The American Commissioners to Vergennes
LS: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts
Historical Society; two copies: National Archives
<Passy, August 28, 1778: We have several subjects that we
must lay before you. One, unfortunately, is money. The nature
of the war has necessitated far more emissions of paper currency
than would ordinarily have been wise; to limit them
Congress has borrowed extensively, with interest to be paid in
Europe, great sums of which are now due. The financial assistance
so generously furnished us is almost spent, and our
expenses here have been so great that our resources are exhausted.
We hope that His Majesty’s quarterly payment of
750.000 l.t. may be continued. Congress authorized us to borrow
two million sterling, and we request permission to raise
such part of it in this kingdom as may be possible. We are
willing to limit the interest to that given by His Majesty, to
whom most will prefer to lend; but the desire to establish
commercial connections may induce some to serve the Americans
in this way.
We understand that ships of ours in Italy wishing to return
home, and Italian merchants wishing to trade with America,
are deterred by the danger from Barbary corsairs. We therefore
request assistance through His Majesty’s good offices
with the Barbary states, as stipulated in the Treaty of Commerce.
Many Americans in England and on the Continent want to
return home but fear difficulties in removing their property.
We submit to His Majesty’s wisdom whether some way may
be found for them to pass through this kingdom with their
personal effects, not for sale, without paying duty. Dr. Smith
informs us that part of his baggage, consisting of household
linen and plate, is detained in Calais as contraband. We
should be grateful if you could secure him permission to take
his effects home with him duty free. We also request a passport
for the English ship that is to land our prisoners as close
to Brest as possible.>
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