PARIS, August 5, 1787.
GENTLEMEN,--In my last of June 17, 1787, I had the honor of
communicating to you the information I had received from Mr. Grand,
that your funds here were out, and he considerably in advance. I took
occasion to mention to him the paragraph in your letter of February 17,
wherein you were so kind as to say your attention should be immediately
turned to the making a remittance. However, I understood soon after
that he had protested a draught of Mr. Carmichael's, as also a smaller
one of five hundred livres. He called upon me, and explaining to me the
extent of his advances, observed that he should not be willing to add
to them, except so far as should be necessary for the private expenses
of myself and secretary, which he wished to be reduced as much below
the ordinary allowance as we could, until remittances should be
received. He will send you by this packet a state of his accounts, by
which he informs me that your account is in arrear about thirty-two
thousand livres, advanced by him, and about fifteen thousand livres
from a fund of the State of Virginia, placed here for the purchase of
arms, making General Washington's statue, etc. In examining his
accounts, I found by the one he had sent you formerly, that you were
debited two articles of ten thousand livres and two thousand seven
hundred and twenty-four livres and sixty-six sous, which belonged to
the account of the State of Virginia. This I must explain to you. That
State had directed me to have the statue of General Washington made,
and given me assurances such as I could rely on, that I should receive
funds immediately. Doctor Franklin was setting out to America, and
Houdon, the statuary, expressed a willingness to go with him. But it
was necessary to advance him a sum of money for that purpose. Rather
than lose the opportunity, I ventured to borrow from the fund of the
United States those two sums for the State of Virginia, which I knew
would be immediately replaced. The funds of the State arrived, (being
nearly two hundred thousand livres,) and enabled me not only to replace
those sums immediately, but to furnish much larger supplies to the
wants of the United States, when their funds failed. Insomuch that the
State of Virginia is now in advance here for the United States about
fifteen thousand livres, as before mentioned. As yet it has not
suffered by any of these advances, but having no money left here but
this balance, I shall be censurable by that State if it be not replaced
in time to answer the demands on them, which will now be made within a
few weeks. Mr. Grand has, by my direction, credited you in the account
he now sends for the two sums of ten thousand livres and two thousand,
seven hundred and twenty-four livres and sixty-six sous, improperly
charged in your former account. He had also debited you in his account
for the whole sums paid by the United States, as well as those paid by
Virginia, as by himself. The purpose of this was to keep the accounts
unmixed, though in fact the funds have been applied occasionally in aid
of each other.
I had proposed to Mr. Barclay the settlement of my account before his
departure for Morocco, but we concluded it would be better to do it on
his return, as that would enable me to bring it down to a later day. It
was not then expected he would be so long detained by that business.
Unfortunately for me, when at L'Orient, on his return to Paris, he
found it more advisable to proceed directly to America, so that I have
lost this opportunity of having my account settled. I shall either do
it with him on his return, if he returns soon, or with such other
person here as you will point out, or I will transmit it with copies of
my vouchers, to be settled by you, or do whatever else with it you
shall please to direct. The articles which, from their minuteness, have
not admitted the taking vouchers, I shall be ready to prove by my own
oath. In this account I have presumed to charge the United States with
an outfit. The necessity of this in the case of a minister, resident,
and of course obliged to establish a house, is obvious on reflection.
There cannot be a surer proof of its necessity than the experience and
consent of all nations, as I believe there is no instance of any nation
sending a minister to reside anywhere without an outfit. A year's
salary is the least I have been able to hear of, and I should be able
to show that the articles of clothes, carriage and horses, and
household furniture, in a very plain style, have cost me more than
that. When I send you my account, either settled here, or to be settled
there, I shall take the liberty of referring this article to the
consideration of Congress. Its reasonableness has appeared to me so
palpable, that I have presumed it would appear so to Congress, and have
therefore kept up the expenses of my house at the current rate of nine
thousand dollars a year. If my expectations should be thought
unreasonable, I shall submit and immediately reduce my establishment,
with such rigor, as to make up this article in the shortest time
possible. I enclose you a letter from Fisseaux & Co. on the subject of
their loan. I wish the loan lately obtained by Mr. Adams, may enable
you to get rid of the debt of the Foreign Officers, principal and
interest. Indeed, if Mr. Adams could be charged with the transfer of
our whole debt from this country to Holland, it would be a most
salutary operation. The confusions of that country might perhaps
facilitate that measure at present, though no regular tax could be
obtained in the moment for payment of the interest. I have the honor to
be, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and respect, gentlemen,
your most obedient, and most humble servant.