Notwithstanding my repeated and earnest applications to this Cour the Count DFlorida Blanca an I have not ^as^ yet recd ^been able to obtain^ only 348801 dollars of the 150′000 Dollars ^expressly^ promised me in Decr. last2 and having been informed by him ^He has on the contrary assured me^ that this promise could not be complied with in less than six months, I comm found it ^therefore became^ necessary to communi^c^ate my Embarrassments to the Embassador of France and to request his friendly Aid & Interposition— You will percieve by the enclosed Acct that the Bills I have accepted3 ^& which still remain to be paid^ (exclusive of those at 2 Months Sight for the paymt of which you authorized me to draw upon you)4 amount to 231′303 Dollrs. of which

The Embassador of France was very sensible of the pernicious Consequences to ^with^ which ^wd follow^ a protest of these Bills would occasion and I must do from him him the Justice to say interested himself warmly in endeavouring to extricate me from that Necessity— He ^has^ had different Conferences with the Count DF B. on the Subject whi ^&^ Yesterday ^he^ pro expressly promised him ^the Embassador positively^ to pay the 89083 which became ^will be^ due in April in the Course of six Months in six equal the firs ^paymts.^ reckoning from next May—but as this Money could not ^still left me^ without Relief as to the ^May^ ^april^ ^April^ Bills, due in April, he engaged the Marquis DYranda to advance the Sums necessary for the Purpose ^to pay them^, & which I shall accordingly recieve from him on the—5 Thus my dear ^Sir^ I have have been ^as it were^ rescued reprieved ^by the kind offices of the french Embassador^ from the Necessity of a protesting any of these Bills als due this Month, but new Sum the ^every^ ensuing ^month^ will bring with it new Dangers and Sollicitudes—, The Sum due in May is considerable and every ^& particularly the Month of May in the Course of which^ I shall be called for upon for no less than 99^6^,288 Doll.—6 Th I am in a cruel Situation, and without any the least Expectation of an Succour except from France. I therefore think it ^absolute highly^ necessary to inform you of the delicate State of our Affairs here by Express—and to entreat you to use your utmost endeavours to provide me by his Return with Funds adequate to the Amount of the Bills accepted and which at present amount to 142′220 without including either those which may yet arrive or the 89083 payable this month & which I expect & the payment of which I Expect to reimburse ^the Sum I expect to pay with myself which^ ^due due this Month^ & for the paymt of which I expect to reimburse the Marqs. DYranda with the Money promised by the Minister on the monthly payments before mentioned7

The Marqs DYrand with whom I whom I saw Yesterday at the french Embassadors has further agreed at the Embassadors Request to furnish me with Money the further Sum of 142′220 Doll. as I shall shall ^have^ occasion for it, provided Mr Grand will accept his Drafts to that Amount. It is therefore of the last Importance that Arrangements for this purpose be immediately taken with that Gent. & that I recieve by the Return of the Express his order on the Marquis to furnish me ^at least^ with this Sum of 142.220 Dollrs.— I shall without which it will be impossible for me to prevent avoiding protesting Protest pay these Bills—8

The Embassador will also write by this Courier,9 and I make ^have^ little Doubt but that Your Court will generous^ly^ interpose on this as they have on several other Occasions, to prevent Events so prejudicial to america in particular and the Common Cause in gen[eral] I am

I am also constrained to add that our Situation here is daily becoming more disagreable from the Want of our Salaries—to be obliged to contract Debts, & live on Credit is terrible— I have not to this Day recd a Shilling from Am. and we should inde[e]d have been greatly distressed had it not been for your good offices— Endeavour I beseech you to provide us also with Supplies on this Account, and deliver me f if possible from the many disagreable Sensations to which such a Variety of unpleasant Circumstances naturally create— Remember that new Bills are frequently still arriving—

Be pleased to communicate this Letter to Mr Laurens10 who I am persuaded will ^chearfully^ afford you all the Aid in his power—

I have directed the Courier to wait your Orders & then return without further Delay— I am dr. Sir Your friend & humble Servt.