The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-08-23

Sias, ass 8,e
e ON the nth day of November, l7o7, I
embarked for Europe, with the hon. Francis
Dana, Esp and MIR. John Thaxtcr. The
former was appoinsed by Congress, secretary
OF legation to my two commissions.-T
could not have been found in the L.. States a
gentleman in whose cducation. connections,
talents, integrity, and personal friendship, l
had more entire confidence. The latter
had taken from my own Office cnd family rs
my rs.yate secretary. ! was therefore per-
fec,lyshappy, and knew myself perfectly safe
in my own travelling family
i shall neither entertain nor disgust your
readers with-thesdiary- OF a voyAae in leAky
ship, which Obliged MS TO make for the first
port we could find, which was Fc.rol I; nor
with the diary Of journey tho Spain, in tho
dead Of winter, over the Gallician, As,urian,
or Pyrenean mountains, partly on muleback
and partly on foot, and from thence to Paris,
journey of n thousand or twelve hundred
miles.
We arrived in Paris, in February, l7ao,and
l communicated the objects of my mission,
first to DR.. Franklin, who was then our sole
minister to the Court OF France, and after
wards to the Compte dc Ncrgenncs. This
minister discovered a great anxiety 10 know
my Instructions. These was determined
that no man should know. My commissions
communicated to him. lie cnjomcd j, up
on me, that my commission to make a treaty
of commerce should be kept secret and COM
municated to no body. That commission, as
appeared afterwards, he intended to persuade
Congress to amihilrte. The commission for
peace might be let out to the publick. The
letters and conferences that passed upon this
and other points would take too much space
to bc here inserted. ese
will not enlarge upon the manner in
which spent my time. Though studious-
ly avoided any and every interference in A.
merican affairs, except such IS Immediately
related to my mission; and except those in
which the Comptc dc Vergcnnes expressly
and personally requested my sentiments,
found business enough, and some Of SO much
importance as procured me from congress @
solemn and unanimous vote Of thanks, for my
industrious attention to the interest and hon
our ofthc United States, especially in the af-
fair Of the annihilatiou of paper money, or
the 18th of March, 1870.
/ AS Twas not limited by my comlaisaiof
| OF .ctructionsto 10 residence in ary partic,-
lar place or country, all Europe was open tc
| me, and my intention was 70 Immediately
| to Holland, and see If something might no,
| be done there, To render MY country some
what less dependent on France both for polit
ical consideration, for loans Of money, and
supplies for our army. applied to court 70,
passports, without which Icould not travel ir
France. The Compile ac Vcrgcnnes advised
me to postpone my journey till May, whcr
| the country would be in all its beauty and glc.
| nv. Upon one pretcxt or another, he cyadcd
nv application till midsummer.
| In August, after taking view Of Brussels
! Antwerp, Rotterdam, Dclf, the Hague, Ley.
| den and Harlem, arrived at Amsterdam
| and there endcayourcd to form acquaintance
and connections among such respectable peo.
| pie as were not entirely devoted to the En-
| giish, Sir Joseph York and the Stakeholder.
had not been long in Holland before ! re
ceiyed from Congress another commission,ir
these words: s
The United STAIRS Of .fmr,ica, II
r., s. Congress dssemJird, fofhe Hon
JoHs .dDSMs, Esq. greeting /:
Whereas by our commission to the Hon
Henry La,lrcns, Esq. bearing date the 3otl
day OF October, in the year of our Lord, one