The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1778-08-19 00:00:00, page 1

PHILADELPHIA, August ii.
lASTI AST Thursday being the day appointed
by Congress for the audience of the Sieur
Gerard, Minister Plenipotentiary from
his Most Christian Majesty, that Minister
A received audience accordingly. In pur
suance of the ceremonial established by
Congress, the Honourable Richard Henry Lee, Esq.
one of the Delegates from Virginia, and the Honour
able Samuel Adams, Esq. one of the Delegates from
Massachusetts-Bay, in a coach and fix, provided by
Congress, waited upon the Minister at his house: In
a few minutes, the Minister and the two Delegates
entered the coach, Mr. Lee placing himfelf at the
Minister's left hand on the back feat, Mr. Adams oc
cupying the front feat : The Minister's chariot being
behind, received his Secretary. The carriages being
arrived at the State-House in this city, the two Mem
bers of Congress placing themselves at the Minister's
left hand, a little before one o'clock, introduced him
to his chair in the Congress chamber; the President
and Congress fitting —the chair was placed fronting
the President. The Minister being seated, he gave
his credentials into the hand of his Secretary, who
advanced and delivered them to the President. The
Secretary of Congress then read and translated them :
which being done, Mr. Lee announced the Minister
to the President and Congress, at this time the Pre
sident, the Congress, and the Minister rose together:
He bowed to the President and the Congress ; they
bowed to him : Whereupon the whole seated them
selves. In a moment, the Minister rose and made
a speech to the Congress, they fitting. The speech
being finifhed, the Minister fat down, and giving a
copy of his speech to his Secretary, he presented it
to the President. The President and the Congress
then rose, and the President pronounced their an
swer to the speech ; the Minister Landing. The an
swer being ended, the whole were again seated, and
thrPrdiaent giving a copy of the aufwer to the Se
cretary of Congress, he presented it to the Minister.
The President, the Congress, and the Minister then
again rose together : The Minister bowed to the Pre
sident, who returned the salute, and then to the Con
gress, who also bowed in return: And the Minister
having again bowed to the President and received his
bow, he withdrew, and was attended home in the
fame manner in which he had been conducted to the
audience.
Within the bar of the House, the Congress formed
a semicircle on each fide of the President and the
Minister : the President fitting at one extremity of the
circle, at a table upon a platform elevated two fteps—
the Minister fitting at the opposite extremity of the
circle in an arm-chair upon the fame level with the
Congress. The door of the Congress chamber being
thrown open, below the bar, about 200 gentlemen
were admitted to the audience, among whom were
the Vice-President of the Supreme Executive Council
of Pennsylvania, the Supreme Executive Council, the
Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly, fe
deral foreigners of diftinrction, and officers of the army.
Thus has a new and noble fight been exhibited in
this new world—the Representatives of the United
States of America, solemnly giving public audience
to a Minister Plenipotentiary from the most power
ful Prince in Europe. Four years ago, such an event,
at so near a day, was not in the view even ofima
gination: But it is the Almighty who raifethup; he
hath Rationed America among the powers of the
earth, and clothed her in robes of Sovereignty.
The audience being over, the Congress and the
Minister at a proper hour, repaired to, an entertain
ment by Congress given to the Minister; at which
were present by invitation, federal foreigners of dif
tinCtion, and gentlemen of public character. The
entertainment was conduced with a decorum suited
to the occasion ; and gave the most perfect fatisfaCti
on to the whole company.
In CONGRESS, Auguji 6, 1778.
According to order the Honourable the Sieur Ge
rard being introduced to an audience by the two
Members for that purpose appointed, and being seat
ed in his chair, his Secretary delivered to the President
a letter from his Most Christian Majesty, which was
read in the words following:
Tres Chers Grands Amis et Allies,
T ES trains que nous avons fignes avec vous, en
consequence des proportions que vos Deputes
nous out faites de votre part, vous fopft un garant as
sure oe notre affection pour les Et?fe Unis en general,
„ P°™ c hacun d'eux en part^cgiier, ainfi que de
1 interct que nous prenons, et. que nous prendrons
conftamat & kur bouheur €fr\k;ur prQfpmt^ C'cft
NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
[Vol. I.]
