Mr Franklin’s Reply to Mr Chaumont’s Answer, respecting the Observations of Mr Franklin on his Account.—
| Article 1. | The Charge of 3189.13.4. l.t. Ballance of Mr. Deane’s Acct. with M. de Chaumont. Mr F. has seen two Copies of this Account, in which the Ballance differs widely. It does not appear by any Evidence produc’d in Writing or otherwise that Mr Deane has been acquainted with and approv’d of this Demand against him. On the contrary he has told Mr F. that M. de Chaumont owed him a considerable Sum of Money, which from the then present Situation of Mr. C’s Affairs could not be obtained, & which oblig’d him to ask a Loan of Money from Mr F.— And as Mr F. finds in the said account against Mr Deane many Articles which appear to him to relate to particular Speculations & Adventures in Business between M. de Chaumont & him, that do not at all concern the Public: and it farther appears that the Sums actually credited in that Account as paid to Mr de Chaumont by Mr Deane & Mr Franklin as Commissioners of Congress exceed the Value of the Supplies charg’d therein as furnish’d for the Congress; Mr. F. conceives that the Charge of the Ballance in Question is not well placed in an Account against the United States; and that he cannot without Authority from Mr Deane undertake to settle the private Part of Mr Chaumont’s Account against him or to admit that the said Ballance is due from him. Mr Deane resides at Ghent, and Mr C. may settle the Matter with him by Writing. | ||||||||||||
| Art. | 2. | 193 | . | 1.0. | l.t. | Mr. F. cannot understand this without seeing the Account. | |||||||
| Art. 3. | 63 | Is just. | |||||||||||
| — | 4. | 1803 | . | 9.3. | Allow’d | ||||||||
| — | 5. | 5847 | . | 16.6. | Allow’d. | ||||||||
| — | 6. | 25970 | . | 6.0. | Allow’d. | ||||||||
| — | 7. | 626 | . | 2.5. | Allow’d | ||||||||
| Art. | 8. | 12,000 | . | Indemnité sur la mere Bobie. This Charge appears to me very high. I do not think it right to estimate it by Tobacco; there being none at Boston to be shipp’d on such Terms. They were allow’d from Maryland, but the Risque there was greater. I leave this however to the Judgment of Mr Grand. | |||||||||
| Art. | 9. | 741,095. | . | 16..4. | Allow’d. | ||||||||
| 2d. Art. 9. | 3246 | . | 12.3. | pour Commission, &c. Submitted to the Judgment of Mr Grand. | |||||||||
| Art. | 10. | 428,330 | . | .2..8. | Allow’d | ||||||||
| Art. | 11. | 240,000 | . | 0.0. | Allow’d | ||||||||
| Art. | 12. | 500 | . | 0.0. | Courtage submitted to Mr Grand— M. Franklin not understanding the Answer of M. de Chaumont concerning the Exchange. | ||||||||
| Art. | 13. | Rent. | Mr Franklin leaves this intirely to M. Grand, and shall be content if fix’d as M. Chaumont propos’d to him. | ||||||||||
| Art. | 14. | To be decided by Mr Grand | |||||||||||
| Art. | 15. | 70,000 | . | Mr Franklin had never intimated to Congress that M. Chaumont owed him any thing. It seems therefore unintelligible to him that they should give Mr Holker such a Reason for not paying. Mr Holker might however have obtain’d their Drafts on Mr Franklin if they had approv’d of the Account. Genl. Lincoln might have purchas’d the Goods partly on the public Account, & partly for himself & officers. Mr F. knows nothing of the Matter, has receiv’d no Orders relating to it, And he thinks that Persons in one Department, especially at so great a Distance, should not be apply’d to for Payment of Debts contracted by those in another. | |||||||||
| Art. | 16 | Mr F. does not understand this, and leaves it to Mr Grd. | |||||||||||
| Art. | 17. | This also is for the same reason left to the Judgmt of Mr Grand, with which Mr F. will be satisfied. | |||||||||||