Richard Henry Lee to Henry Laurens

Before this reaches you I hope you will be very comfortably placed in your new lodging. I do not know how it will be in other respects, but I think the neighborhood must be better than the one you left, unless you should have fixed anywhere in the neighborhood of black heart/black Coat, which I do not suppose. W.H.D. is still daubing the News papers with filth I see - A piece in our papers addressed to Sr. Henry Clinton K.B. This nonsense is too dull even to be laughed at, - 'Tis strange the vanity of this scribbler should be so great as not to see what all men see, that every body but a few designing knaves, consider his publications as disgracefully stupid. How Congress can answer to their constituents for suffering Deane to go off without giving security, after the charges that have been exhibited against him by Dr. Lee vouched as they have been, is to me inexplicable - I fear the yeas & nays will not illucidate this matter properly to the public. A certain set of men have so managed, that altho they have partly failed in a most nefarious - - yet the world will be puzzled to trace them, and properly to know their conduct. But to pay a man for misconduct is shocking indeed. There is nothing better known than that this mans misconduct here since his arrival from france has done more injury to the cause of the united states than 40,000 such men exerting all their talents to serve it, could have done it good. Congress have but one thing more to do, and the

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will be, perfect - Bedaub his friend and supporter G - d with praises on his going away - They know the use that has been made here of the praises Deane brought with him. The farce may be repeated - And the whol e misconduct will recoil, and fix on Congress - Dreadful misfortune to befall the representative council of young and rising republicks, the capital supporters of whose system should be virtue and wisdom! These will of course detect, abhor, punish not praise and reward vice. I had the honor of writing to you on the 13th. instant by the express that carried dispatches to Congress from france, I hope you received that letter safe with its enclosures, and that e’er this, the new Minister who is a gentleman, and our worthy friend Mr. Adams will have arrived safely in Philadelphia - If the latter is called upon by Congress to say what he knows of the late & present conduct & conductors of our affairs abroad, it may be of essential service to the U. States - The appointment of a person to settle the accounts in france may be a wise or a wicked measure as happens to be the person appointed for the purpose. Send a man from here vested with proper powers, and let him be skilful in business, firm, and of unimpeachable integrity - in no manner whatever concerned with any of the parties having accounts to settle - After all, I will suppose Deane in France or Holland and refusing to settle, where is the coertion? Observe if attempts are not made to have a MF Johnson Merchant in Nantes to settle these accounts - The very circumstance of his having been already proposed by Deane for this purpose is an argument why he ought not.

My cold, with fever, continues so to persecute me that I will add no more at present than my assurance of being, dear Sir, with the most respectful attachment your obliged friend and very humble servant.

Richard Henry Lee

Mr. Deanes friendship for Mr. Johnson of Nantes is evident from the former having proposed the latter either for a consul, or for settling accounts, or both: which may be seen in some of the papers on the files of Congress. Honorable Henry Laurens, esquire Member of Congress Philadelphia NOTES: