To Jonathan Williams, Jr. (unpublished)
Passy Oct. 28. 1780.
Dear Jonathan,

I last Night received together yours of the 21 and 24th. I had before recd. yours of the 19th.

I am glad you have sent me so exact an Acc[oun]t. of the Bills you have drawn on M. de Chaumont; and that you have concluded to draw no more on him, but on me directly. I never understood the Reason of his proposing that Circuitous Operation and therefore never approved of it. Be assured that I have regularly furnished him with funds for the Payment, amounting in the whole to 750,000. l.t. the last 250,000. l.t. was given him about a Month ago. It seems to me that instead of obtaining a Credit by this Measure, I have in a great degree, paid Ready Money. I think him as you do a very honest and good Man, and tho I hear some few Bills on him met with a little Demur, yet I understand that they were afterwards paid, and that his Payments go on, I suppose the Government owes him Money and thence the Propriety of its supporting him. I have no question that his Circumstances are good at Bottom, even that he is rich, but he enterprises too much. As long as his Payments continue regular, I think the measure you propose to be taken at the Caisse d’Escompte is unnecessary, and may even be hurtful. M. Grand is of the same Opinion. You know that for our Parts we have sufficient in our Hands to reimburse us if he should fail, the Cloathing you bought of him being estimated at 400,000 l.t. and then there is the Freight of the Ms. M[arquis]s de La Fayette. If she is ever in a Capacity to receive it. By your state of the Bills, there cannot be near that Sum yet unpaid. You may however be Assured of my taking Care of your Credit. I continue laid up with the Gout, and have no Answer from M. Lavoisier. I am your Affectionate Uncle. p.s. You forgot to send me the Invoice of the Goods you have promised.

M. Williams.
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