To George Washington from Thomas Barclay, 27 December 1792
From Thomas Barclay
Cadiz [Spain] 27th Decr 1792
Sir
I received on the 24th of this Month, through Mr Pinckney, your Excellencys Commands of the 11th of June, to which all deference and attention possible will be shewn.1 Mr Jefferson will naturally inform you of what I have written to him by this opportunity,2 and therefore I shall take up no more of your time than to assure you of the respect wherewith I am, Sir, Your Most Obedient Most humble serv:
Thos Barclay
ALS, DNA: RG 59, Despatches from Consular Offices, Cadiz; ADf, DNA: RG 59, Despatches from Consular Offices, Cadiz.
1. GW’s letter to Barclay of 11 June was enclosed in Thomas Jefferson’s first letter to Thomas Pinckney of the same date (see 24:59). GW had directed Barclay, the U.S. consul to Morocco, to carry out the duties assigned to Adm. John Paul Jones in case of Jones’s death or incapacity. Since Jones died in Paris on 18 July 1792, Barclay now assumed those duties, which were to proceed to Algiers to establish peace with that nation, ransom the U.S. citizens held captive there, and act as the U.S. consul to Algiers. Barclay, however, died on 19 Jan. 1793. For background on the Algiers mission, see GW to Thomas Jefferson, 10 Mar., and note 3, Conversation with a Committee of the U.S. Senate, 12 Mar., Jefferson to GW, 1 April, and note 1, Jefferson’s Memorandum on a Treaty with Algiers, 10 April, and source note, and GW to the U.S. Senate, 8 May (third letter) 1792, and note 2. For Jones’s instructions, see Jefferson’s letter to Jones of 1 June 1792, ibid., 3–10.
2. Barclay enclosed his letter to GW in a letter to Jefferson of 27 Dec., which Jefferson docketed as being received on 25 Feb. 1793 (ibid., 791).