188 Journal and Correspondence

July 25
Brown Book
No. 7
Letter

No. 25

[Enclosure Joseph Reed President, In Council Philadelphia
to Luzerne]

Sir In answer to Your Excellency's favour this day, I have the
honnour to acquaint you that the enlisting any deserters in the Con-
tinental Army being expressly contrary to the direction of the Com-
mander in chief, the Hessian Deserters are quite at liberty to enter
into the service of his most Christian Majesty, if his Officers approve
it; and that they will in that case receive every encouragement from
us so to do.

November

19
Brown Book
No. 8
Letter
No. 47

[D'Anmours, Baltimore, to Gov Lee]
Sir the French Subjects settled in this Country have represented
to me, since my return from Virginia, that the Commissaries for
the taxes required them to Pay in their hands, those demanded by
the Assembly of this State, they have Constantly refused to Comply
till they had my Approbation for doing it. Some of them have
declared to me that they were threathen'd with having their Goods
& Properties seized if they did not Pay the 28^th of this month.
Permit me Sir, to represent to your Excelency that in all the french
west india dominions, the Americans settled there are Subjected to
no Personal taxes, & that the law of retaliation intitles his most
Christian majesty's Subjects to the same favour here. I am Con-
scious that those who have Bought, Either land or houses ought to
pay in the same proportion with the inhabitants of the Country But
as to their moveables, I think in Justice they ought to be exempted
from any duty: Besides their number here is so very inconsiderable,
that it Can not be of Great importance to the State whether they are
taxed or not, it may be observed that that number will probably
increase, & I sincerely wish it. But in that Case there will probably
be some Agreement settled between his Majesty's ministers and
those of America in europe which will fix imperturbably the Privi-
leges & Line of Conduct of valuations. I am even almost Certain
that this is already done. Monsieur de Sartinne has wrote to me
upon that Subject informing me that I was promoted to Rank of
Consul General for his most Christian Majesty in this State and the
four Southern ones. & that he would soon send me with my diploma
his General instructions Relating to that Agreement.
I also Beg that your Exelency will Exempt the Subjects of France
from all militia duty upon the same Principle of retaliation, the
Americans were never Disturbed on that account either in france or
in the west india, as the Commissaries for the taxes are to act with
Rigour on the 28^th of this month, I have directed the Gentleman
Bearer hereof to wait for your Exelency's answer.
I have the honour to be with Respect Sir Your Exelency's most
humble & most obedient Servant
LeChevalier D'Aumours Consul G^l of his M. C. majesty