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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1782.2
[Note 2: 2 The proceedings of February 5 were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, and in Secret Journal No. 4.]
On the report of the Secretary for foreign affairs, to whom was referred the note from the honourable the Minister Plenipotentiary of France,
Resolved, That the following powers and instructions be given to the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America at the Court of Versailles.
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To the honble Benjamin Franklin, Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America, to his Most Christian Majesty:
Whereas the minister of his Most Christian Majesty hath informed the United States in Congress assembled, that the loan of ten millions of livres tournois, opened in Holland on account of these United States, was in a great measure completed in October last, and requested in consequence thereof, that full powers might be dited to bind these United States to discharge the principal and interest of the said loan agreeably to the terms thereof, with such expences as might have accrued in making such loan: You are therefore hereby authorised, directed and empowered, to enter into such engagements with his Most Christian Majesty, with the States General of the United Provinces, with any particular state or province, or with any man or body of men whatsoever, with whom you may find it necessary to enter into engagements, for the purpose of binding these United States to discharge the said loan with the interest, agreeably to the terms thereof; and also for the repayment of such expences as have arisen, or may arise by reason of the said loan. And the said United States of America do hereby pledge their faith to confirm what you shall execute in pursuance of the above power.
Done at Philadelphia, the fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, and in the sixth year of our independence.
By the United States in Congress assembled.
JOHN HANSON, President.
Charles Thomson, Secretary.1
[Note 1: 1 On February 6, according to the indorsement, was read a letter of January 21 from the Governor of Virginia. It was referred to Mr. [Ezekiel] Cornell, Mr. [Nicholas] Eveleigh, Mr. J[oseph] Jones to confer with the Superintendent of Finance and Commander in Chief, and is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 71, II, folio 345.]
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