Decoding Revolutionary Correspondence

August 8, 1782, from Robert R. Livingston to John Jay

Code/Cipher: WE008
Source: Papers of the Continental Congress, Roll 139, Page 242
Manuscript:
Footnote.com
Jay Papers ID 565; ID 575 (deciphered text); ID 827 (The left page of the first image is the postscript to the letter of 6 July 1782); ID 7766 (quadruplicate with translation); ID 9927 (with explanation of 4 copies; with translation)
Not printed in Wharton

In Plaintext

Your letter of the 28th of April was received, by Major Franks. When the contents were communicated to Congress, the repeated slights and neglects that you had experienced excited their warmest resentments.
Several members feeling that our obligations to Spain were extremely small, that our affairs here and in Europe gave us a right to think as an independent people, were for entering into resolution which might perhaps have presented a more lively picture of their own sensations than good policy could justify. After much deliberation, they came to the enclosed resolution, in which they have in some measure entered into your sentiments.
They expected some equivalent for the cessions they have offered. If, in their expectation, they are deceived, they see no reason why they should stand open against them.
The commerce between this country and Spain is a very important objects to America. The trade which an industrious people carry on with those who do not manufacture for themselves is always valuable and perhaps treaty of commerce with any other nations may be considered as disadvantageous.
I could therefore have wished to see her Catholic Majesty's Minister's sentiments on that point from the conversation you relate in your letter of the 3d of October to have passed between you and the Count de Florida Blanca on that subject.
I am led to think he expected
we would ask peculiar privilege. How far it might be possible to obtain a commercial connection with their colonies, it is difficult to say but any intercourse would, by the ingenuity of our merchants, be turned to advantage.
What the sentiments of Congress are upon the subject of the proposed guarantee of each other's territories in America, I know not. But I most heartily wish that we could avoid entering into it.
With Spain it may one day compel us to what neither our interest or consciences will justify nor can it in any sense be considered as equal since the guarantee of Spain will be of little moment to us after the ous[?].
I need not remind you of the caution that will be necessary on your part to prevent this guarantee from extending to their conquests on the Mississippi.
We have reason to conclude from a variety of circumstances, that you will see in the enclosed paper, that Savannah is evacuated though Congress have yet no official accounts of that event. Our Army are still on Hudson's river. They amount to about twelve thousand men. They are well appointed and better disciplined. The French army consisting of something less than five thousand are on their march to the same post.
A few days ago, the Marquis de Vaudreuil with thirteen sail of the line, having on board
fourteen hundred has arrived at the Capes, where they will remain there some days to cover the sailing of the trade and proceed to Boston to refit.
The southern armies retain their old stations, Greene in South Carolina and Wayne in Georgia.
I shall conclude this letter, that I may attend to an important debate in Congress on the subject of
the instructions [given to our plenipotentiaries] for [concluding a] peace. [Should any] alterration take place, I shall write to you again. By their conveyance, I sent to Doctor Franklin, a set of bills to enable him to pay you and our other ministers one quarter's salary. I shall send a second set by their conveyance, together with bills for the amount of your second quarter terminating the first of July 1782.
I wish you to send me as soon as is convenient an exact state of your account. The Bills are purchased at 6/3 for 5 livres.
Written in Doctor Franklin's cipher, which will do as well as any other I presume.
When agreable to your request conveyed in your favor of the 12th of May, I direct for France.
I have the honor to be &c
Signed Robert R. Livingston

Enclosed: Resolution of Congress of the 7th August
Ciphered in both W. Franklin's and Jays Cipher

Verification Dump

(Page 242)
Your letter of the 28th of April was
received, by Major Franks
133 <when> 19 <th> '250 <con> 429 <len[leen,ten?,teen?]> 559 <T> .231 <wer> '
187 <com> 224 <mu> 659 <ni[ny,nigh]> 574 <ca> 559 <T> 80 <ed> 379 <to[too]> 279 <congress> 19 <th> '73 <R> '496 <P> 30 <ea> 559 <T>
80 <ed> 40 <sl> 632 <ig> 452 <H> 559 <T> .357 <and> 119 <N> '129 <gl> 245 <ec[eck,ek]> 329 <qui> [should be 559 <T> ] . 303 <that> [you] 418 <had> 4 <ex>
496 <P> '218 <ri[ry]> 197 <en> 551 <flat> [should be 55 <C> ] 80 <ed> 4 <ex> 235 <ci[cy]> 559 <T> 80 <ed> 569 <their[there]> 658 <war> 476 <M>
332 <est> 73 <R> '406 <sent> 76 <ment> 547 <.> 365 <S> '16 <U> '373 <ra> 640 <L> 476 <M> 439 <em> 141 <B>
325 <er[err]> . feeling that our obligations to 167 <spain> 231 <wer> '115 <extreme> 384 <li[ly]>
25 <sm> 485 <al[all]> 303 <that> 280 <our> 666 <affair> .29 <her> '357 <and> 583 <in[inn]> 320 <eu> 558 <ro> 496 <P> '161 <ga>
16 <U> '16 <U> .140 <A> 458 <right> 379 <to[too]> 31 <thi[thy]> 119 <N> 88 <K> 140 <A> .191 <an> independent
people
231 <wer> '94 <for> 179 <ship> [should be 197 <en> ] 497 <ter> 619 <ing> 583 <in[inn]> 379 <to[too]> 73 <R> .601 <so> 62 <lu> 239 <tion>
which might perhaps have presented a more
l*vely picture of their own
408 <sen> 130 <sa> 239 <tion> .194 <than> 462 <good>
447 <po> 384 <li[ly]> 235 <ci[cy]> 112 <could> 604 <just> 143 <I> 426 <fi[fy]> After much delibe-
ration they came to the enclosed Resolution
in which they have in some measure entered
into your sentiments
327 <they> 4 <ex> 496 <P> 245 <ec[eck,ek]> 559 <T> 80 <ed> 24 <some>
42 <E> 329 <qui> 616 <forth> [should be 618 <ua> ] 640 <L> 197 <en> 559 <T> 94 <for> 19 <th> '55 <C> 651 <es[ess]> 143 <I> 338 <on> .

