rt. However this may be, my present view is to
obtain from Havana, as expeditiously as possible, four hundred
thousand Mexican dollars, in order to deposit them in the bank, and
thereby doubling the capital, give its operations such force as will
draw the attention of our own citizens, and induce them to afford it
such assistance as will reduce our necessities, and place us in a
situation to be less troublesome to our allies and friends in the
common cause.

His Excellency the Chevalier de la Luzerne, Minister of France at this
place, in consequence of orders from his Court, has authorised me to
draw bills of exchange on Paris to a very considerable amount; and
being sensible of the propriety of my proceedings, he will give you
assurances, that they shall be punctually paid. I transmit a bill for
five hundred thousand livres to Robert Smith, now appointed agent for
these United States at your port, in order that he may negotiate it,
and ship the money back to my address. Should it in any manner promote
the interest of your Court he will certainly give your Excellency a
preference in the purchase; and I am confident, that if this should
not be convenient to you, you will countenance and promote his
negotiations with private persons. I have also transmitted to Mr Smith
certain bills, drawn some time past by order of Congress, on his
Excellency John Jay, to the amount of one hundred and twenty thousand,
three hundred and eightyone dollars. I am to request, and have strong
hopes, that when Mr Smith shall have deposited these bills with you,
your Excellency will advance that sum, so that he may immediately ship
it to my address.

We are convinced that these bills, if sent forward, would have been
paid by your Court; but as such a negotiation would bring no money
into the treasury, I propose that you keep them in your possession
until the pleasure of the Court shall be known. I will write very
fully to Mr Jay on this subject, and obtain the earliest information.
But lest the Court should not choose that these bills be finally
accepted by you in discharge of the moneys advanced on them, I have
empowered Mr Smith for your perfect security to enter into conditional
stipulations to repay your Excellency that money by a delivery of
flour to the amount, at such price as you and he may agree for; the
payment to commence as soon after the pleasure of the Court shall be
known as circumstances will admit.

I hope, Sir, you will fin