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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence --Hanson President of Congress, to the King of France.†
[Note †: † MSS. Dep. of State; 6 Sparks' Dip. Rev. Corr., 37,]
November 29, 1781.
The United States in Congress assembled to their great, faithful, and beloved friend and ally, Louis the Sixteenth, King of France and Navarre:
Great, Faithful, and Beloved Friend and Ally: At a period so glorious to the arms of France both by sea and land, and so favorable to the fortunes of America, it is with particular satisfaction that we congratulate the monarch whose wise counsels and generous support have so largely contributed to events illustrious in themselves, and promising consequences truly important.
We wish to convey to your majesty our sense of the victory obtained by the Count de Grasse over the enemy's fleet on our coast and the subsequent reduction of the British armaments in Virginia; and we repeat our grateful acknowledgments for the various aids so seasonably extended to us. From the benevolence and magnanimity which has hitherto interested your majesty in the welfare of these States, we are
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convinced that you will on this occasion feel an equal pleasure with ourselves, whoso immediate advantage is the result of such fortunate exertions.
We mention with great pleasure the zeal and ability manifested by the Count de Rochambeau, commanding your majesty's forces in the allied army. His conduct, and that of his officers under him, merit our fullest approbation; and we are made further happy by the perfect harmony and affection which has subsisted between the troops of the two nations.
The distress occasioned to the common enemy by combined operations will, we trust, point out to both nations the utility of similar measures in future; and whilst it induces your majesty to supply that naval force which the situation of our country renders necessary, will urge the United States to every effort which their particular interests, added to their desire of seconding your majesty's views, can call forth to ensure the complete success of attacks upon the enemy's strongholds.
It is with great pleasure that the United States continue to number some of your majesty's subjects amongst their most able, spirited, and faithful officers. It affords the world a striking proof of the intimate connexion which subsists between the allied nations, and at the same time serves to cement the union which it manifests.
Major-General the Marquis de la Fayette has in this campaign so greatly added to the reputation he had before acquired, that we are desirous to obtain for him on our behalf even notice in addition to that favorable reception which his merits can not fail to meet with from a generous and enlightened sovereign; and in that view we have directed our minister plenipotentiary to present the marquis to your majesty.
We pray God, great, faithful, and beloved friend and ally, always to keep your majesty in his holy protection.
Done at Philadelphia the twenty, ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, and in the sixth year of our Independence, by the United States in Congress assembled, your faithful friends and allies.
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