145
c. 1777 French Negociator Letter Chavalier de Chastelleux, Vergennes + Lafayette
Currency:USD
Category:Collectibles
Start Price:1,800.00 USD
Estimated At:2,800.00 - 3,400.00 USD
SOLD
2,000.00USD+ buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2017 Jun 17 @ 11:30UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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American Revolution
c. 1777-78 Revolutionary War and “Treaty of Amity and Commerce” (United States–France) French Representative Negotiation Letter Mentions Leaders Chevalier de Chatelleux, Vergennes, and Lafayette
c. 1783 French Language Letter, not translated, unknown writer, Mentions the Chavalier de Chateslleux, Comte de Vergennes, and LaFayette, Choice Extremely Fine.
Original Manuscript Letter, in French, 1 page, measuring 7.25” x 9”, no date or place indicated. This Letter was obviously written by a high ranking and important person yet unknown, complaining that he hasn’t heard from the Chevalier de Chastelleux (Marquis de Chastellux)(1734-1788) for the past six months. Neither has he had any reply from “de Vergennes” (Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes, a French statesman and diplomat who served as the French Foreign Minister from 1774, during the reign of Louis XVI), nor has he heard from LaFayette.
Marquis de Chastellux was a Major General in the French expeditionary forces who served in 1780 during the War of American Independence as led by General Comte de Rochambeau. Being on General Rochambeau's staff for the duration of the war, Chastellux acted as the principal liaison officer between the French Commander-in-chief and General George Washington. During the following year, he was third in command of the French forces engaged at the decisive Siege of Yorktown in 1781 where the British were ultimately defeated. Major General de Chastellux was fluent in English and with his strong ideological support of the American cause, he served the alliance well. Chastellux remained a personal friend of George Washington for life. Furthermore, the College of William and Mary and the University of Pennsylvania also awarded Chastellux with honorary degrees. After his return to France, Chastellux also remained in contact with Thomas Jefferson, now the American representative in Paris, whom he had previously visited on his Virginia estate at Monticello. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1781.
The following is directly taken from: The Papers of John Adams: Massachusetts Historical Society:
“MARCH 9 [i.e. 8] SATURDAY. --- Dined at Passy, the Spanish Ambassador, the Comte de Rochambeau, the Chevalier de Chatelux [Chastellux], Mr. Jay & c. present.
Chatelux said to the Abby Morlaix that I was the Author of the Massachusetts Constitution, and that it was the best of em all, and that the People were very contented with it.
1783. APRIL 30. WEDNESDAY.
“... That I had never had but one Principle and one System, concerning this Subject, before, during or since the War, and that had generally been the System of Congress viz. That it was not our Interest to hurt Great Britain any further than was necessary to support our Independence and our Alliances. That the French Court had sometimes endeavoured to warp us from this System, in some View larger image degrees and particulars, that they had sometimes succeeded with some American Ministers and Agents, Mr. Deane particularly, and I must add that Dr. Franklin had not adhered to it at all times with so much Firmness as I could have wished, and indeed Congress itself from the Fluctuation of its Members, or some other Cause had sometimes appeared to loose Sight of it. That I had constantly endeavoured to adhere to it, but this Inflexibility had been called Stubbornness, Obstinacy, Vanity &c. and had expossed me to many Attacks, and disagreeable Circumstances. That it had been to damp the Ardour of returning Friendship as I supposed, which had induced the French Minister, to use his Influence to get the Commission to make a Treaty of Commerce with Great Britain, revoked without appointing another. That I did not care a Farthing for a Commission to Great Britain, and wished that the one to me had never existed, but that I was very sorry it was revoked without appointing another. That the Policy of this Court he might well think would be, to lay every stumbling Block between G. Britain and America. They Wished to deprive Us of the Fisheries and Western Lands for this Reason. They espoused the Cause of the Tories for this Reason.
I told him the Comte de Vergennes and I were View larger image pursuing different Objects.
___________________
1783 MAY 1 THURSDAY.
Dined with the Marquis de la Fayette, with the other American Ministers and others.
Visited the Duke and Dutchesse de la Vauguion at the petite Luxembourg. The Duke is to stay here some time. I told him he and I were in the same Case, and explained to him my Situation and gave him my frank Sentiments of a certain Minister. He said he was veritablement touch.
_________________
MAY 2. FRIDAY.
