F. D.

FOOTNOTES:

[16] _In Congress, December 20th, 1780._ "Resolved, That the President
furnish the Minister appointed to the Court of Petersburg with letters
of credit on the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at the
Court of Versailles, for fifteen hundred pounds sterling, as his
salary for one year; provided the said Minister shall proceed to the
Court of Petersburg."

[17] See resolutions of Congress, on the subject of Mr Dana's salary
and expenses, in the Secret Journal. Vol. II. p. 457.

* * * * *

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Paris, March 28th, 1781.

Sir,

I did myself the honor to write to your Excellency, on the 24th
instant, and to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches by Colonel
Laurens, and by the Duke of Leinster, both for Mr Adams and myself. I
also acquainted your Excellency, that I had communicated my
instructions, my commissions, and everything respecting it, to Dr
Franklin. I mentioned also the question I proposed to him, and his
advice upon it, that I differed from him in the latter part of his
advice, and assigned my reasons for doing so. I added I would the
first opportunity lay before him my objections, for his further
consideration of that part of his advice. I have done so this day, and
have the satisfaction to find that he now perfectly concurs in opinion
with me, so that a simple communication of the general object only
will be made here.

I have left the papers with him to consider whether he or I should
make it. I think the last paragraph of the first article of my
instructions, seems to point it out to be the sense of Congress, that
he should do it. Through whatever channel it should be made, it seems
to be agreed between us, that the voyage is already settled, and not
now a question for consideration, I hope none will be made about it.
If there should not arise any obstructions out of this communication,
I shall leave Paris on Sunday next, and proceed for Holland, where I
shall consult with Mr Adams upon the whole business of my mission, and
it shall be my constant endeavor, to give Congress the earliest
information of every material circumstance respecting it. My situation
may however render my communications less frequent than I could wish,
or they expect, especially when it is considered, that t