 Jan. 1781, and n.2 to that document, and , 173–78).
Huntington had sent Benjamin Franklin, U.S. minister to France, related instructions dated 28 Nov. and 27 Dec. 1780. Congress had resolved to seek a loan from France in the amount of 25 million livres tournois, and in its earlier instructions ordered Franklin “to procure as long a respite after the war for payment of the principal as may be in your power” (, 34:80–85, quote on 83). Huntington’s later instructions to Franklin cited Laurens’s “services & situation” as the qualifications that supported his appointment as special minister and added: “The negotiation is besides so critically important that it was deemed highly requisite by the Mission of this special Minister to guard against the accident of your want of health and the consequent delay making the application” (, 34:212–13).
Huntington sent a copy of the instructions given Laurens on 23 Dec. when he wrote Franklin on 1 Jan. 1781. Huntington directed Franklin not to await Laurens’s arrival before commencing negotiations “for obtaining the Aids requested” (, 34:243–45, quote on 244; see also , 18:1184–88). Franklin transmitted a copy of these instructions when he wrote Vergennes on 6 March and requested “an Answer to the Application lately made for Aids of Stores and Money” (, 34:425–26).
Franklin’s negotiations resulted in a gift from the French court (see n.2 below). Laurens later secured a loan for 10 million livres (see GW to Laurens, 15 Jan., and n.2 to that document, and Laurens to GW, 11 April).
2. The quoted material likely summarized a conference held between Franklin and Vergennes on 10 March, when Vergennes announced that King Louis XVI had granted Congress a gift amounting to 6 million livres tournois (see , 34:426).
Vergennes wrote French minister La Luzerne from Versailles on 9 March that he had an order to meet with Franklin to inform him about the monetary gift from the French court and to discuss its proper application. Vergennes planned to ask Franklin for an estimate of the clothing and military supplies needed, since purchasing such items would use a portion of the gift. The remainder would be at GW’s disposal (see , 4:584–88).
In a letter dated 12 March–12 April, Franklin wrote Huntington from Passy: “I received a Note appointing Saturday last [10 March] for a Meeting with the Minister, which I attended punctually.” At the meeting, Vergennes assured Franklin “of the King’s Goodwill to the United States,” but informed him of the impracticability of a loan. This was due to “the Depreciation of” Continental “Paper” that “had hurt our Credit on this Side the Water” and to the loans that Louis XVI needed to secure to support the war effort. Franklin noted that the king “had resolv’d to grant” the United States “the Sum of Six Millions, not as a Loan, but as a Free Gift.” Vergennes “added, that, as it was understood the Clothing &c. with which our Army had been heretofore supply’d from France, was often of bad Quality and dear, the Ministers would themselves take care of the Purchase of such Articles as should be immediately wanted; and send them over, and it was desired of me to look over the great Invoice that had been sent hither last Year, and mark out those Articles; that as to the Money remaining after such Purchases, it was to be drawn for by General Washington, upon M. de Harvelay Garde du Tresor Royal, and the Bills would be duly honoured; but it was desired they might be drawn gradually as the Money should be wanted, and as much time given for the Payment after Sight, as could be conveniently; that the Payment might be more easy.” Franklin told Vergennes “that it was not the Usage with us for the General to draw, and proposed that it might be our Treasurer who should draw the Bills for the Remainder; but was told that it was his Majesty’s Order. And I afterwards understood … that as the Sum was intended for the Supply of the Army, and could not be so large as we had demanded, for general Occasions, it was thought best to put it into the General’s Hands, that it might not get into those of the different Boards or Committees who might think
Fig. 1. Lt. Col. John Laurens was among the first to employ this two-part nomenclator system, which was thought to be less easily deciphered than a previous one designed by Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge, where each number represented a whole word (DLC:GW).
“After the Discourse relating to the Aid was ended, the Minister proceeded to inform me, that the Courts of Petersburgh and Vienna had offer’d their Mediation; That the King had answered it would to him personally be agreable, but that he could not yet accept it, because he had Allies whose Concurrence was necessary. And that his Majesty desired I would acquaint the Congress with this Offer … it being not doubted that they would readily accept the proposed Mediation, from their own Sense of its being both useful and necessary” (, 34:443–48, quotes on 444–46). Empress Catherine II of Russia and Emperor Joseph II of Austria had offered in early 1781 to mediate the disputes among the belligerent European powers. The French, British, and Spanish governments considered the offer but ultimately did not accept the terms. One proposal called for a truce between the United States and Great Britain that allowed each side to retain territory then in its possession (see , 172–88).
