280 Peter Tenet among the Oneida Indians.. 



from the original contract made with him, as we cannot 

 learn that he is known to he a person of substance : at the 

 same time, it is but justice to say, that he appears to be 

 active, industrious and attentive to your interest. He is, 

 indeed, connected with a very good house in Mantes, M. 

 Gruel, but we do not know the terms of that connection, 

 or how far M. Gruel is answerable. It seems to us that those 

 houses which are connected in Great Britain, are to be 

 avoided." 1 



On the 11th of February, 1777, Arthur Lee wrote to 

 the secret committee of Congress : " Upon examination 

 I find your commercial connection here greatly deranged. 

 It appears to have been the first plan of the committee, to 

 place Mons. Schweighauser as a check over Mods. Penet. 

 The established character and credit of the former, were 

 to control the confidence reposed in the latter, who, 

 the committee say,had not such recommendations as they 

 could wish.' For this purpose, the consignments were 

 to be made to Mons. Schweighauser, out of which he was 

 to pay Mons. Penet for . such goods as were shipped' on 

 your account, after being inspected and approved by the 

 former. This was certainly a wise plan, and a necessary 

 precaution. In my humble judgment, it still continues 

 to be absolutely necessary; but instead of the consign- 

 ments having been made to Mr. Schweighauser, they 

 have been chiefly addressed directly to Penet ; in conse- 

 quence of this, the latter has not submitted the goods 

 sent to the inspection of the former, and Mr. Schweig- 

 hauser has reason to complain of his being neglected, 

 after an express promise given him of your consignments, 

 without his being able to conceive in what he has 

 offended. These are facts, which I think it my duty to 

 state to you. Mons. Montanduine and Mons. Schweig- 

 hauser, arc certainly the first in rank and reputation here. 

 It is of more consequence, that merchants of this descrip- 



1 Diplomatic Correspondence, i, 252. 



