On the 11th instant I had the honor of receiving your commands of the 11th ultimo, accompanied by two Acts of Congress, one of the 23d of November, 1779, for drawing bills of exchange “on Mr John Jay for one hundred thousand pounds sterling, and on Mr Henry Laurens for a like sum,” and for appointing a Committee to report, &c. the other of the 29th of November, for carrying the first Act into effect by modes therein specified. Neither of these Acts intimates where the intended drafts are to be paid, nor where Congress expects me to be at the presentation of the bills, which are to be assigned for my acceptance, nor directs me to funds for discharging them; nor do the contents of your said favor of the 11th of December elucidate these ambiguities.
Probably, however, it might have been expected, that although I am to cross the Atlantic single, and the bills in quadruplicate, and although I am not yet honored with the Act of Congress appointing me to negotiate a loan in Europe, which should have been lodged in my hands as the corner stone for my proceeding, nor with means for procuring or paying for a passage thither, nor with other necessary and promised acts and letters from Congress, I am to meet one bill of each set in some part of the United Netherlands.
Taking for granted, therefore, that the bills are not to be presented to me in any part of America, I shall embark for Europe by the first opportunity, and, if it please God, that I arrive in safety, I shall proceed to Paris and Amsterdam with all possible despatch, when I shall expect to receive further and more explicit commands from Congress for enabling me to make those vigorous exertions, on which you are pleased to say the credit of our paper currency, or which is the same thing, the credit of these United States depends. Had I been apprized in proper time, that this quick step in accommodation bills had been in embryo, I should not have had resolution to face them. Should there now be any failure, it will not be the result of delinquency in any respect on my part.
I entreat you, Gentlemen, to inform Congress that I have engaged for a passage to France on board the French frigate Chimere, commanded by the Chevalier Durumain, who, at the special request of this State, is gone on a short cruise on the coast, in company with three of the Continental frigates, with a prospect of intercepting some of the enemy’s transport ships and troops from New York, intended for Georgia. Immediately after the Chimere arrives at the bar of Charleston, whither she is to return for necessary stores for her voyage, I shall embark. If any accident shall prevent her return, I will embrace the very next earliest opportunity of proceeding, either direct for Europe, or by way of the West Indies, without regard to my own private interest or indulgence. No vessel has sailed from this port for Europe, since my arrival here.
I have the honor to be, &c.
HENRY LAURENS.
TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Charleston, February 14th, 1780.
Gentlemen,