Journal of the Office of Foreign Affairs, 2–19 October 1789
Journal of the Office of Foreign Affairs
[New York, 2 October–19 October 1789]
October 2d. Wrote to Mr. Carmichael (by Mr. de Gardoqui) mentioning the Receipt of his Letters of 5. 8 & 28 November and 2d. December 1788, and 6th. May 1789; that Mr. Jefferson is appointed Secretary for foreign Affairs, and he reappointed Chargé des Affaires for Spain; requesting to know what he has done on the Subject of the Asylum, given in Pensacola to fugitive Negroes from Georgia; and enclosing a Set of the Acts of the Congress, and a Set of the Journals of the House of Representatives of the United States, for the first Session, & the Newspapers from 24th. November 1788 to this Day.—1
See book of foreign Letters page 326.—
6th. Received a Letter from Major John Skey Eustace, dated Bourdeaux 15th. July 1789, mentioning a Plan for ransoming the american Captives at Algiers &c, and enclosing—
No. 1. Account of the Revolution at Paris on the 25th. June 1789.
No. 2. Several Speeches delivered in the National Assembly on the 26th. June, and the Kings Letters to the Nobility & Clergy of 27th. June 1789.
No. 3. Copy of an Arret of the Nation of 15th. July, and of a Letter from M: Nairac of the same Date.—
No. 4. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Eustace to the Attorney General for the Captives at Bourdeaux of 8th. July, and of the Answer thereto of 10th. July 1789.—
No. 5. Copy of a Letter from the Marshal de Castries to the Provincial of Mercy of 7th. November 1784.—
No. 6. List of french Slaves redeemed at Algiers in 1785 by the religious Orders of the Holy Trinity and Mercy.—2
7th. Received a Note from Count de Moustier of 6th. Instant, requesting to know when it will be convenient for him to take Leave of the President, as he has obtained Permission to visit France, and will leave Mr. Otto charged with Affairs during his Absence.—
Mr. Jay in a Note to the Count, mentioned the Time when the President would receive him; and assured him, that although he (Mr. Jay) had ceased to be officially charged with the Department of foreign Affairs, he would give every Attention to the Business which Mr. Otto might have to transact with it.—3
See 4 Vol. of american Letters page
Received a Letter from Mr. deGardoqui of the 3d. Instant, mentioning that Don Joseph de Viar is the Person, who he shall leave as Chargé des Affaires during his Absence.
Wrote to Mr. deGardoqui in answer to the above.—4
See 4 Vol. of american Letters page
Received a Letter from the Governor of Massachusetts of the 14th. Ult: in answer to Mr. Jay’s to him of the 4th. Ult: mentioning that the Territory therein referred to, had been conveyed by the Commonwealth to Mr. Gorham and others, &c:—
Received a Letter from Nathanial Gorham Esqr. of 29th. Ult: mentioning the Steps he had taken, to have an Agent to attend the running of the partition Line, between the United States and New York & Massachusetts &c:—
Mr. Jay communicated the abovementioned Letters to the President, and wrote to Mr. Gorham informing him of it.—5
See 4 Vol. of american Letters page
Wrote to Major Eustace (by Count de Moustier) informing him that his Letter of 15th. July 1789 should be communicated to the President, and delivered to Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Jay’s Successor in Office, as soon as he arrived.6
See book of foreign Letters page 328.—7
9th. Mr. Jay having submitted to the President the Draft of a Letter to his most Christian Majesty, in answer to his of 7th. June 1789 mentioning the Death of the Dauphin, and the President having approved of it; an Answer was made out accordingly, signed by the President, and sealed with the Seal of the United States.—8
Received a Letter from Mr. John Pintard of this date, enclosing two Letters from the Deputy Agent at Madeira of 21st. and 26th. August 1789, which mention the Arrival there of two Moorish Vessels, the Captains of which had expressed great Friendship for the Americans, had shewed him a Certificate of an american Captain expressive of the kind Treatment he had received at Mogador, and had assured him that the Emperor meant to send some of his Frigates to America in the Spring.—9
See 4 Vol. of american Letters page
12th. Received a Letter from Sir John Temple of this Date, enclosing a Memorial from Thomas M. Savage, Captain of the Sloop Sally, who complains that he was run down & upset by the french Frigate L’Active, and requesting that it may be submitted to the Consideration of the Government.—
13th.— Wrote to Sir John returning the said Memorial, and advising him to consult some able Counsellor as to the Measures to be taken on the Occasion &c.—
Sir John in a Note of this Date, sent the said Memorial back to Mr. Jay, and requested him to communicate it to the President.
