Gazette Of The United States

FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES,

Mr. Fenno,

A Little Plain Truth to the Jacobins of America.

IF—the secret history of this debt contracted in France was published, it would discover the origin of many fortunes which have astonished us. It is certain, for instance that M. de Vergennes disposed of those loans at pleasure, caused military stores and merchandizes to be furnished by persons attached to him, and suffered not their accounts to be disputed. It is a fact that in his accounts with Congress, there was one million of livres that he never accounted for, after all the demands that were made to him. It is likewise a fact, that out of the forty seven millions pretended to be furnished in the above articles by France to Congress, the employment of twenty-one millions is without vouchers. Many fortunes may be made from twenty-one millions.

M. Beaumarchais, in a memoir published two years ago, pretends to be the creditor of Congress for millions. I have in my hands, a report made to Congress by two respectable members, in which they prove, that he now owes Congress 742,413 livres and a million more, if the wandering million above mentioned, has fallen into his hands. These reporters make a striking picture of the manoeuvres practised to deceive the Americans.

Will not the National Assembly cause some account to be rendered of the sums squandered in our part of the American War? or rather the sums which, instead of going to succour those brave strugglers for liberty, went to adorn the bed-chamber of an actress? Adeline did more mischief to the Americans, than a regiment of Hessians.

Where are the accounts of her favorite Vergennes? Why has not Mr. Neckar drawn the impenetrable veil which screens them from the public? and he himself has he nothing to answer for the choice he made of corrupted, weak, and wicked agents, and the facility with which he ratified their accounts?