1From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 27 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I am this day honoured with your favor of the 20th. and an opportunity offering to acknolege it immediately, I do not fail to embrace it. I thank you for the intelligence it contains. You refered me to Mr. Adams for news; but he gives me none; so that I hope you will be so good as to keep that office in your own hands. I get little from any other quarter since the derangement of the French...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 11 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Expecting Baron Polnitz to call every moment, I have only time to acknolege the receipt of your favor of Nov. 24. and to answer you on the subject of the bill for 319 livres drawn by Mr. Adams in favor of Mr. Bonfeild. I had never heard of it before, and Mr. Barclay calling on me this morning I asked of him if he knew any thing of it. He says that such a bill was presented to him, and he...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 20 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured with your two letters of Octob. 19. and 25. by Mr. Fox and Doctor Rodgers since the date of my last. I am to thank you for your state of Stanhope’s case. It has enabled me to speak of that transaction with a confidence of which I should otherwise have been deprived by the different state of it in the public papers and the want of information from America. I have even...
4From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 12 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had just closed the preceding letter when M. de Blumendorf the Imperial Secretary of legation called on me with the answer to Doctr. Franklin. It was that of Sep. 28. 1784 which you remember as well as myself, wherein Count Merci informed us the Emperor was disposed to enter into commercial arrangements with us and that he would give orders to the Government of the Austrian Netherlands to...
5From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 27 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 5th. came to hand yesterday, and Colo. Smith and Colo. Humphries (by whom you will receive one of the 19th. from me) being to set out tomorrow, I hasten to answer it. I sincerely rejoice that Portugal is stepping forward in the business of treaty, and that there is a probability that we may at length do something under our commissions which may produce a solid benefit to our...
6From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 27 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of the 13th. and 20th. were put into my hands today. This will be delivered you by Mr. Dalrymple, secretary to the legation of Mr. Craufurd. I do not know whether you were acquainted with him here. He is a young man of learning and candor, and exhibits a phaenomenon I never before met with, that is, a republican born on the North side of the Tweed . You have been consulted in the...
7From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 11 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Baron Polnitz not going off till today enables me to add some information which I receive from Mr. Barclay this morning. You know the immense amount of Beaumarchais’ accounts with the U.S. and that Mr. Barclay was authorized to settle them. Beaumarchais had pertinaciously insisted on settling them with Congress. Probably he received from them a denial: for just as Mr. Barclay was about to set...
8From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 30 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of the 11th. instant I had the honour of inclosing you copies of letters relative to the Barbary affairs. Others came to hand three days ago, of some of which I now send you copies, and of the others the originals. By these you will perceive that Mr. Randall and Mr. Lamb were at Madrid, that the latter means to return to Alicant and send on a courier to us. Mr. Randall does not...
9From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 19 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you on the 11th. of Octob. by Mr. Preston and again on the 18th. of the same month by post. Since that yours of Sep. 25. by Mr. Boylston, Oct. 24. Nov. 1. and Nov. 4. have come safe to hand. I will take up their several subjects in order. Boylston’s object was first to dispose of a cargo of sperma ceti oyl which he brought to Havre. A secondary one was to obtain a contract for...
10From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 7 February 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honored with yours of Jan. 19. Mine of Jan. 12. had not I suppose at that time got to your hands as the receipt of it is unacknoleged. I shall be anxious till I receive your answer to it. I was perfectly satisfied, before I received your letter, that your opinion had been misunderstood or misrepresented in the case of the Chevalier de Mezieres. Your letter however will enable me to say so...
11From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 16 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you the copy of a letter received from Mr. Barclay dated Cadiz May 23. by which you will perceive he was still on this side the Mediterranean. Has Mr. Lamb written to you? I hear nothing from him nor of him, since Mr. Carmichael’s information of his arrival in Spain. Mr. Randall gave reason to expect that himself would come on. Yet neither himself nor any letters from him arrive....
12From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 17 May 178[6] (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by young Monsieur de Tronchin, son to a gentleman of that name here who is minister for the republic of Geneva, resident at this court. The son is now in England as a traveller. He is personally unknown to me; but what I hear of him from others, together with my acquaintance with, and respect for, his father, induces me to recommend him to your notice. I do this the...
13From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 10 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
On the arrival of Mr. Boylston I carried him to the Marquis de la Fayette, and received from him communications of his object. This was to get a remission of the duties on his cargo of oil, and he was willing to propose a future contract. I proposed however to the Marquis, when we were alone, that instead of wasting our efforts on individual applications, we had better take it up on general...
14From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 12 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
You were here the last year when the interest due to the French officers was paid to them, and were sensible of the good effect it had on the credit and honor of the U.S. A second year’s interest is become due. They have presented their demands. There is not money here to pay them, the pittance remaining in Mr. Grand’s hands being only sufficient to pay current expences three months longer....
15From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 30 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of this day I omitted to inform you that according to what we had proposed I have had a long consultation with the Count de Vergennes on the expediency of a Diplomatic mission to Constantinople. His information is that it will cost a great deal of money, as great presents are expected at that court and a great many claim them; and his opinion is that we shall not buy a peace one...
