721Cabinet Memorandum on French Privateers, [1 June 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
On the letters and papers from Genl. Williams and Colo. Smith. It is the opinion that the writers be informed that with respect to vessels armed and equipped in the ports of the US. before notice to the contrary was given, the President is taking measures for obliging them to depart from the ports of the US. and that all such equipments in future are forbidden: but that as to the prizes taken...
722Notes on Ceremonial at New York, 10 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
June 10. 93. Mr. Brown gives me the following specimen of the phrenzy which prevailed at New York on the opening of the new government. The first public ball which took place after the President’s arrival there, Colo. Humphreys, Colo. W. S. Smith, and Mrs. Knox , were to arrange the ceremonials. These arrangements were as follows. A Sopha at the head of the room raised on several steps whereon...
723Notes on Neutrality Questions, 13 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
A recapitulation of questions whereon we have given opinions. Does the treaty with France leave us free to prohibit her from arming vessels in our ports? Th:J. H. K. and R. unanimous it does. As the treaty obliges us to prohibit the enemies of France from arming in our ports, and leaves us free to prohibit France, do not the laws of Neutrality oblige us to prohibit her. Same persons unanimous...
724Memorandum of Conversations with Edmond Charles Genet, 26 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Note given to the Presidt. Mr. Genet’s declaration to the President at his reception, that France did not wish to engage the US. in the present war by the clause of guarantee , but left her free to pursue her own happiness in peace, has been repeated to myself in conversation, and to others, and even in a public answer, so as to place it beyond question. Some days after the reception of Mr....
725Notes of a Conversation with George Washington, 23 May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
1793. May 23. I had sent to the President yesterday, draughts of a letter from him to the Provisory Exec. council of France, and of one from myself to Mr. Ternant, both on the occasion of his recall. I called on him to-day. He said there was a word in one of them which he had never before seen in any of our public communications, to wit ‘our republic.’ The letter prepared for him to the...
726Notes of a Cabinet Meeting, 15 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
July 15. Th:J. H. and K. met at the President’s. Govr. Mifflin had appld. to Knox for the loan of 4. cannon to mount at Mud Isd. informed him he should station a guard of 35. militia there, and asked what arrangement for rations the general government had taken. Knox told him nothing could be done as to rations and he should ask the Presidt. for the cannon. In the mean time he permitted him to...
727Notes of Cabinet Meeting on Neutrality, 29 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
July 29. 1793. At a meeting at the President’s on account of the British letter of marque ship Jane, said to have put up wasteboards, to have pierced 2 port holes and mounted 2 cannon (which she brought in) on new carriages which she did not bring in, and consequently having 16. instead of 14. guns mounted, it was agreed that a letter of marque, or vessel armé en guerre et en marchandise is...
728Enclosure: Edmond Charles Genet’s Address to Louisiana, 27 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Les Français Libres à leurs freres de la LOUISIANE. Le moment est arrivé ou le despotisme doit disparoitre de la terre. La France devenuë libre, constitueé en république, après avoir fait connoitre aux hommes leurs droits, après avoir remporté des victoires signalées sur leurs nombreux ennemis, non contente des succès dont elle recueillerait seule le prix, annonce à tous les peuples quelle est...
729Notes on the Citoyen Genet and Its Prizes, 20 May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Qu. shall the Privateer fitted out at Charleston , and her prizes be ordered out of the ports of the US.? May 20. 93. free trade to islands } by treaty to France MS ( DLC ); entirely in TJ’s hand, with all but the final four paragraphs written on recto and the rest at another time on verso (see note below). Entry in SJPL : “Notes on proposn to order away a privateer fitted out at Charleston.”...
730Notes of Cabinet Meeting on Neutrality, 30 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
July 30. Met at my office. I proposed to add to the rules a proviso that they should not be understood to contravene, as of right they could not, the provisions of the article of our treaty with France, the of that with the U. N. or the of that with Prussia. Before Ham. and Kn. came into the room E.R. declared himself for a general reference, or a verbal quotation of the words of the treaties,...
