TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.
Office of Finance, November 26th, 1781.
Sir,
The letter, which you did me the honor to write on the 24th instant, was delivered yesterday morning, and I take this early opportunity to acknowledge it. As you have assured me, that you cannot know any account, which is not conformable to the instructions his Majesty's Minister has addressed to you, I shall spare your Excellency the trouble of my remarks. But as you say, that your letter of the 26th of September last could not have left me the shadow of a hope on the subject of further drafts, your Excellency will pardon one observation. Those precise orders from your Court, received by Colonel Laurens, which compel you now to prohibit my further drafts, permitted you then, in consequence of the observations I had the honor of making to you, an extent of nearly three hundred thousand livres. It is my duty to trespass one moment longer on your Excellency's patience, while I take the liberty to observe, that I can by no means consider purchases made for any particular State in the Union as properly chargeable to the United States.
With the most perfect esteem and respect, I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.