Letter

Washburne to His Excelly the Count de Vergennes, July 16, 1877

Author

Washburne

Recipient

His Excelly the Count de Vergennes

Date

July 16, 1877

Type

Letter

Language

English

No. 100. Mr. Washburne to Mr. Evarts.

Legation of the United States, Paris, July 16, 1877. (Received August 1.)

No. 1515.]

Sir: Some time since, when examining the archives of the ministry of foreign affairs, I came upon a letter addressed by B. Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee to his excellency the Count de Vergennes, then minister of foreign affairs, under date of Paris, December 23, 1776. The body of the letter is in the strong, bold handwriting of Dr. Franklin. I was greatly interested in it, as being the first step ever taken by the Colonies which led to the alliance with France, and the base and foundation of that alliance and all the stupendous events which grew out of it. I have thought that you would be equally interested with myself in this letter. Upon the suggestion to the Duke Decazes, he kindly consented that it should be photographed. Three copies only have been taken. One of these, together with the negative, I have the honor to send you herewith, to go into the archives of your Department. I take the liberty also of sending for your own use a copy unframed. The third I have reserved for myself.

I have, &c.,

E. B. WASHBURNE.

Topics

19th Century Diplomacy Reconstruction

Sources

FRUS u2014 Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the P View original source ↗

U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the P.