2. On 16 Oct. the congress sent instructions to Franklin to supply 2,000 louis d'or (48,000
livres) to the new ministers plenipotentiary and their secretaries. The third secretary
was John Laurens, chosen by the congress to serve Franklin (same, 15:1183; see also
Commissioners' Accounts,
9 Aug.–12 Nov. 1778, entry for
14 Aug., vol. 6:359).