1IV. The American Commissioners to William Carmichael, 12 September 1785 – 11 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
M r. Barclay will deliver you this letter in his way to Morocco. We have appointed him to this negotiation in hopes of obtaining the friendship of that State to our country, & of opening by that means the commerce of the Mediterranean, an object of sufficient importance to induce him to accept of the trust We recommend him & Col o. Franks who goes with him to your attention & assistance, and...
2Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael and William Short to be in cypher, 23 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
It is intimated to us, in such a way as to attract our attention, that France means to send a strong force early this spring to offer independance to the Spanish American colonies, beginning with those on the Missisipi: & that she will not object to the receiving those on the East side into our confederation, interesting considerations require that we should keep ourselves free to act in this...
3[From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 16 August 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 16 Aug. 1784 . An entry in SJL under this date has a line drawn through it followed by: “[recalled the letter.]” The canceled entry reads: “[Aug.] 16. Mr. Carmichael at Havre on the subject of Limosin. See copy.” It is possible that this letter dealt with TJ’s having been cheated by a porter at Havre (see TJ to William Temple Franklin, 18 Aug. 1784 , note.]
4[From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 2 November 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[Paris, 2 Nov. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “Wm. Carmichael. Madrid. Inclosing letter—news, adjournment Congr. Separn. Commee. E. Ind. trade—ask sentiments of Span. court on navigation of Missisipi.” Not found; enclosure not identified.]
5[From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 15 December 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 15 Dec. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “Mr. Carmichael. à Havre to know if it is stopped at Havre.” Not found; “it” refers to a copying press mentioned in TJ’s entry for a letter to John Holker, this date, written just above the entry for the letter to Carmichael.]
6[From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 30 January 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 30 Jan. 1785 . Entry in SJL reads: “W. Carmichael. State of American affairs viz. impost—Conn. established it when 12. shall have done the same—cession of territory by Virga. and N. Cara. probability of further cessions—act of Congr. in nature of Magna charta—purchase of 6. nations—this enables to open land office which will pay domestic debt. Impost will pay forign debt—principles...
7[From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 17 April 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 17 Apr. 1785 . Entry in SJL reads: “Mr. Carmichael. Acknolege receipt of his of Mar. 29. and Apr. 4. Papers relative to Algrs. sent to Congress—books. Send me note of what will cost, except those which are at common prices and which may be bought—account of Virga. act for surrendering citizens committing offences in other countries. Made principally to restrain our people as to Span....
8[From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 3 May 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 3 May 1785 . Entry in SJL reads: “Wm. Carmichael. Receipt his of Apr. 19. Rh. isld. passed impost imperfectly.-N.Y. double duties on British bottoms-not passed impost. Georga. brought in bill for impost-Moultrie Govr. S.C. Reed of Pensva. dead-Indian purchase said to be to meridian of falls of Ohio but I doubt it. Mr. A. minister at Lond. Smith Secretary of legation-Dr. F. leave to...
9From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 22 June 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of April 4. came to my hands on the 16th. of that month and was acknowleged by mine of May 3. That which you did me the honour to write me on the 5th. of April never came to hand till the 19th. of May, upwards of a month after the one of the day before. I have hopes of sending the present by a Mr. Jarvis who went from hence to Holland some time ago. About this date I suppose him to...
10From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 18 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of June 22. with a P. S. of July 14. Yours of June 27. came to hand the 23d. of July and that of July 28. came to hand the 10th. inst. The papers enclosed in the last shall be communicated to Mr. Adams. I see with extreme satisfaction and gratitude the friendly interposition of the court of Spain with the emperor of Marocco on the subject of the brig Betsey, and I am...
11VIII. American Commissioners to William Carmichael, 12 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Barclay will deliver you this letter in his way to Morocco. We have appointed him to this negotiation in hopes of obtaining the friendship of that State to our country, and of opening by that means the commerce of the Mediterranean, an object of sufficient importance to induce him to accept of the trust. We recommend him and Colo. Franks who goes with him to your attention and assistance,...
12From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 18 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour of the 29. Sep. came safely to hand: the constant expectation of the departure of the persons whom I formerly gave you reason to expect has prevented my writing as it has done yours. They will probably leave this in a week, but their route will be circuitous and attended with delays. Between the middle and last of November they may be with you. By them you will receive a cypher by...
