Otaheite, and proceed to
California, and still further northwardly. This paper, as you well
know, gives out such facts as the court are willing the world should
be possessed of. The presumption is, therefore, that they will make an
establishment of some sort on the northwest coast of America.

I trouble you with the copy of a letter from Schweighauser and Dobree,
on a subject with which I am quite unacquainted. Their letter to
Congress of November the 30th, 1780, gives their state of the matter.
How far it be true and just, can probably be ascertained from Dr.
Franklin, Dr. Lee, and other gentlemen now in America. I shall be glad
to be honored with the commands of Congress on this subject. I have
inquired into the state of the arms, mentioned in their letter to
me. The principal articles were about thirty thousand bayonets, fifty
thousand gunlocks, thirty cases of arms, twenty-two cases of sabres, and
some other things of little consequence. The quay at Nantes having been
overflowed by the river Loire, the greatest part of these arms was under
water, and they are now, as I am informed, a solid mass of rust, not
worth the expense of throwing them out of the warehouse, much less that
of storage. Were not their want of value a sufficient reason against
reclaiming the property of these arms, it rests with Congress to decide,
whether other reasons are not opposed to this reclamation. They were the
property of a sovereign body, they were seized by an individual, taken
cognizance of by a court of justice, and refused, or at least not
restored by the sovereign, within whose State they had been arrested.
These are circumstances which have been mentioned to me. Doctor
Franklin, however, will be able to inform Congress, with precision, as
to what passed on this subject. If the information I have received be
any thing like the truth, the discussion of this matter can only be with
the court of Versailles. It would be very delicate, and could have but
one of two objects; either to recover the arms, which are not worth
receiving, or to satisfy us on the point of honor. Congress will judge
how far the latter may be worth pursuing against a particular ally, and
under actual circumstances. An instance, too, of acquiescence on our
part under a wrong, rather than disturb our friendship by altercations,
may have its value in some future case. However, I shall be ready to do
in this what Congress shall be pleased to direct.

I enclose the