Sir,
The Minister Plenipotentiary of France, in consequence of the sentiment and the views, which have prompted his previous representations, has the honor to observe to the representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that independently of the principal and direct interest of the confederated republic in the overtures of pacification, which the undersigned has been ordered to make to Congress, the general good of the alliance urges with all possible earnestness the hastening of the resolution of the said States. It is in fact only by enabling the Court of Spain to bring its mediation to its critical and decisive point, that it can be hoped that this power, convinced of the injustice of the views and of the ambition of England, will join the alliance, acknowledge the independence of the United States, and take an active part in the war. On the contrary, by delaying without communicating to the parties interested the motives which induce them to it, the States will be in danger of fatiguing this power, which keeps on foot the forces of the whole monarchy, principally with a view to give respectability to a mediation which appears to be neglected; they incur the risk of cooling the good will of his Catholic Majesty, and perhaps of alienating him as much by delays, as if resolutions, contrary to the system which he has appeared disposed to favor by his mediation, should give him lawful reasons for changing his conduct.
The alliance will thus be deprived of a decisive support, which the goodness of its cause, the wisdom of its conduct, and the close union subsisting between France and Spain seemed to promise it. Moreover, the suspension of the said resolutions operates equally in another point of view, in a manner the most disadvantageous for the alliance in general, and for France in particular. On the one side, in fact, the expectation of the resolutions of Congress necessarily infuses into plans and measures an uncertainty injurious to the common good, and if the Count d'Estaing does not carry into execution the plan of coming upon the American coast, it can only be attributed to this cause. On the other hand, the season is already so far advanced, that this same uncertainty, by destroying the hope of seeing Spain declare herself during the course of the present campaign, leaves France alone exposed to the efforts of the principal body of the enemy's forces.
The wisdom of Congress, and the faithful attachment which they show on every occasion, in a manner as conspicuous as it is satisfactory to the alliance, and the respect which they have always expressed for Spain, do not permit a doubt as to the attention which they will be pleased to give to considerations of such importance. The present Memorial is the last tribute that the zeal of the Minister Plenipotentiary of France will allow him to consecrate to the duty of facilitating and accelerating, as much as lies in his power, the deliberations of Congress, by suggesting considerations which might have such an influence.
GERARD.
June 22d. A Memorial from the Minister Plenipotentiary of France was read, accompanied with a commission given by him to the Sieur de St Hilaire, appointing him Vice-Consul for the port of Alexandria in Virginia. Ordered, that the same be referred to the Marine Committee to take order thereon.
Another Memorial from the Minister was received and read, accompanied with two Memorials relative to violences, of which divers subjects of his Majesty complain. These were also referred to the Marine Committee.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Translation.