(Page 243)
327 <they> 142 <have> 101 <off> 325 <er[err]> [e] 241 <D> If in their expectation they are
deceived, they see no reason why they should
310 <st>
357 <and> 172 <op> 197 <en> 222 <against> 483 <them> 547 <.> 19 <th> '187 <com> 476 <M> 325 <er[err]> 55 <C> '656 <between> 188 <this>
383 <country> 357 <and> 167 <spain> 143 <I> .140 <A> 16 <U> ' 212 <november> [should be 218 <ri[ry]> ] important objects to
376 <america>(ii) 19 <th> '620 <tra> 241 <D> '573 <which>(iii) 191 <an> industrious278 <people> 12 <car> 218 <ri[ry]> 338 <on>
548 <with> 579 <tho> 365 <S> '455 <who> 362 <do> 206 <not> manufacture 94 <for> 483 <them>
365 <S> 27 <el> 16 <U> 42 <E> .143 <I> .485 <al[all]> 454 <way> . valuable and perhaps
668 <treaty> 606 <of> 187 <com> 476 <M> 325 <er[err]> 55 <C> '548 <with> 77 <any> 531 <other> 251 <na> 239 <tion> .165 <may> 141 <B> '
250 <con> 220 <si[sy]> 241 <D> 325 <er[err]> 80 <ed> [rather] (iv) 657 <as[ass]> 78 <dis> 413 <ad> 618 <ua> 119 <N> 243 <ta> 229 <high> [probably a transcriber's error for 227 <gi> ] 628 <ous> [than otherwise](v) I
could therefore have wished to see her
665 <catholic> 667 <majesty> .
317 <minister> .408 <sen> 50 <li[ly,ti?]> 76 <ment> .338 <on> 303 <that> 447 <po> 683[should be 583 <in[inn]> ]559 <T> from the
conversation you relate in your letter of the 3d of
October to have passed between you and the Count
de Florida Blanca on that subject. I am led to
think he expected
258 <W> '1 <would> 657 <as[ass]> 88 <K> 496 <P> '55 <C> 392 <ul> 268 <ia>
73 <R> 508 <pr> 438 <ui[uy]> [possibly an encoder's error for "iu"] 380 <new> [should be 337 <il[ill]> ?] 217 <edge[ege]> How far it might be possible
to
381 <ob> 243 <ta> 583 <in[inn]> 140 <A> 187 <com> 476 <M> 385 <ya[yea]> [should be 325 <er[err]> ] 235 <ci[cy]> 485 <al[all]> 250 <con> 119 <N> 245 <ec[eck,ek]>
239 <tion> 548 <with> 569 <their[there]> 199 <col> 436 <lo> 659 <ni[ny,nigh]> 42 <E> .32 <it> 143 <I> .difficult379 <to[too]>
130 <sa> 79 <Y> 641 <but> 77 <any> 647 <inter> 308 <course> 1 <would> 304 <bi[by]> 19 <th> '583 <in[inn]> 120 <G> '416 <nu> 143 <I> 50 <li[ly,ti?,ty?]>
606 <of> 280 <our> 476 <M> 325 <er[err]> 372 <chan> 559 <T> .141 <B> .326 <turn> 80 <ed> 379 <to[too]> 113 <ain> [should be 413 <ad> ] 618 <ua> 119 <N>
243 <ta> 120 <G> ' What the sentiments of Congress are upon
the

