Sir,
The Minister Plenipotentiary of France has the honor to remind Congress, that they were pleased to order in Virginia the purchase of eighteen thousand barrels of flour to complete the quantity of provisions destined for the fleet of his Most Christian Majesty, but the undersigned being informed of the scarcity of this article has confined himself to ten or twelve thousand. Information since received from Virginia causing him to fear that the flour of the current year has a disagreeable taste, and that, consequently, the aforesaid quantity cannot be furnished of a quality suitable for bearing the climate of the islands, the undersigned presumes that a part of it may be replaced by rice taken from South Carolina, where he is informed this article abounds.
It is from these considerations that the undersigned Minister takes the liberty to request Congress to take the measures necessary in order that six thousand barrels of rice may be bought and exported from South Carolina, the said Minister being resolved to employ American citizens in these kinds of purchases, as he has promised, proposes to intrust this commission to Mr Gervais.
GERARD.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Translation.
Philadelphia, January 4th, 1779.
Sir,
The Minister Plenipotentiary of France learns by M. Francy, that, from the offer which he made in relation to the payment by compensation of a part of the sums due from the United States to M. de Beaumarchais, consequences have been drawn, which are contrary to the intentions of the undersigned.
He finds himself obliged to prevent all mistakes by declaring in writing, as he always has done verbally, that all the supplies furnished by M. de Beaumarchais to the States, whether merchandise or cannons and military goods, were furnished in the way of commerce, and that the articles which came from the King's magazines and arsenals were sold to M. de Beaumarchais by the department of artillery, and that he has furnished his obligations for the price of these articles. He is, consequently, a debtor to the war department, whilst he is a creditor of the United States by the sale of these same articles, which had become his property. On the other side the King is a debtor to the United States.