To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes, 24 December 1783
From Vergennes
L: American Philosophical Society
à Versles. [Versailles] le 24. Xbre. 1783./.
M. Le C. de Vergennes a l’honneur d’envoyer à Monsieur franklin un paquet pour Mr. le Chever. de La Luzerne.6 Il le prie de vouloir bien le faire passer à Sa destination par le vaisseau le Wazington./.7
6. Vergennes’ dispatch no. 53 to La Luzerne, of the same date. Vergennes expressed relief that Congress had denied BF’s request to return home; he thought it important that BF stay until the situation with Great Britain was stable, as BF was more sympathetic to France than were his colleagues. As for BF’s grandson, Vergennes had found his conduct “uniformément sage et circonspecte,” and thought he would be a fine chargé d’affaires in BF’s absence. Vergennes would certainly prefer dealing with him than with either Jay or JA. He suggested that La Luzerne recommend WTF to Congress if the occasion arose. AAE. Excerpts of this letter are translated in Giunta, Emerging Nation, I, 957–9; they do not include the portions about WTF.
7. The General Washington.