Papers of John Adams, volume 6

The Foreign Affairs Committee to the Commissioners, 16 April 1778 Lovell, James Continental Congress, Foreign Affairs Committee First Joint Commission at Paris JA The Foreign Affairs Committee to the Commissioners, 16 April 1778 Lovell, James Continental Congress, Foreign Affairs Committee First Joint Commission at Paris Adams, John

The Foreign Affairs Committee to the Commissioners

Gentlemen York Town April 16th. 1778

This, with my affectionate wishes for your prosperity, may serve to acquaint you that Congress has this day resolved “That William Bingham Esqr. agent of the United States of America, now resident in Martinico, be authorized to draw bills of exchange at double usance on the Commissioners of the United States at Paris for any sums not exceeding in the whole one hundred thousand livres tournois, to enable him to discharge debts by him contracted on account of the said states, for which draughts he is to be accountable.”1

Mr. Bingham will forward the American Gazettes with this billet of advice, and tell you why we have enabled him to draw upon you when we have stores of produce laid up in magazines for exportation.2 He will also inform you of our anxiety to know something of your proceedings and prospects, an uncommon fatality having attended your dispatches ever since the month of may last. I am, with much esteem Gentlemen, Your very humb: Servt.

James Lovell for the Commttee. for for: Affairs 37

RC (PPAmP: Franklin Papers); addressed: “Honble Commissioners of the United States of America Paris”; docketed: “Mr Lovell”; in another hand: “Mr. Lovell April 16. 1778”; Dupl (PPAmP: Franklin Papers); docketed: “Mr. Lovel. Ap. 16. 1778”; FC, designated Instruction No. 5 (PCC, No. 79,1).

This information, taken directly from the Journals, was sent to Bingham on the same date ( JCC , 10:356; PCC, No. 79, I). “Double usance” meant twice the time normally allowed for the payment of bills of exchange ( OED ).

William Bingham had been the British consul at St. Pierre, Martinique, from 1770 to 1776, when he became the continental agent, serving in that post until 1780 ( DAB ; for further information on Bingham, see JA, Diary and Autobiography , 3:149, note 1).

See Bingham to the American Commissioners, 29 May (below).

Joseph Belton to the Commissioners, 17 April 1778 Belton, Joseph First Joint Commission at Paris JA Joseph Belton to the Commissioners, 17 April 1778 Belton, Joseph First Joint Commission at Paris Adams, John

Joseph Belton to the Commissioners

Worthey Gentlemen Passy April 17th. 1778

Being unforunately, on a Voyge from Baltimore to Charles Town, in January last, disabled at sea, through stress of Weather, which occasion'd my faling into the hands of Capt. Man, and carried into Dover in England, and sent on Board the guard Ship in the Downs, a Prisoner, from Whence at length I obtaind my liberty by an order from the board of Admiralty, And being in an enimies Countery, and antious to return to my friends, I fled into this, in the condition of most prisoners, empty in purs (at least of such currency as passes here,) and bairly Cloath'd, relying on the friends of Ameria for assistance; Which I hope worthey Gentlemen you will find it convenient to affoard me assistance, by granting me the lone of about Fifteen Guines, which I will become Obligated to discharge upon my first arrivel in America, or will give a bill upon my Father who resides in the State of Connecticut, and will call upon the thirteen united states as an endorser to the bill, that is I will deposit as much of the States Currency as shall be equivalent to an endorser. Your Assistance worthey Gentlemen will be esteemed as a favour by a Native of Groton in the State of Connecticut, North America, who is Your Most Obedient Humble Servant

Joseph Belton1

RC (Adams Papers); addressed at the head of the letter: “To the Honourable Embassedors from the United States of North America, now resideing at Passey in France.”

Although little is known about Belton, the Commissioners may have taken action on his request for funds, for on 13 Feb. 1779 he sent Benjamin Franklin a receipt for 50 guineas in payment for a public service performed by him. In addition, Jonas Belton of Groton wrote to Joseph Belton on 30 March 1780, expressing a desire for his return to America and stating that he had learned of Joseph's situation from JA ( Cal. Franklin Papers, A.P.S. , 2:23; 4:304).