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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from François, Marquis de Barbé-Marbois to Alexander Martin
Barbé-Marbois, François, marquis de, 1745-1837
July 13, 1784
Volume 17, Pages 87-88

DE MARBOIS TO GOVERNOR MARTIN.

Philadelphia, July 13th, 1784.

I have received in the absence of the Chevalier de la Luzerne the Letter which your Excellency hath taken the trouble to write to him the 4th of last month. I receive with pleasure the measures taken by the State of North Carolina for the payment of the debt contracted with the colony of Martinique, and will not be delayed in their execution from which I shall be able to draw for the sum of 6,000 Dollars or for part of this sum. I pray you that you will be pleased to inform me as to the terms of the Bills of Exchange which I may draw upon your Excellency. If it should be more convenient for you to cause the payment to be made here, I shall be equally ready to receive it, and which indeed will be more convenient for me.

I shall hasten to inform the Minister of the Marine department of the arrangement which the State has taken for this payment. I am persuaded that it will be very easy for you to remove every kind of difficulty that may obstruct the officers of his Majesty, of Martinique in the settlement of their accounts. I am informed that the Isles of France and Bourbon (Mauritius) will be opened to

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the Ships of the United States. This news is interesting to North Carolina, on which acct. I hasten to communicate to your Excellency.

I am with respect Sir, Your Excellency's &c.,
DE MARBOIS.
Charge des affaires of France at Congress & Consul General.
His Excellency
Alexander Martin, Esqr., Gov., &c.