Remarks on a Request by Jean Baptiste de Ternant, 11 January 1793
Remarks on a Request by Jean Baptiste
de Ternant
[Philadelphia] Friday, January 11th: 1793.
The Secretary of the Treasury waited upon the President on the subject of the papers which were put into his hands yesterday,1 and observed.
That the advance required by the French Consuls could be made without any inconvenience to the Treasury of the U. S. but as the U. S. had already paid to France the amot. of what was due to her at present, and as the unsettled State of things in France made it uncertain whether, when they shall have formed a permanent government, they will agree to allow of the advance thus made, the Secretary thought it was a matter which required weighty consideration and gave it as his opinion, that the President had better take the sentiments of the heads of the Departments on the subject. Which meeting the President’s ideas, the Gentlemen were requested to attend the President tomorrow morning at nine O’clock.2
, 5.
1. On January 10, 1793, Thomas Jefferson “laid before the President a letter from the Minister of France, and certain papers relative to an advance of money which the Consul Genl. of France had requested from the Treasury of the U. S. in behalf of himself and the other French Consuls in the U. S. for their support, as they found it impracticable to obtain their allowance by disposing of Bills on Paris. This advance, if made, they suggest, may be placed to the Acct. of the Debt due from the United States to France.
“These papers were put into the hands of the Secretary of the Treasury, with a request that he would take them into consideration, and see the President upon them tomorrow morning.” (, 4–5.)
See also H to George Washington, December 29, 1792; Washington to H, January 1, 1793.
2. An entry in for January 12, 1793, reads as follows: “The Heads of the Departments and the Attorney General of the United States, waited on the President this morning at nine o’clock, according to appointment, and took into consideration the request of the French Consul General for an advance of money for the support of the French Consuls residing in the U.S. when it was thought proper to comply with the request” (, 7).