B. FRANKLIN. _P. S._ Please to present my respects to the Board. * * * * * JAMES LOVELL TO B. FRANKLIN. Philadelphia, May 17th, 1781. Sir, Doctor Putnam, whose letter is enclosed, by the uniformity of his attachment to our public cause, merits your patronage. And I enclose for your information some former proceedings of Congress, in which this same gentleman is interested; requesting, Sir, that you would obtain a knowledge of the proceedings consequent upon efforts which M. Gerard has undoubtedly made to obtain compensation for the sloop, which Count d'Arband restored to the Governor of Antigua, after it had been taken by Doctor Putnam and others. Your most humble servant, JAMES LOVELL. * * * * * COUNT DE VERGENNES TO B. FRANKLIN. Translation. Versailles, June 8th, 1781. Sir, I have received the letter you did me the honor to write me on the 4th instant. I do not know whether Mr Laurens has purchased the clothing in Holland on account of Congress; I only know (and you were likewise informed of it at the same time) that this officer was _to employ for his purchases in France_ part of the six millions, which the King has granted to Congress, and that the residue of this sum was intended to be sent to America, with a view of re-establishing the credit of the United States. If Mr Laurens, instead of paying ready money in Holland, has contented himself with giving bills on you, I have no concern in it, and the King can furnish no means for your reimbursement. As to the monies arising from the loan opened in Holland, we have no pretensions to regulate the employment of them, as they belong to the United States. You must, therefore, Sir, apply to Congress for the power of disposing of them, in discharge of the drafts drawn on you from all quarters. I have the honor of being, &c. DE VERGENNES. * * * * * TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Passy, June 11th, 1781. Sir, I have lately done myself the honor of writing largely to your Excellency by divers conveyances, to which I beg leave to refer. This is chiefly to cover the copy of a letter I have just received from the Minister, relative to the disposition of the late loans, by which will be seen the situation I am in with respect to my acceptances of the quantities of bills drawn by Congress on Mr Jay, Mr Laurens, Mr Adams, and myself, which I entered into, in the expectation, which both Colonel Laurens and myself entertained, that a part of these loans might be applied to the payment of these bills, but which I am now told cannot be done without an express order from Congress.