Mr. Hartley came in to introduce to me his Secretary Mr. Hammond, whom he introduced also to mine, Mr. Thaxter and Storer. He told me that the C. de Vergennes had been treating with Mr. Fitsherbert about the Post of Panmure at the Natches, which is within the Limits which England has acknowledged to be the Bounds of the United States. The Spaniards want to keep it, and the C. de Vergennes wants to make a Merit of procuring it for them with a few Leagues round it. -- I told Mr. Hartley that this Subject was within the exclusive jurisdiction of Mr. Jay. That the Minister for Peace had nothing to say in it.
I told Mr. Hartley the Story of my Negotiations with the C. de Vergennes about communicating my Mission to Ld. G. Germaine 3 Years ago and the subsequent Intrigues and Disputes &c. It is necessary to let the English Ministers know where their danger lies, and the Arts used to damp the Ardour of returning friendship.
Mr. Jay came, with several Pieces of Intelligence. 1. The Story of Panmure. 2. The Marquis de la Fayette told him that no Instructions were ever sent by the C. de Vergennes to the C. Montmorrin to favour Mr. Jays Negotiations at Madrid and that Montmorrin told la Fayette so.
View larger image Mr. Jay added that the Marquis told him, that the C. de Vergennes desired him to ask Mr. Jay why he did not come and see him? Mr. Jay says he answered how can he expect it? when he knows he has endeavoured to play Us out of the Fisheries and vacant Lands? Mr. Jay added that he thought it would be best to let out by degrees, and to communicate to some French Gentlemen, the Truth and shew them Marbois's Letter. Particularly he mentioned C. Sarsefield.
Mr. Jay added, every Day produces some fresh Proof and Example of their vile Schemes. He had applied to Montmorin, to assist him, countenance him, support him, in his Negotiation at Madrid, and shewed him a Resolution of Congress by which the King of France was requested to Aid him. Montmorin said he could not do it, without Instructions from his Court, that he would write for Instructions, but Mr. Jay says he never heard any farther about it. But Yesterday La Fayette told him that Montmorin told him, no such Instruction had ever been sent him.
In Truth Congress and their Ministers have been plaid upon like Children, trifled with, imposed upon, deceived. Franklin's Servility and insidious faithless Selfishness is the true and only Cause why this Game has succeeded. He has aided Vergennes with all his Weight, and his great Reputation, in both Worlds, has supported this ignominious System and blasted every Man and every Effort to shake it off. I only have had a little Success against him.
____________________
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l. The term "Description" shall mean the written remarks describing the features of a Lot combined with the corresponding photograph of said Lot.
m. The term "www.EarlyAmerican.com" shall mean the Internet accessible service provided by EAHA.
n. The term "EAHA" shall mean collectively Early American History Auctions, Inc. and/or any subsidiary or affiliated entity and/or Officer(s), Director(s) and/or employee(s) of EAHA.
o. The term "Fair Market Value" shall mean the sale price a given Lot is expected by the Cataloguer to realize at the Auction from the Bidder(s).
p. The term "Hammer Price" shall mean the successful Bid in the Auction as determined by the Auctioneer on the Auction Date.
q. The term "Holder" shall mean the original frame, container, case or clear plastic sleeve, labeled with the "Lot" number, in which the "Merchandise" is delivered by the Consignor to the successful Bidder at an Auction.
r. The term "Lot(s)" shall mean the article(s) comprising the Merchandise offered for sale at the Auction.
s. The term "Low Estimate" shall mean the low range of the sale price that a Lot is expected by the Cataloguer to realize at the Auction.
t. The term "Merchandise" shall mean personal property described in the Catalog and offered for sale by Lot at the Auction.
u. The term "Purchaser" shall mean the successful Bidder at the Auction on the Auction Date.
v. The term "Purchaser's Premium" shall mean the commission that is automatically charged by "EAHA" to each successful Bidder at the Auction in a sum equal to twenty percent (20%) of the "Hammer Price" or twenty-five percent (25%) of the "Hammer Price" if bids are placed through a third party firm including Invaluable.com, LiveAuctioneers.com and iCollector.com.
w. The term "Reserve" is a confidential price below which the Auctioneer will not sell a given Lot, and/or will re-purchase on behalf of the Consignor or EAHA.
x. The term "Settlement Date" shall mean a time forty-five (45) days after the Auction Date.