agreement of the month of May, 1783, and justify a prosecution for the surrender of accounts concerning this transaction? Several lawyers whom I have consulted in this country are for the affirmative.

I have also another account to settle with Mr. Dohrman. In January, 1780, I sent him seven cases, containing one thousand five hundred and eighty-four hats, amounting to fifteen thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven livres; they were shipped in his name, on board the ship Juffrouw Catharine, as you may see by the copy of bill of lading, which is annexed to this memorial, but his declaration of 3d January, 1780, of which I likewise send a copy, proves my property incontestably.

When Mr. Dohrman went out for North America last year, he would neither pay me for this article, nor take any steps to secure me payment, on pretence of not knowing what had become of the hats; but I am informed by the aforementioned person, that the said hats have been sold, and that Mr. Dohrman has received the amount of them, and I know also that they yielded a profit. I ask, therefore, what steps I have to pursue in these two cases.

I have a copy of the bill of lading, of Mr. Dohrman's declaration of 3d January, 1780, and all his other acknowledgments.

Sir,

FROM JOHN JAY TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

New York, September 3, 1788.

During my late absence from the city, the letter you did me the honor to write on the 27th June, arrived. You mentioned to have enclosed in it a letter from Mr. Blunt, enclosing a copy of a certificate from Commodore Jones in favor of John Jackson. But by some mistake neither of those letters were enclosed. The two other papers respecting services done the United States by Mr. Limozin and Milliet, were enclosed; and I expect soon to be enabled to write to you particularly on the subject of them. Mr. Dohrman is still in this city, and the letter enclosed in yours for him has been sent to him. I cannot learn that any thing has been done for Jackson in consequence of the Commodore's promise. JOHN JAY.

I am, &c.,

FROM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Philadelphia, November 29, 1788.

Sir,

When I had the honor of being the Minister of the United States at the Court of France, Mr. Barclay arriving there, brought me the following resolution of Congress :

"Resolved, That a Commissioner be appointed by Congress, with 'full power and authority to liquidate, and finally to settle, the 'accounts of all the servants of the United States, who have been 'entrusted with the expenditure of public money in Europe, and to 'commence and prosecute such suits, causes and actions, as may be 'necessary for that purpose, or for the recovery of any property of the said United States in the hands of any person or persons what

'soever.

"That the said Commissioner be authorized to appoint one or 'more clerks, with such allowance as he may think reasonable.

"That the said Commissioner and clerks, respectively, take an 'oath before some person duly authorized to administer an oath, 'faithfully to execute the trust reposed in them respectively.

"Congress proceeded to the election of a Commissioner, and 'ballots being taken, Mr. T. Barclay was elected."

In pursuance of this resolution, and as soon as Mr. Barclay was at leisure from more pressing business, I rendered to him all my accounts, which he examined, and stated methodically. By this statement he found a balance due me on the 4th of May, 1785, of 7,533 livres 19 sols 3 den., which I accordingly received of the Congress banker; the difference between my statement and his being only seven sols, which by mistake I had overcharged; about three pence halfpenny sterling.

At my request, however, the accounts were left open for the consideration of Congress, and not finally settled, there being some articles on which I desired their judgment, and having some equitable demands, as I thought them, for extra services, which he had not conceived himself empowered to allow, and therefore I did not put them in my account. He transmitted the accounts to Congress, and had advice of their being received. On my arrival at Philadelphia, one of the first things I did was to despatch my grandson, William T. Franklin, to New York, to obtain a final settlement of

those accounts; he having long acted as my secretary, and being well acquainted with the transactions, was able to give an explanation of the articles that might seem to require explaining, if any such there were. He returned without effecting the settlement, being told that it could not be made till the arrival of some documents expected from France. What those documents were, I have not been informed, nor can I readily conceive, as all the vouchers existing there had been examined by Mr. Barclay. And I, having been immediately after my arrival engaged in the public business of this State, waited in expectation of hearing from Congress, in case any part of my accounts had been objected to.

It is now more than three years that those accounts have been before that honorable body, and to this day no notice of any such objection has been communicated to me. But reports have, for sometime past, been circulated here, and propagated in the newspapers, that I am greatly indebted to the United States for large sums that had been put into my hands, and that I avoid a settlement. This, together with the little time one of my age may expect to live, makes it necessary for me to request earnestly, which I hereby do, that the Congress would be pleased, without further delay, to examine those accounts, and if they find therein any article or articles which they do not understand or approve, that they would cause me to be acquainted with the same, that I may have an opportunity of offering such explanations or reasons in support of them as may be in my power, and then that the accounts may be finally closed.

I hope the Congress will soon be able to attend to this business for the satisfaction of the public, as well as in condescension to my request. In the meantime, if there be no impropriety in it, I would desire that this letter, together with another relating to the same subject, the copy of which is hereunto annexed, may be put upon their minutes.

With every sentiment of respect and duty to Congress, I am, sir, &c., B. FRANKLIN.