(Page 244)
subject
606 <of> 19 <th> '72 <pro> 447 <po> 365 <S> 80 <ed> 9 <gu> 448 <ar> 644 <ant> 42 <E> '
606 <of> 466 <each> 531 <other> .497 <ter> 218 <ri[ry]> 379 <to[too]> 118 <hampshire> [should be 218 <ri[ry]> ] 42 <E> [s] 583 <in[inn]> 376 <america> I
know not but I most heartily wish that we
could avoid
197 <en> 559 <T> 325 <er[err]> 619 <ing> 301 <into> 32 <it> 548 <with> 167 <spain> 32 <it>
165 <may> 338 <on> '609 <day> 187 <com> 496 <P> 27 <el> 16 <U> .379 <to[too]> 440 <what> 594 <neither> 280 <our>
647 <inter> 332 <est> 417 <or> consciences will justify nor can
it in any
408 <sen> 365 <S> '141 <B> '250 <con> 20 <toward> [should be 220 <si[sy]> ] 241 <D> 325 <er[err]> 80 <ed> 657 <as[ass]>
42 <E> 91 <qua> 640 <L> 147 <since> 19 <th> ' 216 <gn> [probably an encoder's error for 9 <gu>] 448 <ar> 644 <ant> 42 <E> '606 <of> 167 <spain> 495 <wil[will]>
141 <B> '606 <of> little moment to us 638 <af[aff]> 559 <T> 325 <er[err]> 19 <th> '
628 <ous> [sic] I need not remind you of the caution that
will be necessary on your part to prevent this
9 <gu> 448 <ar> 644 <ant> 42 <E> '467 <from> 4 <ex> 409 <under> [should be 429 <len[leen,ten?,teen?]> ] 241 <D> '619 <ing> 379 <to[too]> 569 <their[there]> 250 <con>
65 <que> 310 <st> .338 <on> 19 <th> '468 <mis> 220 <si[sy]> [s] 220 <si[sy]> [p] 294 <pi[py]>
We have reason to conclude from a
variety of circumstances, that you will see in
the enclosed paper, that Savannah is evacuated
tho' Congress have yet no official accounts of
that event Our Army are still on Hudson's
river. They amount to about
537 <twelve> 125 <thousand> 262 <men> They
are well appointed and better disciplined The
french Army consisting of something less than
487 <five> 125 <thousand> are
on their march to the same post A few days

(Page 245)
ago, the Marquis de Vaudreuil with thirteen sail
of the Line having on board
358 <four> 429 <len[leen,ten?,teen?]> 364 <hundred> has
arrived at the Capes
387 <where> 327 <they> 495 <wil[will]> 73 <R> '97 <ma> 583 <in[inn]> 569 <their[there]> 240 <()> [should be 24 <some> ?]
609 <day> .379 <to[too]> 456 <co> 16 <U> 325 <er[err]> 19 <th> '130 <sa> 337 <il[ill]> 619 <ing> 606 <of> 19 <th> '620 <tra> 241 <D> '
357 <and> 72 <pro> 55 <C> 42 <E> 42 <E> 241 <D> 379 <to[too]> 166 <bo> .379 <to[too]> 119 <N> 379 <to[too]> 73 <R> '426 <fi[fy]> 559 <T>
The southern armies retain their old stati-
ons Greene in South Carolina and Wayne in
Georgia I shall conclude this letter, that I may
attend to an important debate in Congress on the
subject of
19 <th> '42 <E> 583 <in[inn]> 213 <str> 543 <uc[uck,uk]> 239 <tion> . [given to our plenipotentiaries](vi) 94 <for> 504 <make> 119 <N> 2 <peace> [concluding a peace](vii) [Should any](viii)
xxxxxx
485 <al[all]> 559 <T> 325 <er[err]> 373 <ra> 239 <tion> 204 <take> 434 <pla[play]> 55 <C> '
I shall write to you again by their conveyance
I sent to Doctor Franklin a set of Bills to
enable him to pay you and our other ministers,
one quarters salary I shall send a second a,
second
<
set by their conveyance, together with
Bills for the amount of your second quarter
terminating the first of July 1782
I wish you to send me as soon as is convenient
an exact state of your account the Bills are
purchased at 6/3 for 5 Livres

(Page 246)
written in Doctor Franklin's cypher which
will do as well as any other I presume
when agreable to your request conveyed in
your favor of the 12th of May I direct for
france
I have the honor to be &c
Signed Robt R Livingston

Enclosed Resolution of Congress of the 7th August
Cyphered in both W. Franklin's and Jays Cypher

Notes

(i) Many "approximation symbols" are included in the translation written between the lines of this transcript. Comparison of this interlinear translation with the decoded text shows that these symbols merely indicate that the transcriber lost track of the correspondence between the code and the translation.

(ii) The interlinear translation renders this "the latter" instead of "America".

(iii) The interlinear translation reads "that" instead of "which".

(iv) The interlinear translation includes "rather" here.

(v) The interlinear translation includes "than otherwise" here.

(vi) The interlinear translation includes "given to our plenipotentiaries" here.

(vii) The interlinear translation reads "concluding a peace" instead of "make N peace".

(viii) The interlinear translation includes "Should any" here.




First posted on 23 September 2008. Last modified on 15 October 2008.
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