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LETTER XCIII.
TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES.
Paris, August 17, 1785. SIR,
Mine of the 13th, informed you that I had written to the M. de Castries on the subject of Puchilberg s interference. Yesterday I received his answer dated the 1 2th. In that, he says that he is in formed by the Ordonneteur, that he has not been able to get an au thentic roll of the crew of the Alliance, and that, in the probable case of there having been some French subjects among them, it will be just that you should give security to repay their portions. I wrote to him this morning, that as you have obliged yourself to transmit the money to the treasury of the United States, it does not seem just to require you to be answerable for money which will be no longer within your power ; that the repayment of such portions will be incumbent on Congress ; that I will immediately solicit their orders to have all such claims paid by their banker here ; and that should any be presented before I receive their orders, I will un dertake to direct the banker of the United States to pay them, that there may be no delay. I trust that this will remove the difficulty, and that it is the last which will be offered. The ulti mate answer shall be communicated the moment I receive it. Having pledged myself for the claims which may be offered, be fore I receive the orders of Congress, it is necessary to arm my self with the proper checks. Can you give me a roll of the crew, pointing out the French subjects? If not, can you recollect per sonally the French subjects, and name them to me, and the sums ihey are entitled to ? If there were none such, yet the roll will be raaterial, because I have no doubt that Puchilberg will excite claims upon me, either true or false.
I am, with much respect, Sir,
your most obedient humble servant,
TH: JEFFERSON.
