late officers of the Treasury, that
the sum claimed by the Farmers General composed a part of the sum
supplied as gratuitous aid by the government. Subsequent explanations
have however rendered it probable, that, including the claim of the
Farmers General, the sum of four millions of livres were in fact
received; it is, however, indispensable that it should be known to whom
the money was paid.

The most direct mode of obtaining this information will be, to call for
copies of the receipts mentioned in Mr. Durival's letter of 1786, and
more particularly, a copy of that said to have been given on the 10th of
June, 1776.'

And as explanatory of the transaction, he has sent me the documents
herewith transmitted.

The most likely conjecture, in my mind, considering the period of
the advance and the circumstances of that period, is, that the
unaccounted-for million went into the hands of M. de Beaumarchais.
The supplies which he furnished to the United States exceeded his own
probable resources, besides the imprudence of having hazarded so much at
that stage of our affairs upon our ability to pay. And there were many
symptoms, at the time, of his having been secretly put in motion by the
government.

It is now become urgent, that the truth of the case should be known. An
account has recently passed the auditor's office, admitting in favor of
M. de Beaumarchais a balance of four hundred and twenty-two thousand two
hundred and sixty-five dollars and thirteen cents, with a reservation
only of the question of the million. If he has received that million,
which has been acknowledged as a free gift from the French government,
it is unjust that he should be able to establish a claim against the
United States for supplies which must have been the proceeds of that
sum. If he has never received the million, every, day's suspension of
his claim, after the immense delays heretofore incurred, is a grievous
hardship upon him. It concerns materially the interests, and more the
justice, the credit, and the character of the United States, that as
speedy a solution as possible of the enigma may be obtained.

With a view to this, I have the honor to make you the present
communication, that you may be pleased to take such steps as shall
appear to you the most proper and efficacious to procure, as speedily
as the nature of the case will admit, the requisite explanations. With
respect, I have the honor to be, &c.

Alexander Hamilton.

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