d it agreeable to your inclinations, and
perfectly consistent with the duties of your station to gratify my
desires. They are very moderate considering the necessities of this
country, and your ability to minister to its relief. Besides, your
Excellency's good sense will readily perceive, that money granted to
invigorate the operations of America will weaken and distress the
common enemy much more than the same sums expended in Europe, because
the enemy must prosecute the war here at more than four times the
expense at which it must be carried on there.

Assuring myself of assistance from your Excellency I have ordered one
of the continental frigates to proceed with these despatches for
Havana. She will take with her some flour, which I have ordered
returns for in dollars.

There are two most cogent reasons why this frigate should be
despatched instantly from your port with the money. The first is,
because we are much in want of it; and the second is, to prevent our
enemies from the possibility of receiving any advice of her. We have
so contrived things here, that everybody believes she is going to join
the French fleet at Rhode Island, and to carry the flour for their
use.

On the whole, I most earnestly entreat your Excellency, that if it be
at all convenient and consistent with your duty, you will advance the
whole of the four hundred thousand dollars in question to Mr Smith, so
that the frigate may immediately return.

I am sensible that there are certain duties payable to his Majesty on
the exportation of money from your port; but as this which I apply
for, is to be expended in carrying on the war against his Majesty's
enemies, I hope it may be dispensed with; if not, our Minister at
Madrid will be directed to make application to the Court on that
subject, so that the duty being charged to us in the first instance,
may, if not remitted, be added to the general sum. The same
observations will apply to the flour on board this frigate, which is
also public property.

I hope it is not necessary to add anything more to induce a full
compliance with my requests. But his Excellency the Chevalier de la
Luzerne, Minister of France, and Don Francisco Rendon, your own Agent
here, will also write you on the subject of this application.

I have the honor to remain, with sentiments of the highest esteem and
respect, &c.[36]

ROBERT MORRIS.

FOOTNOTES:

[35] T