Laurens wrote Huntington from Versailles on 9 April to report “that the Court of London have referred the offered mediation of Russia between England and the United Provinces to a general pacification” (DNA:PCC, item 109). In a letter dated 19 April from Versailles, Vergennes wrote La Luzerne “that in the office by which that Court [of London] accepted the mediation of Russia and invoked that of the Emperor, it declared that it would be prepared to listen to peace as soon as the league of France with the rebel Subjects of England shall have ceased. This arrogant claim has been received on our part with the contempt it merits; we have declared in turn that if it comprises the final will of England, it will be useless to dream of peace” (, 1:170–72, quote on 170–71).
3. A copy of Laurens’s memorial to Vergennes, in code and translation and dated 20 March, largely contained extracts from GW’s 15 Jan. letter to Laurens. After presenting the excerpts, Laurens wrote in his memorial: “From these extracts, it will appear to your Excellency that the fate of America depends upon the immediate and decisive succour of her august ally in the two points of a specific Loan and a naval superiority.” Expressing gratitude for France’s gift of 6 million livres, Laurens added that “it would be frustrating the gracious intentions of his Majesty towards his allies and betraying the common cause of France and America to encourage a belief that the abovementioned aid will enable the United States to surmount the present perilous juncture of our affairs. … I must likewise remark to your Excellency that the credit in Bills of Exchange is subject to difficulties and disadvantages which render such a resource very unfit for the conduct of the war.” Laurens continued: “I submit to your Excellency whether the objection to his Majesty’s favouring a Loan in the name of Congress may not be obviated by an additional Loan in the name of his Majesty on account of the United States for which Congress will be accountable.” Laurens emphasized that “it may be clearly proved that the giving decisive succour in this article at the present juncture” would be preferable to allowing “the war to languish by affording partial and inadequate assistance.” He concluded: “I beg leave to repeat to your Excellency that the greatest promptness in this Business is essential. The British by being in possession of two States, fertile in Grain, Timber, and Naval Stores have acquired new animation and fresh resources for the War, and every Day according to present appearances brings America nearer to the period of her efforts” (DNA:PCC, item 109).
4. Laurens wrote Vergennes from Passy on 19 March: “I do myself the honor of presenting your Excy the annexed list, which I have selected from the estimate transmitted by Congress—it contains objects of the first necessity, which demand a preference in point of time.
“Many advantages would be received from having the cloathing made up in france—provided it could be effected for the service of the ensuing campaign—but unless this can be reduced to a certainty it will be More eligible to send the unmade materials to America—It may be necessary to remark to Your Excellency that the want of cloathing has been one of the great obstacles to recruiting our Army, and, that alhto’ the distresses arising from this defect have been hitherto borne with unexampled patience by the Soldiers they are now become unsupportable.
“I do not repeat to your Excy how much the obligation of the U.S. to their august Ally will be enhanced by adding dispatch to the different succours which Congress have solicited—and that the success of the common Cause depends upon it” (DNA:PCC, item 165). The docket of an undated copy of the enclosed list reads “Copy of an Estimate presented to Cte De Vergennes by Mr Laurens.” The lengthy estimate, written in French, includes amounts for clothing, ammunition, and arms (DNA:PCC, item 165). The desired items likely were based on “an Estimate of the Aids requested from his most Christian Majesty” that Huntington had transmitted to Laurens with a letter of 1 Jan. (, 16:526–27). The Board of War had drawn up a list of supplies needed for the war and sent it to Laurens with a letter of 2 Jan. (ScHi:John Laurens Papers; see also , 179–80).
5. French minister of marine Castries had visited Brest, France, to prepare a naval squadron for the West Indies. When Castries returned to Versailles, Laurens emphasized to him the importance of maintaining French naval superiority on the coast of the United States (see , 177–78, 180–81; see also n.8 below).
6. Laurens refers to Jacques Necker, France’s finance minister.
7. For the French naval squadron sent to the Cape of Good Hope, see , 3:545–49; see also , 209, 222–24, 229.
8. Vice Admiral de Grasse, commander of the West Indian fleet, sailed with twenty men-of-war from Brest on 22 March, arriving off Martinique on 28 April. One ship that had sailed from France under the fleet’s convoy was bound for North America. After receiving appeals from La Luzerne and others, de Grasse brought his fleet to North America, dropping anchor near the Chesapeake Bay on 30 Aug. (see , 221–24, 238–45; see also , 3:482).
9. Laurens next wrote GW on 11 April.
10. Laurens means GW’s military family (see General Orders, 7 March, source note).
11. For Major General Lafayette’s letters that missed Laurens, see GW to Laurens, 9 April.