Benjamin Franklin to Farmers General, July 1, 1783

[before July 17, 1783]

Copy of [Note given] to the Farmers General

Mr Robert Morris, Merchant, of Philadelphia, is Superintendant des
Finances of the United States.

It belongs to him to make Provision for the [Payment of the Debt due from the States to
the Farmers General].

Mr Morris is a Man of S[kill] 1 in
Business, great Activity, great Exactness, & Integrity, in whom the most perfect
Confidence may be placed.

Mr Franklin therefore advises, that a Letter be written by Messrs. the Farmers General
to Mr. Morris,* mentioning the Sum due & their Desire of being paid, and
requesting that he would in part send them a Cargo of Tobacco, purchased by him for
them, he being allow’d a Commission of [ blank ] per Cent.
that they may judge from the Experiment whether it will be advantageous for them to give
Orders for a Continuation of the Payment of the Debt in this Manner, [& in future]
[ illegible ]

*They chose to [write it to Mr. Franklin]