I heartly thank you, my dear Friend, for your friendly advice relative to my father’s affairs; but if the memorial I presented to Congress had (as you says) a very prejudicial effect to me and my father’s concerns you must not lay the blame upon me. I will enter into some details to clear up the Point.

The French Traders who were bearers of loan offices certificates and other paper money of Congress had applied to Mr. de Vergennes to implore his protection near the united states to obtain from them the justice they thought due to their claim. In consequence thereof, the Minister of france had given orders to the chargé d’affaires in this country to sollicit the justice of congress in favor of the French. Many memorials were presented by Mr. de la Luzerne and by M. de Marbois without success at all. This being communicated to the Court and after that to the interested persons, in such a circumstance they thought that nothing best could be done, than to send and appoint somebody to represent their rights and their claims; For they could not imagine that their interests had been treated with care and attention, and they suspected the negligence of the officers of the King in this country.

When the question was put who would be appointed in this country, les yeux se tournerent sur moi. I was then almost determined to come for our personal affairs, and had my father even forseen the consequences of this commission he could not have done otherwise than to suscribe to my appointment, as he was almost the cause of the infortunes of those who had adventured their money in the American funds, having always been the advocate of the American credit and done everything yo sustain its reputation in Europe. I was directed to make a memorial to Congress, which being presented to the Assembly in Paris was generally approved; but my father moved that a famous writer a great Jurisconsult who was present and interested in the present cause would give to that memorial the degree of perfection which was requisite. It was acquiesced to, and I was directed to furnish him with all the Edicts of congress etc.

Then he made this famous Memorial. It was read and approved by the Assembly. But they gave me power to add or take of it what I would think proper when arriv’d in America. They then made M. de Vergennes acquainted with their resolution of appointing somebody and with the choice they had made, asking from him to approve and support my Mission. Therefore in the letter of Credit M. de Vergennes gave me, after having spoken of the rights my father had ti the Justice of Congress, he said:

“outre les titres particuliers a la Justice du Congres M. de Chaumont a à rèclamer ceux de tous les sujets du Roy qui entrainés par leur confiance dans cette Assemblée ont placés des fonds tres considerables dans ses emprunts.”

My father having given me particular instructions to consult and shewing my memorial to Mr. Jay, in a friendly way, I was to pass by his judgment and correct every thing he would have thought improper. We had such a confidence in his integrity and judgment that we would have  ?  as more advantageous to our interest everything he would have advised me to do, and I assure you, my dear friend that personally and of my own authority I would have reformed the memorial in question and made one quite different had Mr. Jay disapproved this one. I wanted him to see. But when I presented myself to his house and mentionned this memorial, he gave me Rendez vous in his office. I went there accordingly, and I explained to him again that I wished him to read this memorial before I would present it officialy, but he only looked the first page, and told me he could only receive it in his official capacity. I saw plainly that it was in vain I wished to consult Mr. Jay, he advised me only to take the proper forms to present my memorial, and I was then persuaded that for the future I was only to address me to the Minister of foreign affairs of America. I lamented it very much. In such a dilemma I asked of our chargé des affaires to consider and read attentively my memorial and told him that he could correct and add whatever he would be pleased. So he did. He had it three or four days in his Possession and returned it to me with some additions and corrections. I had it faithfully translated, with these corrections and additions, and after that presented it to the secretary of foreign affairs with a letter of M. de Marbois in which he supports the memorial in the name of the King of France. If it has displeased to Congress if some strong expressions have been found improper tell me now if my father or I, we are to incur the least blame for it. None I am sure, with impartial men. We would be indeed much to be pitied if it was to have a very prejudicial effect upon my father’s concerns, for after all I have exposed just now you must know that I have past the first month after my arrival in New-york to compleat and remplir dans toutte son etendue the commission which was given to me for the public’s interest while my presence here was of the most urgent necessity and we were no more interested in the claims I made ? others, that is to say I asked no preference upon them although they had had the generosity to offer, but my task was to shew me worthy of the trust. I dare say that I did it with Prudence and Zeal, and if I did not, I ask to those who will prejudice me, or my father’s concerns to trace me the road I was to follow.

I remain with great affection My Dear friend Your most devoted Friend