call at London for the signature of Mr. Adams, who, I learnt when at Southampton, was well received at the British Court.

The Captain Lamb who, in a letter of yours to Mr. Adams, was said to be coming to us with instructions respecting Morocco, had not appeared, nor had we heard anything of him; so nothing had been done by us in that treaty.

I left the Court of France in the same friendly disposition towards the United States that we have all along experienced, though concerned to find that our credit is not better supported in the payment of the interest money due on our loans, which, in case of another war, must be, they think, extremely prejudicial to us, and, indeed, may contribute to draw on a war the sooner, by affording our enemies the encouraging confidence that those who take so little care to pay will not again find it easy to borrow. I received from the King at my departure the present of his picture set round with diamonds, usually given to Ministers Plenipotentiary who have signed any treaties with that Court, and it is at the disposition of Congress, to whom be pleased to present my dutiful respects.

I am, &c.,

B. FRANKLIN.

P. S. Not caring to trust them to a common conveyance, I send by my late Secretary, who will have the honor of delivering them to you, all the original treaties I have been concerned in negotiating that were completed. Those with Portugal and Denmark continue in

suspense.

B. F.

Sir,

FROM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TO JOHN JAY.

Philadelphia, July 6, 1786.

The enclosed paper will inform you of what has passed here, between Scotosh, a Chief of the Wyandot nation, and this Government, on his way to Congress. He is recommended as having been always very friendly to our people; and the Council have defrayed the expense of him and his company here, and to New York, where, as Colonel Harmar informs, he is to visit Congress. He expresses a strong desire of going to France, but, as it must cost something considerable to support him thither, there and back again, we have given him no expectation that the Congress will approve of it. But

if it could be well afforded, I should conceive it might be of use to our affairs in that part of the country, if, after viewing the Court, and troops, and population of France, he should return impressed with a high idea of the greatness and power of our ally, and thence be able to influence the western Indians with opinions proper to defeat the insinuations of the English who are posted on those frontiers.

With great regard, &c.,

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

Philadelphia, July 3, 1786.

Scotosh, an Indian Chief of the Wyandots, and son to the half King of that nation, visited the President, accompanied by Monsieur Pierre Drouillier, a French trader, of Detroit, as interpreter, who acquainted the President that the Chief had a few words to deliver from his father.

The Chief then, taking in his hands three strings of white Wampum, said:

Brother, I come from my father to speak to you of good and bad 'affairs, good and bad news; my father now speaks:

"My Brothers, I inform you that among my people all is good; 'we have no bad affairs, no bad news to relate to you; nor have I 'heard of any bad news from Detroit. A string.

"Near the falls I have heard there are bad affairs; but that 'country is far from mine. There are some bad people thereabouts, vagabonds from different nations, but none of my people are among 'them." A String.

"My Brothers, I shall be very glad to hear that the measuring 'the Indian country may be delayed. For the bad people will, I 'fear, take occasion from the measuring to do more mischief. Perhaps the measurers will be killed, and it would give pain to me and 'my nation to hear such bad news."

The Chief then spoke as from himself.

Brothers, you have made a good, clear road for us to come to 'you without danger or inconvenience. I have found it good and 'safe, having been kindly treated every where by your people. We 'will do the same for them, when they have occasion to pass through ' our country.

"Brothers, I request you would, as soon as possible, let me know 'what you think of the words I brought from my father, that I may 'acquaint him therewith, and that mischief to the measurers may be 'prevented."

He added, that he was going to New York to visit the Congress, and that he had a curiosity to cross the seas and see France.

The President replied, that he would communicate the words to the Council, and on Wednesday give an answer. He had no expectations of so much formality in this visit, or he should have requested a meeting of Council to receive it.

July 5, 1786.

Scotosh, son to the half King of the Wyandots, with Monsieur Drouillier, his interpreter, coming again to the President's House, the President spoke to him as follows:

"Brother, I have communicated to the Council the words you 'delivered to me from your father, and we now return the answer I 'am about to give you, to be sent him.

"Our Brother, we are glad to learn from you that there are no 'bad affairs in your country, and that all is well with you; we hope 'it may long continue." A String.

"We know there are some bad people about the falls, from 'whence we sometimes hear of mischief done by them; we are glad 'that none of our friends, the Wyandots, are among them; for they 'will probably soon suffer for their evil actions." A String.

"Our Brother, this State of Pennsylvania measures no lands but 'what has been fairly purchased of the Six Nations. The country 'you speak of is far beyond our limits, and the measuring of it under 'the direction of the Congress. It is therefore with that great Council to consider your friendly advice on that subject." A String.

The President then acquainted Scotosh, that as he was going to New York, the Council had ordered some money to be given to him for his travelling expenses, (which was accordingly done,) and that the charge of their entertainment while here would also be defrayed; for which he returned hearty thanks. He was, at the same time, assured that we should endeavor always to keep the road between us as open, clear, and safe as he had found it.

VOL. I.-26

Sir,

FROM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TO M. GRAND.

Philadelphia, July 11, 1786.

I send you enclosed some letters that have passed between the Secretary of Congress and me, respecting three millions of livres, acknowledged to have been received before the treaty of February, 1778, as don gratuit from the King, of which only two millions are found in your accounts, unless the million from the Farmers General be one of the three. I have been assured that all the money received from the King, whether as loan or gift, went through your hands; and as I always looked on the million we had of the Farmers General to be distinct from what we had of the Crown, I wonder how I came to sign the contract acknowledging three millions of gift, when, in reality, there was only two, exclusive of that from the Farmers; and, as both you and I examined the project of the contract before I signed it, I am surprised that neither of us took notice of the error.

It is possible that the million furnished ostensibly by the Farmers, was in fact a gift of the Crown, in which case, as Mr. Thomson observes, they owe us for the two ship loads of tobacco which they received on account of it. I must earnestly request of you to get this matter explained, that it may stand clear before I die, lest some enemy should afterwards accuse me of having received a million not accounted for.

I have received the letter which you did me the honor to write on the 28th of this month, touching the advance of a million, which you say was made by the Farmers General to the United States of America the 3d 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, 3d of April, 10th of June, and 15th of October, of the same year. This explanation will, sir, I hope, resolve your doubt touching the advance of the 3d of June, 1777. I further recommend to you, sir, to confer on this subject with M. Gojard, who ought to be better informed than we, who had no knowledge of any advances but those made by the Royal Treasury.

I laid before the Count de Vergennes the two letters 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 the Congress may have received from the Farmers General in 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, &c.,

DURIVAL.

FROM M. GRAND TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

My dear Sir,

Paris, September 9, 1786.

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 and proving to him that I had not