On board the Resolve, the 1st January 1783
Sir,
Permit me to have recourse to you in order to make up for the deficiency, if it is possible, of the instructions which circumstances render insufficient.
Mr le Marquis de Bouillé dispatched a division composed of the Solitaire, the Triton, the Nimphe, the Resolve, and the Expidi who left all together the 23 November in order to go cruise to windward of Barbados. Part of this division was bound in the last days of December to make a route for Tobago, to take there the news from Mr. le Marquis de Bouillé which he was obliged to address to the corvette the Martinique, standing off of Saint Gilles Point, Tobago Island. The Nimphe and the Resolve which were the two frigates of the division destined to come to Tobago were bound then to reascend to windward in order to carry the instructions and the ideas which they would have received from the corvette the Martinique. The hazards of war disturbed these arrangements. The 6 December, our division being sixty leagues to windward of Barbados found itself at dawn almost under the noses of eight English vessels coming from Europe. Each of us sheered off so as to separate the enemy forces in order that all not be taken; the Solitaire and the Expidi were joined. The rest escaped. As early as the same night having opened my separation packet, I concluded that this event must not divert the measures which Mr le Marquis de Bouillé had taken, in order to send the important information which the Nimph and I would be bound to carry, after having received them from the corvette, the Martinique. I immediately returned to our cruise, which made the first volume of our mission. At the time indicated the 25 December I sailed to deliver myself here: I have neither found the corvette Martinique, nor another ship which is able to entreat it. If you have knowledge of the orders, and the dispositions of Mr le Marquis de Bouillé relative to the landing of your island, I request you to pass them to me; you will place me in a postition to fulfill his wishes and to be useful to the good of the service. It was said in my separation packet that I would sail to Martinique at the twentieth of this month.
Since the confrontation which we had the sixth with these eight English vessels. I have no longer had any news from the Nimphe and the Triton. I presume they returned to Martinique.
If you have information that there are some French frigates to windward of Tobago, I request you likewise to want to inform me of it.
Sir
Your most humble and most obedient servant
The Chev. de Saint Jean
[English translation]
8 January
My General,
I just received your response of the date of the 7th at nine o'clock at night. I renew my regrets to you if the circumstances do not permit me at all to go to make you my tour at Scarborough.
I request you to have Mr. de Mongiraud informed that despite all the measures that he wanted to take, I have not received at all the twenty sheep that he had announced to me for yesterday afternoon. Therefore, I await them still; but want to observe him that these are very precious moments that I lose: and it is very possible that the results of it will be unpleasant if the English have information that I am here.
I have the honor to be with a respectful attachment, my General,
Your most humble and most
obedient servant,
le Chev. de St. Jean
I am in despair of your indisposition: I like to persuade myself that it will have no result. I will give your news to Mr. de Preince, his family to Mrs. d'Haorvent and to all her society.
I request you to deliver this letter to his address at Grenada[?]
[English translation]
On board the Triomphant, the 12 February 1783
I have orders from the Court, Sir, to address to you the packet joined here for the General Officer commanding the King's Squadron at his arrival in American waters and you want to send them safely to the Captain of the frigate or other ship which will come from his port at St. Gilles Point in order to take them.
I also join a letter for Mr le Marquis de Bouillé which I request you to want to send to Martinique by a safe opportunity in the case where the frigate or other ship which is bound to come to take the packet will not yet be arrived or that it will not sail for Martinique, in recommending to the Captain who will be carrier of it to not fail to throw it in the sea, if he is taken by the enemy.
I have the honor to be with a sincere attachment
Sir
Your most humble and obedient servant
Le Marquis de Vaudreuil
The Governor of Tobago
[English translation]
Duplicate Porto Cabello the 12 February 1783
I received, Monsieur le Marquis, by the Lougre the packets from the Court which you sent to me with the letter which you did me the honor of writing me the 5 December. I arrived here day before yesterday after a crossing of 50 days during which the vessels suffered considerably; many which could not surmount the violence of the currents entered Curacao from where they will be able to deliver themsleves here in a few days. We had the misfortune of loosing the vessel Bourgogne, commanded by Mr. de Champmartin. It ran aground during the night on a sand bar 40 leagues from here, I do not know the number of people who were lost in looking to escape to land.
The Spanish Squadron has not yet arrived at its rendezvous.
The Navy victuals which you have are not absolutely necessary to me because I took some merchant ships from the convoy which had put into port at Port Rico, but I would be charmed to promptly recieve the clothes, ropes, and rigging for the masts and spars, etc. of which we are totally lacking. I write to this effect to the Officer commanding the King's vessels which are in Martinique. If he has none there would you like to dispatch the ships to me which are loaded with these effects.
