rance, from the private property of Hortalez & Co. and transmit to us
the accounts so stated and distinguished. This will also be
accompanied by an invoice of articles to be imported from France, and
resolves of Congress relative thereto. You will appoint, if you should
judge proper, an agent or agents to inspect the quality of such goods
as you may apply for to the house of Roderique Hortalez & Co. before
they are shipped, to prevent any impositions."

On the 16th of May last, Congress resolved, "that the invoice of
articles to be imported from France, together with the list of
medicines approved by Congress, be signed by the Committee of Commerce
and transmitted to the Commissioners of the United States at Paris,
who are authorised and directed to apply to the house of Roderique
Hortalez & Co. for such of the said articles, as they shall have
previously purchased or contracted for; that copies of the invoices be
delivered to Mons. de Francy, agent for Roderique Hortalez & Co.,
together with a copy of the foregoing resolution; and that the
articles to be shipped by the house of Roderique Hortalez & Co. be not
insured, but that notice be given to the Commissioners in France, that
they may endeavor to obtain convoy for the protection thereof."

We have the honor to enclose to your Excellency a copy of the contract
made between the Committee and Mons. Francy, a copy of Mons. Francy's
powers, and a copy of the list of articles to be furnished according
to that contract, that your Excellency may have before you all the
papers relative to this subject.

We are under the necessity of applying to your Excellency upon this
occasion, and of requesting your advice. With regard to what is
passed, we know not who the persons are who constitute the house of
Roderique Hortalez & Co., but we have understood, and Congress has
ever understood, and so have the people in America in general, that
they were under obligations to his Majesty's good will for the
greatest part of the merchandise and warlike stores heretofore
furnished under the firm of Roderique Hortalez & Co. We cannot
discover that any written contract was ever made between Congress or
any agent of theirs, and the house of Roderique Hortalez & Co., nor do
we know of any living witness, or any other evidence, whose testimony
can ascertain to us, who the persons are that constitute the house of
Roderique Hortalez & Co., or what were the terms upon which the
merchandise and m