TO THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
London, August 9th, 1783.
Sir,
The annexed is a duplicate of a few lines, which I had the honor of addressing you, on the 2d instant, by Captain Barney, in the ship Washington, and enclosed with this you will find an exact copy of my letter of the present date, written to the Ministers of the United States at Paris, which will show in brief, what I have been doing since my return to London, and afford some information to Congress for their government in the appointment of a Minister at this Court. To both which I beg leave to refer.
I have received a letter of the 18th of April from Mr L. R. Morris, enclosing what is called a state of my account with the United States, and a bill on Mr Grand for its balance, 7083 livres, 7s. which, as far as it goes, appears to be right, though I have not yet had time for minute examination. I am much obliged for the remittance, but the account must rest to a future day for final settlement. I had formerly intimated my ignorance of the stipend Congress had determined to allow me, and having no information on that head it is not in my power to correct or confirm this, or to frame a new account. It may appear that my services were as valuable in the Tower of London, and after my release, antecedently to an appointment in the commission for peace, as they could possibly have been in any other station, notwithstanding the former might not have been quite so pleasant a sphere to myself; but I am in the judgment of Congress, and shall perfectly acquiesce in their will.
I shall go tomorrow to Bath, in hopes of confirming my lately recovered health, and shall be preparing for embarkation in October. I am in treaty for one of the cabins of the packets at Falmouth, and know but one circumstance that can detain me. My brother, who has resided upwards of six years in the south of France, had been many months past in a most deplorable state, every day expected to be his last, yet he lives. The prospect of leaving a widowed sister and my youngest daughter, who is with them, at such a distance without a protector is exceedingly distressing to me. Should my brother’s unhappy condition be extended a month or two, I may be compelled to defer my voyage to the next spring; in such case, I shall hold myself discharged from the service of Congress, I mean so far only as respects salary. I shall miss no opportunity of serving my country while I am in Europe. No doubt Congress will admit a reasonable time for my return, and provide for the expense of my passage. Letters under cover to Richard Oswald will find me here, or overtake me.
I am, with the highest esteem, &c.
HENRY LAURENS.
P. S. Reviewing the above mentioned “state of account,” I perceive only 7083 livres, 7s. have been carried to my credit, for three months from the 1st of January to the 30th of March, 1783, and only that sum remitted, which I presume is an error.