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The General

I find their health to be as I have mentioned. retains all his affection and respect for the United States. The season is now so far advanced, that it is not probable they will embark for America this fall. They all go tomorrow to lodgings about ten miles from the city, where they may pass the winter without molestation. It appears that the Emperor will not meddle with them again.

With perfect respect, &c.,

S. WILLIAMS.

C. CADIGNAN TO R. KING.

HAMBRO, 13 Octob'r. 1797.

SIR :

Mr. Williams having informed you of the arrival here of M. Lafayette with his family, I shall only mention to your Excellency that he has accepted with gratitude the offer you charge me to make to him, which Mr. Williams has confirmed, and that he has to write to you about it. He has set off for the Holstein where he expects to stay till the weather permits him to embark for America, Mrs. Lafayette being very much indisposed. did expect to have a letter tonight for you, but the danish post arrives only tomorrow; so very likely I shall be able to forward it to you next post.

Now, Sir, I must trouble you again for me. I am going to set off from here for england to meet again my little family and my business, in few days by a neutral vessel for gravesend, from what place I embarked in august last; would you be so good to send a note to his grace Duke of portland to desire him to send an order to gravesend to let me get in as soon as I arrive there, as you had the goodness to do last april when I was at yarmouth, I am with respect your Excelency your most obedient

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C. CADIGNAN. Citizen of America.

P.S. They assure here the american plenipotentiaries arrived in france; I hope they will be able to succeed notwithstanding the encore new revolution in that country. All the german papers of to-day say that the hostilities were to begin again in Italy the 8 of this month, and Buonoparte is reported very ill by the paris papers of the 4th.

LAFAYETTE TO R. KING.

WILTMOLD NEAR PLÖEN IN HOLSTEIN, October the 13th, 1797.

HIS EXCELLENCY MR. KING, ESQ. PLENIPOTENTIARY MINISTER FROM THE UNITED STATES AT THE COURT of London.

MY DEAR SIR :

While I am happy in this Opportunity to offer you my affectionate thanks for the kind and friendly interest which you have been pleased to take in my behalf, I am sure your good heart will enjoy the account I am now able to give you that my family, my two friends and myself are totally out of the Coalitionary fangs. You know what have been for five years the applications from the American Government, the exertions of American Representatives abroad, and who, more than you, my dear Sir, has a right to say, et quorum pars magna fui? For those obligations my heart shall ever be bound by the ties of the most lively Gratitude. You also have been acquainted with the measures taken by the French Commonwealth and her Plenipotentiaries from the Beginning of this long Negotiation with the Court of Vienna, and with the final Arrangement which has been agreed upon between the Baron de Thugue and my Aid de Camp Romeuf, whom Bonaparte and Clarke had sent to Vienna to put an end to the chicanes which for five months had deferred our being set at Liberty. In consequence of this we left Olmutz on the 19th of September and have been at Hamburgh put into American Hands, which I rejoice to see taking a part in this late Business, as they have taken so kind, early and constant part in everything that relates to my Captivity, the means to alleviate it and the applications to put an end to the long and unhealthy Confinement. It is impossible in the deplorable state of my Wife's Health even to think of a winter passage. We are going to pass this season in a retired place about sixty English miles from Hamburgh. The Healths of us all are in great need of repair: that of my Wife is by far the most injured. I need not tell you, my dear Sir, that my Restoration to Liberty has been much embittered by the unhappy news of the differences which have troubled the good Harmony so naturally subsisting between the American and French Republics. What I feel on the occasion it is superfluous to saywhat I wish is obvious. But how the purpose can be effected is