731Enclosure II: Relation of Ugulayacabe, [after November 1792] (Jefferson Papers)
Copy of the relation of Ugulayacabe of the occurrencies of his journey to Cumberland. He said that on his return from visiting his father the Chief of New Orleans, from whence he came with a very handsome present, which had contented and satisfied him much, he met in the road two Americans, who persuaded him pressingly to go to Cumberland, where he would receive (as they told him) a good...
732Notes of Cabinet Meeting and Conversations with Edmond Charles Genet, 5 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
July 5. 1793. A meeting desired by A.H. at my office. Himself, Knox and my self met accordingly. He said that according to what had been agreed on in presence of the President, in consequence of Mr. Genet’s declining to pay the 45,000 D. at his command in the treasury to the holders of the St. Domingo bills , we had agreed to pay the holders out of other monies to that amount: that he found...
733Notes of Cabinet Decisions, 6 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Aug. 6. The President concurs with Ham. and Kn. in notifying Mr. Hammond what we propose to do as to restitution of the prizes made by the Citoyen Genet &c. or compensation, because says he if you notify it to the party to whom it will give displeasure, we should do it to that also which will feel satisfaction from it. He said he should have been for calling Congress himself, but he found the...
734Second Opinion on a New Foreign Loan, 17 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot see my way clear in the case on which the President has been pleased to desire my opinion, but by recurring to these leading questions. Of the 7,898,999.86 D. borrowed, or rather of the 7,545,912.D. nett proceeds thereof, how much has been applied to the payment of the foreign , and purchase of the general debt? To the balance thereof, which should be on hand, and the 2. millions of...
735Enclosure II: Thomas Digges’s Memorandums on Counterfeiting, 12 August [1793] (Jefferson Papers)
At Mr Bages Mill—Elford nr. Lichfield mondy. 12th of Augt. [1793] With Mr. B., his Foreman and 3 workmen. In Feby. last, near the end of Feby., a Man applyd at the mill to get a Ream or two of paper made, of so common a sort that Mr. B. sayd it might be bought in any shop; But on very strong solicitations the men was orderd to get ready the stuf for it the next morning. He then said nothing of...
736Notes on Alexander Hamilton and “Veritas”, 12 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
June 12. Beckley tells me that Klingham has been with him to-day and relates to him the following fact. A certificate of the old Congress had been offered at the treasury and refused payment and so indorsed in red ink as usual. This certificate came to the hands of Francis [the quondam clerk of the treasury, who on account of his being dipped in the infamous case of the Baron Glaub[ec]...
737Notes on James Cole Mountflorence and on Federalist Intrigues, 18 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
July 18. 93. At a meeting at the Presid’s Genl. Knox tells us Govr. Blount (now in town) has informed him that when Mt. florence was in France, certain members of the Execve. council enquired of him what were the dispositions of Cumbld. settlemt. &c. towards Spain? Mt.florce. told them unfriendly. They then offered him a commission to embody troops there, to give him a quantity of blank...
738Editorial Note: The Recall of Edmond Charles Genet (Jefferson Papers)
The decision to demand Edmond Charles Genet’s recall less than three months after his arrival in Philadelphia as the French Republic’s first minister to the United States resulted from the irrepressible conflict between the Washington administration’s insistence on maintaining strict American neutrality during the War of the First Coalition and Genet’s mandate from his Girondin superiors to...
739Passport for James Blake, 12 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
To all to whom these presents shall come. Greeting : The Bearer hereof James Blake, a citizen of the United States of America, being sent in the character of a Courier, to carry public dispatches of the Government of the said United States to their Commissioners Plenipotentiary at Madrid, and embarking for that purpose on board the Ship at Philadelphia, bound for in Spain, These are to pray...
740Notes of Cabinet Meeting on Edmond Charles Genet, 20 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Aug. 20. We met at the President’s to examine by paragraphs the draught of a letter I had prepared to Gouverneur Morris, on the conduct of Mr. Genet. There was no difference of opinion on any part of it, except on this expression. ‘An attempt to embroil both, to add still another nation to the enemies of his country, and to draw on both a reproach, which it is hoped will never stain the...
