I was yesterday honored with your Excellency's letter of the 28 ultimo, while at the Texel superintending some matters relating to the Ship—equally concerned for the cause of your order as surprised at the manner in which Mr. Fiseaux was resolved to execute it in case the money had been already shipped— I must beg leave to inform you fully of this business, and to request your Excellency's final determination thereon.

Colonel Laurens, as your Excellency knows, was sent by Congress to the Court of Versailles with a special commission— the purport of his Mission you are well acquainted with— it was to obtain certain supplies in specie and Military Stores— By the most unremitting assiduity he so far succeeded as to procure, amongst others, a sum of money to be shipped in Holland by the So. Carolina frigate, which was deemed by the Court of France a safe and convenient conveyance as it would divide the risque, which must have been incurred by placing the whole on board of one Vessel—that Sum was sent to this place by Mr. Necker, and lodged in the house of Fiseaux and Grand to be by them delivered to me agreeable to the following order, the original of which is now in my possession (having, very fortunately for me, recovered it from them after they received your instructions).

Messieurs Fiseaux and Grand have in pursuance of your Excellency's directions refused to deliver it—

This, Sir, being a distinct transaction executed altogether at the instance of the honorable John Laurens Esq. Special Minister at the Court of Versailles from the United States, and by him committed to my farther care— I conceive myself indispensably bound to remonstrate to Your Excellency on the late orders given by you to Messrs. Fiseaux and Grand directing the detention of that Money.— And to inform you that if they are not repealed I must embark without it— and however I may lament the disappointment and distress in which this measure must in-volve Congress, whose arrangements are undoubtedly taken on the certainty of this supply being sent from Europe— however much I may regret Colonel Laurens's absence which induces it— I shall possess the pleasing reflection of having done my duty in demanding conformably to the intentions of Mr. Necker, and by his order, that money which the Court of France had ac-corded to the United States by the application of Colonel Laurens in virtue of his special commission— and which was particularly and expressly destined to reanimate the credit of the Continental currency—

The Ship waits for nothing else but this money— I shall attend Your Excellency's ultimate decision thereon which I expect to receive by return of the Express, who only waits your commands—

I have the honour to be Sir Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble Servant