Permit me, Monsieur le Marquis, to request you to render me a service which is personal to me. I have in one of the frigates of the transport ships my living provisions which were sent me by Mr. Bethman of Bordeaux. Would you like to order that they are sent to me by one of the first ships which will come here. I am very obliged to you for the news which you had the goodness to give me of my wife. I had the honor to write you from Boston in order to show you the whole part which I took at that which concerns you, and the really lively pleasure which I felt in learning the justice which the King had rendered you in making you Lieutenant-General.
I have the honor to be with a respectful attachment, Monsieur le Marquis, your very humble and very obedient servant
Le Marquis de Vaudreuil
[English Translation]
Porto Cabello, Caraque Coast
on board the Triomphant
12 February 1783
I have the honor to inform you, Sir, that I arrived day before yesterday in this port with the King's Squadron after a crossing of 50 days since my departure from Boston. The Couronne and Neptune not having been able to overcome the violence of the currents and the wind which took place last week, have put into port at Curacao. The Souverain, the Citoyen, the Hercule, and the Northumberland survived in order to enter. We had the misfortune to loose the ship the Bourgogne which ran aground on a high bottom in the night of the 3rd to the 4th of this month about 40 leagues from here. I do not know the number of people who perished in wanting to gain land. I am assured that near to 200 of which 4 Officers of the Navy and 4 Officers of the land troops were drowned. M. de Champmartin who commanded is saved.
All the vessels suffered greatly in many gusts of wind which tried us. The Auguste has its bowsprit snapped, the Couronne its main-yard snapped and out of service, the Pluton its bow smashed, the Neptune's rudder to rebuild and almost all broke the topmast.
The body of troops which was in North America under the orders of Mr. le Cte. de Rochambeau embarked on vessels and figates. There are Bourbonnais, Saintonge, Soissonnais, Deux Ponts Regiments, 350 artillery men and 20 campaign pieces forming with troops which I had taken at the Cape about 5000 men disembarking commanded by M. le Baron de Viomenil, There is no sickness on the Squadron.
Don Solano's squadron has not yet arrived at the rendezvous. I received a letter here from that general who informs me, the 18 November, that the Commanding General of the Island of Cuba, believing himself in danger of being attacked, had requested to stay some more time, but that he would put under sail as soon as that island would be safe.
At the time of my passage between Porto Rico and St. Dominque, Admiral Hood cruised with 17 line vessels and many frigates from Samana to Monte Cristo. He has since approached the Cape and I believe that he must be presently in Jamaica to take water there of which he must have need, because his cruise was long.
If the combined forces must carry themselves to leeward, they could touch at Porto Cabello; the roadstead can contain the largest army, but the resources are nil in the city with exceptio nof little animals of which a great quantity can be procured. The only victuals of which I have need for the moment are vegetables because I seized several merchant convoy ships which were in port at Porto Rico, but the rigging, the ropes especially in current manoeuvers, thread and cloth I lack totally; our sails are in the worst condition. I informed the Commander of the Convoy who is in Martinique to dispatch me ships which are loaded with it. Would you like, Sir, to send me the packets from the Court which I am bound to receive here.
I have the honor to be with a respectful attachment,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant
the Marquis de Vaudreuil
Permit me, Sir, to address to you the letter joined here for M. le Marquis de Bouillé.
[English Translation]
Martinique the 21 February 1783
I have the honor, Sir, to send you several copies of an ordinance of Congress by which you will see that all of the raw and manufactured merchandise from England is prohibited in the United States. It is necessary that the merchants of your island know this arrangement, in order that they anticipate in their precautions the certain danger which they would have of the loss of merchandise and commodities coming from raw and manufactured English [merchandise] which they could send in one of the ports of the United States, where there is only received the raw and manufactured [merchandise] from France.
I request you to render this ordinance public in having it posted and deposited in the registry of the admiralty.
I have the honor to be with a very inviolable attachment, Sir, your very humble and very obedient servant.
Bouillé
M. le Vicomte d'Arrot, Governor of Tobago
[English Translation]
Martinique the 27 February 1783
I sent, Sir, the brig the Judith in order to relieve the Darboude; and I will be obliged to you to profit from the return of that corvette in order to send me the original lists of situations of the troops which compose your garrison. I received the list of the movement of the first of this month.
I have the honor to be with a very inviolable attachment, Sir, your very humble and very obedient servant.
Bouillé
P.S. By the news which there is from St. Thomas, it would seem that M. de Vaudreuil was anchored at Porto Babello. The English army is still at Ste. Lucie.
[English Translation]
Martinique the 12 March 1783
The peace preliminaries, Sir, having been signed, I send the order to M. le Vicomte de Mortemar to return here with all of the King's ships which are in Tobago.
I have that to be with a very inviolable attachment, Sir, your very humble and very obedient servant.
