The undersigned received the papers, of which a copy is annexed, nearly four months ago. He had received orders, at the same time, to inform his Court of the measures, which the United States might have taken, for the accomplishment of the different articles of the contract of the 16th of July, of last year. The undersigned has deferred till this time, the communications in question, in the hope that circumstances might become more favorable. As the peace has made these stipulations, which were only eventual, executory, he can refrain no longer from requesting Congress to acquaint him with the arrangements which may have been made by the United States, or those which they propose to make, for the execution of the contract of the 16th of July, of last year, as well as with those to be made for the execution of the contract, of which a copy is annexed.
(Annexed to the note, sent on the 17th of September, 1783.)
Dr Franklin, in the month of February last, communicated to me different decrees of the Congress of the United States of North America, passed on the 14th and 23d of September, and several letters from Messrs Morris and Livingston, which not only authorised that Minister, but even expressly ordered him to negotiate in Europe a loan of four millions of dollars, amounting to about twenty millions of livres tournois, for the service of the United States during the present year, and under their warranty. It was at the same time enjoined on Dr Franklin, earnestly to solicit the continuance of the favors of the King, in the crisis in which Congress was then placed.
In the enumeration of the motives, which the Superintendent of the finances alleged, in order to obtain a new loan of money from his Majesty, he did not deny, that the Minister of France might assign good reasons for declining to comply with this request, but he added, that, as it was the last of this kind, which Congress would have occasion to make, he hoped that it would not be rejected.
Dr Franklin, on his part, in obedience to the orders of Congress, implored, in favor of the United States, the assistance of the King, and added to the reasons previously given, that, without this assistance the continental army could no longer be kept together, nor disbanded without danger.