13From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 25 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I did myself the honour of writing to you on the 18th. inst. Since that date it has become probable that Mr. Lamb and Mr. Randall will set out for Madrid before Mr. Barclay will be ready. You will probably see them between the middle and last of November. I took the liberty of solliciting Count d’Aranda for passports for these gentlemen, which might protect their baggage from being searched....
14From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 4 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of writing you on the 18th. of October and again on the 25th. of the same month. Both letters, being to pass through the post offices, were confined to particular subjects. The first of them acknoleged the receipt of yours of Sep. 29. At length a confidential opportunity arrives for conveying to you a cypher ; it will be handed you by the bearer Mr. Lambe. Copies of it are in...
15From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 8 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a copy of a letter of mine to Mr. Grand which will explain to you a difficulty which arose as to a bill of exchange to which your name was subscribed. Considering myself as no ways authorized to direct the funds of the U.S. in France I had originally refused to intermeddle at all. But Mr. Grand would not pay at all then. I thereupon have undertaken to advise him till I can...
16From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 13 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of receiving on the 1st. inst. your favor of Dec. 17. I had before that, in a letter of Dec. 8. explained to you the cause of the bill not being paid which appeared here in your name, so far as I had been obliged to meddle in it. My letter to Mr. Grand which I inclosed to you, will have shewn you that I advised him to follow what had been his practice as to your bills. I do...
17From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 5 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
A visit of two months to England has been the cause of your not hearing from me during that period. Your letters of Feb. 3. to Mr. Adams and myself, and Feb. 4. to me had come to hand before my departure. While I was in London Mr. Adams received the letters giving information of Mr. Lamb’s arrival at Algiers. At London we had conferences with a Tripoline ambassador now at that court, named...
18From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 20 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 5th. of May by Baron Waltersdorff. Since that I have been honoured with yours of Apr. 13. May 16. and 18. The present covers letters to Mr. Lamb and Mr. Randall informing them that the demands of Algiers for the ransom of our prisoners and also for peace is so infinitely beyond our instructions that we must refer the matter back to Congress, and therefore praying them...
19From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 22 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of June 16. July 15. 18. and 31. I have the honour now to acknowlege. I have been for a month past so closely employed that it has been out of my power to do myself the pleasure sooner of writing to you on the several subjects they contain.—I formerly wrote you the reason why Mr. Grand had not paid your bills, that is to say, the want of a letter of advice. As to the notary’s...
20From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 22 September 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson’s Compliments to Mr. Carmichael and begs the favor of him to convey the inclosed letters. He has recieved his letter of the 4th. of Septr. and is in hopes that one which he had written to Mr. Carmichael on the 22d. of August will have answered some of his enquiries. An indisposition likely to continue some time will necessarily retard his answer to the rest. He begs Mr....
21From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 26 December 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
A note from me of the 22d. of Sep. apprised you it would be some time before I should be able to answer your letters. I did not then expect it would have been so long. A dislocation of my right wrist three or four days before that has disabled me from writing till lately, and I now write in great pain and only in cases of necessity. I am to acknolege the receipt of yours of Sep. 29. Oct. 3....
22From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 18 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was dated Dec. 26. since which I have been honoured with yours of Dec. 17. I now inclose you a duplicate of the vote for the recall of Mr. Lamb. I take the liberty also of putting under cover to you our confirmation of the Marocco treaty together with a joint letter to Fennish. The fear that Mr. Barclay might not be at Madrid has occasioned my giving you this trouble as well as...
23From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 26 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Being thus far on my tour through the seaports, I find here a letter from Colo. Smith, informing me of his having passed this place on his way to Madrid. As I believe you are not acquainted with each other, give me leave to recommend him to your attentions, not as a matter of formality but with all the warmth which his uncommon merit deserves. His good sense you will immediately perceive, but...
24From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 14 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Having got back to Paris three days ago, I resume immediately the correspondence with which you have been pleased to honour me. I wish I could have begun it with more agreeable information than that furnished me by Mr. Grand, that the funds of the United states here are exhausted and himself considerably in advance, and by the Board of treasury at New York that they have no immediate prospect...
25From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 25 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The copy of your letter of July 9. and that of Aug. 22. came to hand together. The original of the former I never received. My last to you was dated June 14. I heard indirectly that Mr. Grand had refused to pay a bill of yours , but he never said a word to me on the subject, nor mentioned any letter of yours in consequence of it. I have stated the matter to the board of treasury . I also wrote...
