Extract from the Secret Journal of Foreign Affairs, December 16th, 1784. "On the report of a Committee, consisting of Mr. Jay, Mr. Gardner, and Mr. Ellery, to whom was referred a note from the Chargé d'Affaires of his most Christian Majesty, dated 7th December, 1784, respecting the demands of the heirs of three French officers who died in the American service, Resolved, That the various and important objects of national concern which at present engage the attention of Congress will not permit them to examine and ascertain the facts on which the propriety of the demand in question must be decided; and, therefore, that the same be referred to the Paymaster General, with orders to examine and ascertain the justice of the said demands with all possible expedition, and report thereon to Congress." FROM MONSIEUR DE MARBOIS. Translation. Trenton, December 7, 1784. The underwritten, Chargé d'Affaires of France, has the honor to inform Congress that he has received some communications relative to a debt contracted on account of the Continental frigate, the Confederacy, with the Treasurer-General of the navy of the King. This frigate being at Martinique in 1779, Sieur Borde, the correspondent of the Commissary General, made advances amounting to 64,067 livres, 12 sous, 2d'rs., for provisions and refreshments necessary to the crew; he was reimbursed by drafts upon the Commissary, who, considering the transaction as foreign to the service, refused to accept them, and sent the bearer to Mr. Franklin, who did not pay them. These bills were about to be protested, and to prevent the inconveniences which would have resulted from the protest to the Navy of the United States in similar cases, the Treasurer-General of the marine paid them when they became due. He now requests that. the expenditure may be accounted for, and the undersigned prays Congress to inform him in what manner the advances made for the United States will be refunded. The person responsible being under the necessity of rendering his accounts regularly, the undersigned entreats of Congress that they will be pleased, as soon as possible, to act upon the reclamation which he has submitted. DE MARBOIS. Extract from the Secret Journal of Foreign Affairs, December 16th, 1784. "On the report of a Committee, consisting of Mr. Jay, Mr. Gardner, and Mr. Ellery, to whom was referred a note from the Chargé d'Affaires of his inost Christian Majesty, respecting moneys advanced for refitting the American frigate Confederacy, Resolved, That the said note be referred to the Commissioner for settling accounts in the Marine department, and that he be ordered to report thereon to Congress without delay." FROM JOHN JAY TO MONSIEUR DE MARBOIS. Office of Foreign Affairs, } Sir, Having accepted the place of Secretary for Foreign Affairs, it becomes my duty to inform you that Congress will adjourn to-morrow to meet at the City of New York on Tuesday, the 11th day of January next. On my arrival in this city, I was informed by his Excellency the President of Congress, that you had accepted the office of Secretary for Foreign Affairs. This news has caused me great pleasure, from the satisfaction which it will give to my Court, as well as on account of the advantages which the United States will derive from your ministry. I hope to have the honor of complimenting you personally at New York in the course of the month of February next ensuing. As I shall quit Philadelphia about that time, I ought to inform you that, agreeably to the intentions of Congress, the portraits of the King and Queen, presented by his Majesty to that assembly, have been deposited in my house, to remain there until they can be placed in the situation which Congress shall make its residence. I beg you to be pleased to inform me what may be the intentions of Congress with respect to the destination of these pictures after the month of March next. I am, with respect, &c., DE MARBOIS. FROM JOHN JAY TO MONSIEUR DE MARBOIS. Sir, Office of Foreign Affairs, New York, December 28, 1784.} I received yesterday the letter which you did me the honor to write on the 24th inst., two days before which I wrote to you by the post, that I had accepted the place of Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and that Congress would the next day adjourn to meet at this place on the 11th day of next month. Accept my thanks for the obliging terms in which you mention this appointment, and be assured that every occasion of promoting and confirming mutual confidence and friendship between our countries will give me pleasure. I shall take the earliest opportunity of communicating to Congress the arrival of their most Christian Majesties' portraits, with which the King has been pleased to present them, and I flatter myself with being soon enabled to convey to you the pleasing sense with which that obliging mark of his royal attention will have impressed them. I have the honor to be, &c., JOHN JAY. FROM MONSIEUR DE MARBOIS TO JOHN JAY. Translation. New York, January 27, 1785. It is much to be desired that Congress would direct to be communicated to the Chargé d'Affaires of France, those measures which have been, or are about to be taken, in consequence of the note which he had the honor to transmit in the beginning of the month of December last, upon the affairs of Spain. Mr. Rendon entertains the opinion that his Court will be disposed to cede that portion of the Floridas which, by the treaty between Great Britain and the United States, has been assigned to the United States. But he does not believe that his Court will make this cession in consideration of that treaty. He thinks it should be regarded only as a continuance of the desire with which his master is animated, to give to the United States a proof of his good will and friendship. He farther believes that the port of New Orleans may be opened to the American commerce and navigation by the Mississippi. Mr. Rendon, however, gives these conjectures only as his private opinion, declaring he has no instructions upon the subject. Whether Mr. Bingham has been reimbursed the advances made by the correspondent of the Commissary General for the frigate Confederacy? If he has been, in what manner ought the payment of the correspondent to operate in the absence of Mr. Bingham? The commerce between France and her colonies on the one part, and the United States on the other, having been regulated by a treaty, it can only be modified after a full examination of the changes which will be proposed; and the Chargé d'Affaires of France will receive with much pleasure any communications which Mr. Jay may make him upon the subject. He can assure him in advance, that the United States will experience, on the part of the Government of France, every facility in accordance with the advantage of the subjects of the kingdom and the established system. The American Plenipotentiaries have probably already informed Congress of the new proof which his Majesty gives of his affection and friendship to the United States, in opening to them the ports of the Isles of France and Bourbon, heretofore closed. The American merchants and navigators can now proceed there from the ports of this continent, where they will be received; they can there obtain refreshments, dispose of a part, or the whole, of their cargoes, or continue their voyage to the Indies or China. They can, on their return, again touch at those islands, and sell the whole or a part of their cargoes. They will be privileged, also, to provide themselves with the merchandize and productions of these two colonies. It is hoped that the reciprocal advantages which will result from these arrangements, may operate with the Court of Versailles to render them permanent. Without repeating here what the Chargé d'Affaires of France had the honor to mention to Mr. Jay, he restricts himself to engage him to make his report of it, in order that Congress may judge of the necessity of fulfilling their engagements, and to entreat him to communicate such measures as may be enacted on this subject. Different notes on this subject have been presented to the Congress. Mr. Jay is entreated to bring them again to notice. He will there see the situation to which many French merchants are reduced by reposing confidence in the faith of the United States. By referring to the Journals of Congress, he will find that that body has recommended to the different States to enact laws in order to raise the necessary sums for the payment of the interest of the loan office certificates, held by foreigners. In effect some laws have been passed for that purpose, particularly in Pennsylvania; but in this very State they have excluded foreigners from a dividend, notwithstanding the pressing remonstrances of the Minister, and subsequently of the Chargé d'Affaires of the King. It appears that Congress is at present occupied with this business, in consequence of the last note transmitted. As the Assembly of Pennsylvania is about to meet, and as they appear disposed to pay the holders of certificates, who are inhabitants of that State, he is desirous that Congress may address new recommendations, or rather that they would assign a fund for the payment, as it appears the State is not disposed to conform to the recommendations which have been made. The Charg' d'Affaires of the King has had the honor to transmit to Congress a note bearing date the 7th of last December, relating to the claims of the heirs of different French officers. Congress resolved, on the 16th of the same month, to refer the subject to the Paymaster General, with instructions to report thereupon as promptly |