Paul Jones. I wish heartily it were possible to give some
employment to that brave officer.

The allied army is at present at Verplanck's Point, in good health and
spirits. Where is the Marquis de Lafayette? We have impatiently
expected him these four months. Present my compliments to him, General
Du Portail, and Viscount de Noailles. Tell the last I congratulate him
on his preferment, though it is with difficulty I rejoice at it, since
it is to deprive us of the pleasure of seeing him again.

I have written you four private letters since the last I had from you.

I have the honor to be, Dear Sir,

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

* * * * *

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

Paris, September 18th, 1782.

Dear Sir,

I send you herewith enclosed a copy of a translation of an important
letter. The original in French I have not seen, and at present is not
accessible to me, though I shall endeavor to get a copy of it, in
order the better to decide on the correctness of the translation. I am
not at liberty to mention the manner in which this paper came to my
hands. To me it appears of importance, that it should for the present
be kept a profound secret, though I do not see how that is to be
done, if communicated to the Congress at large, among whom there
always have been and always will be, some unguarded members. I think,
however, as I thought before, that your Commissioners here should be
left at liberty to pursue the sentiments of their country, and such of
their own as may correspond with those of their country.

I am persuaded (and you shall know my reasons for it) that this Court
chooses to postpone an acknowledgment of our independence by Britain,
to the conclusion of a general peace, in order to keep us under their
direction, until not only their and our objects are attained, but also
until Spain shall be gratified in her demands, to exclude everybody
from the Gulf, &c. We ought not let France know, that we have such
ideas. While they think us free from suspicion they will be more open,
and we should make no other use of this discovery than to put us on
our guard. Count de Vergennes would have us treat with Mr Oswald,
though his commission calls us colonies, and authorises him to treat
with any description of men, &c. In my opinion we can only treat as an
independent nation, and o