26From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 15 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am later in acknoleging the receipt of your favors of Oct. 15. Nov. 5. and 15. because we have been long expecting a packet which I hoped would bring communications worth detailing to you, and she arrived only a few days ago, after a very long passage indeed. I am very sorry you have not been able to make out the cypher of my letter of Sep. 25. because it contained things which I wished you...
27From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 1 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have a moment’s warning only of the departure of Mr. Symonds for Madrid, which place however he will not reach till the month of April, which is another reason for my making this letter merely the vehicle for a cypher which I can answer for in point of correspondence with mine. I take the liberty at the same time of recommending the bearer hereof to your notice. I have the honour to be with...
28From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 3 June 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of Apr. 14. and 29. and May 8. have lately come to hand. That of Jan. 29. by M. de Molinedo had been left here during my absence on a journey to Amsterdam. That gentleman was gone, as I presume from my being unable to learn any thing of him. I had been led to Amsterdam in order to meet with Mr. Adams and to endeavor in conjunction with him to take arrangements for answering the...
29From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 12 August 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last to you, I have been honoured with your’s of the 18th. and 29th. of May and 5th. of June. My latest American intelligence is of the 24th. of June when 9. certainly and probably 10. states had accepted the new constitution, and there was no doubt of the 11th. (North Carolina) because there was no opposition there. In New-York ⅔ of the state was against it, and certainly if they had...
30From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 25 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
A sick family has prevented me, for upwards of a month from putting pen to paper but in indispensable cases, and for some time before that I had been waiting to receive American news worth communicating to you. These causes have occasionned my silence since my last which was of the 12th. of August, and my leaving unacknoleged, till now, your several favors of July 24. Aug. 14. Sep. 9. and Nov....
31From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 4 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 25th. of December. Tho’ the establishment of packet boats with you, and suppression of them with us, puts it in your power perhaps to give me better details of American affairs than I can you, I shall nevertheless continue to communicate to you what I know, persuaded it is better you should hear a thing twice than not hear it at all. I mentioned to you in my last that...
32From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 25 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Rutledge, the son of Governor Rutledge of South Carolina, will have the honour of delivering you this. I suppose you must have been personally acquainted with his father, but surely so by reputation. It would suffice therefore to announce his son to you, in order to obtain your attentions and friendly offices for him. It is to gratify myself then that I add my sollicitations to the same...
33From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 8 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 26. to Mar. 27. is duly received and I thank you for the interesting papers it contained. The answer of Don Ulloa, however, on the subject of the canal through the American isthmus, was not among them tho’ mentioned to be so. If you have omitted it through accident I shall thank you for it at some future occasion, as I wish much to understand that subject thoroughly. Our...
34From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 26 July 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof Mr. Benjamin Huger, a young gentleman of South Carolina, proposing to see Madrid in the course of a tour he is about to make, I take the liberty of recommending him to you. He is of one of the most distinguished families of South Carolina, and has been some years in Europe to compleat an education which he had begun in Virginia in my neighborhood. This gave me occasion to...
35From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 9 August 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Since your last of Mar. 27. I have only written that of May 8. The cause of this long silence on both parts has been the expectation I communicated to you of embarking for America. In fact I have expected permission for this every hour since the month of March, and therefore always thought that by putting off writing to you a few days my letter, while it should communicate the occurrencies of...
36From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 12 September 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favor of Aug. 13. and I have written to Francesco and Giuseppe Chiappe both, to assure them of the friendly light in which our government will view the restitution of the schooner from Salem, made by the emperor.—I have lately received letters and papers from America to the 25th. of July. New York and N. Hampshire had elected their senators, so that that branch of our...
37From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 11 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
A Vessel being about to sail from this port for Cadiz I avail myself of it to inform you that under the appointment of the President of the U.S. I have entered on the duties of Secretary of state comprehending the department of foreign affairs. Mr. Jay’s letter of Oct. 2. acknoleged the receipt of the last of yours which have come to hand. Since that date he wrote you on the 7th. of Dec....
38From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 31 May 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Having but a few Hours Notice of the sailing of a Vessel from this Port for Bilboa, I can only avail myself of it so far as to send you a Duplicate of my Letter of April 11th. but not of the Papers which accompanied it. I add the Copy of a Letter and Deposition, which were not then sent, and which shew you that the Practice complained of in Mr. Jay’s Letter of September 9th. 1788 has not been...
