Memoir of the American Commissioners to Vergennes, March 1, 1777

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Paris March 1st 1777

Memoire

In the several Memoires which Mr Deane had the honor of presenting previous to the arrival of his Colleagues, the history of the dispute, between the United States of America, & Great Brittain, was brought down, to the Time of presenting The Memoires, the situation, & resources of the United States justly stated; and Conjectures as to the issue of the Campaign, then depending were made, which Events have since justified. ー The Turn which Great Brittain then meditated, and which she would finally exert her whole force, & influence to give to this War, was pointed out, Namely by an early subjugation of America to unconditional Submission by force of Arms, or an Accomodation, to be in a Situation of turning the War against France, which "they would be able to enter upon with the Advantages of having their whole Force, by Sea & Land ready, their Magazines Stored, & the warlike spirit of the Nation raised by civil Contest, together with additional resources from America, in a State of Peace & Amity, & ready Armed, & disciplined.

That Great Brittain would endeavor To give the War this direction, & avail herself of these Circumstances has with submission been pointed out, in Memoires which Mr Deane had the honor of presenting in Addition to which Messrs Franklin and Deane ² have only to add, that they are well assured that the present Moment labours with this Event, before hinted at; and that Great Brittain is employing Art as well as force to Accomplish, & compleat their favorite design.

Messrs Franklin & Deane Anxious for the Fate of their Country, and. wishing to employ every means in their power to Defeat the design of their Country's Enemies, take Liberty to observe, that without supplies of military, & other Stores, without Commerce established on which their resources greatly depends; and without the protection of any foreign power to their commerce, or Shipps of War, it is hardly possible for the United States to prevent for any Time this Event; nor can it be expected when considered that under all these disadvantages they have to contend with the whole Force of Great Brittain, & her Allies.

In Consequence of Warlike stores, not being permitted to be shipp'd in French Bottoms, direct for the United States, the Cannon & Stores engaged by Mr Deane in August last are at this moment in the Ports of France; & finally obliged to send them by the West Indies, there to look for American or Neutral Ships, all hopes of their being in any Season for Service in America, are lost.

The Duties laid on certain Commodities coming from the Dominions of Great Brittain being continued on the same Commodities from The United States operate as a prohibition, on many important Articles of the American Commerce & can be remedied, only by some particular Regulation, or Settlement of Rules for this Commerce. The Armed Vessels of the United States are under the Necessity of having some harbor in Europe to repair the Damages they may receive at Sea, without This it is impossible for Them to keep these Seas; and when permitted to enter the Ports of France, it is Necessary the Rules they are to Observe should be known.

It is a great Disappointment to Messrs Franklin & Deane, to find that they are unable to comply with the Proposals of the Farmers General respecting Tobacco, but greatly as they are in want of Supplies they Think themselves justified in rejecting offers which must Subject their Constituents to great and certain Loss in a Commerce which they hoped to establish on equal Terms.

Not to detain his Excellency longer than is absolutely Necessary, Messrs Franklin & Deane propose the following Points with all Submission to his Consideration

1. Military Stores being merchandize & subject to the same rules, as other Articles of Commerce, it is asked that they may be permitted to be transported direct to the United States in French Vessels, the proprietors running the risques Attending such a Voyage.

2. It is submitted whether, considering the different predicament under which many Articles of the Commerce of the United States now are, from what they formerly were, it is not Necessary they should be under different Regulations ー & consequently whether the United States may expect their proposed Treaty of Commerce & Amity with his most Christian Majesty, will be accepted, & approved of.

3. All prospect, of Treating with the Farmers General for Tobacco being at present closed, & all hope of supply from that source defeated, Whether any other mode can be adopted, for supplying France with that Article at the price, it costs at its first purchase, & the unavoidable expences of transportation, that being the extent of the demand of Messrs Franklin & Deane.

4. It is requested that when Armed Vessels belonging to The United States enter the Ports of France, they may be permitted Time to repair the Damages they may have sustained, & to dispose of so much of their Effects as will enable them to do it, under such Regulations as are usual in such Cases; That the mode or Rules may be pointed out; and That they may be permitted to sell, or Freight to the Subjects of other Nations their prizes, without discharging their Goods on Shore, but transacting the whole on shipboard.

5th. A Port in Europe being Necessary for the Shipps of War of the United States and the Treaty subsisting between France & Great Brittain not permitting one to be granted in this Kingdom; it is hoped that it will not be disagreeable That Application should be made elsewhere, and on This Subject intreat his Excellency's advice & direction which in this & every other Concern will, be attended to by them in the closest manner ー as well as be received with the utmost respect & Gratitude. ³

1. AMAE, Correspondance Politique, Etats Unis, vol. 2, 111-13, LC Photocopy.

2. Arthur Lee, the third Commissioner, was on a mission to Spain.

3. Vergennes' undated reply to the Commissioners:

1. No notice can be taken of commercial operations made by private individuals. No one is restrained in this respect, while keeping within the limits of circumspection. But it is impossible to ignore the undertakings, which, having a purely offensive object, cannot be regarded as commercial; and to do so would compromise ourselves without any advantage to the party we desired to assist, since such exportations cannot have the certainty of the favour of any flag and could not, at least with success, be reclaimed.

2. The facilities experienced up to the present by American commerce ought to leave no doubt that we will lend ourselves to this with mutual confidence, when the time comes to form a reciprocal alliance by a treaty of commerce. The reasons which at present prevent this alliance have been already intimated. Meanwhile, if there are any articles of merchandize upon which some indulgence is requested, they may be pointed out and efforts will be willingly made to procure it.

3. There is nothing to be written concerning Tobacco, this point concerns the Farmers General.

4. Every vessel which takes refuge in the ports of France receives there without difficulty; the succour of which it may have need, to repair the damage occasioned by the length of the voyage or events at sea; but it would be to give too great an extension to such succour, to claim on this head for privateers the right of running from the high seas into the same ports, of leading thither their prizes, of registering them and of selling them without even breaking their cargoes. The Treaties which are a law between the Powers and from which the religion of the monarchs does not allow them to deviate, are opposed to this.

Stevens, ed., Facsimiles, No. 1451.

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Date

1777 March 1

Volume

Volume 8

Places

Paris

Series

European Theatre from January 1, 1777, to May 31, 1777

Naval Documents of the American Revolution

Memoir of the American Commissioners to Vergennes, March 1, 1777

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