d'Affaires for the King, with the United States. He will deliver you himself that which the Count De Vergennes has written to you on this occasion. I am well assured, sir, that during the course of his functions he will spare no pains to deserve your confidence, and from my long knowledge of him, I do not hesitate to assure you that he will deserve it. It remains for me, sir, to thank you for the support I have received from you at different times, and to request of you to preserve me a place in your remembrance, and to assure you of the respect and distinguished regard with which I have the honor to be, &c., DE MARBOIS. FROM MONSIEUR DE MARBOIS TO JOHN JAY. Translation. New York, August 30, 1785. The underwritten, Chargé d'Affaires of France, has the honor to inform Congress that his Majesty, by naming him for the Intendancy of the Colony of St. Domingo, has put a period to the functions which he has had the honor of performing in the United States in the absence of the Chevalier de la Luzerne. The private affairs of this Minister not yet permitting him to come and resume his functions with Congress, and his Majesty, desirous that there should be no interruption in the correspondence between him and Congress, has appointed Mr. Otto to fulfil the duties of his Chargé d'Affaires here until the return of his Minister Plenipotentiary. Mr. Otto has the advantage of having passed many years on this continent, the perfect knowledge which he has of the affairs which have been transacted, and of the particular affection of the King for the United States, leaves no room to doubt but that he will discharge his duties to the entire satisfaction of his allies. The underwritten, honored with the testimonies of that of the King, his master, will esteem himself happy if, during a residence of more than six years, and in difficult times, his conduct has shown the respect which he entertains for Congress, and how advantageous he considers the alliance to be to both nations. DE MARBOIS. REPORT OF SECRETARY JAY RESPECTING THE REMOVAL OF MONSIEUR DE MARBOIS. Office for Foreign Affairs, September 7, 1785. The Secretary of the United States for the Department of Foreign Affairs, to whom was referred the Letter of the 2d instant, from him to his Excellency the President, with the papers therein enclosed, respecting the removal of M. De Marbois, reports: That in his opinion, your Secretary should be ordered to write an answer of the following tenor to M. De Marbois's note: "Sir, "Office for Foreign Affairs, September, 1785. "The note which you did me the honor to write on the 30th of last month, announcing your appointment to the Intendancy of St. Domingo, and that of the Sieur Otto to succeed you here, I immediately laid before Congress. "In obedience to their orders I have the honor to assure you that this distinguished mark of your royal master's approbation and favor gives them pleasure, and they wish you happiness and prosperity in the enjoyment of it. The manner in which you have filled the place of his Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires here has given them entire satisfaction, and I am ordered to mention this to Count de Vergennes. "The great and repeated proofs which the United States have received of his Majesty's affection, and the zeal and abilities with which his Minister has, on various occasions, executed his friendly intentions towards them, leave no room to doubt but that such men only will be charged with his affairs in this country as, from inclination as well as duty, will be disposed to cherish the union and cement the interests and friendship of the two nations. "In this light they consider the Sieur Otto; and he may be assured that their respect and affection for his sovereign, as well as the good opinion they entertain of him, will always induce them to render his residence as agreeable to himself as they are persuaded it will be to them. "I have the honor to be, &c., "TO MONSIEUR DE MARBOIS, Chargé d'Affaires of his most Christian Majesty." Your Secretary purposes to enclose the above letter in the following, (the former being an answer to the note, and the latter to the letter, of M. De Marbois :) "Sir, "Office for Foreign Affairs, September, 1785. "The letter herewith enclosed is in answer to the note which accompanied the letter you did me the honor to write on the 30th instant. "M. Otto has delivered to me the letter from the Count De Vergennes, of which you make mention, and I shall take the earliest opportunity of transmitting an answer to it. "The character you give of Mr. Otto corresponds with what I should have supposed it to be from that of the Minister, and he may rely on my disposition to render his residence agreeable. "It has been, and shall continue to be, my desire so to discharge the duties of my office as to give perfect satisfaction to the Ministers and subjects of your magnanimous King, and I am happy to find that I have succeeded with respect to you. "We have been laborers in the same great work, and I flatter myself that your removal from America will not diminish your affection for it. It will always give me pleasure