William Lee to Benjamin Franklin, October 7, 1782

Bruxelles 7 Oct. 1782.

Sir.

I have the Honor to send you herewith, Copy of a Letter from Mr. Robt. R. Livingston Secretary of Congress for Foreign Affairs—of the 18th. of July last, & of an order of Congress of the 2d. of the same Month, to which be pleased to refer. 4

As you inform’d me in you Letter of the 25th of August last, that you had a copy of the order of Congress of the 12th. of Septr. 1781. ascertaining the Ballance due to me, to be Forty two thousand, one hundred & eigty nine Livres, with 6 per Ct. per an. Interest from that time ‘till paid, 5 I have only to observe that the Interest for 19 Months added to the principal debt amounts to Forty six thousand one hundred & ninety six Livres, nineteen sols; for which sum I have this day drawn on you the following Bills payable to my own order the 12th. of April next, viz one for £12000 [ i.e. 12,000 l.t. ]— one for £12000 [ i.e. 12,000 l.t. ]— one for £12000— & one for £10196.19s. [ i.e. 10,196 l.t. 19 s. ]

These Bills will be presented to you for acceptance with which I hope you will honor them, as I have drawn them at so long a date, in order to accommodate you in the most convenient manner; but if you choose to pay the money at a shorter Period, be pleased to signify your wishes in a letter to me, sent to the care of Mr. Grand in Paris, that I may give him orders to receive it.

I am most Respectfully Sir Your most Obedt. & most Hble Servt.

W: Lee.

Turn Over if you Please His Excellency, Benjamen Franklin Esq. at Passy.