151From Thomas Jefferson to George Clinton, 1 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof, Monsr. de Hauterive, appointed Consul at New York in the place of M. de Crevecoeur, having brought me some very particular recommendations from friends at Paris , who would not give them lightly, I comply with their desire in presenting him to your notice. In a short conversation which I had with him, I found him a man of literature, and a genuine republican, under which...
152From Thomas Jefferson to Edmond Charles Genet, 1 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
[…] to correct an error of fact into […] being just led into it myself […] concerning the trespass committed by [a British] sailor on the French flag on board the Amiable. I mentioned it to a gentleman present, who informed me that the sailor [who made the insult?] and another concerned in it, were in jail, […] mentioned to you. I found on further enquiry that these two sailors were British,...
153To Thomas Jefferson from Edmond Charles Genet, 1 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Je viens d’etre informé, Monsieur, que deux officiers au service de la République française les Citoyens Gideon Henfield et John Singletary ont été arretés à bord du corsaire de la République franchise le Citoyen Genet, et conduits en prison. Le crime qu’on leur impute, le crime que mon ésprit ne peut concevoir et que ma plume se refuse presque à rapporter, c’est de servir la France et de...
154From Thomas Jefferson to Edmond Charles Genet, 1 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Note of the 27th. of May on the subject of Gideon Henfield, a citizen of the United States, engaged on board an armed vessel in the service of France. It has been laid before the President, and referred to the Attorney General of the United States, for his opinion on the matter of law, and I have now the honor of enclosing you a copy of that opinion....
155From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Hamilton, 1 June [1793] (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to inclose you the following papers. With these are all the preceding letters respecting the same subjects . The above are in the form approved by Genl. Knox, Mr. Randolph, and myself: and we have agreed to meet at my office on Monday at 12. aclock to consider of any alterations which you would wish to propose on my giving them previous notice. I also inclose two other papers...
156From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 1 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof Majr. Jackson formerly of the army, and afterwards of the President’s family, is already too well known to you to need any recommendations from me. Yet a sense of his merit will not permit me to forbear mentioning that your attentions to him will confer an obligation on me. The circumstances of the times too may perhaps render the attentions of your office necessary for him,...
157To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 1 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
My last No. 30 was of the twentieth of May. I had the Honor to transmit therein Copies of my last Correspondence with the Minister of foreign Affairs. Herein I have the Pleasure to send a Copy of his Letter to me of the twenty sixth, covering Copy of the Decree of the twenty third. I shall not say any Thing at present upon the State of public Affairs, but refer to what I have formerly said and...
158From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 1 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof is Major Jackson, formerly of the army, and afterwards of the President’s family. Supposing it possible he may see you at Madrid, I with pleasure make him known to you, as a gentleman of information talents and worth. He merits well any attentions you can shew him, and I also will be thankful for them. Should he, from the circumstances of the times, need your official...
159To Thomas Jefferson from James Simpson, 1 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Gibraltar, 1 June 1793 . Having been detained by contrary winds, the vessel this letter goes by also brings his letter of 22 May, to which he adds intelligence of the capture off Cape Gata by an Algerine row boat of an American schooner from Cartagena, the Lark , Captain Pulling, and the escape of her master and crew to Spain. Muley Suliman, to whom most provinces have sent deputies, remains...
160To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
It is now a week since the Vessel in which I took my passage from Boston, came into this place, (a small port in the Windward part of the Island) where is exhibited the most terrible scene of distress and Confusion immaginable. About a month ago it seems that the Planters were advised of the arrival of the British fleet, at Barbados, and at the same time they received Assurance that the object...
161To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Telfair, 1 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Communication of the 26th. April last, with its enclosure being the Proclamation of the President of the United States, enjoining a strict neutrality with the European powers at War, came this day to hand; nothing has as yet been attempted in this State, except one case, on which immediate order was taken, which is herewith transmitted: I shall make every exertion to cause a due...
162To Thomas Jefferson from George Washington, 1 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
To call upon Mr. Hammond without further delay for the result of the reference to his Court concerning the surrender of the Western Posts—or to await the decision of the trial at Richmond on the subject of British debts before it be done, is a question on which my mind has been divided for sometime. If your own judgment is not clear in favor of one, or the other, it is my desire, as the heads...
163To Thomas Jefferson from Delamotte, 2 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Le Havre, 2 June 1793 . Our political position is still the same. The allied powers attack us from all sides by land and sea and until now we have resisted them passably. But in the last two days our enemies have apparently had some success, unconfirmed reports saying that they have taken Valenciennes and Condé. Our internal troubles hurt us more than the efforts of foreigners. Despite...
164From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 2 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 27th. Ult. You have seen in the papers that some privateers have been fitted out in Charleston by French citizens, with their own money, manned by themselves, and regularly commissioned by their nation. They have taken several prizes and brought them into our ports. Some native citizens had joined them. These are arrested and under prosecution; and orders are sent to all the...
165From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, Jr., 2 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the receipt of yours of May 16. with the information always pleasing of your being all well.—In addition to the news which you will see in the papers, we now have the certainty of Dumourier’s operation. He had proposed an armistice to the Prince of Saxe Cobourg, which was agreed to on condition of his withdrawing his troops from the Netherlands. He did so. It was then...
