To Thomas Jefferson from Ferdinand Grand, 24 November 1785
From Ferdinand Grand
Paris 24th. 9bre. 1785
Sir
In Consequence of the letter which you did me the honour of writing me this morning I thought that I could not but decline paying Mr. Carmichael’s Bill, as I am not impowered to discharge his Drafts for account of the States, but was on the contrary enjoined Several times by Mr. Morris not to pay any Sum except upon his own Bills, which Directions the present Commissioners of the Treasury have not altered.
I shall write next post to Mr. Carmichael on this Subject and I regret that the Bill was not presented untill it was due, as it would have afforded time Sufficient to have his answer.
I am with much Respect Sir your most obedient humble Servant,
Grand
RC (DLC). Not recorded in SJL.
In DLC: TJ Papers, 14: 2510 there is an “Extrait de La Lettre de M. Houdon, Philadelphie 14 7re 85” which was copied from a letter from him to Grand and which reads as follows: “Come je dois employer mon temps à travailler plustôt quà tout autre Chose je vous Suplie de mexcuser auprés de Monsieur Jefferson de ce que je ne lui écris pas dans cet Instant et de vouloir bien le prevenir que le Capitaine qui sest Chargé de nos persones nà pu attendre nos Effets. Ce qu’il yá de pire pour moy ainsy que pour mon Monde est que nous avons été reduit à n’avoir que nos Sacs de nuit ce qui nous à necessité dacheter du Linge pour nous Embarque. Icy il faut avec bien plus de Necessité encore nous vetir de pied en tete et pendant quon travaillera á nous couvrir, nous Chercherons des mattieres en attendant les notres que nous attendons à tout moment. Je Crois que les premieres Lettres que ma remis Monsr. Jefferson sont dans nos Malles restées au hâvre mais les dernières sont avec nous. M. Grand à reçu quatre Lignes de M. franklin qui s’est mieux porté pendant les 7 semaines de Sa traversée que dans une semaine a Passy. Il assure Monsieur Jefferson de son res[pect].” This extract, apparently copied by one of Grand’s clerks, must have been handed to TJ by Grand or enclosed in a letter from him toward the end of 1785. Chinard, Houdon in America, p. xviii, 23, prints the name as “Giraud” and suggests that it may have been addressed to William Temple Franklin. But see note to TJ to Governor of Virginia, 11 July 1785.