the question in which my Head and my Heart are wholly, and at every minute busying themselves, not on account of the difficulties, it is more difficult indeed to set up a quarrel between the two Nations than to mend it, but on account of many circumstances, which altho' they are merely personal or foreign to the American contest, cannot fail greatly to influence the Negocia tion. Are those Commissioners arrived in Paris? I think I shall by and bye, notwithstanding the late despotic measures, hear from france, but I also entreat you, as far as you think it convenient, to let me know your opinion and expectations with respect to this unfortunate and afflicting affair. Cadignan has told me what you have been pleased in the name ot the United States to offer to lend to us should we want these pecuniary advances. 1 the more gratefully accept them as the difficulties for Mdme. Lafayette to get money from france are still great, and as I have bound myself immediately to pay a sum of two hundred and fifty guineas, the secret use of it has a relation to our prison Business, which Cadignan will verbally explain. To him give me leave to refer it, as he intends soon to have the honour to wait on you, and contenting myself here to present you with my grateful and affectionate thanks, I shall only add, that with an eternal Remembrance of your kind interest in my Behalf, of which you see I take the liberty, occasionally to make use as frankly as it has been bestowed on me, and with the sentiments of the highest Regard, warm gratitude and affectionate friendship, I have the honour to be, my dear Sir,

Your obliged Servant,

LAFAYETTE.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Embassy of Messrs. Pinckney, Marshall, and Gerry to France-Blount's Conspiracy-Dr. Romaine's connection with it-Portuguese Treaty with France-Cession of Louisiana by Spain demanded by France-French Duplicity towards America-R. King believes the People of England will continue to Support the Government-Especially since the Failure of the Negotiation at Lisle-Communication to Lord Grenville relative to the Trade to British Territories in India-French Orders against American Commerce in the West Indies.

It is not proposed to enter into the details connected with the embassy of Messrs. Pinckney, Marshall, and Gerry to France; but it may be well to state the fact, illustrated by the following correspondence, which extends over many pages, that it was an endeavor, on the part of the United States, to settle the troubles with France which had now reached a point which involved an entire cessation of friendly intercourse. Mr. Adams, the President, contrary to the advice of his political supporters, decided to try an experiment, which he deemed wise, of sending three commissioners to Paris, and through their efforts to bring about a solution of the questions pending between the two countries. As it is well known the mission failed in its objects, and M. Talleyrand, after a formal reception of the American Commissioners, endeavored to bring about by corrupt means a settlement which he was unwilling to make by an open and honest discussion of the questions at issue. The basis of this plan was that the United States should apologize for all the matters complained of by the French, including the treatment of the French Vessels of war and privateers during the residence of Genet and afterwards, and especially the alleged

use.

grievances consequent upon the treaty with Great Britain; should also make a loan to France, either immediate or prospective, and give a considerable sum in cash to be disposed of by M. Talleyrand for his own and the Directory's The correspondence shows the manner in which these propositions were received and indignantly rejected by the American Ministers, and the universal outcry in America against France, when the President, upon the call of Congress, laid before them the papers relative to the failure of

the mission.

In a letter of Mr. King to the Secretary of State, December 23, 1797, will be found a statement made by the Directory, through M. Talleyrand, for a proposed peace with England, which will be found interesting in this connection.

R. KING TO GENL. PINCKNEY.

LONDON, Oct. 17, 1797.

DEAR SIR:

I do not even yet permit myself to despair of the suc cess of your mission, tho' anxious as I feel on that subject, it would be a very high gratification to learn from any circumstance that has occurred since your arrival at Paris that your hopes are somewhat increased.

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The NewsPapers contain a correspondence between the Secy of State and Mr. Monroe, on the refusal of the Demands of the latter that the Reasons wh. induced his Recall should be assigned for the Purpose of a public Discussion.

Tho' in some small particulars I am not partial to Mr. G. [erry] still I am thoroughly convinced of his Integrity, Patriotism and Honor entire confidence in which serves to extenuate those sub❤ ordinate Defects to bear with and to get over which require only patience and a little management. I however know nothing con cerning him for the last four years, which have wrought great changes in America as well as elsewhere. I speak of him as of former times. You will be satisfied with Genl. Marshall; his

*Italics in cipher.

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