f livres
which had been destined by the last constituted authorities to
the relief of St. Domingo. Before this was completed, we received
information that a National Assembly had met, with full powers to
transact the affairs of the nation, and soon afterwards, the minister of
France here presented an application for three millions of livres, to
be laid out in provisions to be sent to France. Urged by the strongest
attachment to that country, and thinking it even providential, that
monies lent to us in distress, could be repaid under like circumstances,
we had no hesitation to comply with the application, and arrangements
are accordingly taken, for furnishing this sum at epochs accommodated
to the demand and our means of paying it. We suppose this will rather
overpay the instalments and interest due on the loans of eighteen, six,
and ten millions, to the end of 1792; and we shall certainly use our
utmost endeavors to make punctual payments of the instalments and
interest hereafter becoming exigible, and to omit no opportunity of
convincing that nation how cordially we wish to serve them. Mutual good
offices, mutual affection, and similar principles of government, seem
to destine the two nations for the most intimate communion: and I cannot
too much press it on you, to improve every opportunity which may occur
in the changeable scenes which are passing, and to seize them as they
occur, for placing our commerce with that nation and its dependencies,
on the freest and most encouraging footing possible. Besides what
we have furnished publicly for the relief of St. Domingo, individual
merchants of the United States have carried considerable supplies
thither, which have been sometimes purchased, sometimes taken by force,
and bills given by the administration of the colony on the Minister
here, which have been protested for want of funds. We have no doubt that
justice will be done to these our citizens, and that without a delay
which would be ruinous to them. We wish authority to be given to the
Minister of France here to pay the just demands of our citizens, out of
the monies he may receive from us.

During the fluctuating state of the assignats of France, I must ask
the favor of you to inform me, in every letter, of the rate of exchange
between them and coin, this being necessary for the regulation of our
Custom-Houses.

Congress closed its session on the 2nd instant. You will see their acts
in the newspapers forwarded to y