WEDNESDAY, August 19, 1778.
pour vous en convaincre d'uie maniere plus particu
licre que nos avons nomme Ie Sieur Gerard, Secre
taire de notre Confeil d'Etat, pour resider aupres de
vous cn qualite de notre Minftre Plenipotentiairc, il
connoit d'autant mieux les fentimens que nous vous
portons, et il est d'autant pus'^n etat de vous en
rendre temoignage, qu'il a e:e charge de notre part
de negocier avec vos Deputes, et qu'il a figne avec
eux les traites qui cimentent notre union. Nous vous
prions d'ajouter foi entiere a tout ce qu'il vous dira
de notre part principalement lorfqu'il vous affurera
de notre affeCtion et de notre conftante amitie pour
vous. Sur ce nous prions Lieu qu'il vous ait, tres
chers grands Amis et Allies, en fa fainte et digne
garde. Ecrit a Verfaillcs, le 18 Mars, 1778.
Votre boi Ami et Allie,
L OU I S.
Gravier de Vergennes.
A nos tres chers grands Amis et Allies, le
President et Membres du Cosgres Gene
ral des Etats Unis de 1' Aucrique Sep
tentrionale.
Per, Dear Great Friends ana Allies,
THE treaties which we have signed with you, in
consequence of the propotals your Commission
ers made to us in your behalf, are a certain assurance
cf our affeCtion for the United States in general, and
for each of them in particular, as well as of the in
terest we take, and constantly ihall take, in their hap
piness and proiperity. Itis to convince you more
particularly of this, that we have nominated the Sieur
Gerard, Secretary of our Council of State, to reside
among you in the quality cf our Minister Plenipoten
tiary ; he is the better acquainted with our senti
ments toward you, and th: more capable of teftify
ing the fame to you, as hewas entrusted on our part
to negociate with your Cunmiflionfrs, and signed
with them the treaties whim cement our union. We
pray you to give full ^^dit so all he ihalLcommiink^
to you from us, more especially when he Ihall affurc
you of our affection and constant friendfllip for you.
We pray God, very dear great Friends and Allies, to
have you in his holy keeping. Versailles, 28th
March, 1778. Your good Friend and Ally,
(Signed) L O U I S.
( Under-jigned ) Gravier de Vergennes.
(Directed )
To our very Dear Great Friends the
President and Members of the Ge
neral Congress of North-America.
The Minister was then announced to the President
and the House, whereupon he arose and addressed
Congress in a speech, which when he had finiflied,
his Secretary delivered the fame in writing to the
President, as follows:
Messieurs,
[ E S liaisons que le Roi mon maitre a formers
avec les Etats Unis de I' Amerique, lai font Ji
agreable qu'il n'a pas voulu Offerer de m'envoyer
resider aupres du Congres pour les cimenter. Il
aprendra avec fatisfadlion que les fentimens qui
ont eclate a cette oecaJion, juflifent la confiance
que,lui avoient inspire le zele et le carafiere des
Deputes des Etats Unis en France, la fageffe et la
fermete qui ont dirige les resolutions du Congres,
ainfi que la confiance et le courage que les peuples
out fait eclater. Vous favez, Messieurs, que cet
te confance a fait la base du plan vraiment ami
cal et defnterefse fur lequel fa Majefie a traite
avec les Etats Unis.
II na pas dependu de fa Majefte que fes engage
ments n'afarajent votre independance et votre re
pos fans effufion ulterieure de fang, et fans aggra
ver les maux de Rbumanite, dont toute son ambi
tion eJi d'affurer le bonheur; inais les difpoJitions
et les resolutions bofsiles de I'ennemi commun ay
ant denne a des engagemens purement eventuels
une force aftuelle, pojitive, permanente et indisso
luble, le Roi, men maitre, penfe que les deux
Allies ne doivent plus s'occuper que des moyens de
les remplir de la maniere la plus utile a la cause
commune et la plus efficace pour parvenir a la paix
qui est l'objet de l'alliance. C'eft d'apres ce prin
cipe que fa Majefte s'eft batee de vous envoyer un
fecour puissant. Vous ne le deves, Mefieurs, qu'a
son amitie, a I'interet Jincere qu'elle prend aux
avantages des Etats Unis, et au defir qu'elle a de
concourrir efficacement d affermir votre repos et
votre profperite fur des bajes honorables et folides.
