To George Washington from Augustin Regnaud, 6 January 1794
From Augustin Regnaud
Philadelphie Le 6 janvier 1794
Général
Avocat au Parlement de Paris et cy-devant Conseiller au Conseil Superieur du Cap, je suis arrivé Sans ressources dans ce Continent: reduit à la derniere extremité et creancier de La Republique francoise d’une Somme assez considerable, je me Suis adressé au Ministre françois pour lui demander du Secours; ignorant à quel titre il en distribue, il a rejetté ma petition. Veuillez, Général, agreant mes foibles travaux, disposer de moi, et considerant, quant à present, mes besoins, Daignez m’arbitrer à titre de prêt, une Somme quelconque, pour Sureté de la quelle j’offre de deposer une reconnoissance de 9,000 [livres tournois] jusqu’à ce que des circonstances plus heureuses me mettent à même de la retirer et de Satisfaire, avec interets, à une dette contracteé Sous vos auspices.1 Salut en la prosperité de vos jours et Le bonheur de vos Etats
A. Regnaud
2e Rue Nord No 227. chez Mr Antony2
ALS (in French), DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters.
Augustin Regnaud (born c.1768) was listed as a grocer at 227 North Third Street in the . He continued for many years as a merchant and broker and was a member in 1802 of the Freemasons Loge Française l’Amenité in Philadelphia (Tableau des ff. composant la T.R. Loge Française l’Amenité, No. 73 réqulièrement constituée à l’O. de Philadelphie par le T.R. Grand Orient de Pennsylvanie [Philadelphia, 1802], 9).
1. Regnaud was among the many refugees who came to the United States in 1793 to escape the devastation wrought by a civil war in the French colony of Saint Domingue. Since Edmond Genet, the French minister to the United States, had denied his request for assistance, Regnaud now asked GW for a loan.
GW’s secretary, Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., replied to Regnaud on 9 Jan.: “The President of the United States has received a letter from you dated the 6 instant: In answer to it the President directs me to inform you, that, however desirous he is at all times to releive distress, and to give aid to the succourless, yet so multiplied are the calls upon his benevolence, that his resources are far short of enabling him to satisfy them. The President regrets his inability to afford you the relief asked for, and presumes, under the circumstances above stated, you will see the propriety of his declining to comply with your request” (DLC:GW).
2. In the , Jacob Anthony, Sr. (c.1736–1804), a turner and maker of musical instruments, is listed at 227 North Second Street.