Papers of John Adams, volume 7

315 Horneca, Fizeaux & Co. to the Commissioners, 24 December 1778 Horneca, Fizeaux & Co. (business) Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur JA First Joint Commission at Paris

1778-12-24

Horneca, Fizeaux & Co. to the Commissioners, 24 December 1778 Horneca, Fizeaux & Co. (business) Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur Adams, John First Joint Commission at Paris
Horneca, Fizeaux & Co. to the Commissioners
Messieurs Amsterdam le 24 Decembre 1778

Nous n'avons reçu que le 15 La Lettre dont vous nous aves honnorés le 6 du Courant;1 nous avons Informés Exactement nôtre Sr. Grand, Actuellement à Paris, de ce qui est Relatif au plaçement des Promesses des Etats Unis de L'Amerique. Il vous en aura sans doute Egalement fait part, tous ce que nous avons pú êcouler Jusqu'a prêsent, de ces Promesses se Reduit à 51. mais nous ne doutons point qu'avec un peu de patiençe nous ne parvenions peu à peu, à plaçer le Reste, et à pouvoir ensuitte agir pour des Objets de Considêration. Il faut pour cela êtablir et mênager le Credit de ces Effets, et Il faut pour ÿ parvenir agir avec Circonspection et avec Reservé, car en voulant forcer les choses nous ne ferions que Reculer, et nuire à l'avenir; Nous vous prions Messieurs, de vouloir bien vous Reposer surtout Nôtre Zêle, et nos soins à contribuër au bien de la chose, et être persuadés que les Intêrets que vous voulés bien nous confier nous occupent et nous attachent autant que les nôtres prôpres.

Nous attendrons les Ordres que vous Jugerés à prôpos de nous donner, pour la disposition de vos fonds en nos mains, pour nous ÿ conformer.

Nous sommes avec un Dêvouëment Respectueux Messieurs Vos tres Humbles & tres Obeissants Serviteurs

Horneca fizeaux Comp.
Horneca, Fizeaux & Co. to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 24 December 1778 Horneca, Fizeaux & Co. (business) Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur JA First Joint Commission at Paris

1778-12-24

Horneca, Fizeaux & Co. to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 24 December 1778 Horneca, Fizeaux & Co. (business) Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur Adams, John First Joint Commission at Paris
Horneca, Fizeaux & Co. to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation
Gentlemen Amsterdam, 24 December 1778

It was not until the 15th that we received the letter that you honored us with of the 6th instant.1 We have precisely informed Sir Grand, currently in Paris, of that which is relative to the placement of the promissory notes of the United States of America. He undoubtedly will also have told you that all we have been able to place up to now is 51, but we do not doubt that with a little patience we will succeed, little by little, in placing the rest and then be able to proceed to some important business. For this it is necessary to establish and maintain the credit of these notes, and for that it is necessary to proceed with circumspection and reserve. By trying to force these things we would only be taking a step back, thereby jeopardizing the future. We beseech you, gentlemen, to trust above all in our zeal and our attention to the success of the project, and to be persuaded that the interests that you were kind enough to confide to us occupy and engage us as much as our own.

We will await the orders that you will judge appropriate, and to which we will conform, for the disposition of your funds in our hands.

We are with respectful devotion, gentlemen, your very humble and very obedient servants

Horneca, Fizeaux & Co.
316

RC (PPAmP: Franklin Papers); docketed: “Mess. Horneca, Fizeau's & Co.”; in another hand: “24 Dec. 1778.”

1.

In that letter (LbC, Adams Papers) the Commissioners noted that they had received no “intelligence” concerning the progress of the loan and asked for news so that they could inform their “Constituents, and regulate our Conduct in other Things.”