New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-27
THE DEBT TO BEAUMARCHAIs.

HELP IN THE DAY OF ADVERSELY THAT HAS
NEVER BEEN REQUTED
To the Editor of The Tribune
SIR: have often wondered amid the food OF re-
cent patriotic utterances why have not chanced
to meet with any alluson to the one man 10 "hom
this country IS more indebted than any other
abroad I refer to the assistance rendered US oy
France mainly through Caron de Beaumarchais
The first reference | have met with 10 this 6iea'
friend Of our country appears In your issue OF the
sth inst IN a communication from my compat'io'
J. c. Pumpelly Permit me to supplement "hat
Mr. PumpelIy says with some details which may
prove not uninterestng at this time when we nap
pen to have an access of patriotism
The advances made by Beaumarchais for supplies
to our army were fixed by Sas Dean April o. l'ol,
after deduction Of payments on account at S'eo"o
livres. And this Is what Sas Dean wrote 70 Coh-
gress November 90 1776 from Paris:
should never have succeeded In fulfilling, my
mission without the indsfatigabIe generous ana nam I'M
the United States owe more In every respect thah
to any other person on this side the ocean
After four years OF petitionng to Congress by
Beaumarchas the matter was referred 10 Con-
sress by Alexander Hamilton who made a fresh
examination Of the claim. He hxed the amount OF
our debt to Beaumarchais at 2,SOOCW francs. Ihis
was 10000 francs more than the account-the fab-
uous accounted Arthur Lee. the marplot and
mischief maker, who at the bottom Of all the
trouble between Beaumarchais and this country
After Hamton's computation Congress still
eluded payment, and the dispute. apparently In
termnable consumed the last years of Beaumar-
chais's life. He now poor man, expatriated'
his property confscated and living In Hamburg IN
a garnet. Believing himself ruined, but still cling
ing TO this claim last resource for his only
daughter he addressed volumes of appeals to Con-
gress and to our Nation, of which are pa
thetc in intensity Let me quote from one:
Americans, / have served you with unwearied
zeal; | have received during my life nothing but
bitterness for my recompense. and die your cred
Cuff hon in ftsin IN IN
my daughter to endow with Il portion OF what you
owe me. Perhaps after me, through the injustice
of other persons from which shall no longer be
able to defend myself. there will remain nothing In
the world for her. and b To eav nfa
paying me resource after my death against com.
the state! Her mother, equally unhappy. and my
widow, will conduct her TO YOU
Congress not only remained Indifferent to the
claims of Beaumarchas. but 1t allowed him to die
without payment. For thirty-six years after his
DEATH from 1899 1885, every government In France
and every ambassador from these governments
pressed the claims Of the heirs Of Beaumarchas in
vain. 1t until 1888 that Congress. having
scaled the claim down 100000 francs, gave the
heirs the choice of accepting that or nothing. Or
course they could hardly hesitate. and thus ended
this long contention. In order to show that the
claim was at one time fully recognized by our Gov
eminent it may be well to give the following message
from John Jay 70 b. while he was waiting for pay
for his supplies and whom Congress had hither-
to treated with disdainfu silence.
BY express order Of Congress, sitting at Philadel-
phla, to VI. de Beauma rchais.
Sir: The Congress OF the United states or America,
favor, presents you Its thanks and the assurance OF
its esteem. IL grIeves for the msfortunes you have
suffered in support of It's States Unfortunate cir
cumstances have prevented the accomplishment OF
it's desires but will take the promptest measures
for acquitng itself Of the debts ii has contracted
with you. The generous sentiments and the exalted
views which a.one could dictate conduct such as
yours greatest euOgism and are an honor 70
your character. While by your great talents you
have made yourself useful TO your Prince, you have
gained the esteem Of this rising Republic and merited
the deserved applause of the New World.
JOHN JAY. President.
| think few can read the history of these trans
actions without a feeling Of profound humiliation.
and a conviction that Republics not always CRATE
fl: but what most impresses me l. the fact that the
man to whom this country IS under the greatest OBJ
LIZA atoms for the assistance rendered us by France
through him above all others. should have sunk a.
most into oblivion. and that his name should be
hardly mentioned. We all know that reputation
sometimes "ls idle and most false imposition,
Oft got without merit. and lost without deserving
and we can recall. all of Us, many such cases: but
Verify If man would have his memory last half
a year he should build churches This man above
almost all Others deserves statue. remember that
we came pretty near erecting one 10 the honorable
BIZ Tweed during his life time. but fortunately, be
fore II had time materal!ze. the honorable Bits
reputation took tumble and thereby perhaps saved
the projected statue from Ike disaster But pardon
this long screcd My only motive was TO revive In
degree the memory OF 4 man 10 whom con-
slider our country a great debt, and whom we
appear TO have almost forgotten.
Brooklyn. Feb. 49, 1884,. j. H. DCNNELL.