as possible. Mr. Jay will have the goodness to communicate to the Chargé d'Affaires of France the present state of this business. DE MARBOIS. FROM MONSIEUR DE MARBOIS TO JOHN JAY. Translation. Sir, New York, January 28, 1785. I have the honor to send you a note, where I have recapitulated, in a few words, the principal points of the conference which I had the honor to hold with you yesterday. I have there also mentioned some other points which we were prevented from discussing. I shall be very grateful for any attention you may give to those different subjects. I have also the honor to transmit to you the originals of the pieces relative to the prosecution of Longchamps. I entreat you to accept the communication, and, if it is necessary, to make it likewise to Congress, whenever I shall have the honor to address you officially a demand for the surrender of the culprit. I wish, sir, to consult with you upon my conduct in this affair, in order to prevent its occasioning any interruption of communication between the two Powers, and, if possible, to prevent any coldness, which appears to me much to be apprehended, if the King does not obtain satisfaction. If ulterior explanations should be required, touching any of the different subjects upon which I have had the honor to converse with you, I will hasten to give them. I am, with respectful attachment, &c., NOTE FROM MONSIEUR DE MARBOIS TO JOHN JAY. Translation. Monsieur De Marbois presents his respects to Mr. Jay, and has the honor to communicate to him an extract of a letter from France, which he did not receive until to-day, on account of its having taken the route of Philadelphia. He places some reliance upon the news which it contains. Monday morning. Translation. Paris, 12th of the 9th Month, 1784. "The affairs of Holland continue to give us much inquietude. The government of the Low Countries has dispatched many vessels which have been stopped by the Dutch upon the Scheldt. The Count d'Ochra has been very active here; but it is yet unknown what he has done, and whether we shall be reconciled to the King, his brother. The Imperial troops approach, but not in great numbers, as the Emperor cannot, without imprudence, weaken himself on the side of Prussia. Luxemburg is destitute of troops, and the militia there mount guard. It is hoped that the prudence of our Minister will arrange this important affair. With respect to the Hollanders, it is not the navigation of the Scheldt alone which is involved; if they suffer their rights and privileges to be attacked on one point, the next attempt will be perhaps upon their independence." Sir, FROM JOHN JAY TO MONSIEUR DE MARBOIS. Office for Foreign Affairs, New York, January 31, 1785. } I have been favored with your note of this date, enclosing an extract of a letter from Paris, of the 12th November last, for which I thank you, and which I shall communicate to Congress in the morning. Agreeably to an act of Congress of the 15th ult., a copy of which was delivered to me this day, I have the honor to inform you that the United States in Congress assembled, have received your note of the 19th November, with the papers enclosed, and are happy in the assurance given that his most Christian Majesty will see with pleasure measures taken to consolidate and maintain a good understanding between his Catholic Majesty and the United States, and they flatter themselves that their disposition and endeavors to cultivate the friendship of the Catholic King will produce the desired effect. That Congress have a high confidence in the justice of his Catholic Majesty, and rely that he will submit the mutual rights of Spain and the United States of America to amicable discussion, without adopting measures which may prejudge those rights. I have the honor to address you a note, wherein I demand the surrender of Sieur Longchamps. The papers which I have had the honor to transmit to you justify the demand which I make, and I entreat you to return them to me when no longer necessary to you. If Congress desire the perusal, it will suffice if they are returned by the 20th of the month. I have had the honor to confide to you the steps taken by Madame De Marbois since the 4th of January last, and those which I propose to take, in favor of the culprit, as soon as Congress shall have accorded the satisfaction demanded by the King. I endeavor, while there is yet time, to prevent bad consequences from an affair which appears to have been excited designedly. But evil disposed persons apply themselves, in the meantime, to inflame the minds of the people in Philadelphia, by false representations published in the gazettes, and republished in those of New York. Although similar publications have taken place throughout the whole course of this affair, I was not willing, that any reply should be made, notwithstanding the advantages of every kind which my situation gave me, and there not being the slightest pretext to color the attempt. I rely entirely upon the justice of Congress, and their respect for the rights of nations, violated in an unexampled manner. Notwithstanding the efforts of the evil-minded to produce a coldness between the King and the United States, I am not the less determined, even to-day, to pursue the plan which I had formed, to solicit the clemency of the King, as far as may be consistent with the inviolability due to public Ministers. But the publications which take place in the newspapers, tend to prevent the effect of those measures. I do not doubt, sir, that you will unite with me cordially in all which can contribute to the maintenance of a good understanding, and I entreat you to consider maturely the part which ought to be taken to arrest the licentiousness of the press. I am, with respect, &c., DE MARBOIS. MONSIEUR DE MARBOIS TO JOHN JAY. Translation. New York, February 10, 1785 Sir, I have the honor to transmit to Mr. Jay an anonymous letter which I received by yesterday's post. I am very doubtful whether it has been written with good intention. Such as it is I thought proper to communicate it to the honorable Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Translation. DE MARBOIS. "Sir, Philadelphia, February 4, 1785. "My attachment for you and the public good induces me to inform you that you will not be safe in returning here. The friends of Longchamps are enraged at the steps which it is said you have taken against him. It is reported that if you return they mean to take violent measures against you, and he himself threatens to be revenged in an exemplary manner as soon as he is at liberty. I believe it would be unwise in you to neglect any precaution with respect to your safety. I pray you to reflect that this man has nothing to lose, that he has no means of living, and that his debts already exceed the property of his wife. The most desperate courses are the best for him. I do not sign my name because I should thereby expose myself to people who have told me their projects as a great secret." I am, with profound respect, &c., FROM JOHN JAY TO MONSIEUR DE MARBOIS. New York, February 11, 1785. Sir, I have received the letters which you did me the honor to write yesterday, together with the anonymous one of which you make mention. I have this morning transmitted them to his Excellency the President to be laid before Congress, and shall take the earliest opportunity of communicating to you the result of their deliberations on the interesting subjects of them. I have the honor, &c., JOHN JAY. FROM MONSIEUR DE MARBOIS TO JOHN JAY. Translation. The undersigned, Chargé d'Affaires of France, has the honor to inform Congress that his Majesty demands that the Sieur Longchamps, his subject, shall be sent to France in order to be tried there. The crime of this individual being known to Congress, the undersigned will enter into no detail upon the subject, but limits himself to assure that assembly, in conformity with the order he has received, that the United States will be permitted to exercise an entire reciprocity, if there should ever happen in France a similar or analogous case with respect to their Ministers or public officers. BARBE DE MARBOIS. FROM JOHN JAY TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Sir, New York, February 11, 1785. I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency, herewith enclosed, the following papers which I received yesterday from M. De Marbois, viz: a note demanding the surrender of M. Longchamps, a letter on that subject and on certain publications respecting it, and another letter enclosing an anonymous one which had been sent to him. All of which I think it my duty to lay before Congress without delay. I have the honor to be, &c., VOL. I.-8. JOHN JAY. |