“As for you my dear de Francy, I will write you later what I will do for you. If you know me, you will expect to be well treated. Your fate is hence forth attached to mine. I esteem you and love you and you will not have long to wait for the proof of it. Remember me often to Baron von Steuben. I congratulate myself after all I hear of him, for having given so great an officer to my friends the free men, and for having in a way forced him to follow that noble career. I am not in the least disturbed by the money I lent him. Never have I made a use of funds the investment of which gratified me as much as this does, since I have succeeded in putting a man of honor in his true place. I learn that he is inspector-general of all the troops; bravo! Tell him that his glory is the interest on my money and at that title I have no doubt he will repay me with usury.
“I have received a letter from M. Deane and also one from Mr. Carmichaël; assure them of my warm esteem. Those two are brave republicans. They have given me the hope that I may soon embrace them both in Paris, which will not, however, prevent me from writing them by the Fier Roderigue, who is very proud to find himself at the head of a small squadron, and who I hope will ne se laissera pas couper les moustaches, on the contrary he promises to do some cutting for me,
“Adieu, my Francy, I am yours for life,
“Caron de Beaumarchais.”
Silas Deane returned to France in 1781, to settle all his accounts. On the 6th of April of that year the indebtedness to Beaumarchais by Congress was fixed by him at 3,600,000 livres after the deduction of all receipts and comprising the interest promised. This sum, then, Beaumarchais demanded of Congress.
CÆSAR AUGUSTUS RODNEY
Attorney General of the U. S.