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JEFFERSON, Thomas, President (1743-1826). Manuscript document BOLDLY SIGNED ("Th: Jefferson") as Governor of Virginia, Richmond, Va., 20 May 1780. 1 full page, 4to, integral blank, with a mostly intact impression in red wax of the Virginia state seal (affixed to lower left-hand corner of document), recipient's docket (apparently in a French hand) on verso.
GUNS FOR TOBACCO: COMPENSATING BEAUMARCHAIS FOR SECRET FRENCH AIDE
Just before the American's declared independence, Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732-1799), best-known as the author of The Barber of Seville, had been delegated by Vergennes, the French foreign minister, to devise secret means to aid and assist the rebellious American colonies. Under his covert plan, a fictitious commercial firm he created, Hortalez & Cie, would send critically needed arms and munitions to the Americans, who would reciprocate with valuable commodities like rice or tobacco. The Americans, however, failed to honor their end of the bargain, and Beaumarchais was soon out of pocket for millions of francs. A few Congressmen, led by troublemaker Arthur Lee, demanded the U.S. make good on these debts and in January 1780 Congress apologized and pledged repayment.
The present certificate, given to Defrancey as a form of security or guarantee of payment, may even have functioned as a sort of letter of credit. Jefferson certifies that "Mr. Lazarus Defrancey [Jean Baptiste Theveneau de Francy], Agent for Mr. Beaumarchais & Co., has a Ballance due to him from the State of Virginia amounting to the sum of £161,603,13s. with Interest from the first Day of July 1778 at 6 per centum per Annum... The above balance...is stated as due to Mr. Defrancey upon a supposition that two thousand horseheads of Tobacco part of which has been delivered and part still to be delivered, shall weigh one thousand Weight each..." By this date though, France and the U.S. had signed a formal alliance, so further covert transactions were unnecessary. Beaumarchais never won full compensation, but his heirs eventually did recover some 800,000 francs from Congress in recompense for the aid provided by "Hortalez & Cie."
GUNS FOR TOBACCO: COMPENSATING BEAUMARCHAIS FOR SECRET FRENCH AIDE
Just before the American's declared independence, Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732-1799), best-known as the author of The Barber of Seville, had been delegated by Vergennes, the French foreign minister, to devise secret means to aid and assist the rebellious American colonies. Under his covert plan, a fictitious commercial firm he created, Hortalez & Cie, would send critically needed arms and munitions to the Americans, who would reciprocate with valuable commodities like rice or tobacco. The Americans, however, failed to honor their end of the bargain, and Beaumarchais was soon out of pocket for millions of francs. A few Congressmen, led by troublemaker Arthur Lee, demanded the U.S. make good on these debts and in January 1780 Congress apologized and pledged repayment.
The present certificate, given to Defrancey as a form of security or guarantee of payment, may even have functioned as a sort of letter of credit. Jefferson certifies that "Mr. Lazarus Defrancey [Jean Baptiste Theveneau de Francy], Agent for Mr. Beaumarchais & Co., has a Ballance due to him from the State of Virginia amounting to the sum of £161,603,13s. with Interest from the first Day of July 1778 at 6 per centum per Annum... The above balance...is stated as due to Mr. Defrancey upon a supposition that two thousand horseheads of Tobacco part of which has been delivered and part still to be delivered, shall weigh one thousand Weight each..." By this date though, France and the U.S. had signed a formal alliance, so further covert transactions were unnecessary. Beaumarchais never won full compensation, but his heirs eventually did recover some 800,000 francs from Congress in recompense for the aid provided by "Hortalez & Cie."