Bouillé
I request you to pass the packet joined here to Mr. de Mortemar.
[English Translation]
Martinique, 2 April 1783
I have the honor, Sir, to give you information that the ship the Amphian and the frigate the Atalante are charged to go take from your island the detachments of Walsh de viennais in order to take them to Martinique. Mr. de Walsh will want to follow his corps. It will not be done, as regards the present, no arrangement on that King's lieutenant to which the court will provide for the result, if it is in the intention of keeping this charge in times of peace.
The corvette, the Bosignol is charge to carry from Grenada, into your island, about 190 men, of the Martinique Regiment, and to take at Tobago, the detachment of Auxevrios Reg't. in order to carry it to Guadeloupe where it will receive on board 100 men of the Guadeloupe Regiment that it will carry to your island.
By means of which your garrison will remain composed of about 260 men from Martinique and 160 from Guadeloupe and the artillery detachments which are there.
I have the honor to be with a most inviolable attachment, Sir, your most humble and most obedient servant.
Damas
P.S. In order to leave, Sir, the Artillery Detachment such as it is at present, I judge suitable to compose it entirely of the Company of Cannonier Bombadiers of Martinique. As a consequence Mr. de Malnemara is charged to carry to you a captain and twenty-one cannonier Bombadiers which with the nine you already have, will compose a detachment of 30 men commanded by a Captain and a Lieutenant.
You will embark on board of Mr. de Malnemara the capt [of] the 21 cannoniers, the 4 workers and the 3 miners of the Corps Royal, that you have in your orders in order to be returned to Martinque.
Damas
[English Translation]
Port Royal the 4 April 1783
I request M. le Vicomte d'Arrot to deliver to M. de Monteau, captain of the King's ship the Zélé, all the province ships belonging to the King which he is charged to bring here for the needs of the service.
Damas
[English Translation]
I request M. le Vicomte d'Arrot to have embarked on board the frigate commanded by M. De la Faye, the detachment of Foreign Volunteers of the Navy which is at his orders, and have [them] leave the Tobago Garrison in order to be transported to Port Roÿal Martinique.
At Port Roÿal the 7 April, 1783
Damas
[English Translation]
Martinique 10 December 1783
I have the honor to respond, Sir, to your letters of 30 and 31 December. I was worried about your health, and I make my compliments to you in your recovery.
I send you the commission which you desire.
As soon as the Silpson will have returned from Grenada, I will return it to you in order to make up the deficiency in Barbadoes: I have no more of the corvettes they have all left for France.
You did very well to establish order and to use severity; it is the only means to lead men, and especially military [men].
It is fortunate that your hospital is going well; go there with aid, do please; I will send you another surgeon. I send you a man to command your schooner.
I send you a [illegible]; of which you want to have copies made, and to deliver one of them to Mr. Sombidan; and to the officer who commands the port in question ...
It seems that peace is signed in Europe; in this manner of which [illegible] has just finished.
I have the honor to be sir with a most inviolable attachment your very humble and very obedient servant.
Bouille
[English Translation]
Versailles 28 August 1784
Tobago
Principal establishment
to form in that colony
It is assured, Sir, that the location of the city and the port of Scarborough presents some inconveniences, either for the security of ships, or in order to make convenient establishments there at the principal area of the Island. I inform, accordingly, M. le Vicomte de Damas, to plan with you, in the same way as with the General-director of the fortifications of the Windward Islands, the special Engineer of Tobaga, and the Commander of the station, in order to verify if there would not be some other port in the island which could combine more advantages. You will wish in awaiting the arrival of Mr. de Damas, to concern yourself with this objective, on which it is necessary that I have as soon as it will be possible the most precise information.
I have the honor to be very perfectly, Sir, your very humble, and very obedient servant,
Marshal de Castries.
[English Translation]
The Commander of the roadstead has the honor to give an account to the Governor of Tobago, that an English schooner coming from St. Vincent is about to anchor. It would have been bound to signalize itself far off, [illegible] in the bay in awaiting permission to enter, but especially to have its colors at anchor. All these irregularities would have induced the commander of the roadstead to have the schooner weigh anchor on the field if it had not had passengers and their belongings for this island, nothing else which was verified by a visit.
There often exists a minor offense to the Roadstead Police which can have its source in a commission given on land. As soon as a ship come to anchorage/and one even still under sail/ a roadstead sentinel on the wharf, erie [Hear ye?], captain to land. The arrival believes to be authorized to descend without coming on board the commanding ship which is obliged to send an escort in its pursuit with orders to use the means of force, if there is refusal to obey or resistance, that which could have occurred several days agon on board an English dinghy: regulation and Police stopped it being that no ship will not be able to send a dinghy to shore without having given an account on board the commanding vessel. Would Mr. Governor like to order what he judges suitable to the occasion?
