The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
of the United States, when their funds failed. Insomuch that the State
of Virginia is now in advance here for the United States about fifteen
thousand livres, as before mentioned. As yet it has not suffered by any of
these advances, but having no money left here but this balance, I shall
be censurable by that State if it be not replaced in time to answer the
demands on them, which will now be made within a few weeks. Mr. Grand has,
by my direction, credited you in the account he now sends for the two sums
of ten thousand livres and two thousand, seven hundred and twenty-four
livres and sixty-six sous, improperly charged in your former account. He
had also debited you in his account for the whole sums paid by the United
States, as well as those paid by Virginia, as by himself. The purpose of
this was to keep the accounts unmixed, though in fact the funds have been
applied occasionally in aid of each other.
I had proposed to Mr. Barclay the settlement of my account before his
departure for Morocco, but we concluded it would be better to do it on
his return, as that would enable me to bring it down to a later day.
It was not then expected he would be so long detained by that business.
Unfortunately for me, when at L'Orient, on his return to Paris, he found
it more advisable to proceed directly to America, so that I have lost this
opportunity of having my account settled. I shall either do it with him
on his return, if he returns soon, or with such other person here as you
will point out, or I will transmit it with copies of my vouchers, to be
settled by you, or do whatever else with it you shall please to direct.
The articles which, from their minuteness, have not admitted the taking
vouchers, I shall be ready to prove by my own oath. In this account I
have presumed to charge the United States with an outfit. The necessity
of this in the case of a minister, resident, and of course obliged to
establish a house, is obvious on reflection. There cannot be a surer proof
of its necessity than the experience and consent of all nations, as I
believe there is no instance of any nation sending a minister to reside
anywhere without an outfit. A year's salary is the least I have been able
to hear of, and I should be able to show that the articles of clothes,
carriage and horses, and household furniture, in a very plain style,
have cost me more than that. When I send you my account, either settled
here, or to be settled there, I shall take the liberty of referring this
article to the consideration of Congress. Its reasonableness has appeared
to me so palpable, that I have presumed it would appear so to Congress,
and have therefore kept up the expenses of my house at the current rate
of nine thousand dollars a year. If my expectations should be thought
unreasonable, I shall submit and immediately reduce my establishment, with
such rigor, as to make up this article in the shortest time possible. I
enclose you a letter from Fisseaux & Co.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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