The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
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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
on the subject of their loan.
I wish the loan lately obtained by Mr. Adams, may enable you to get rid
of the debt to the Foreign Officers, principal and interest. Indeed,
if Mr. Adams could be charged with the transfer of our whole debt from
this country to Holland, it would be a most salutary operation. The
confusions of that country might perhaps facilitate that measure at
present, though no regular tax could be obtained in the moment for payment
of the interest. I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most
perfect esteem and respect, gentlemen, your most obedient, and most humble
servant.
TO JOHN JAY.
PARIS, August 6, 1787.
SIR,--The last letter I had the honor of addressing you, was dated June
the 21st. I have now that of enclosing you a letter from the Swedish
ambassador, praying that inquiry may be made for a vessel of his nation,
piratically carried off, and measures taken relative to the vessel,
cargo and crew. Also a letter from William Russell and others, citizens
of America, concerned in trade to the island of Guadaloupe, addressed to
the Marechal de Castries, and complaining of the shutting to them the
port of Point à Pitre, and receiving them only at Basse-tern. This was
enclosed to me by the subscribers, to be delivered to the Marechal de
Castries. But the present is not the moment to move in that business;
and moreover, I suppose, that whenever parties are within the reach of
Congress, they should apply to them, and my instructions come through
that channel. Matters arising within the kingdom of France, to which
my commission is limited, and not admitting time to take the orders of
Congress, I suppose I may move in originally. I also enclose you the copy
of a letter from Mr. Barclay, closing his proceedings in our affairs with
Morocco. Before this reaches you, he will have had the honor of presenting
himself to you in person. After his departure, the parliament of Bordeaux
decided that he was liable to arrest. This was done on a letter from the
minister, informing them that Mr. Barclay was invested with no character
which privileged him from arrest. His constant character of consul was
no protection, and they did not explain whether his character to Morocco
was not originally diplomatic, or was expired. Mr. Barclay's proceedings
under this commission being now closed, it would be incumbent on me to
declare with respect to them, as well as his consular transactions, my
opinion of the judgment, zeal and disinterestedness with which he has
conducted himself; were it not that Congress has been so possessed of
those transactions from time to time, as to judge for themselves. I
cannot but be uneasy, lest my delay of entering on the subject of the
consular convention, may be disapproved. My hope was and is, that more
practicable terms might be obtained; in this hope, I do nothing till
further orders, observing by an extract from the journals you were pleased
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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