His Most Christian Majesty, having been graciously pleased to grant an aid of money for the purpose of invigorating our operations during the present campaign, I find it convenient to make use of your house as bankers to receive from his Majesty's Ministers such sums as they may have occasion to deposit, in order that you may accept and pay my drafts on you as fast as they shall appear. His Excellency, the Minister Plenipotentiary of France at this place, now writes to his Court, at my request, desiring that five hundred thousand livres tournois may be placed in your hands thirty days after the receipt of his letter, the said sum to be subject to my drafts or orders, and I shall proceed to draw upon you as fast as purchasers offer for the bills; therefore, I beg you will be prepared to honor my bills, drawn as Superintendent of Finance, whenever they offer; for I would not, on any account, that there should be the least demur; and I am confident, that his Most Christian Majesty's Minister of Finance will enable you punctually to make payment as they fall due. I shall communicate this matter to his Excellency, Benjamin Franklin, Minister Plenipotentiary from these States to the Court of Versailles, who will join you in any application that may become necessary in this business; which, however, I expect will be conducted much to your satisfaction. And as it may become important, I hope your attention to it can be relied on, and that you will render the charges as moderate as possible. I have the honor to be, &c. ROBERT MORRIS. * * * * * TO M. DE LA LUZERNE, MINISTER OF FRANCE. Philadelphia, June 8th, 1781. Sir, The honorable Congress having thought proper to invest me with the power, disposition, and management of the moneys granted by his Most Christian Majesty to the United States, for the purpose of assisting them to carry on the present campaign with vigor, I have, with your concurrence, taken some arrangements for drawing it into the uses for which the grant has been made; and in conformity with your promise, I pray you to write immediately to his Majesty's Ministers, that they cause the sum of five hundred thousand livres tournois to be deposited with Messrs Le Couteulx & Co., bankers in Paris, for account of the United States of North America, and subject to my drafts or orders as Superintendent of Finance of the said United States.