[dateline] Braintree August 3. 1779
[salute] Sir
On the Twenty Eighth
1 of February, I had the Honour of writing to Congress, informing them of my Intention
of returning home, in Consequence of the new Commission which Superceded mine: on
the first of March, I had again the Honour of writing Some
<interesting> Information concerning the unprecedented Interest which the british Government are
obliged to give for the Loan of Money, for the Service of the present Year: on the
Eighth of March I took my Leave of the
{ 104 } American Minister and left Paris for Nantes, in Expectation of there meeting the Alliance,
and Sailing in her for America, in a few Weeks: Upon my Arrival at Nantes, I learned
that the Alliance was Still at Brest, and so embarrassed with near forty Prisoners
who were Supposed to have been concerned in a Conspiracy to carry her to England,
and with other Difficulties that it was uncertain when she would be ready. The Agent
at Nantes, at this Time receiving a Letter, from his Excellency Dr. Franklin, desiring
him to consult me about the Direction of the Alliance, I thought it would expedite
the public Service, for me to make a Journey to Brest (about two hundred miles,) which
I under took accordingly and arrived at that Port, without Loss of Time. There, after
an
2 Attendance of some Weeks, and much Negociation with Commandants, Intendants and Agents
all Things were prepared for the Frigate to Sail for Nantes with about an hundred
British Prisoners, to be there exchanged for a like Number of American Prisoners arrived
there from England in a Cartel. I returned to Nantes,
3 and the Alliance in a few Days arrived in the River. The Prisoners were exchanged,
about Sixty inlisted in the Alliance and the rest in the Poor Richard, Captain Jones.
4 After accommodating all the Difficulties, with the British Prisoners, the American
Prisoners, the Officers and Crew of the Alliance, and Supplying all their necessary
Wants Captain Landais having orders to Sail for America, and every Thing ready to
proceed to sea in a few Days, received unexpected orders, from the Minister Plenipotentiary
to proceed to L'orient, and wait there for further orders. I had the Honour of a Letter
at the same Time from his Excellency,
5 inclosing one from the Minister of the Marine, by which I learn'd, that the King
had been graciously pleased to grant me a Passage, on Board the Frigate, which was
to carry his Majestys new Minister Plenipotentiary to the united States, that the
Frigate was at L'orient and that the Minister would be there in a few Days. I went
in the Alliance from Nantes to L'orient, where
6 after some Time the Frigate the Sensible arrived, but his Excellency the Chevalier
de La Luzerne did not arrive untill the Tenth of June. On the Seventeenth of June,
and not before, I had the Pleasure to be under Sail, and on the third of August arrived
in Nantasket Road.
7
I have entered into this Detail of Disappointments,
8 to justify my self for not returning Sooner, and to shew that it was not my fault,
that I was not at Home, in Eight Weeks from the first authentic Information, that
I had nothing further to do in France.
There is nothing remaining for me to do, but to Settle my Accounts with Congress:
but as Part of my Accounts are in Conjunction, with
{ 105 } { 106 } my late Colleague, with whom I lived in the Same House, during my Residence, in Paris,
I am not able to judge, whether Congress will choose to receive my Accounts alone,
or to wait untill the other Commissioners shall exhibit theirs, So as to have the
whole together under one View, in order to do equal Justice to all. I am ready, however
to render all the Account in my Power, either jointly or Separately, whenever Congress
shall order it, and I shall wait their Directions accordingly.
It is not in my Power, having been so long from Paris,
9 to give Congress any News of Importance, except that the Brest Fleet under the Comte
D'Orvilliere, was at sea the Beginning of June, that Admiral Arbuthnot was at Plymouth
the thirty first of May,
10 and that there was an universal Perswasion arrizing from Letters from Paris and London,
that Spain had decided against the English. The Chevalier de La Luzerne, however will
be able to give Congress Satisfactory Information upon this Head.
I ought not to conclude this Letter, without expressing my Obligations to Captain
Chevagne and the other Officers of the Sensible, for their Civilities in the Course
of my Passage home, and the Pleasure I have had in the Conversation of his Excellency
the new Minister Plenipotentiary from our August Ally, and the Secretary to the Embassy
Monsieur Marbois.
The Chevalier de la Luzerne, is Knight of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, of an
ancient and a noble Family connected by Blood, with many Characters of principal Name
in the Kingdom; a Grandson of the celebrated Chancellor De la Moignon; a Nephew of
Monsieur Malesherbes, perhaps Still more famous, as first President of the Court of
Aids, and as a Minister of State; a Brother of the Comte de la Luzerne, and of the
Bishop of Langres, one of the three Dukes and Peers, who had the Honour to assist
in the Consecration of the King; a near Relation of the Marishall de Broglie, and
the Comte his Brother, and of many other important Personages in that Country. Nor
is his personal Character less respectable than his Connections. As he is possessed
of much usefull Information of all kinds, and particularly of the political System
of Europe, obtained in his late Embassy in Bavaria; and of the justest Sentiments
of the mutual Interests of his Country and ours, and of the Utility to both of that
Alliance, which so happily unites them, and at the Same Time divested of all Personal
and Party Attachments and Aversions, Congress and their Constituents, I flatter myself
will have much Satisfaction in his Negotiations,
11 as well as in those of the Secretary to the Embassy, Monsieur Marbois who was also
{ 107 } Secretary to the Embassy, in Bavaria and is a Counsellor of the Parliament of Metz,
a Gentleman whose Abilities, Application and Disposition
12 cannot fail to make him usefull in the momentous Office he Sustains.
13 I have the Honour to be with great Respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble
Servant