Since Mr. Livingston’s arrival at Paris, I have not had the honor of writing to you, having been in communication with him, concerning the Claims of our fellow-citizens, against this Government, and having had nothing within the Sphere of my Office interesting to impart. Respecting those Claims, I here submit two separate Statements, the first comprehending, under different heads, such as were committed to my charge, whilst in the office of Consul General, and those, which you will observe are few, that have been intrusted to me, since my coming to the place of Commercial Agent. The second Statement exhibits, with remarks on the Papers wanting those that cannot be prosecuted untill the necessary Documents shall be sent forward. All of the first Class are now before the Commission of Comptabilité, for the Purpose of being revised and liquidated. This Board has been some time since instituted by the Government for the special purposes of revising and settling all individual Claims; but its powers only extend to giving Certificates of liquidation, which are afterwards subject to the Inspection and Controul of the Government, and if thereby confirmed, must be ordanuanced for payment, by the respective ministerial Departments, thro’ which they have passed. This same Commission is not authorized to include Interest, and consequently grants a Certificate of the Principal alone. The interest however I have calculated in all the accounts I have rendered, and shall not cease to demand to the day of payment, tho’ it is, and has been the rule of all the powers that have governed, since the beginning of the Revolution, to preclude interest on all Claims of Foreigners, even in the Case of Treasury Bills protested for non-payment.

Notwithstanding Mr. Livingston’s able, zealous and unremitting Efforts to obtain of this Governt. some arrangement for the relief of our Suffering Claimants, I despair of the Success. I am but too well satisfied that he will not find in the Governt. either the intention or disposition of rendering Justice on the score of my Countrymen’s Claims. Under this impression and the additional circumstance of their being but few additional duties for me to perform, I contemplate my long, ardent desire of paying my friends in Virginia a visit, and with a view of embarking early in the summer, I have communicated my project to the Minist⟨er⟩ who does not disapprove of it. The very indifferent state of my health, and the Advice of my physician render me the more disposed to perform this journey, and as it will be in my power to leave both my Office and Agency-business in the hands of Mr. Ths. Melvill junior, a very enlightened and respectable Citizen of the United States, whose fitness, in every point of view, I consider as peculiarly intitling him to the Trust, I feel persuaded that the measure will be approved by the President, and I Know it will be by the Opinions of all here.