16From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, with Enclosure, 11 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I do myself the honour of inclosing to you letters which came to hand last night from Mr. Lamb, Mr. Carmichael and Mr. Barclay. By these you will perceive that our peace is not to be purchased at Algiers but at a price far beyond our powers. What that would be indeed Mr. Lamb does not say, nor probably knows. But as he knew our ultimatum, we are to suppose from his letter that it would be a...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Lewis Alexander, 31 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Not knowing who is Agent for the United States at Bayonne, or whether there be one, I take the liberty of inclosing to you a copy of a regulation lately made by government here on the subject of tobacco. As it is highly interesting to all persons concerned in the commerce of that article, I must beg of you to take the trouble of making the most immediate and general publication of it possible...
18William Carmichael to the American Commissioners, 5 April 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I this day received from the Secretary of States Department a letter from the Count D’Expilley inclosing one from Mr. Lamb, copies of which I have the honor to transmit for your Excellencies information. Messrs. Lamb and Randall left Barcelona the 11th. Ulto. After their Departure I procured a letter in their favor from his Excellency the Ct. de Florida Blanca to the Ct. D’Expilley which I...
19John Lamb to the American Commissioners, 20 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
After maney little Disapointments, I arrived at Algiers the 25th March and within the term of three or four Days I found that the whole amount of the money in my hands belonging to the publick would not purchas the people who are the unfortunate in consequence of which I Dispatchd Mr. Randall so that your Excellencyes might have the earlyest notice of our matter in that Quarter: in a short...
20Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 10 April 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The day before yesterday Mr. Carmichael received letters from Algiers, from Mr. Lamb dated the 29th. of last month, and from Mr. Randal the 26th. which I think a wrong date with a postscript from on Board a Vessel in the Bay of Alicant of the 1st. Inst. after a Passage of 26 Hours. He Cannot Come on Shore without a permission from Court to shorten his Quarantine, which Mr. Carmichael has...
21P. R. Randall to the American Commissioners, 17 February 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Barcelona, 17 Feb. 1786 . Randall would have paid the highest respect to the injunction of writing by every safe opportunity, but such information as he could have sent hitherto “would have been only a reiteration of Mr. Carmichaels Letters” : Mr. Lamb does not write at present and has not directed Randall to do so, but he feels it his duty to “manifest an early Disposition of complying in...
22P. R. Randall to the American Commissioners, with Enclosures, 14 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my Arrival here from Carthagena I have been in constant Expectation of a secure Opportunity for forwarding the enclosed, being nearly the Copy of a Letter I wrote to my Father shortly after my landing in Spain. It contains all the Observations I have been enabled to make by Reason of the Obstacles which (in my Situation at Algiers) prevented particular Enquiry. Indeed I had not the most...
23William Carmichael to the American Commissioners, 13 April 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I forward the inclosed Letter from Mr. Lamb for your Excellencies information: That Gentleman has also written to me. But as I suppose he has given Mr. Jefferson a more ample and satisfactory detail of the State of his Negotiation than I can comprehend from his Letter to me, I do not think it necessary to forward a copy of it. Mr. Barclay, to whom I have communicated all the Intelligence I...
24Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 10 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here after an agreeable Passage of Five days and was very well received by the Governor and by the People, who seemed pleased to see Persons from a Country at so great a distance come to compliment their Sovereign. As the Governor had no Orders concerning our going forward, I was obliged to send a Courier to Morocco to demand that Permission and at the same time wrote to Mr. Chiappi...
25John Lamb to the American Commissioners, 16 February 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Barcelona, 16 Feb. 1786 . “On the 11th Day we arrived here”; has drawn for £2,600 sterling in all, £2,000 of which he will receive Monday next; hopes that the trinkets brought from Paris will gain him an audience at Algiers; has met with some little disappointments since leaving France which have detained them until this time; hopes to sail next week and refers them to Harrison for particulars...
26Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 23 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my arrival here, the ninth, nothing has occur’d worth your attention. I am waiting for a vessel that is Bound to Mogadore and expect to sail in a few days. You have probably as late accounts from Mr. Lamb as I Can give you, yet it may not be Improper to Inform you of his arrival at Alicant the 24th. of last month, where doubtless his Quarrantein has delay’d his proceeding to Madrid. The...
27William Carmichael to the American Commissioners, 3 February 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 4th of December last Mr. Lamb delivered me the Letter which Your Excellencies did me the honor to address me dated from London the 1st. and from Paris the 11th of October. At the same time that Gentleman communicated to me his Instructions and I all the Intelligence I had been able to procure relative to the negociation between this Country and the Regency of Algiers. The Ct. d’Expilly...
28[From Thomas Jefferson to Madame d’Anterroches, 2 March 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 2 Mch. 1786. An entry in SJL under this date reads: “la Comtesse d’anteroche. That I had written to enquire her son.” Not found, but see TJ to James Monroe, same date.]
29From Thomas Jefferson to Lister Asquith, 22 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
When I left this place for England I had no suspicion that any thing more would be necessary on my part for your liberation. Being but lately returned I could not sooner acknowlege the receipt of your several letters of Feb. 20. Mar 20. Apr. 10. 21. and May 1. I this day write to Messrs. Desbordes to pay the charges necessary for your enlargement, to furnish you with a guinea a peice, and to...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Lister Asquith, 23 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your letter of the 14th. inst. It was not till the 8th. of this month that I could obtain information from any quarter, of the particular court in which your prosecution was instituted, and the ground on which it was founded. I then received it through the hands of Messrs. Desbordes at Brest. I have sent to the count de Vergennes a state of your case, of which the inclosed is a...