I am, with sincere affection, dear Sir, your friend and servant.
P. S. Monsieur Houdon has agreed to go to America to take the figure of General Washington. In case of his death, between his departure from Paris, and his return to it, we may lose twenty thousand livres. I ask the favor of you to enquire what it will cost to ensure that sum, on his life, in London, and to give me as early an answer as possible, that I may order the insurance if I think the terms easy enough. He is, I believe, between thirty and thirty-five years of age, healthy enough, and will be absent about six months.
TO M. DE CASTRIES.
Paris, July 10th, 1785.
Sir,—I am honored with your Excellency's letter on the prize money for which Mr. Jones applies. The papers intended to have been therein enclosed, not having been actually enclosed, I am unable to say anything on their subject. But I find that Congress, on the first day of November, 1783, recommended Captain Jones to their Minister here, as agent, to solicit, under his direction, payment to the officers and crews for the prizes taken in Europe under his command; requiring him previously to give to their superintendent of finance good security for paying to him whatever he should receive, to be by him distributed to those entitled. In consequence of this, Captain Jones gave the security required, as is certified by the superintendent of finance on the 6th of November, 1783, and received from Doctor Franklin on the 17th of December, 1783, due authority, as agent, to solicit the said payments.
From these documents, I consider Captain Jones as agent for the citizens of the United States, interested in the prizes taken in Europe under his command, and that he is properly authorized to receive the money due to them, having given good security to transmit it to the treasury office of the United States, whence it will be distributed, under the care of Congress, to the officers and crews originally entitled, or to their representatives.
I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the highest respect, your Excellency's most obedient, and most humble servant,