The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg [Va.], 1778-04-24 00:00:00, page 5

[MPORTANT [NTEL Lshpsicf JsictssU'ssif—
RECEIVPD By PXPRESS .
B A L T I M o R E, Mctss 4.
YGRK Town, May 3, 1778.
S ] F. '
()siU wi" be soon fully insormed ofthc
Y crealics of alliance and commerce
between the Court osVEHSAlLLES and
the UNITED dTATLS of AMERIC \.
Copy us a letter, which I here cnclose,
' will, in the meantime, give lhegreatout
lines. I have the honour to be. with great
l'cspcct, Sir, your obedient servant,
HENRY LAURENS,
A Pr-fidsi'ut of Cartgrcj}.
William Lux, Esq;
Ballimore
Copy of:: Icttcrfissom the Hurt. Mefff Franklinct,
' Dcane, and Lee, to lzif Excellency t/lc
. Pufidcnt ofCongre/l.
' PASSY, near Paris, Fcb. 8, 1778.
Honourable Sir,
* ' E have now the great satisfaction of
ss acquaiming you, and theCongress.
that the treaties with France are at
length compleled :md signed. The first
- is :: preacy of Amity and Commerce, much
_on the plan of'thnc projected in Congreils ;
the other is a treaty of Alliancc, in which
it is stipuluted, that in case England de
clares War against France, or occasions a
' war by attempts to hinder her com
merce with us, we should then make a
common cause osit, and join our sorces
and councils, &c. &c. The rcac aim
of this treaty is declared to be to " cstab
" lish the liberty. sovereignty, and in
" dependency absolucc and unlimiccd of
_" the Unitcd Staces, as well in matters
" of governmentandascommeree." And
this ps guumntied to us by France, to
getherwhh allthe'coumric swepcsissclS, or
litull possess at the conclusicn' ofthe was}
in return for which, the states guaranty
tu France all its posscsiions in America.
We do not now add mote Particulats,
as" you will [bon have the whole by
a suser convcyzmce, ass sngate being
appointed to carry our despatchc s.
We only oblerve to you, and with
pleasure, that we have sound through
out this businesZ the greatest cctordi-si
dlity in this court; and that no advan
tage has been taken ot' attempted to" be
taken osour present difficulties, to obtain
hard terms srotn us; but soch has bee'tttsshe
King's magnanimity and goodnefisisssthat
he has pr0posied none whithfle might not
readily haVe agreed tcto ipsa flute of ftsslfl
prosperity and establishe'dfpo'wer." The
principle laid jown as the bafsiis of the
treaty being as declared in the preamble,
'si' the most perfect equality an_d recipro
" city," the privileges in trench," &c. are
mutual, and none are giVen to France
but what we are at liberty to grantto any
bther nation. On the 'whole', we have
abundant reason to_ be (Zttisfied with the
good will of this" court and the nation it'ssx
general, which we therefore hope will
be culcivated by the Congresis, by every
means that may esiablish the UNION
and render it permanent.
When we mention the good Will ofthis
nation to our cause, we may add, that
osisall Europe; which having been offend
ed by the pride and insoleuce ofBritain,
wishes to see its power diminishcd. And