166To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 2 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have a wish to serve the public and to oblige my friend. From the office you hold, and the character you support, I venture to attempt through you to do it. Mr. de L Etombe the consul of france for this state, has rendered himself very agreeable to the people here, and has been from the reduction of the Bastile to the present moment, a friend to liberty and the french revolution: and yet it...
167To Thomas Jefferson from James Brown, 3 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I am favor’d with yours of the 23d: May. Your 3 Pipes Wine are lodged in my Own Cellar apparantly in good Order Where they Shall Remain for Your further commands. I have discovered the Books from Dublin paid the Duties and landed them at Osbornes subject to the Order of Young Mr. Eppes for whom they appear to have been intended. I will make enquiry after the Mathematical Instruments ⅌ the...
168To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Clarkson, 3 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Having understood that it was Doctor Foulke who gave to Mr. Moissonier the names of the two persons who are represented in the Vice Consuls Memorial, as having excited the English Sailors to continue the Quarrel with the People of the Ambuscade, The Doctor has been so obliging as to call upon me, at my request, to inform me what he knew of the matter. The following is the substance of what he...
169To Thomas Jefferson from James Currie, 3 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 3 June 1793 . He introduces Alexander Maitland, a young English gentleman formerly of the British Navy who has come to see America and amuse himself—having been recommended by Currie’s friends in Europe, who say he is well connected in England and Jamaica, whence he lately came—and requests TJ’s attention to him as he passes to the north. RC ( MHi ); 1 p.; endorsed by TJ as received...
170To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Hamilton, 3 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
It was not till within an hour, that I received your letter of the 1st with the papers accompanying it. I approve all the Drafts of letters, as they stand, except that I have some doubt about the concluding sentence of that on the subject of Henfield. If the facts are (as I presume they are) established—may it not be construed into a wish, that there may be found no law to punish a conduct in...
171Editorial Note: Jefferson and the American Debt to France (Jefferson Papers)
The documents printed below have been grouped here in order to record more clearly, with the benefit of Jefferson’s connecting commentary, the process by which the Washington administration rejected Edmond Charles Genet’s request for a substantial advance payment of the American debt to France. On instructions from the Provisional Executive Council of France, Genet had pledged to use the...
172I. Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 3 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his respects to the President has the honor of inclosing him the draught of a reference to the Secretary of the Treasury, with the papers to be referred, on the subject of the French debt. The latter clause of the letter is inserted merely for the consideration of the President. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); addressed: “The President of the US.”; endorsed by Tobias Lear. Tr ( Lb...
173II. George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 3 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The question of admitting modifications of the debt of the US. to France having been the subject of a consultation with the heads of the departments and the Attorney general, and an unanimous opinion given thereon which involves the inclosed propositions from the French minister, you will be pleased, under the form of a report to me, to prepare what may serve as an answer, making it...
174III. George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, [5 June 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury left the enclosed to day (without my seeing him) and is to call to morrow morning to know how it is approved, or what alterations to make. Whether to assign, or not to assign reasons for non-complying with the French Ministers proposals is one question—and the footing on which to decline doing it another. I wish you to consider these and if it is not convenient...
175IV. Alexander Hamilton’s Draft Report on the American Debt to France, with Jefferson’s Commentary, [5 June 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
The Secy. of the Treasury, to whom were referred by the President of the US. sundry documents communicated by the Min. Plenipy. of the Republic of France, respectfully makes the following report thereupon. The object of the communication appears to be to engage the US. to enter into arrangements for discharging the residue of the debt which they owe to France by an anticipated payment of the...
176V. Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 6 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot but think that to decline the propositions of Mr. Genet on the subject of our debt, without assigning any reasons at all, would have a very dry and unpleasant aspect indeed. We are then to examine what are our good reasons for the refusal, which of them may be spoken out, and which may not. 1. want of confidence in the continuance of the present form of government, and consequently...
177VI. Alexander Hamilton’s Addition to His Draft Report, with Jefferson’s Commentary, [6–7 June 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
The President concurring with the Preceeding letter , and so signifying to Colo. Hamilton he erased the words ‘Which is humbly submitted’ on the former report , and added on the same paper as follows. If nevertheless the President should be of opinion that reasons ought to be assigned the following seem to [be] the best which the nature of the case will admit, viz. ‘Two modes of reimbursing or...
178VII. Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, [7 June 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor of returning to the President [the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the proposition of Mr. Genet. He is of opinion that all may be omitted which precedes the words ‘two modes of reimbursing or discharging &c.’] What follows […] [the reasons which are proper] and not offensive. [The following passage should perhaps be] altered. ‘It has repeatedly come under...
179VIII. Alexander Hamilton’s Report on the American Debt to France, 8 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury to whom was referred a Communication from the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France, on the subject of the Debts of the United States to France, respectfully makes thereupon the following Report. The object of this communication is to engage the United States to enter into an arrangement for discharging the residue of the debt which they owe to...
180IX. George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 10 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The President sends to the Secretary of State the enclosed copy of a Report made by the Secretary of the Treasury to him—relative to the Debts of the United States to France, in order that it may be communicated to the Minister of the Republic of France. RC ( DLC ); in the hand of Tobias Lear; address almost entirely torn away; endorsed by TJ as received 10 June 1793. Entry in SJPL :...