To John Adams from Henry Grand, 15 February 1783
From Henry Grand
a Paris ce 15 fevr. 1783
Monsieur
La situation des Finances ici est telle que je suis obligé de recourir à tous les moyens propres à les améliorer & comme la Voye de vôtre Emprunt en Hollande peut y contribuer M. Franklin ma autorisé en consequence à ecrire aux Messieurs d’hollande qui en sont chargés, la lettre que j’ai lhoñeur de vous remettre ici, vous priant de vouloir bien joindre vôtre Aprobation à celle de M. franklin. afin que je puisse encore la faire partir par le Courrier de ce matin.1
J’ai lhonneur d’etre avec tout le Respect possible / Monsieur / Vôtre très humble & très obeissant serviteur,
Grand
Translation
Paris, 15 February 1783
Sir
The financial situation here is such that I am forced to resort to all necessary means to improve it. As the loan you are arranging in Holland may prove helpful, Mr. Franklin has authorized me to write to the Dutch bankers responsible. I have the honor to enclose my letter to them and ask you to append your approval to that of Mr. Franklin so that I can yet dispatch it with this morning’s post.1
I have the honor to be with all possible respect, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant
Grand
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Son Excellence Monsieur J Adams Paris.”
1. Grand’s letter to the consortium has not been found, but he also wrote to Robert Morris on 15 Feb. and laid out the demands for funds that were producing the crisis alluded to in this letter to JA. Grand noted that the quarterly subsidy from France had already been received and expended, leaving him with virtually nothing to pay, among other things, the bills of exchange and loan office certificates just received from Morris; interest on the Dutch loan guaranteed by France; bills accepted, but not paid, by John Jay at Madrid; and the ministers’ salaries (, 7:435–436). Under these circumstances it is understandable that Grand would turn to JA’s 1782 loan and the consortium for relief. For JA’s view of Grand’s demand, see his 23 Feb. letter to the consortium; but see also the consortium’s response of 3 March, both below.