The moneys received from France before the year 1780, cannot be very accurately stated, for the want of order in the books kept by the Committee of Foreign Affairs. By the best estimate I have been able to make, the amount of such moneys appears to be about nine millions of livres, exclusive of one million received from the Farmers-General on a particular contract. To this, must be added the grants obtained by Colonel Laurens, which, _including_ military stores, amount to fourteen millions of livres. So that the whole of the money received from France, amounts to about four and twenty millions tournois. I should observe, that I have not here made any distinction between loans and gifts, though about eight millions of the above sum have been granted by France without any expectation of being repaid.
From Spain we have only received one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, which were granted to Mr Jay in the beginning of the year 1780.
I have not mentioned the engagement, which France has lately entered into to supply the United States with six millions of livres, as you may find everything that relates to it in the appendix to the address of Congress to the States.
I have the honor to submit to Congress a letter from M. Dumas, with several papers relative to a negotiation, which appears to have been commenced by the States of Holland with our Ministers. As this subject may be very important in its consequences, it is to be presumed, that they would wish to have the direction of Congress. I would therefore take the liberty to suggest, that these papers be committed to a special committee.
As my stay in town will not admit of my executing the commission, which M. Van Berckel requires, I must pray Congress also to give some direction therein.
During the first years of the Revolution the financial concerns of Congress were managed by a Committee, under the general supervision of that body. Disorder and confusion were the gradual results of such a system. It was at length resolved to put this Department into the hands of a responsible individual, and ROBERT MORRIS was unanimously chosen _Superintendent of Finance_, on the 20th of February, 1781. Various reasons prevented his engaging in the duties of the office till the May following.