The interest that we take in the prosperity of your Republic is our warrant for the pleasure, which we have in repeating to you the assurances of our esteem, and of our constant affection. Moreover, we pray God, that he may keep you, very dear and great friends and allies, under his holy and worthy protection.
LOUIS.
Written at Versailles, December 19th, 1778.
"This letter being read, the President, with a committee consisting of one member from each State, was immediately to wait upon the Minister, and in the name of the United States to congratulate him upon the birth of the Princess. A committee was also appointed to prepare the draft of an answer to his Majesty's letter."
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Translation.
Philadelphia, May 6th, 1779.
Sir,
The anxiety of the undersigned, Minister Plenipotentiary of France, for the maintenance of the most perfect harmony, and the care which he has been in the habit of taking from the commencement of the alliance to establish such a confidence, as can alone maintain it and conduce to its prosperity, do not allow him to conceal from the Congress of the United States the perplexity under which he labors, with regard to informing his Court of the delays which the negotiation, commenced in the month of February last, meets with. It must be allowed, that no affair so important and so pressing ever experienced so much delay, and the undersigned declares, that he can see no reason for warning France and Spain against the sinister interpretations, with which attempts are made to inspire them in regard to this conduct. The zeal and the good will of the petitioner do not suggest to him any other expedient, than that of requesting Congress to approve of his having the honor of imparting to them, as he now does, his perplexity and embarrassment.
He adds, that the Court of France has received intelligences, that England was resolved to send a considerable reinforcement of troops to the continent of North America, and to carry on the war there with all possible vigor, in order to proceed to the conquest of America at the same time by force and by intrigue. The King, in consequence of his attention to whatever may concern the security and the happiness of his allies, has ordered his Minister Plenipotentiary to communicate this intelligence to the Congress of the United States. The undersigned has the honor to perform this commission by the present note. He believes that he should add, that his Majesty, adhering scrupulously to the spirit and principles of the alliance, which has the independence of the United States as an essential object, is always resolved to assist America by all the means, that the resources of his kingdom, and the general state of affairs, will permit him successively to devote to this grand object, without being turned from it by the idea of any conquest for himself.