I, Don Juan de Miralles, truly certify, that the above was extracted from the letters which the Spanish Captains, Don Joseph de Llanos and Joachin Garcia de Luca, wrote to me, and which I received on the 19th current, at eight o'clock in the evening.
The Minister Plenipotentiary of France has learnt, by despatches from his Court under date of the 25th of December, that the negotiation, which has been the subject of the overtures which the said Minister has had the honor to make to the Congress of the United States of North America for nearly three months, continues, and that his said Court earnestly desires, that Congress would be pleased to take prompt measures to take part in the said negotiation, as soon as circumstances shall have brought it to its proper state of advancement, which may happen at any moment.
"The Minister of France delivered to the President a letter from the King of France, with the following note."
The custom in Holland, for sending to the States-General the letters by which the King notifies them of marriages or births, is to give them to the President of the week, who then goes to the house of the Ambassador, or Minister of the King, to compliment him in the name of the States-General, upon the event which forms the subject of the letters of notification.
We do not delay informing you of the birth of the Princess, to whom the Queen, our very dear consort, has just happily given birth. Our confidence in your friendship does not permit us to doubt your interest in this event, nor your participation in the satisfaction which we derive from this first fruit of the divine blessing on our marriage.
The interest that we take in the prosperity of your Republic is our warrant for the pleasure, which we have in repeating to you the assurances of our esteem, and of our constant affection. Moreover, we pray God, that he may keep you, very dear and great friends and allies, under his holy and worthy protection.
Written at Versailles, December 19th, 1778.
"This letter being read, the President, with a committee consisting of one member from each State, was immediately to wait upon the Minister, and in the name of the United States to congratulate him upon the birth of the Princess. A committee was also appointed to prepare the draft of an answer to his Majesty's letter."