your account, on which you seem to desire to have my opinion. As we are all new in these matters, I consulted, when I was making up my account, one of the oldest foreign ministers here, as to the custom in such cases. He informed me, that it was not perfectly uniform with the ministers of all courts, but that in general, where a salary was given for service and expenses, the expenses understood were merely those necessary to the man, such as housekeeping, clothing, and coach; but that the rent of the hotel in which he dwelt, the payment of couriers, the postage of letters, the salary of clerks, the stationery for his bureau, with the feasts and illuminations made on public occasions, were esteemed the expenses of the Prince, or State that appointed him, being for the service or honor of his Prince or nation, and either entirely, or in great part, expenses, that, as a private man, he would have been under no necessity of incurring. These, therefore, were to be charged in his accounts. He remarked, it was true, that the minister's housekeeping as well as his house was usually, and in some sort necessarily more expensive, than those of a private person; but this, he said, was considered in his salary, to avoid trouble in accounts; but that, where the Prince or state had not purchased or built a house for their minister, which was sometimes the case, they always paid his house

rent.

I have stated my own accounts according to this information; and I mention them, that, if they seem to you reasonable, we may be uniform in our charges, by your charging in the same manner; or, if objections to any of them occur to you, that you would communicate them to me for the same reason.

Thus you see my opinion, that the articles you mention, of courtage, commission, and port de lettres, are

expenses that ought to be borne, not by you, but by the United States. Yet it seems to me more proper, that you should pay them, and charge them with the other articles above mentioned, than that they should be paid by me, who, not knowing the circumstances, cannot judge (as you can) of the truth and justice of such an account when presented, and who, besides, have no orders to pay more on your account, than your net salary.

With regard to that salary, though your receipts to Fizeau and Grand, shown to me, might be quite sufficient to prove they had paid you the sums therein mentioned, yet, as there are vouchers for them, and which they have a right to retain, I imagine it will be clearest if you draw upon me, agreeably to the order of Congress; and, if this is quarterly, it will be the most convenient to me. With great respect, I have the honor, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.*

FROM SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, TO B. FRANKLIN.

Communicating Instructions for the Negotiation of

SIR,

Peace.

Philadelphia, 19 June, 1781.

You will receive, herewith enclosed, a letter addressed to his most Christian Majesty, with a copy of the same for your information; also a commission constituting yourself, with the four other gentlemen therein named, our ministers for negotiating a peace; also, another commission and duplicate authorizing the same

* See Mr. Adams's answer in the Diplomatic Correspondence, Vol. III.

p. 238.

ministers to accept of the mediation of the Emperor of Germany and Empress of Russia, in one of which, the Emperor is first named, and, in the other, the Empress, to be made use of as circumstances shall render it expedient.*

I have also herewith enclosed instructions for your government, in addition to those formerly given to Mr. Adams for negotiating peace. A letter, in answer to yours of the 12th of March last, will also accompany this. You will please to communicate immediately to Mr. Adams and Mr. Jay the receipt of these important despatches.

Mr. Secretary Thomson desires you would be so good as to send him the machine, with proper directions, to be used for striking copies of letters, as mentioned in yours of the 12th of March. For want of time I must refer you to Mr. Lovell's despatches for American intelligence in general. I have the honor to be, &c. SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, President of Congress.

TO WILLIAM JACKSON.†

Stopping Payment of Money in Holland.

SIR,

Passy, 28 June, 1781.

Since my acceptance of your bills, I have applied to the ministry for more money to discharge the other engagements I entered into for payment of the Con

* See Diplomatic Correspondence, Vol. X. pp. 71-76.

Mr. Jackson was aid-de-camp to General Lincoln, and accompanied Colonel Laurens to France. When Colonel Laurens left Paris, to return to America, he sent Mr. Jackson to Holland, with instructions to superintend the shipment of money and goods on public account in the frigate South Carolina, commanded by Commodore Gillon.

gress bills drawn on Holland and Spain. I find so much difficulty, and even impossibility of obtaining it at this time, that I am under the absolute necessity of stopping the cash that is in Holland, or of ruining all the credit of the States in Europe, and even in America, by stopping payment.

This is therefore to order, that, in case the said cash has been delivered to you by Messrs. Fizeau and Grand, you would immediately return it into their hands to remain there at my disposal. I am sorry that this operation is necessary, but it must be done, or the consequences will be terrible. I have the honor to be, B. FRANKLIN.

&c.

TO DAVID HARTLEY.

Passy, 30 June, 1781.

I received my dear friend's kind letter of the 15th instant, and immediately communicated your request of a passport to the Count de Vergennes. His answer, which I have but just received, expresses an opinion, that the circumstance of his granting a passport to you, as you mention the purpose of your coming to be the discoursing with me on the subject of peace, might, considering your character, occasion many inconvenient reports and speculations; but that he would make no difficulty of giving it, if you assured me, that you were authorized for such purpose by your ministry, which he does not think at all likely; otherwise he judges it best that I should not encourage your coming.

Thus it seems I cannot have at present the pleasure you were so kind as to propose for me. I can only join with you in earnest wishes for peace, a bless

ing which I shall hardly live to see. esteem and respect, I am ever, dear

With the greatest

Sir,

B. FRANKLIN.

TO WILLIAM JACKSON.

Reasons for detaining the Money, which was Part of the Grant obtained by Dr. Franklin.

SIR,

Passy, 5 July, at 6 in the morning, 1781.

I have this instant received your letter of the 2d, urging the delivery of the money. I must be short in my reply, as your express waits.

Colonel Laurens indeed obtained a promise of ten millions to be raised by a loan in Holland. I understood, while he was here, that that loan was in train, and that the million and a half to be sent with you was a part of it. I since learn, that nothing has yet been obtained in Holland, that the success is not yet certain, and that the money in question is a part of the six millions I had obtained before his arrival, upon the strength of which I accepted the bills drawn on his father, and on Mr. Jay, and without which acceptances the Congress's credit in America would have been ruined, and a loss incurred of twenty per cent upon the protests. I cannot obtain more money here at present; and those bills, being accepted, must be paid, as well as those I accepted on your earnest request, for the great unexpected purchase you made in Holland.

Colonel Laurens has carried two millions and a half of that six millions with him, which will serve till the loan in Holland produces a further supply. In the mean time I cannot suffer the credit of our country to be destroyed, if, by detaining this money, it may be

VOL. IX.

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