to hear of your health and happiness, and that of your amiable lady. Permit me to offer to you and to her my best wishes for your safe arrival at the place of your destination, and any friendly services that may be in my power to render. "With great respect and consideration, &c.," All which is submitted to the wisdom of Congress. JOHN JAY. Sir, FROM MONSIEUR DE MARBOIS TO JOHN JAY. Translation. New York, September 24, 1785. I am sorry I could not meet you, to express the satisfaction which I have received from your letter dated the 12th instant, as it mentions Congress's approbation of my conduct whilst I have had the honor to reside as the King's Chargé d'Affaires in this country. I have obtained the principal object of my mission, which has been to promote as much as in my power the good understanding and preserve the friendship between the King and the States. The manner with which you conveyed their sentiments to me could not but give additional satisfaction. I propose to leave this continent to-morrow; but six years' residence, which I shall ever consider as the most interesting of my life past, both by the importance and the success of the events to which I have been an active witness, and the connexion I have formed, will never permit me to be a stranger to America, and I shall be happy whenever duty will concur with my inclination to afford me the means of evincing the sentiments I shall preserve for it. Mrs. De Marbois is much obliged for your mention of her; she desires to be remembered to Mrs. Jay, to whom I have the honor to offer my respects. I cannot leave this place without again assuring you, sir, that I shall have a particular pleasure in hearing that circumstances have allowed Monsieur Longchamps to be treated with lenity. I renew this application at the very instant there are attempts made towards further provocations. Mr. Otto may inform you of what nature they are, if you do not already know it. I do not believe they come from him; but should it be the case, it is impossible anything could provoke from a man in his situation, and whatever may be his behavior, it will never alter the wish I have formed for his release from the instant the King had expressed his full approbation of my conduct. With perfect respect and consideration, I have the honor to be, &c., DE MARBOIS. FROM MONSIEUR OTTO TO JOHN JAY. Translation. Sir, New York, September 28, 1785. The departure of Monsieur De Marbois will soon place me in the situation of entering upon the exercise of the functions which have been entrusted to me. It is very satisfactory to me that, until the arrival of the Minister Plenipotentiary, I have to transact with a person whose patriotism and affection for my Court will greatly facilitate any business with which I may be charged during my residence here; and I flatter myself that I shall merit your confidence, and convince you of my personal attachment to the United States, independent of those obligations my place imposes on me. I have perused, sir, with the warmest acknowledgments, the letter you were pleased to address to my predecessor the 12th instant. In rendering justice to his zeal, you have, at the same time, condescended to assure him of the good opinion which Congress have conceived of my dispositions. I entreat you to believe that I shall esteem myself very happy to have an opportunity of rendering myself worthy of the approbation of that assembly, and of contributing to draw still closer the bonds which unite our nations. These ties, sir, ought forever to be held sacred and indissoluble. The attachment of France to the United States proceeds, not from a momentary advantage, but from a wise, enlightened, provident policy, which has established, upon the permanent basis of justice and mutual convenience, an alliance of which there are few examples in history. The two nations, divided from each other by a vast ocean, will never experience that jealousy which vicinity too often inspires. They may both prosper without giving umbrage to each other; they may each aggrandize themselves without prejudice to their alliance. The United States of America will always find, in the strength of one of the most important Governments of Europe, a support against their enemies, and France will not see, but with satisfaction, the flourishing state of a Republic of which, from its first existence, she has had so much care. I know so well the intentions of my Court in this respect, that I can assure you, sir, that she will ever inviolably fulfil the conditions of the treaties of alliance and commerce, which form the basis of her connexion with the United States, and it will not be owing to her if these treaties are not scrupulously executed. She is, at the same time, persuaded that Congress is too well acquainted with its interests not to cement more and more the alliance which so happily subsists between France and the United States. The uniform conduct which this assembly has held in this respect leaves no doubt of its true dispositions; and if some of the States have appeared to depart, for an instant, from the fundamental principle of our treaties, |