The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress,
National Archives
<Passy, February 1, 1779: We received yours of January 28. We
are unhappy that we cannot give you effectual relief. The
power to appoint consuls rests wholly with Congress; we can
only appoint agents to execute our orders. Congress, a few
days before it received news of the Treaty, empowered us to
appoint commercial agents. But assuming that they would not
have passed that resolution after gaining knowledge of the
Treaty, and assuming that they would quickly appoint consuls,
we have not acted on that resolution. We have long since written
to Congress requesting the appointment of consuls, and
await the answer daily. We can only lay your letter before the
Ministry, and request their interposition as far as they are
able.>
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