French Intelligence Reports on the United States

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.

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

No material was separated during 2012 processing.

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Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); French Intelligence Reports on the United States, Box and Folder Number; Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Publisher

Manuscripts Division

Finding aids author

Holly Mengel

Date

2012

Creator

France. Ministère des affaires étrangères

Subject

Intelligence officers -- France -- 19th century

Tariff -- United States -- History -- 19th century

People

Monroe, James (1758-1831)

Orléans, Ferdinand-Philippe-Louis-Charles-Henri, duc d' (1810-1842)

Tyler, John (1790-1862)

Organization

United States. President (1817-1825 : Monroe)

United States. President (1841-1845 : Tyler)

Bank of the United States (1816-1836)

Place

France -- Foreign relations -- United States -- 19th century

France -- Ministère des affaires étrangères. -- 19th century

France--Ambassade (U.S.)

Haiti -- History -- Revolution, 1791-1804

United States -- History -- 1783-1865 -- Sources

United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865 -- Sources

Language

French

Form

Manuscripts, French -- 19th century

Reports -- 19th century