es, the assistance of the King,
and added to the reasons previously given, that, without this
assistance the continental army could no longer be kept together, nor
disbanded without danger.

After having conferred on this subject with M. Joly de Fleury, I made
a report upon it to the King. I informed his Majesty of the
embarrassments of Congress, and of their inability to provide for
their necessities by means of taxes, which the imperfections or the
weakness of a rising Administration did not permit them to levy. The
King had already, by great sacrifices, fulfilled in their behalf, the
duties of a most tender father, during the continuance of their moral
infancy. Since the nation reached the period of maturity, consecrated
by its emancipation and political independence, it seemed that it
ought to be sufficient for itself, and not to require new efforts of
the generosity of its ally; but without being prevented by these
considerations, the King, faithful to his attachment to the United
States, was pleased, under these circumstances, to give a new proof of
it, and notwithstanding the difficulties, which his Majesty
experienced in his own finances, he determined, according to my report
of the 20th of December last, to grant to Congress a new loan of _six
millions of livres tournois_, for the service of the United States,
during the course of the present year. He also authorised the
advancing of a sum of money previously granted, which Dr Franklin
earnestly solicited. I informed that Minister of it, who, in his
answer of January 25th, gratefully accepted these new favors in the
name of the United States. I informed him, moreover, that they could
not be increased, and that his Majesty would in no case be a guarantee
for other loans, which he might procure in Holland or elsewhere.

I have thought proper to enter into these details with you, Sir, in
order that you may be able to communicate them to Congress, and that
that body may be informed by you of the last financial arrangements,
which his Majesty has been pleased to decide upon, in favor of the
United States. I have since concerted with Dr Franklin, those
measures, which were necessary for fixing the conditions and the terms
of payment of the loan of six millions of livres, of which I have been
speaking. They were stipulated in a contract made on the 25th of
February last, which we signed by virtue of our respective full
powers, as we had done with regard to preceding