^^ efpere d'aßU^rs que fa prinUpes adopts par
THE
Le principal point de mes inftrullions est de faire
marcher fur la meme ligne les interets de la France
et ceux des Etats Unis. Je me Jlatte, Messieurs,
que ma conduit pajsee dans les affaires qui les
intereffent, vous aura d'eja convaincu que je n'ai
point de defir plus grand que celui d'executer mes
infractions de maniere a meriter la confiance die
Congres, l'amitie de fes Membres, et I'efime de
tousles citoyens. G ERA RD.
(TRANSLATION.)
Gentlemen,
THE connection formed by the King my master
with the United States of America is so agree
able to him, that he could no longer delay fending me
to reside among you for the purpose of cementing it.
It will give his Majesty great fatisfadion to learn that
the sentiments, which have shone forth on this occa
fi°n, juftify that confidence with which he hath been
inspired by the zeal and character of the Commiffion*
ers of the United States in France, the wisdom and
fortitude which have directed the resolutions of Con
gress, and the courage and perseverance of the peo
ple they represent ; a confidence which you know,
Gentlemen, has been the basis of that truly amicable
and disinterested system, on which he hath treated
with the United States.
It is not his Majesty's fault that the engagements
he hath entered into did not establish your indepen
dence and repose, without the further effufion of
blood, and without aggravating the calamities of
mankind, whose happiness it is-his highest ambition
to promote and secure. But since the hostile mea
lures and designs of the common enemy have given
to, eneasements ^rdttfyfL.
fibre, permanent and indifioluble force, it is the
opinion of the King my master, that the allies Ihould
turn their whole attention to fulfil those engagements
in the manner most ufeful to the common cause, and
belt calculated to obtain that peace which is the
object of the alliance.
It is upon this principle his Majesty hath hastened
to fend you a powerful assistance, which you owe on
ly to his friendship, to the sincere regard he has for
every thing which relates to the advantage of the
United States, and to his desire of contributing with,
efficacy to establish your repose and prosperity upon
an honourable and solid foundation. And further
it is his expectation that the principles which may
be adopted by the refpedtive governments, will tend
to strengthen those bonds of union, which have ori
ginated in the mutual interest of the two nations.
The principal object of my inftruCtions is to con
nect the interests of France with those of the United
States. I flatter myfelf, Gentlemen, that my past
conduit in the affairs which concern them, hath al
ready convinced you of the determination I feel to
endeavour to obey my inftruCtions in such manner as
to deserve the confidence of Congress, the friendfhip
of its Members, and the esteem of the Citizens of
America. G ERAR D.
To qvbich the President returned the follo<wing answer.
SIR,
T HE treaties between bis Mos Cbriftian Majesty and
1 the United States of America, so fully demonstrate
bis wisdom and magnanimity as to command the refe
rence of all nations. The virtuous citizens of America
in particular, can never forget bis beneficent attention
to tbeir violated rights ; nor cease to acknowledge the
band of a gracious Providence in raising them up so
powerful and illuJlrious a friend. It is the hope and
opinion of Congress, that the confidence bis Majejl, re
poses in the Jirmnefs if tbefe States, will receive additi
onal Jlrengtb from every day's experience.
This Assembly are convinced, Sir, that bad it refled
solely with the Moji CbriJlian King, not only the Inde
pendence of tbefe States would have been universally ac
knowledged, but tbeir tranquility fully eftabliJbed. We
lament that luji of domination, which gave birth to the
present war, and hath prolonged and extended the mi
series of mankind. We ardently wifb toJbeath thefword
and spare the farther effufion of blood; but we are de
termined, by every means in our power, to fulfil those
eventual engagements, which have acquired pojitive
and permanent force from the hoflile designs and mea
sures of the common enemy.
Congress have, reason to believe that the assistance so
wifely and generoujl, sent, will bring Great-Britain to
a sense of justice and moderation, promote the common,
interests of France and America, and secure peace and
tranquility @# the most firm and honourable fandamn.
les gouvernements contribueront a etendre les lia
isons que I'interet mutuel des peuples refpeftifs
avoit d'eja commence a etablir entre eux.
[Numb. 37.]