The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-02-27
French sovernmer.--and The o:hsr, . furniiher of
| fupplcs to the limited States

French sovernmere--and The osher, furiiiter OF
fupplcs the United States.
As feoret agent of the government OF France, he
received 4 million on the 10Th June, 1910. In the
FAME year M. de Vergennes, whe had cauel it tn be
given to him, and who had iu:peied upon him the
obligation OF rendering account TO hin.elf FOR 1t,
preiented that the king, who approved of
it and gave a diieharge to MIR. de Beaumarohais. IL
M. Buehot, in communicating this receipt, had init
mated at the fame time that in the fame file, and an
nexed the receipt tfef the accounts rendered
to the king, and the appreciation in the margin hgned
by the king himle certainly the treaiury would not
have pretended right charge 10 the account OF
fupphes by Mr. de Beaumarchais, million for which
he had accounted, and from which he had been dil
charged by the authority which had given it to him,
AS furnilher of fupplies the United States, he
did receive the fsid million, and conieqaently he
creditor, and will remain creditor Of the United
States for this fun until it is paid to him. Among
the nine millions given :: free gift by the King
three iated by the convention OF 1888, hav-
ing been before 1878. of thofe three the United
States had the ufe of only two; and it is of that
which is wanting that they require All account from
M de Beaumarchais
Although the nine millions in queton have been
formerly acknowledged have been received by the
convention of 25th February, 1888, Ggned by the
American commflioners and ratified by congrefs, and
although this public aa discharges M. de Beaumar
chais from all accountability; nevertheless the govern
ment of France in order fulfil the claims of uce,
as well the deire of the United States to know
what has become of this milton, cauies its mniter
penipoentiary to declare:
1T. That the French government has always re-
manned ranger all the mercantile tranfaetions OF
NJ de Beaumarchas, with the u States.
I'd. That the million given the 9th OF June,
l776, the faid Sieur de Beaumarchais, was for
fecret political ferviee, of which the king reerved to
hnfslf the knowledge
Sd. That the account of the employment OF the
faid million preiented at the coie OF l7T6 to the
king, and approved by him.
4th That M de Beaumarchas has been sifcharg
ed from it by his maje0y hmlelf.
5th And lafily that the faid million given
on account of his iuppliss
This declaration confirms thofe which have been
made on divers occafons by NJ. de Vergennes and
M Gerard, well to the American minfers in
France as to congreis, that the French government
has remained (franger the mercantile operations
of NJ; de Beaumarchas, and that he became credi-
TO the United States the fame time that he be-
came debtor of the king for the articles which he
had permifon to take from his arfenals, and which
became his property.
M. de Vergenne,, in ordering refufal to tell to
| whom the faid rllioh was given, and in cauhng it
be declared in t7s6, that it inconvenent to
tell proves equally that i, iecret, and that the
faid million given on account OF the fuPPles
of M. de Beaumarchai5 For to fuppoie the CONTRA
ry, would be to think that this miniRer wihed
million more to be paid By the United States to M.
de Beaumarcha than was due TO him. This opinion
would fhock whomioever that was acquainted with
the probty of M. de Yergennes.
OBJECTION.
"I urged in behalf of the claimant, that it is now
proof that the money advanced for ecret fervi-
of political nature That argument could not by
the officers of the treafury be taken into conhderatl-
on, 5ecaufe they bound require Poitve proof
of the application of tss money, in order to credit M
Beaumarehas for the expenditure
ANSWER.
When the treafuty debited the account of M. de
Beaumarchas with the lsid nillien, it had not the
declarat alton of the government OF France that the
fad million had been employed in political ecret Ter
vice, and had net been given on account OF iuPpie'
Now this crcumilance is known it may balance the
account. II can be no difputed, that the king
who gave the nine millions had the power OF employ
ing one of them towards the views and &c the advan-
tage of the caule which he supported, than his mini
ers can be required to diicloie the objeet Of the
fervce in which il was employed; beeauie it is ie-
cret which they ought TO keep, and which NJ de Yer
gennes declared it inconvepient to communicate even
ten years afterwards
The eoretary of the treslury is 70 well Perluaded OF
it, that he lays in bis report, mf Be 0er"fd f'af
tie declaration sffbe eneb goV,ament B0gdte taken !"
its gyiE7ty literal gf.
After an opinion thus expreGed, and which mani
fets the refpe6 and attention we owe 20 the decara-
tons of government, it is juhly believed that ne
would not have hefithed to frike the balance OF MIR
de Beaumarchais's account without comprizng in 1t
the fad million, if he had not found himlef bound by
the premature opinion of his predecefiors and by the
limitation of his powers.
OBJECTION.