39II. Secretary of State to William Carmichael, enclosing Outline of Policy, 2 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
This letter will be delivered you by Colo. Humphreys, whose character is so well known to you as to need no recommendations from me. [The present appearances of war between our two neighbours, Spain and England, cannot but excite all our attention. The part we are to act is uncertain, and will be difficult. The unsettled state of our dispute with Spain may give a turn to it very different from...
40Enclosure Jefferson’s Outline of Policy on the Mississippi Question, 2 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Jefferson’s Outline of Policy on the Mississippi Question Heads of consideration on the Navigation of the Missisipi for Mr. Carmichael. PrC ( CLU ); in TJ’s hand, being a fair copy of texts indicated below as Dft and MS , but having important variations which are indicated in the textual notes. Tr ( DNA : RG 59, DD ); filed with Humphreys’ letter to TJ, 17 Aug. 1791
41From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 6 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the honor of writing to you on the 10th. of April and 31st. of May. In order that a review of the channels you have adopted for the conveyance of your letters may enable you to judge which of them are best, and whether better may be found, I send you the dates of those of the last seven years, and the time of their reception. They are as follows. date of letter receipt date of...
42From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 29 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
You will receive by the present conveyance my letters of the 2d. and 6th. instant. In my letter of April 11th. I enclosed to you a duplicate of Mr. Jay’s of September 9th. 1788 complaining of the practice of the Spanish Governments bordering on Georgia, of receiving and withholding the fugitive slaves of that State, and urging redress. My letter of May 31st. covered a triplicate of Mr. Jay’s,...
43VI. Secretary of State to William Carmichael, 12 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose you a statement of the case of Joseph Ste. Marie a citizen of the United States of America, whose clerk Mr. Swimmer was, in the latter part of the year 1787, seized on the Eastern side of the Mississippi, in latitude 34°-40’, together with his goods, of the value of 1980 dollars, by a party of Spanish soldiers.—They justified themselves under the order of a Mr. Valliere their...
44III. The Secretary of State to William Carmichael, 17 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The term of the first Congress having expired on the 3d. inst. they separated on that day, much important business being necessarily postponed. New elections have taken place for the most part, and very few changes made. This is one of many proofs that the proceedings of the new government have given general satisfaction. Some acts indeed have produced local discontents; but these can never be...
45From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 11 April 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 12th. of March, and again on the 17th. of the same month, since which I have received your favor of January 24th. wherein you refer to copies of two letters, also to a paper No. 1. supposed to be enclosed in that letter: but there was nothing enclosed. You speak particularly of several other letters formerly forwarded, but not a single one was ever received of later date...
46From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 16 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Swanwick informs me that the house of Morris, Willing & Swanwick have suffered a very considerable loss in the port of St. Andero, by an abuse of office, in having a cargo of corn thrown overboard as being bad, when it was in fact perfectly good. I know that in some countries of Europe it is often difficult to obtain justice against persons protected by court favor. In this, as in all...
47From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 23 June 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
My letters to you of the present year have been of the 12th. and 17th. of Mar. the 11th. of Apr. and 16th. of May. Yours of Jan. 24. is still the only one I have from you. We have not yet been able to fix on a satisfactory subject for the Consulship of Cadiz which would furnish a convenient channel of conveyance for letters between this place and Madrid. The present goes by the way of...
48From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 24 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Jan. 24. is still the only one recieved from you within the period so often mentioned. Mine to you of the present year have been of Mar. 12. and 17. Apr. 11. May 16. and June 23. I have lately preferred sending my letters for you to Colo. Humphreys, in hopes he might find means of conveying them to you. The subjects of those of the 12. and 17th. of March are still pressed on...
49From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 6 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letter to you was of the 24th. of August. A gentleman going from hence to Cadiz will be the bearer of this, and of the newspapers to the present date, and will take care that the letter be got safe to you if the papers cannot. Mr. Mangnal, at length tired out with his useless sollicitations at this office, to obtain redress from the court of Spain for the loss of the Dover Cutter, has...
50From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 29 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 6th. instant by the way of Cadiz, sending the newspapers as usual. With the present we forward them to the present day, as also a pamphlet by Mr. Coxe in answer to Ld. Sheffeild, and a printed copy of the Census, now in the press, should it be ready in time. I wish it were possible to get for us the two Census’s taken in Spain by the Count d’Aranda and Count de Florida...