Feby. 5th 1782
To my salary as Secretary to the Honorable Henry Laurens Esquire
on an Embassy to Holland from October 1779 until February 1782 at
£250 Sterl. per Annum £567. 14s. 2d. Sterling.
n.b. I set out from Philadelphia with Mr. Laurens in order to
embark from South Carolina; being there disappointed of a passage,
the Enemy having block’d up the harbour, we returned to
Philadelphia and embarked in the month of August 1780 by order of
Congress. On the 3d September following we were taken by the
Enemy. I was committed to Forton prison, made my escape, and on
the 5th February 1782 was employed by the Minister Plenipotentiary
at the Court of France in his office until the 14th April, when I
obtained Dr. Franklin’s consent to wait upon Mr. Laurens in
England for the purpose of offering a continuance of my services
as his Secretary. I went there, made the offer, and attended Mr.
Laurens until now; but I have only charged pay up to the time when
I was employed in the public service at Passy, leaving the
remainder to the determination of Congress.
Extract of a Letter from the Honorable Henry Laurens Esqr. To
Congress, dated at Amsterdam 30th. May 1782.
Mr. Moses Young whom I had engaged at my first appointment by
Congress to attend me as a Secretary and Assistant has made a
claim for five hundred and sixty seven pounds fourteen shillings
and two pence sterling as due to him for salary to the 5th
February 1782 when he entered the public service under Doctor
Franklin. I shall recommend the payment of the said sum of £567.
14s. 2d. Sterling to the Doctor. Mr. Young’s loss of time, loss of
effects, and sufferings in imprisonment, as well as his zeal and
attachment in the Cause of America, will be considered by
Congress; and I hope when he shall make a proper representation of
his case, a further sum will be granted to him.
I certify the above extract to be truly copied from my Letter of
this date to Congress, and I do recommend the payment of the sum
of £567. 14s. 2d. therein mentioned to be made to Mr. Moses Young
by His Excellency Benjamin Franklin Esqr. on account of the United
States of America. (signed)
A true Copy from the original.
Received 8th. July 1782 of His Excellency Benjamin Franklin
Esquire an order on Mr. Grand for three thousand six hundred
livres in part of the foregoing Account.