Mauger & Cie.'s Memoir with a Notation by Franklin
Copy: University of Pennsylvania Library
August 20, 1781, in French: Last January Mauger & Compag-nie
of Metz was charged by the Continental Congress acting
through Superintendent of Finance Robert Morris to provide it
with cloth, shirts, shoes, and uniforms, which the Army greatly
needs. We prepared the goods for departure at Amsterdam com-mencing
in April, but the enemy captured or prevented from
reaching port the ships to carry them. As there remains no way
to transport these supplies, so impatiently awaited in the United
States, from Amsterdam, they must be sent by way of France.
Therefore in the name of the United States we ask passports for
this merchandise to enter Brest or Nantes freely. To minimize the
risk it will not all go on the same ship, but it will be sent as
rapidly as circumstances permit. The first cargo ought to leave
in September to profit from any escort that might be leaving
at that time for the United States. The shipments will consist of
(1) 150,000 aunes of coarse cloth for soldiers' shirts, uniforms,
and gaiters, divided into five loads; (2) 10,000 soldiers' shirts, in
three loads; (3) 9,000 pairs of shoes, in three loads; (4) 3,000
pieces of Metz cloth called Eternelle for soldiers' vests and
trousers, in five loads. These passports should be valid for 15 to
18 months and allow freedom of transit through the interior of
France. If this purchase cannot be executed, we despair of making
another such, given the limited means of Congress. We so-licit
this in the name of the United States.
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