Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-02-27
MESSAGE

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From the president of the L. S. transmit
ting memorial of the French minister,
on the subject Of the claim of Amelie Eu-
genie dc Beaumarchais, heir and legal
representative ofthe late Baron de Beau
marchais, Feb. 6, 1907, read, and refer
red to the committee of claims.
CoNTENUED.
TRANS TIoN.
Claim of Mr.. Beaumarchais, to a million
against the United States, as payment for
supplies which he furnished them.
Objections of'the Treasury Of the United
States.
1t was afterwards discovered that only
two millions out of the three granted as a
Sratuitous gift, before the treaty of Febru-
airy, l778, had been thus received by the
United States; and to an application made
TO count dc Nergennes in 1886, for the pur-
pose of ascertaining when, and to whom,
The other million had been paid, an answer
was returned that the said million was paid
ON the 10th day of June, 1776 but a copy
OF the receipt was refused, and the minis
ter did not think proper to disclose the
name OF the person, who had received the
money. On subsequent application made
to the French government, the minister of
foreign relations gave it as the result of his
inquiries that NJ. de Beaumarchais was the
person to whom the said million had been
advanced, ard accordingly furnished the
ministers of the United States with q COPY
OF VI. dc Beaumarchais receipt for that
sum-"
" No doubt remains, that the advance of
one million made by the French govern
ment, on the 10th June, 1776, for the use
OF the United States, and the payment OF
one million the same day, by order of the
minister of foreign affairs to M. Beaumar-
chais, were bat one and the same transac.
tion."
.4n87Ver.
Before answering the objections Of the
treasury of the United States, it is of inn
portance correctly to state the question
which forms the subject of the present
clam, because by this means all suppositi-
ons foreign to it will be avoided.
Did Mr.. Beaumarchais receive from the
government OF France million on account
OF his supplies to the United States This
is the question.
The identity Of the date given by Mr.. de
Nergennes, and of the receipt Of Mr.. de
Beaumarchais, communicated by Mr. Blu
chot, has until now been the cause of a DELAY
OF justice on the part of Che treasury of the
United States, to the heirs Of MIR. de Beau
and of the prejudices which the
treasury has conceived against this claim.
In Mr.. de Beaumarchais, VIC are 20 Der-
ceive and recognize two characters one
the secret agent of the French government
and the other furnisher Of supplies 10 the
United States.
As secret agent of the government of
France he received million on the 10th
June, 1776. In the same year Mr.. de Yer
GENES, who had caused it to be given TO |
him, and who had imposed upon him the |
obligation OF rendering an account to him
sell Tor 1t, presented that account to the !
KING, who approved Of it, and gave q dis |
charge to MIR. de Beaumarchais. I'm. Bill |
chot' IN communicating this receipt, had |
minated at the same time, that i'm the /
same file, and annexed to the receipt itself. |
we're the account rendered TO the king.
and the appreciation in the margin signed
by the king himself, certainly the treasury
you'd not have pretended right TO charge
% the account OF supplies by MIR. de Beau
narchais million for which he had'ac-
'ounted, aad from which he had been dis
'harged by the authority which had given
t TO him.
AS iurnishcT Of supplies Co the United
states, he did not receive the said million.
nd consequently he is a creditor, and will II
emain creditor to the United States for
his sum, until il is paid to him. Among
nc nine millions given as a free gift by the
ing, three were stated by the convention
Z l78e, as having been before 177s. OIL
lese three the United States had the use
only two; and it is fthat which is wan
ng that they require an account from M. [,
{ BeaumarChais. *
Although the nine millions in question