15th of October, of the same year. This
explanation will, Sir, resolve your doubt touching the advance of the
3rd of June, 1777. I farther recommend to you, Sir, to confer on this
subject with Mr. Gojard, who ought to be better informed than us, who
have no knowledge of any advances but those made by the Royal Treasury.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, Sir, your most obedient and
most humble servant,

DU RIVAL.

_Postscript from Mr. Grand_.

Paris, September 12, 1786.

I hazard a letter in hopes it may be able to join that of the 9th,
at L'Orient, in order to forward to you, Sir, the answer I have
just received from Mr. Durival. You will therefore see, Sir, that
notwithstanding my entreaty, the Minister himself refuses to give me the
copy of the receipts which I asked for. I cannot conceive the reason for
this reserve, more especially, since if there has been a million paid,
he who received it has kept the account, and must in time be known.
I shall hear with pleasure that you have been more fortunate in this
respect in America than I have been in France, and repeat to you the
assurances of the sentiments of regard, with which I have the honor to
be, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Grand.

_Letter from Mr. Durival to Mr. Grand_.

Versailles, September 5, 1786.

I laid before the Count de Vergennes the two letters which you did me
the honor, to write, touching the three millions, the free gift of which
the King has confirmed in favor of the United States of America.

The Minister, Sir, observed, that this gift has nothing to do with the
million which Congress may have received from the General Farm,
1777. Consequently he thinks that the receipt which you desire may be
communicated to you, cannot satisfy the object of your view, and that it
would be useless to give you the copy which you desire.

I have the honor to be, with perfect attachment, Sir, your most
obedient, humble servant,

Durival.

_Letter from Mr. Durival to Mr. Grand_.

Versailles, September 10, 1786.

I have laid before the Count de Vergennes, as you, Sir, seem to desire,
the letter which you did me the honor to write yesterday. The Minister
persists in the opinion that the receipt, the copy of which you request,
has no relation to the business with which you are entrusted on behalf
of Congress, and that this price would be useless in the new point of
view in which you have placed it. Indeed, Sir, i