Je n’ai pas manqué de faire passer à ma Cour La Lettre, dont vous m’avés honoré Le 30. 7be dernier relative à un Traité d’amitié, et de Commerce entre Les Sujets de Msg̃r L’archiduc Grand Duc de Toscane mon Maitre, et ceux des Etats unis de l’Amerique.1

Je dois avoir L’honneur de vous informer, Messieurs, que cette invitation a eté très agreable à Son Altesse Royale, et qu’Elle recevra avec plaisir la comunication des propositions, et du plan sur Le quel devra etre traitèe cette convention afin de pouvoir Les prendre en consideration.2

J’ai L’honneur d’etre avec Le plus grand respect / Messieurs / Votre très humble, et / Très Obeissant Serviteur

I have received your Letter which you, did me the Honour to write me the twelfth of this Month: We also received the Honour of your Letter to Mr: Franklin, Jefferson, and me, and agreed readily upon an answer, which I hope will be satisfactory, although Mr: Humphreys our Secretary of Legation has not yet transmitted it. We have been cautious of sending it by the Post, in these inquisitive Times, But hope to send it by the first Dutch Courier.

After We shall have received your Remarks, or Objections to our Project, or your Counter Project, and shall have suggested our Sentiments on that, in one Word, after we shall have agreed upon all Points I hope to have the Honour, of seeing you at Paris.1 As Mr: Franklin has the Stone, and cannot move, and as moreover we are confined here by so many other affairs, as will render it very difficult for any of Us to leave this Place, such an Excursion would be much for your Health and Pleasure.

In all Events to receive you here would give great pleasure to, Sir, your &c—

By the papers which I have the honor to enclose to your Excellency herewith you will be informed that I have received official Instructions to procure the several honorary presents which have been voted by Congress to different officers in their service during the late war, together with a Draft on M. Grand Banker at Paris for the amount of the expence1—but I must beg leave further to inform you, Sir, that as M. Grand has no monies of the United States in his 432 hands except what are already appropriated to particular uses, a delay must necessarily take place in carrying the pleasure of Congress into effect unless a sufficient sum can be drawn from some other fund. I have therefore earnestly to request that you will be pleased to give the necessary order for having to the amount of one thousand Louis d’ors of the Monies of the United States in Holland applyed to this purpose— This I am the rather emboldened to ask from an intimate knowledge of the sentiments of the late Ministers, (Genl Lincoln & Mr Morris,) in whose Departments the business was; and from a persuasion that any further delay would be disagreeable to the Supreme Power, who had so long since signified its pleasure on the premises—

I have the honor to be / With the most perfect respect / Your Excellency’s / Most obedt and / Most humble Servant