Conrad Alexandre Gérard to Congress, 5 January 1779
Conrad Alexandre Gérard to Congress
[A Philadelphie le 5 Janvier 1779.]
Le Ministre plenipotentiaire de france ne peut Se dispenser de deferer au Congrès des Etats Unis les passages Soulignés dans les deux gazettes ci jointes en datte du 3. et du 5. de ce mois. Il ne doute pas que le Congrès n’ait été indigné des assertions indiscrettes qui ces passages contiennent et qui compromettent egalement lui dignite et la reputation du Roi mon Maitre et cette des Etats Unis. Ces assertions deviendront entre les mains des ennemis de la cause commune une arme d’autant plus puissante et plus dangereuse, que l’auteur est officier du Congrès et qu’il Se prevaut de Sa position pour donner du credit à Ses opinions et à Ses affirmations
Le Ministre Susdit Se repose entierement Sur la prudence du Congrès pour prendre les mesures convenables á la Circonstance. Il n’a pas dependu de lui qui l’auteur ne reparat lui même le mal qu’il a fait, le Ministre plenipotentiaire ayunt taché de lui faire Sentir Ses torts lorsque la premiere de Ses gazettes a paru dans le public.
Gerard
[Translation]
[Philadelphia, 5 January 1779]
The Minister Plenipotentiary of France can not dispense referring to the Congress of the United States the Passages under lined in the two News Papers hereunto annexed of the 3 and 5th of this Month,1 he does not doubt but Congress has been offended at the indiscreet assertions those passages Contain which expose Equally the Dignity and the Reputation of the King my Master and that of the United States. Those assertions will become a more dangerous and Powerful Weapon in the hands of the Common Ennemy in as much as the Author is an Officer of Congress and values himself of his Station to give Credit to his opinions and assertions.
The above mentioned Minister relies intirely on the Prudence of Congress to take measures agreable to the Circumstance, he could not prevail on the Author to amend the Evil which he had committed, tho the Minister Plenipotentiary endeavoured to make him sensible of his Error as soon as the first of those Papers were Published.
Gerard
ALS in French, with translation, DNA: PCC, item 94, 78–82 (EJ: 11091). Endorsed: “. . . Read 5.” Translation varying much in detail but little in substance appears in , 3: 11–12. Enclosures: 2 and 5 Jan. 1779 issues of the Pennsylvania Packet. Cs in French, DNA: PCC, item 111, 57; item 114, 47.
1. The marked copies of the newspapers enclosed with this letter have not been located, but the journals of Congress indicate they were the 2 and 5 Jan. editions of the Pennsylvania Packet, which contained two sections of Thomas Paine’s long article “Common Sense to the Public on Mr. Deane’s Affair” (, 3: 209–39) that referred explicitly to French assistance prior to the French alliance. See , 13: 30–36. No issue appeared on 3 Jan., the first of the dates Gérard listed. Paine’s essay was subsequently widely reprinted. See also Paine’s letter to Congress of 8 Jan., below, and the editorial note entitled “John Jay’s Presidency of the Continental Congress” on p. 551.