On my arriving in France, I applied to Mr Johnson to appoint a time
for examining my accounts and vouchers, which I told him would soon be
ready. He informed me, that he had determined not to accept the
appointment, and that he had informed Congress of his resolution
sometime before. Though this was a severe disappointment to me, yet I
flattered myself that Congress would not delay the naming some other
to the office, and in this hope I came to Paris in August last, and
entered on the adjustment of my accounts, which have been for many
months ready for settlement, yet, to my extreme mortification, I
cannot get them closed for want of an auditor, or person empowered by
Congress to examine them.

I pray Congress would candidly review the circumstances I have been
under, from my leaving France in April, 1778, to this time. After
having to that time faithfully and successfully served them, I was, in
obedience to their orders, obliged to make a voyage to America, and to
wait their pleasure in Philadelphia for more than a year, unable to
obtain their decision on my conduct, though it was almost daily
solicited by me; the only objection made was, that my accounts
remained unsettled; as soon as Congress appointed an auditor to
examine them, I set out on my voyage to Europe, regardless of danger
or expense, fondly hoping that at last I should be able to close my
accounts, and to receive the balance due to me, but what was
infinitely more important, to vindicate my injured character. The
expenses of my voyage were great, and during ten months' attendance
here, they have been still greater, and though there is evidently a
large balance in my favor, I have been refused money for my support. I
have never asked of Congress anything but common justice, in the
payment of my just demands, out of which, I have now been kept for
three years. My necessities would long since have justified my seizing
on the public property here to the amount of the money due to me, but
I have been withheld from doing it on account of my regard for the
credit of my country, and have rather chosen to be obliged to
strangers for money for my support. And to what purpose is it for me
to leave France, and return with my accounts and vouchers unaudited?
It is equally useless to transmit them in that state. My enemies
represented me as a defaulter, grown rich out of the public monies in
my hands, and prejudiced the minds of Congress so strongly against me,
tha