July 21, 1776

Someone provided John Dunlap, the printer of the Pennsylvania Packet, with an English translation of a letter “written by a French Officer now in the service of the States of America, to a French Nobleman in Paris.” There were a growing number of French men aiding the Continental Army but, apart from the fact that the letter was dated July 5 in Philadelphia, there is little information in the letter to identify the author, or the “F.P.” who provided Dunlap with the translation. Nevertheless, this letter shows how one Frenchman felt about independence. He had faced “many dangers and great expense” to travel from France to North America, where he found “a happy people, averse to oppression, without any spirit of sedition, active and laborious, with all the necessary qualifications required to the foundation of a powerful republic, able to support itself without the assistance of Europe.” The writer admitted that the United States was “as yet in its infancy; but still it is a vigorous child.” He understood the American people to be “generally inclined for absolute independency, and willing to support it with their lives and fortunes”—perhaps a reference to the final line of the Declaration of Independence. In fact, in his letter, he enclosed the “Declaration of Independency, published yesterday by the Honorable the Congress of the United American States.”

Dunlap’s Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser
Printed by John Dunlap

To the Printer of the Pennsylvania Packet.

By publishing the following Translation of a Letter written by a French Officer now in the service of the States of America, to a French Nobleman in Paris, you will oblige

Your’s
F.P.

Philadelphia, July 5th, 1776.

My Lord,

AFTER the permission you were pleased to grant me to come to this country, I am at last arrived; not without many dangers and great expense. I found here a happy people, averse to oppression, without any spirit of sedition, active and laborious, with all the necessary qualifications required to the foundation of a powerful republic, able to support itself without the assistance of Europe. This immense country possesses all advantages, and its true riches consist in the produce of its soil. It is as yet in its infancy; but still it is a vigorous child, that in reality has no more need of its mother nor its neighbours, provided it never intermeddle with the ballance of Europe. Perhaps, my Lord, you will not consider these things in the light I do; but this country might be the greatest market for our manufactures, could we once give those people a taste for those which we have in great abundance, and with which Great-Britain used to furnish them, to the amount of immense sums. I found the people generally inclined for absolute independency, and willing to support it with their lives and fortunes. I was surprized to see their troops exercise and manœvre as well as they do; and were they not animated by the love of liberty, they would be an unparalleled prodigy; but when that takes place, all wonder ceases. I visited many of their fortifications which have been raised with an amazing celerity. I never knew so many and such good works performed in so short a time. I was accompanied in this tour by several General Officers, particularly by Majors General Putnam and Gates, and a member of the Congress. I told them my opinion of those works, and I have been desired to raise some necessary ones here where they are required.

This Government, its form, its liberty, are so similar to that of the ancient and once happy people of Bretagne, (the country of my nativity) that I am delighted with it. And, if I can be useful to the United States, I intend to end my days in them. I shall regard my original country and its subjects as my family, and if I can be useful to them, and any thing advantageous to the American States and equally agreeable to France could be proposed here, I would undertake to offer it with the greatest pleasure, without requiring form the King of France wither honours, pecuniary rewards, or any other mark of gratitude. All my satisfaction would consist in the inward feelings of my soul, if I could once by my endeavours set on foot a commercial correspondence—equally beneficial to my former country and that which I now adopt. You will imagine, my Lord, that I am too hasty, but permit me to assure you, that after mature deliberation, and positive information of the strength of America, I am convinced they are able to resist against all their enemies. If the Americans have not the greatest knowledge in the art of war, they have great advantages from the situation of their country, undaunted courage, determined resolution, and the best and most glorious cause. Nothing will be able to divide them. Every precaution is taken against their interior enemies whose number is insignificant. Such a solemn and well supported resolution gives me the highest opinion of these privileged souls, who defend their rights without ostentation or faction and who desire only Liberty and Independency. They already feel that such a state is not a chimera as is too generally thought in Europe, Switzerland excepted.

I have the honor, my Lord, to enclose you the Declaration of Independency, published yesterday by the Honorable the Congress of the United American States, and, to prevent the danger of my letter miscarrying, shall sed [sic] it by duplicate. 

I have the honor to be,
With respect, my Lord, your most humble,
And most obedient servant.