July 5, 1786. Scotosh, son to the half King of the Wyandots, with Monsieur Drouillier, his interpreter, coming again to the President's house, the President spoke to him as follows. Brother, I have communicated to the Council, the words you delivered to me from my father, and we now return the answer I am about to give you, to be sent him. Our Brother, We are glad to learn from you that there are no bad affairs in your country, and that all is well with you, we hope it may long continue. A String. We know there are some bad people about the falls, from whence we sometimes hear of mischief done by them, we are glad that none of our friends, the Wyandots, are among them; for they will probably soon suffer for their evil actions. A String. Our Brother, This State of Pennsylvania measures no lands, but what has been fairly purchased of the Six Nations. The country you speak of, is far beyond our limits, and the measuring of it under the direction of the Congress. It is therefore with that great Council to consider your friendly advice on that subject. A String. The President then acquainted Scotosh, that as he was going to New York, the Council had ordered some money to be given to him for his travelling expenses, (which was accordingly done) and that the charge of their entertainment while here would also be defrayed; for which he returned hearty thanks. He was at the same time assured, that we should endeavor always to keep the road between us as open, clear and safe as he had found it. FROM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TO M. GRAND. Sir, Philadelphia, July 11, 1786. I send you enclosed some letters that have passed between the Secretary of Congress and me, respecting three millions of livres, acknowledged to have been received. before the treaty of February, 1778, as don gratuit from the King, of which only two millions are found in your accounts; unless the million from the Farmers General be one of the three. I have been assured that all the money received from the King, whether as loan or gift, went through your hands; and as I always looked on the million we had of the Farmers General to be distinct from what we had of the Crown, I wonder how I came to sign the contract, acknowledging three millions of gift, when, in reality, there was only two, exclusive of that from the Farmers; and, as both you and I examined the project of the contract before I signed it, I am surprised, that neither of us took notice of the error. It is possible that the million furnished ostensibly by the Farmers, was in fact a gift of the Crown, in which case, as Mr. Thompson observes, they owe us for the two ship loads of tobacco, which they received on account of it. I must earnestly request of you to get this matter explained, that it may stand clear before I die, lest some enemy should afterwards accuse me of having received a million not accounted for. VOL. II.-8 I am, &c. B. FKANKLIN. FROM MONSIEUR DURIVAL TO M. GRAND Translation. Versailles, August 30, 1786. Sir, I have received the letter which you did me the honor to write on the 28th of this month, touching the advance of a million, which you say was made by the Farmers General to the United States of America, the 3rd of June, 1777. I have no knowledge of that advance. What I have verified is, that the King, by the contract of the 25th of February, 1783, has confirmed the gratuitous gift, which his Majesty had previously made, of the three millions hereafter mentioned, viz. one million delivered by the royal treasury, the 10th of June, 1776, and two other millions advanced also by the royal treasury, in 1777, on four receipts of the Deputies of Congress, of the 17th of January, 3rd of April, 10th of June, and 15th of October, of the same year. This explanation will, sir, I hope, resolve your doubt, touching the advance of the 3rd of June, 1777. I further recommend to you, sir, to confer on this subject with M. Gojard, who ought to be better informed than we, who had no knowledge of any advances, but those made by the royal treasury. I have the honor to be, &c. DURIVAL. FROM MONSIEUR DURIVAL TO M. GRAND. Sir, Translation. Versailles, September 5, 1786. I laid before the Count De Vergennes, the two letters you did me the honor to write, touching the three millions, the free gift of which the King has confirmed in favor of the United States of America. The Minister, sir, observed that this gift has nothing to do with the million, which the Congress may have received from the Farmers General in 1777; consequently he thinks, that the receipt, which you desire may be communicated to you, cannot satisfy the object of your view, and that it would be useless to give you the copy which you desire. I have the honor to be, &c. DURIVAL. FROM M. GRAND TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. My Dear Sir, Paris, September 9, 1786. The letter you honored me with, covered the copies of three letters, which Mr. Thompson wrote you to obtain an explanation of a million, which is not to be found in my accounts. I should have been very much embarrassed in satisfying and proving to him, that I had not put that million in my pocket, had I not applied to M. Durival, who, as you will see by the answer enclosed, informs me, that there was a million paid by the royal treasury, on the 10th of June, 1776. This is the very million about which Mr. Thompson inquires, as I have kept an account of the other two millions, which were also furnished by the royal treasury, viz. the one million in January and April, 1777, the other in July and October of the same year, as well as that furnished by the Farmers General in June, 1777. Here then are the three millions exactly, which were given by the King before the treaty of 1778, and that furnished by the Farmers General. Nothing then remains to be known, but who received the first million in June, 1776. It could not be myself, as I was not charged with the business of Congress, until January, 1777. I therefore requested of M. Durival a copy of the receipt for the one million. You have the answer, which he returned to me. I wrote to him again, renewing my request, but as the courier is just setting off, I cannot give you his answer, but you will receive it in my next, if I obtain one. In the meanwhile, I beg you will receive the assurances of the sentiments of respect, with which I have the honor to be, Sir, &c. GRAND. Sir, FROM M. DURIVAL TO M. GRAND. Translation Versailles, September 10, 1786. I have laid before the Count de Vergennes, as you seemed to desire, the letter which you did me the honor to write yesterday. The Minister persists in the opinion, |