M. le Chev. de Vaiselot was requested by the commander of the roadstead to give an account himself to Mr. the Governor of the circumstances of his station on the coast; which he was in a better position to do than who does it. Following that would Mr. Governor like to pass me his orders concerning the service of his island.
30 May 1785 On board the Pendrix
at the Scarborough Roadstead
Vte. D'Orleans
Versailles 17 June, 1785
Tobago
Officers of Justice
I received, Sir, the letter of the 1st Feb. last, No. 5, by which you informed me that you had annulled all of the commissions which the Officers of Justice of Tobago had obtained from His British Majesty, and that you sent them to them again in the name of the King. His Majesty approves these Officers continue to exercise their functions on your provisory nomination, until there has been taken a part in the form of commissions of which they are bound to be appointed.
The Council, under English domination was only composed of seven members, and this number would seem sufficient. I request you to inform me of the motives which induced you to carry it to ten. Would you like, besides, to conform yourself in the future, to that which is prescribed you by your instructions, for the replacement of Officers of Justice when there will be vacant places.
I have the honor to be very perfectly, Sir, your very humble and very obedient servant.
Marshal de Castries.
when changes are done to my constitution Sir, it is suitable to give the [illegible] for it
M. le Vicomte de"Arrot
[English translation]
Martinique 11 August 1785
Nothing better, Monsieur le Vicomte, than the arrangement which you made for the condemned deserter in passing him on to France.
By means of the battery which you had repaired and the addition of pieces, your port finds itself safe from unforeseen insult. Things can stay in this condition until the minister has made known his intentions on the fortifications in planning.
If someone had said to me that you disarmed the Mome Cotton, I paid no attention, since I know what to believe. As to the powder, I was only able to authorize in the time that you would draw it from this post where it would decompose there by an unnecessary stay. In case of need there will be enough time and means to carry it. I request you to not betray yourself with confidence, in what can return to you and to do as I do on this point. Be very certain that I will never correspond of it only to what will come to me from you.
I thank you for what you informed me from Barbados where you may go when you wish and of which I will be very obliged to you to give me news upon your return.
I have the honor to be with a very inviolable attachment, Sir, your very humble and very obedient servant.
DAMAS
[English translation]
On board the Perdrix in Grand Courlands Roadstead
5 November 1785
Sir,
An ulterior mission does not permit me to bring to you in Scarborough twenty artillery men that I brought you. M. le Marquis de Verdun recommended to me the greatest rapidity and would even have me wish that I were not anchored; if the thing had been feasible.
I will be deprived, Monsieur le Vicomte, of having the honor to see you not being able to leave my ship. M. de l'Almenier brings you the letters with which I was charged for you. Although my instructions carry nothing of reporting to his [illegible], the detachment of raised artillery, I will do it nevertheless with pleasure for the good of the service, I ask you only, M. le Vicomte, to want to send them off in the day, wanting continually to follow the orders of Mr. de Verdun and to get underway tomorrow night.
I will charge myself with great pleasure with your letters and other commissions it will please you to give me.
I have the honor to be, Monsieur le Vicomte, Your most humble and most obedient servant,
Vicomte D'Orleans
[English translation
Paris 25 January 1786
The Marquis de Lafayette dined yesterday with the Controller General, but believed useless to talk to him of an affair that they have so often continually refought. He inform Mr le Noir who alone can stop it that M. le Comte de Vergennes comes to dinner tomorrow Thursday at the house of Mr. de Calenne in Paris, and the Marquis de Lafayette is invited there. It seemed urgent enough that Mr. le Noir visit the Minister, and go to him asking a meeting tomorrow morning, he can settle it in the committee, one will complete the business with Mr. de Vergennes, and it only remains to request M. le Mareshal de Castries to give his attache to the two people who will go there on his part, if one does not wish to name any new members, it will take at least [illegible] for the day in the already established committee in order to end in three weeks or one month, as that permits it, all the arrangements of the exchange commerce between the realm and the United States. The Marquis de Lafayette sees a prompt decision so important, especially because of the English rivalry, that he is not at all hindered by the fear of [ilegible]. He requests Mr. le Noir to act on his attachment
[English translation]
Paris 1 February 1786
It is with the greatest pleasure, Sir, that I see brought before a committee the business of Gallo-American commerce. I only have on this objective very superficial knowledge, but it has been a long time that I have wished for the examination of this important matter, and although I do not have the pretention to [illegible] you in your research, I will profit with the greatest pleasure from the permission that you gave me to give evidence of it to you sometime. If you have the goodnesss to let me know the hour and day that I must ome to your house, I will carry there the homage of the attachment with which I have the honor to be, yor most humble and obedient servant.
Lafayette