To Benjamin Franklin from Henri Fizeaux & Cie., 3 January 1785
From Henri Fizeaux & Cie.5
ALS:6 American Philosophical Society
ce 3 Janvier 1785.
Monsieur
Nous avons l’honneur de vous informer qu’ayant acquite les interets á 5 p% sur un Capital de f. 51,000—Emprunté pour Le Compte des Etats unis, nous nous en remboursons aujourd’hui sur M. Grand de Paris, en
[ecus?] 1857.19. —á 3 usances
faisant au change de 53⅛ en B f. 2466.15—lesquels réduits á l’agio de 103⅜ forment les susdits arrérages de f. 2550.
Nous vous prions Monsieur de vouloir bien autoriser M Grand à accepter cette traitte pour qu’il en soit ensuite passé ecriture de conformité.7
Daignéz aussi recevoir favorablement les offres empressées du devouement sans borne de nôtre nouvelle Societé. Nous avons l’honneur d’être avec une Consideration Infinie, Monsieur Vos trés humbles & trés obeissans Serviteurs
h. Fizeaux & CO.
Notation: Fizeaux Grand & Co.— 1r. Janvr. 1785.
5. The firm that succeeded Fizeaux, Grand & Cie. of Amsterdam at the beginning of January, 1785, upon the retirement of Georges Grand, who was returning to France. Two members of the old firm were promoted to associates: Georges Grand’s nephew Daniel Grand (XXXVI, 589n), and Paul Iwan Hogguer, the son of a former associate. Circulars announcing these changes were issued by both the old and new firms, dated Dec. 31, 1784, and Jan. 1, 1785, respectively (APS).
6. In the hand of Daniel Grand. Three years earlier, when he wrote his only known letter to BF (XXXVI, 589), the young Grand had signed as “La Chaise,” after a family property; by this time, he seems to have dropped that practice.
7. For background on this ten-year loan arranged in 1778 through Horneca, Fizeaux & Cie. see XXVII, 322, 484–5n, and XXVIII, 271–2n. During each of the ten years, the Dutch banking firm (and its successors) paid the creditors the 5 percent interest due to them, and then applied for and received reimbursement from the United States through Ferdinand Grand. Those annual payments are recorded in Account XVII. BF must have received yearly applications similar to the present letter, but this is the only one that has been located.