The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
DEAR SIR,--I am now to acknowledge your separate favors of December 4th
and January 6th, and the joint one to Mr. Adams and myself of January 6th;
this last has been communicated to Congress, and to Mr. Adams. You have
my full and hearty approbation of the treaty you obtained from Morocco,
which is better and on better terms than I expected. Mr. Adams and myself
have annexed our confirmation to two of the copies, one of which is gone
to Congress; the other, with a joint letter to Fennish, I now enclose to
Mr. Carmichael, apprehending you are not in Madrid. I concur clearly with
you in opinion that, for many reasons, Mr. Carmichael would be a proper
person to negotiate our business with Algiers, if it be negotiable with
such means as we possess. I have expressed this opinion in my letters to
America, but I am sure we cannot raise the money necessary. Colonel Franks
was gone to London before I received your letter. He returned and embarked
in the packet for Havre, but nothing was done on the subject of accounts
or money. I was unlucky enough to dislocate my right wrist five months
ago, and though it was well set, I can yet make no use of it but to write.
I am advised to try mineral waters, and those of Aix in Provence, being as
much recommended as any others, I am induced to go to them by the desire
of making the tour of the ports with which we trade, Marseilles, Bordeaux,
Nantes, &c. I set out in two days and shall be absent three months. The
packets are finally fixed at Havre. They sail every six weeks. Honfleur
will, I think, certainly be made a free port; and I flatter myself will
become the centre for much of our trade, and particularly that of rice.
The death of Count de Vergennes, and appointment of Monsieur de Montmorin,
will reach you before this letter does. I have letters, &c., from America
as late as the 15th of December. The insurgents of Massachusetts had
prayed pardon for themselves and their leaders in jail, and on these terms
had offered to retire and live peaceably at home. Mrs. Barclay and your
family are well, except they are somewhat apprehensive of a film growing
over the eye of your youngest daughter; but should it do so, it will be
easily removed. I have the honor to be, with much esteem and respect, dear
Sir, your most obedient, and most humble servant.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN ADAMS.
PARIS, February 20, 1787.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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