Agreeably to my promise I send you herewith enclosed an extract from the contract made at Versailles the 21st. of February 1783, in which “to prevent all ambiguity it has been found proper to recapitulate the amount of the preceding aids granted by the King to the United States and to distinguish them according to their different classes.” The first class is composed of funds lent successively by his Majesty amounting inthe whole to 18 Million livres. The second comprehends the loan of 5 million dutch florins made in Holland in 1781 and the third comprehends the aids and subsidies furnished under the title of gratuitous assistance from the pure generosity of the King; “three million of which “as is there expressed were granted before the treaty of feby 1778 and six Millions in 1781, which aids and subsidies amounting in the whole to nine Million livres tournois his Majesty there confirms in case of need the gratuitous gift to the Congress of the said thirteen United States.”

Mr. Grand credits three millions received prior to the treaty of feby 1778 but he includes there in the million received from the farmers general.

If as you observed all the money granted by the King was paid to Mr. Grand, it would appear from the enclosed extract compared with Mr. Grand’s account that the Million paid by the farmers general was a “gratuitous assistance to the pure generosity of the King” and that the farmers general are endebted to the United States for the amount of the tobacco remitted to them. If this is not the case it will be necessary to explain when and to whom the third Million was paid. With the greatest respect I have the honor to be Dear Sir your sincere friend and Obedient humble Servant