THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO C. W. F. DUMAS.
Philadelphia, May 8th, 1777.
Sir,
We have received your several favors to the first of May,[27] and shall always have a grateful memory of your sentiments and exertions in our cause. But as we have new Commissioners settled in France, we think it needless that you should be at the trouble of forwarding to us from time to time, that collection of papers, which we formerly mentioned to you. We shall inform our friends at Paris of our opinion on this head, and leave it to them to point out the way in which your zeal may be most useful to them and us, with the least degree of trouble to yourself and injury to your domestic interests.
The humility of the Count de Welderen's Memorial seems to have been followed by some positive orders to our disadvantage in the West Indies. We doubt not you will continue to give our Commissioners at Paris the fullest information on all such points, from whom we shall consequently obtain it.
We have the honor to be, &c.
BENJ. HARRISON,
ROBERT MORRIS,
JAMES LOVELL.
FOOTNOTES:
[27] Thus in the original, but probably an error in the month, as this letter is dated on the eight of May.