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
SIR,--I was honored a few days ago with the receipt of your letter of
August 11th. In my last to you, I informed you that I had proposed to
Mr. Adams to avail ourselves of your service at Algiers. I acknowledge
that I had no expectation, with our small means, you could effect a
treaty there; but I thought their ultimatum might be discovered, and
other intelligence obtained which might repay us the trouble and expense
of the journey. I wished, also, to know what might be the effect of the
interposition of the court of Madrid, now that it is likely to interpose.
A letter recently received from Mr. Carmichael informs me, that it is the
opinion of the Counts de Florida Blanca and D'Expilly, that nothing can
be effected at Algiers till there be a previous treaty with the Ottoman
Porte. Independently of that information, Mr. Adams is of opinion, that no
good can result at present from a further attempt at Algiers. The Porte,
Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli must remain for the further deliberation of
Congress. Of course, we have no occasion to trouble you with any further
visits to those powers, and leave you at liberty to return here, to
London, or to America, as you shall think proper. We are happy that your
successful efforts with the Emperor of Morocco have left the Atlantic open
to our commerce, and little dangerous.
I have the pleasure to inform you that Mrs. Barclay and family are well,
and am, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and respect, your very
humble servant.
TO MR. ADAMS.
PARIS, September 26, 1786.
DEAR SIR,--My last letter to you was dated the 27th of August, since
which I have received yours of September 11th. The letter to Mr. Lambe
therein enclosed, I immediately signed and forwarded. In mine, wherein I
had the honor of proposing to you the mission of Mr. Barclay to Algiers,
I mentioned that my expectations from it were of a subordinate nature
only. I very readily, therefore, recede from it in compliance with your
judgment--that his mission might do more harm than good. I accordingly
wrote to Mr. Barclay, that he was at liberty to return to this place, to
London, or to America, as he should think best. I now enclose you copies
of such letters from him, Mr. Lambe and Mr. Carmichael, as have come to
hand since my last to you. I have had opportunities of making further
inquiry as to the premium of insurance at L'Orient for vessels bound to
or from America, and I find that no additional premium is there required
on account of the risk of capture by the Barbary States. This fact may be
worth mentioning to American merchants in London.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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