ude from this
circumstance, that they had not been communicated. If I were not
convinced, that acting under the instructions you do, you would not
withhold them, except for the most weighty reasons, and that if such
reasons existed you would have assigned them in your letters, and
presuming, therefore, that you had communicated them, I have made no
secret of them to the Count de la Luzerne, who appeared much pleased
with them, though a little surprised at the article, which relates to
commerce, which I cannot suppose perfectly agreeable to them in all
its extent; since it will render a revolution necessary in the
commercial system of France, if they wish to have an extensive trade
with us. I am extremely pleased, that in freeing ourselves, we have a
prospect of unfettering the consciences and the commerce of the world.

We are far from regretting that the Marquis d'Aranda has no powers to
treat. We think, with you, that it is time to adopt the Spanish
system. We may treat at any time with more advantage than at present.
You had received your instructions on this subject before you wrote
your last letters. By your saying nothing of them, I suppose you had
not decyphered them. Mr Jefferson being the bearer of this, it is
unnecessary to enlarge.[12] News and general politics will be
contained in my letter to Dr Franklin, to whom I also send an
instruction on the subject of your commercial proposition. I enclose
you a new cypher, which I pray you to make use of. You will find it
very easy on a little practice. I must again entreat you to write more
fully to us. I have received _from the Count de Vergennes' letters_,
the whole progress of the negotiation. Information of this kind it
would give me more pleasure to receive through another channel.

I have the honor to be, Dear Sir, with great respect and esteem, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

FOOTNOTES:

[11] M. de Marbois' letter here alluded to, was very long, and written
in cypher. It was intercepted by the English, taken to London, there
decyphered, translated into English, and sent to the British
Commissioners in Paris, (while the negotiations for peace were in
progress.) The sense of the writer would be very likely to suffer by
this process of decyphering and translating. But M. de Marbois never
complained that the letter was not in the main correctly translated.
As soon as the British Commissioners received it in Pari