TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Translation.
Philadelphia, July 20th, 1781.
Sir,
The undersigned, Minister Plenipotentiary of France, has the honor of informing Congress, that he has received despatches from his Court, the contents of which may be interesting to this Assembly, and that he is desirous of communicating them to it through a committee, if Congress shall be pleased to appoint one to confer with him. These communications relate to the state of public affairs in Europe, in the months of January and February last, to the rupture between England and the United Provinces, and to the measures to be taken to facilitate an alliance between the Thirteen United States and that Republic.
LUZERNE.
REPORT OF COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FRENCH MINISTER.
In Congress, July 23d, 1781.
The committee appointed to receive the communications of the Minister of France, delivered in the following report.
The Minister, from his despatches of the 9th of January, 1781, communicated to your committee the causes which delayed the measures, which the Court of France proposed to take for the naval operations of this campaign, the length of the passage of Count d'Estaing to Brest, and, other circumstances not necessary now to be recapitulated; and then told us that he was desired, in the meanwhile, to continue to assure Congress, that the interest which his Majesty takes in the American cause will essentially influence his measures for the present campaign.