Rhode Island Republican

Important and Official.

Letter from Mr. Pichon, Charge d'Affaires of the French Republic, to the Governor of his Catholic Majesty in Louisiana.

[Communicated to the Secretary of State.]

George-Town, near Washington City,
11th of March, 1803.

Sir,

The Marquis d'Yrujo has communicated to me the contents of the dispatches, which he has just received from your Excellency, and from the Intendant of his Catholic Majesty in the province under your command, in answer to those which he wrote to you in relation to the late suspension of the right of deposit conceded to the United States at New-Orleans.

The Marquis d'Yrujo finds himself necessitated, again to remonstrate to your Excellency on that subject. I avail myself of the opportunity, to beg of you, Sir, in the name of the French Government, whose interests are jeopardized in this case, maturely to consider the alarming consequences which may result, if the Intendant shall persist in his measures. The intelligence which has been transmitted to the Marquis d'Yrujo has, at last, made it appear indubitable that the measure alluded to was exclusively grounded on the personal opinions of this officer; and supported by no order from his Catholic Majesty, or any intimation from the French government. This information, while it screens from suspicion the dispositions of both governments, and lays entirely on the Intendant the consequences of the present state of things, does not however remove the apprehensions which that state is calculated to excite.

These advices, Sir, give an additional force to the remonstrances, which, for my part, and in the anticipated conviction which I entertained that these measures had a cause merely local, I had no hesitation, lately, to address to the authorities, hourly expected, of the French Republic at New-Orleans, under cover to the Intendant. So pressing are the circumstances, that I deem it my duty to renew these remonstrances, and to entreat your Excellency to exert your superior authority, to prevent the consequences which the prolongation of the present order of things may produce.

It will not escape your notice, Sir, that France now being notoriously the proprietor of Louisiana, and the authorities of his Catholic Majesty exercising in this colony, at present, only an intermediary power, any measures having a tendency to commit France, -- on whom the odium and the consequences of what has been done visibly fall, ought, were its justice and lawfulness doubtful only, to be suspended; otherwise France may find herself committed, and her relations with the United States materially changed without her consent. I enter into no further details with your Excellency, being satisfied that they would be superfluous; your Excellency will be aware that the present is a most critical moment. In the collision of two authorities, one of which undertakes to imitate a construction of treaties, which may lead to war, it unfortunately happens, that the paramount authority, which is eminently entrusted
with the preservation and safety of the colony, is of an opinion calculated to maintain peace.

In such an alternative, Sir, your Excellency ought to hesitate no longer in using your powers to preserve this peace. If it should be disturbed the responsibility of the event most inevitably lie on your Excellency. His Catholic Majesty, who is in some measure guarantee to France for Louisiana, until France shall have occupied it, would have to blame you for not having taken the measures necessary to fulfill that guarantee towards his ally.

The contents of this letter, Sir, will, I am confident, be fully justified to your Excellency by the existing circumstances, which the Marquis d'Yrujo, in behalf of his court, will make known to you more particularly. It only remains for me therefore, to pray your Excellency to accept the assurance of my respect and high consideration.

(Signed)
L. A. PICHON.

His Excellency the Governor of his Catholic Majesty in the province of Louisiana.