the public interest of America, and the delicacy which ought to characterise the conduct of every public man, may require.

The undersigned makes the same request, and for the same reasons, with regard to the accusation made to Congress, that the vessels, which have been fitted out in the name of the King, have been loaded with quantities of flour on individual account. He declares that his first rule has always been to cause the whole of the vessels to be freighted on his Majesty's account; but if any frauds have been committed in this matter, it is of equal importance to the public good, and to the dignity of the King, that its authors should be known, in order to prevent further frauds. The delegates to Congress, by a verbal declaration made to the King's navy agent, have confined this imputation to one vessel alone, but it is not less important that the fact should be verified.

Besides, although the Minister Plenipotentiary of France insists on this point, in order to make these odious imputations fall on those who may deserve them, he could have contented himself with declaring, that not having the right of police and inspection over the proprietors, owners, and Captains of the American vessels, which have been employed in these transportations, and ho ought to be better acquainted than strangers with the laws of the country, it is only the officers of the State, appointed to receive the declarations of the ships which sail from the ports, who can, in examining the cargoes, determine the frauds which may have been committed; and that without directly and positively blaming the officers of the King, they cannot be made responsible for frauds, which it is not in their power

part of the officers or of the governments of the different States of America, the undersigned earnestly desires, that they would be pleased to execute with vigor the powers which belong to them, and the laws which may have reference to these subjects.

The undersigned hopes that Congress will be pleased not to defer its resolution, whatever it may be, respecting the ship Defence, till the verification of these facts. The two affairs have nothing in common, and the Minister Plenipotentiary, in repeating his offers expressed above, flatters himself that Congress, if they think proper to permit this expedition, will find that these arrangements can be made even after the departure of this vessel.

GERARD.

This Memorial being read, it was immediately

Resolved, that it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor of Maryland to permit the ship Defence, which is loaded with provisions for the fleet of his Most Christian Majesty, to depart and carry her cargo to the place of her destination, and that care be taken that she carry no other provisions than the above, and what may be necessary for the crew.

which that body has asked for, on his part, in relation to the purchase of provisions destined for the squadron, which the King sent last year to the assistance of the United States, he has never authorised any purchase except through the very overseers appointed by Congress, or without giving notice of the operation to the members of the committees intrusted with this business. He has declared to them several times, that the provisions bought on the account, and with the money of the King, would always remain at the disposal of Congress, either for the public service, or for that of the American army. The undersigned hopes, that their members will be witnesses of it to Congress. Delicacy has been carried so far, that it has been preferred to expose the King's squadron to the want of provisions, which it has procured only in consequence of some happy accidents, rather than to break through an arrangement which Congress had judged necessary. The same principle has guided the conduct which has been pursued in the last place, when the undersigned, by his knowledge of the chief motives of Congress, having been obliged to demand the assurance of a certain quantity of provisions, the difficulty of circumstances induced him to combine purchases by way of commerce with the direct measures which Congress has judged proper to take. As Congress must have been informed of all that has taken place on this subject, the undersigned will not introduce it again here, and he will abstain from all reflection.

He confines himself to representing to Congress, that the produce of these private purchases is reduced to a very small quantity, by the obstacles which the continental officers have thrown in their way, and by the seizure, by

events; and the agents employed on the King's account, being thus deprived of the security and of the power which every American citizen, and every foreign merchant enjoys, and the property of the King being so uncertain and exposed, the undersigned begs Congress to be pleased to cause all the provisions bought on the account and with the money of his Majesty, to be placed in the hands of the officers whom they shall judge proper to appoint for this purpose, in order that Congress may dispose of them in such manner as their own prudence and the public interest shall dictate; the undersigned declaring, that from the moment in which he was informed of these proceedings and of these obstacles, he has given order to put an end to every kind of purchase and supply of provisions. He annexes here the note of the provisions now in the hands of the King's agents; and if the commissions given heretofore have produced a greater quantity of them, he will have the honor to give notice of it to Congress, according as he shall be informed of it himself.

But he must at the same time call the attention of Congress to the proposition, which he had the honor to make to them by the Memorial which contains the request for this new supply, that is to say, that they would be pleased to declare, whether the Minister Plenipotentiary of France may reckon upon the quantity of provisions, which are necessary for the important object which he has had the honor to communicate to Congress. In order to facilitate the success of his measures on this subject, the undersigned confines himself at the present time to requesting, that the quantity of five thousand barrels of flour may be immediately held in readiness. The remainder can be furnished in the course of September next, from grain the product

The reasons alleged in the said Memorial compel the undersigned to repeat to Congress the formal demand of a prompt and explicit answer, with which he has not bitherto been honored. Congress has too much wisdom for any one to allow himself to set forth to it all the inconveniences which might result to America, and to the alliance from the least delay. The reports hitherto communicated are so uncertain, that it is impossible to make them the foundation of a confidence, which the experience of the past does not encourage, unless Congress authorises them by its sanction. A formal and explicit assurance on the part of Congress can alone effect an object so important, upon which the Minister Plenipotentiary of France has insisted since the month of May, and which the advancement of the season renders still more critical and pressing. GERARD.

REPORT OF A COMMITTEE RESPECTING A CONFERENCE WITH THE MINISTER OF FRANCE.

In Congress, July 10th, 1779.

The President informed Congress, that the Minister of France had communicated to him certain intelligence, about which it would, in his opinion, be expedient for Congress to confer with the Minister.

Resolved, That the honorable M. Gerard be informed by the President, that Congress are desirous of conferring with him in a committee of the whole, on the subject of the intelligence communicated by him to the President, and that if agreeable to him, a private audience be had on Monday next, at 12 o'clock.