Letter from Mr. Grand to ------ ------_

Paris, September 9, 1786.

Dear Sir,

The letter you honored me with, covered the copies of three letters
which Mr. Thomson wrote you to obtain an explanation of a million
which is not to be found in my accounts. I should have been very much
embarrassed in satisfying him and proving that I had not put that
million in my pocket, had I not applied to M. Durival, who, as you will
see by the answer enclosed, informs me that there was a million paid by
the Royal Treasury on the 10th of June, 1776. This is the very million
about which Mr. Thomson inquires, as I have kept an account of the other
two millions, which were also furnished by the Royal Treasury, viz.:

The million in January and April, 1777; the other in July and October of
the same year; as well as that furnished by the Farmers General in June,
1777.

Here then are the three millions, exactly, which were given by the King
before the treaty of 1778, and that furnished by the Farmers General.
Nothing then remains to be known but who received the first million in
June, 1776. It could not be by me, who was not charged with the business
of Congress until January, 1777. I therefore requested of M. Durival the
copy of the receipt for the one million. You have the answer which he
returned to me. I wrote to him again, renewing my request, but as the
carrier is just setting off, I cannot wait to give you his answer, but
you will receive it in my next, if I receive one. In the mean while, I
beg you will receive the assurances of the sentiments of respect, with
which I have the honor to be, my Dear Sir, your most obedient and most
humble servant,

Grand.

_Letter from Mr. Durival to Mr. Grand_.

Versailles, August 30, 1786.

Sir,

I have received the letter which you did me the honor to write the 28th
of this month, touching the advance of a million, which you say was made
by the General Farm to the United States of America, the 3rd of June,
1777. I have no knowledge of that advance. What I have verified is, that
the King by the contract of the 25th of February, 1783, has confirmed
the gratuitous gift which his Majesty had previously made of the three
millions hereafter mentioned, viz:

One million delivered by the Royal Treasury the 10th of June, 1776, and
two other millions advanced also by the Royal Treasury in 1777, on four
receipts of the Deputies of Congress of the 17th of January, 3rd
of April, 10th of June, and