You will remember, that you have often mentioned to me a mistake in the account, of which you delivered a copy to Congress. As I made no doubt, that it would be properly and satisfactorily explained, I have hitherto restrained myself from going at all into the subject. But it now becomes my duty to write to Dr Franklin upon it; and, therefore, I wish to communicate to you my sentiments, while I request you to use your good offices with the Court for having the matter placed on its proper footing. The note from the Count de Vergennes, of the 16th of May last, shows very clearly a grant of the three following sums; four millions to Dr Franklin to discharge the bills of exchange drawn on him by Congress; six millions as a gift towards the operations of the campaign; and ten millions in advance of the loan to be opened in Holland, amounting in the whole to twenty millions. The first sum of four millions, appears evidently to have been for payment of the bills drawn to discharge the interest of loan office certificates, according to the original engagement, which the Court entered into with the American Commissioners. Of the money granted by the Court, there has been advanced, as appears by the account you delivered to the committee, in warlike stores and money, to Colonel Laurens, four millions seven hundred and eightynine thousand one hundred and nine livres; and to purchase the remainder of the articles demanded by him, three hundred and ninetyseven thousand livres. For the bills of exchange drawn by Congress on their Minister, I will suppose the sum mentioned in the Count de Vergennes' note, viz. four millions, and I will add for my drafts one million and a half, being what, as I have already observed, you first promised. Thus the whole amount of these sums is ten millions six hundred and eightysix thousand one hundred and nine livres, and the balance, which I conceive to be subject to my disposition, is nine millions three hundred and thirteen thousand eight hundred and ninetyone livres. As to replacing the cargo of the Fayette, which is mentioned in your account, I do not take notice of it, because I wish that it may not have happened, and because if it has been made, it will be time enough to deduct it when the articles shall have been actually delivered. The loss of that ship, and the detention of one of the transports laden by Colonel Laurens, have already compelled me to make heavy expenditures. Among these I will mention the purchase of lead some time ago, and a late purchase of clothing to a very large amount, a part of which I am now paying for, and the remainder is to be paid in three, six, and nine months from the date of my engagements.