e alike
blind to their interests, good bills must sell at a very considerable
advance. Should the Governor decline taking the bill on Paris, as it
is not probable that any one private person would purchase it, you may
either remit it to the House of Le Couteulx & Co. in Paris, or to the
House of Messrs. J. L. & L. Le Couteulx & Co. at Cadiz, as may be most
convenient for your operations. You will then draw on the House to
whom you remit the bill, and sell your bills to the same amount.
Should you remit to the House in Cadiz, let me know it, that I may
write and apprize them of it; but this I shall do provisionally,
beforehand, so that they may be prepared for you.

I have also, as you will perceive, written to his Excellency on the
subject of certain other bills of exchange, drawn on Mr Jay. You will
endeavor to get the money for these, if possible; and in case it is
required, you will enter the stipulations there mentioned, as to the
shipment of flour. In this last case, get the flour fixed at as high a
rate as possible, and let me have due notice, so that I may punctually
cause to be fulfilled, whatever contracts you shall, on the part of
the public, have entered into.

Should his Excellency be inclined to make those advances of money,
which I have so earnestly pressed upon him, you will be able the
sooner to despatch the frigate, which I hope will be done without
delay. But as there is a risk in placing large sums on board of any
one vessel, I am to observe, that if there should be any fast sailing
vessels about to leave the Havana at the same time, and if in
consideration of convoy, they will take the public money freight free,
you will then prudently distribute it among them, and direct Captain
Nicholson to give them signals, and to take them under his convoy. But
I must caution you, that on no consideration is any private property
to be covered as belonging to the public, either to save the duties or
for any other purpose. You will, therefore, use all proper vigilance
to prevent everything of this sort, should it be attempted. If there
are not such vessels as Captain Nicholson and you shall approve of
ready to sail, then ship the whole money in the frigate; for the risk
of being waylaid by the enemy in consequence of any unnecessary delay,
is greater than that of being otherwise intercepted.

It is unnecessary for me to mention to you, that we want money
exceedingly. This very measure must convince you of it. E