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French Intelligence Reports on the United States

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This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

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France. Ministère des affaires étrangères

At the start of the 19th century, the tumultuous events of Europe and the new government of the United States prompted the government of France employing agents to report on American politics, economics, diplomacy, geographic expansion, and military affairs. This collection contains French agents' reports in 1804 with Napoleon as Emperor of France, from 1816 to 1817 with Louis XVIII as King of France, and from 1841 to 1842 with Louis-Philippe as King of France.

The United States, during these times, were generally recovering from wars, developing economic policies, undergoing political transformations, and establishing international relationships. Of particular interest to the French was America's interactions with the United Kingdom, Spain, Haiti, and South America. In addition, the French were interested in how France was perceived by the Americans; and agents reported on the Bonapartes arrival in New Jersey, plots to liberate Napoleon from St. Helena, how the newly elected President Monroe responded to the Bourbon Restoration, and how Americans responded to the unexpected death of Prince Ferdinand Philippe of Orléans, who died at age 32 in 1842.

France was also interested in the turbulent economy of the United States in 1816 and 1817 following the War of 1812 and in the early 1840s following the Panic of 1837. President John Tyler's presidency resulted in a great divide between the President and both the Whig and Democratic parties, with much speculation regarding tariffs, national banks, and political stability.

This collection consists of thirty-eight confidential, anonymous reports from French agents in the United States describing American political, economic, and military conditions over a period of forty years, from the period immediately following the Louisiana Purchase into the early 1840s. These lengthy, detailed, and significant reports, penned in neat diplomatic script, were apparently compiled by French agents in the United States for the benefit of the foreign ministry in Paris. They comprise original observations and analysis of American affairs, as well as transcriptions from the American press on major political events and policies. Many of the reports relate to French interests in the Americas, such as the situation in Haiti, naval disputes between French and English ships, commercial, economic, and banking issues, as well as relations between the United States and France's rivals in Europe. Other reports discuss American political events, such as the election of 1840, and consider their impact on relations and trade between the United States and France.

The reports are numbered, though not in a distinct sequence, perhaps reflecting the fact that those in this collection came from various agents or locations (several were written in Philadelphia), each with a discrete numbering system. Many of the reports are addressed "Monsieur le Ministre," indicating that they were compiled either for the French ambassador to the United States, or directly for the French Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The earliest reports date from May, 1804, and discuss the capture of the French schooner l'Africaine by the English ship, Garland, in Charleston Harbor. Other reports from this period deal with the tumultuous situation in Haiti, which would have been of particular concern in Paris. Reports from the years just after the War of 1812 assess America's military strength, including one report that contains a chart of available United States military units at various locations along the coast and on major waterways. Other reports discuss the likelihood of war between the United States and Spain in the late 1810s, developments in the revolutionary movements in South America, and an insurrection in the Brazilian region of Pernambuco. One report (June 14, 1816) details Haitian ruler Alexandre Petion's assistance to Simon Bolivar in South America, and another report (June 13-14, 1816) relates a potential plot to liberate Napoleon from St. Helena. A brief report of early 1817 discusses the election of President James Monroe, and his attitudes toward the recently restored House of Bourbon.

Later reports in the early 1840s, analyze key American political conflicts such as the battle over the Bank of the United States, the effects of the depression of 1837, and the relationship between capital and labor in the United States. A twenty-three page report of 1841 discusses the election of 1840, and the repercussions of the loss by Martin Van Buren and the Democrats to the Whigs, led by William Henry Harrison. Reports that follow analyze, in detail and at length, John Tyler's State of the Union message of 1841, the political war over the tariff, and American reaction to the death of the heir to the French throne, the Duke of Orleans, in 1842. There are also transcriptions of relevant articles from American newspapers, including the National Intelligencer.

These topically grouped reports are arranged chronologically.

This collection was purchased from William Reese Company in 2013.

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

This collection was processed by Holly Mengel in 2013. Finding aid written by Holly Mengel in 2013.

No material was separated during 2012 processing.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Author
Holly Mengel
Finding Aid Date
2012
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The collection is open for research.

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Collection Inventory

Reports Detailing the Capture of the French Schooner L'Africaine, by English Boat Garland in the Charleston Bay, 1804 May. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Report Concerning the Strength of the United States Army In the Event of Foreign Invasion, 1816 May 31. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Reports Relating the Discovery of a Plot for the Liberation of Napoleon from St. Helena, 1816 June 13-14. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Reports Regarding American Relations with Spain and the Possibilities of War Between the Two Countries, 1816 June-July. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Report Concerning the 1816 Fourth of July Celebration and the Revolutionary Spirit that Surrounded the Event, 1816 July 27. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Reports Regarding the Spanish Attack in the Gulf of Mexico Against the American schooner Fire Brand, and Steps Taken by the United States Towards the South American Insurrection, 1816 October-December. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Reports Concerning the Installation of the Bonapartes in the United States and Their Possible Ruling of Mexico and Brazil, 1816 December-1817 February. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Report Regarding the Election of James Monroe to the Presidency of the United States and His Attitude Towards France, 1817 February 14. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Report Regarding the Financial Situation of the United States Primarily Resulting from Obligations Contracted During the War with England, 1817 March 10. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Reports Concerning a New Insurrection in the Province of Pernambuco (Brazil), 1817 April 29-30. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Report Regarding the Election of 1841 and Its Influence on the Financial and Commercial Situation of the Country, 1841 November 23. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Report Commenting on President Tyler's First Annual Message to the Congress on December 7, 1841, 1841 December 8. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Report Regarding the Prospect of a Charter for a Financial Institution (Possibly the Fiscal Bank of the United States), 1841 December 31. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Reports regarding Prince Ferdinand Philippe of Orléans, the Duke of Orleans; In Particular, the Reaction of Americans to His Death on July 13, 1842, 1841 November-1842 August. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Report Regarding Relations Between Capital and Labor in the United States, 1842 January 31. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Reports Regarding the Financial Conditions of the United States and the Conditions of the Banks of Philadelphia, 1842 January-February. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Reports Regarding Henry Clay's Tariff Bill, Resumption of Payments in Specie, and Repudiation of Debts of War, 1842 February-March. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Reports Concerning the Tariff Bill (Including President Tyler's Declarations and General Consideration on the Subject), 1842 April-July. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Report Regarding the Adoption of the Tariff Bill Under the Administration of President Tyler and Its International Consequences, 1842 August 31. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Report Regarding the Divide Between Whigs and Democrats and Its Influence on America's Financial and Commercial Future, 1842 November 17. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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