Mr. Jay reported to the President in writing, this Application of Sir John, and sent him enclosed the Memorial No. 1, and Sir John’s Note of this Date No. 2.—
Mr. Jay in a Note to Sir John, informed him that the Memorial had been transmitted to the President of the United States.—10
See 4 Vol. of american Letters page
Wrote to Mr. Short (by Count de Moustier) mentioning the Receipt of Mr. Jeffersons Letters of 17. 24 & 29 June and 19 & 29 July 1789, and that he has not yet arrived; and enclosing a duplicate Ratification of the Consular Convention; the President’s letter, and a Copy of it, to his most Christian Majesty of 9th. Instant; a Set of the Acts of the Congress, and of the Journals of the House of Representatives for the first Session, and the Newspapers from 17th. Ult: to this Day.—11
See book of foreign Letters page 329.—
15th. Received a Letter from Mr. Jefferson of 29th. July 1789 mentioning Mr. Necker’s Appointment—the Organization of the Militia—Scarcity of Bread—Number of Princes and Ministers that have fled the Kingdom— Affair at Vesoul in Franche compté—Reports respecting the Agency of the English in the late Tumults, disavowed by the British Ambassador—Recovery of the King of England.—12
19th. Mr. Jay was this Day qualified before Chief Justice Morris, as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and lodged in this Office a Certificate thereof.—13
D, in the hand of Henry Remsen Jr., DNA: PCC, item 127, 2: 193–97 (EJ: 03804).
1. See above.
2. For the submission to TJ of these documents related to former Continental Army officer John Skey Eustace’s unauthorized negotiations for the release of prisoners, all located in DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters Received, see , 16: 8; 18: 398, 398n112.
3. Moustier to JJ, 6 Oct., LbkC, with translation, and JJ to Moustier, 7 Oct., , 4: 91 (EJ: 02375; EJ: 02376). On Moustier’s controversial tenure as minister and his recall, see JJ to TJ, 25 Nov. 1788, and TJ to JJ, 4 Feb. 1789, above. On Moustier’s leave-taking with GW, and on the “Informal visit” paid by the Washingtons to Moustier and Madame de Brehan, see , 5: 457, 460.
4. See JJ to Gardoqui, 7 Oct., below.
5. See Governor of Massachusetts (John Hancock) to JJ, 14 Sept., and notes, and Nathaniel Gorham to JJ, 29 Sept., above.
7. Although it is not recorded in the for this date, according to GW’s Diary, on 7 Oct. JJ provided him with the following information and advice:
Mr. Jay communicated the purport of the Instructions received by Sir John Temple British Consul from the Duke of Leeds Secretary for Foreign affairs— viz
Trade. How many foreign Vessels— of what Nations— whether from Europe or their Colonies.—
What Tonnage— whether any and what difference between British and others— what on American.
What Port charges on foreign Vessels, whether any and what difference &ca.—
What duties on foreign Goods— whether any and what difference as to the Countries producing, and Vessels bringing them.— Number of Vessels built where &ca.
Staple Commodities.— Whether they encrease or diminish— which— in what degree— and why—
Manufactures—What— Where— Whether and how encouraged—
Emigrations— From Europe in what numbers— from where— whether and how encouraged &ca.—
From United States— to British and Spanish Territories &ca.—
Population—whether generally, or partially encreasing or diminishing and from what causes.—
Justice—Whether there be any, and what obstructions, and where, to the recovery of British Debts according to Treaty.—
Upon consulting Mr. Jay on the propriety of my intended tour into the Eastern States, he highly approved of it—but observed, a similar visit wd. be expected by those of the Southern.
With the same Gentleman I had conversation on the propriety of takg informal means of ascertaining the views of the British Court with respect to our Western Posts in their possession—and to a Commercial Treaty.— He thought steps of this sort advisable, and mentioned as a fit person for this purpose, a Doctr Bancroft as a man in whom entire confidence might be placed.—
See , 5: 454. On the advice of AH, Gouverneur Morris, not Edward Bancroft, was assigned informally to ascertain British views on the subjects of western posts and a commercial treaty. Ibid., 455. On Sir John Temple and on the status of relations and trade with Great Britain, see the editorial notes “Negotiating a Trade Agreement,” “Anglo-American Relations,” and “Consuls de Gratia: The Role of British Consuls,” , 3: 373–88; 4: 33–41, 245–50.
8. For GW’s letter to Louis XVI of 9 Oct. 1789, drafted by JJ, responding to the king’s letter of 7 June 1789 on the death of his eldest son Louis Joseph Xavier François (1781–89), see , 2: 448; 4: 152.
9. John Pintard to JJ, 9 Oct., enclosing letters from Edward Clark to John Marsden Pintard of 21 and 26 Aug., a certificate of Captain Joseph Proctor of 18 July 1789, and a certificate of Diego Pereira Forjas Continho, Governor and Captain General of Madeira, 24 Aug. 1789, attesting to the pacific intentions of Morocco. LbkC, , 4: 96–100 (EJ: 02382). John Pintard, translator for the Office of Foreign Affairs, was the cousin of John Marsden Pintard, American commercial agent, and later consul, at Madeira, but residing in the United States from 1786 to 1790. , 3: 215.
10. See JJ to GW, 13 Oct., and notes, below.
12. TJ to JJ, 29 July 1789, ALS, DNA: PCC, item 87, 2: 548–50 (EJ: 12051); PrC, DLC: Jefferson (EJ: 10202); , 15: 314–15.
13. See JJ’s oath of office of 19 Oct., below.