741Notes of Cabinet Meeting on Edmond Charles Genet, 2 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Aug. 2. Met again. Hamilton spoke again ¾ of an hour. I answered on these topics. Object of the appeal .— The Democratic society —this the great circumstance of alarm; afrd. it would extend it’s connections over continent. Chiefly meant for the local object of the ensuing election of governor. If left alone would die away after that is over. If opposed, if proscribed, would give it importance...
742Note on Edmond Charles Genet and Alexander Hamilton, 21 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
July 21. 93. At Dr. Logan’s to-day Genet told us that Colo. Hamilton had never in a single instance addressed a letter to him as the Minister of the republic of France , but always as the minister of France. MS ( DLC ); entirely in TJ’s hand; written with “Anas” entry for 15 July 1793 on verso of sheet containing “Anas” entry for 13 July 1793. Included in the “Anas.”
743Editorial Note: The Referral of Neutrality Questions to the Supreme Court (Jefferson Papers)
The number and complexity of questions about what constituted neutral behavior by the United States with respect to the warring nations of Europe grew rapidly in the summer of 1793 in the face of Edmond Charles Genet’s persistent challenges to American neutrality policy. With its energies increasingly tied up in the resolution of proliferating appeals by foreign diplomats, especially British...
744Note on the Public Debt, 12 May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
May. 12. Lear called on me to-day. Speaking of the lowness of stocks (16/) I observed it was a pity we had not money to buy on publick account.—He said yes, and that it was the more provoking as 2 millions had been borrowed for that purpose and drawn over here, and yet were not here. That he had no doubt those would take notice of the circumstance whose duty it was to do so.—I suppose he must...
745Memorandum of a Conversation with Edmond Charles Genet, 10 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
July 10. 1793 . The Secretary of the Treasury having communicated to Genl. Knox and myself that he had been informed that the Little Sarah had much augmented her arms, and was greatly advanced in her preparations, we concurred in opinion that the Govr. should be desired to have a reexamination of the fact. It was done and a Report made that she had entered the port with only 4. guns, and now...
746Notes of Cabinet Meeting on Neutrality, 3 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Aug. 3. We met. The rules being now reduced on one paper I considered them, and not finding any thing against the treaties as far as I could see, they were agreed to and signed by us all.—We proceeded to consider what should be done as to the French privateers armed in our ports , and their prizes taken since they were ordered away. Randolph recapitulated his old opinion. Hamilton proposed to...
747Notes on Treaties and Neutrality, [29–30 July 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
17.F. Enemy vessels having made prizes shall have no shelter. If forced by weather, to retire as soon as possible. 18.F. 16.D. 9.P. shipwrecked vessels shall have all friendly assistance.—P. expressly to repair . 19.F. 17.D. 18.P. ships public and of war or private and of merchants forced through stress of weather, pursuit of pirates, or enemies or any other urgent necessity permitted to...
748Notes of Cabinet Meeting on Edmond Charles Genet, 23 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
July 23. 1793. A meeting at the Pr’s of the 3 heads of departments and E.R. Genet had told me about a fortnight ago that he had come here with instructions to let all his contracts to the lowest bidder of sufficient ability, that he had been privately admonished however at the same time by some individuals who had been in America that, if he meant to succeed, he must put his contracts into the...
749Notes of Cabinet Meeting on a Commercial Treaty with France, 23 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Aug. 23. 93. In consequence of my note of yesterday to the Presidt. a meeting was called this day at his house to determine what should be done with the proposition of France to treat . The importance of the matter was admitted, and being of so old a date as May 22d. we might be accused of neglecting the interests of the US. to have left it so long unanswered, and it could not be doubted Mr....
750Notes on Conversations with John Beckley and George Washington, 7 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
June. 7. 93. Mr. Beckley, who is returned from N. York within a few days, tells me that while he was there Sr. John Temple, Consul genl. of the Northern states for Gr. Br. shewed him a letter from Sr. Gregory Page Turner a member of parliament for a borough in Yorkshire , who he said had been a member for 25 years, and always confidential for the ministers, in which he permitted him to read...