death of General Greene; this is a serious loss to this country, as well as his family, and is universally and justly lamented.

With great esteem and regard, I have the honor to be, &c.

JOHN JAY.

FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL. Paris, May 5, 1786.

Sir,

A visit of two months to England, has been the cause of your not hearing from me during that period. Your letters of February the 3rd, to Mr. Adams and myself, and of February the 4th, to me, had come to hand before my departure. While I was in London, Mr. Adams received the letters, giving information of Mr. Lamb's arrival at Algiers. In London we had conferences with a Tripoline Ambassador, now at that Court, named Abdrahaman. He asked us thirty thousand guineas for a peace with his Court, and as much for Tunis, for which he said he could answer. What we were authorized to offer, being to this, but as a drop to a bucket, our conferences were repeated, only for the purpose of obtaining information. If the demands of Algiers and Morocco should be proportioned to this, according to their superior power, it is easy to foresee that the United States will not buy a peace with money. What principally led me to England, was, the information that the Chevalier del Pinto, Portuguese Minister at that Court, had received full powers to treat with us. I accordingly went there,

T

and, in the course of six weeks, we arranged a commercial treaty between our two countries. His powers were only to negotiate, not to sign. And, as I could not wait, Mr. Adams and myself signed, and the Chevalier del Pinto expected daily, the arrival of powers to do the The footing on which each has placed the other, is that of the most favored nation. We wished much to have had some privileges in their American possessions; but this was not to be effected. The right to import flour into Portugal, though not conceded by the treaty, we are not without hopes of obtaining.

same.

My journey furnished us with occasion, to renew our overtures to the Court of London; which it was the more important to do, as our powers to that Court were to expire on the 12th of this month. These overtures were not attended to, and our commission expiring, we made our final report to Congress; and I suppose this the last offer of friendship, which will ever be made on our part. The treaty of peace being unexecuted on either part, in important points, each will now take their own measures for obtaining execution. I think the King, Ministers, and nation, are more bitterly hostile to us at present, than at any period of the late war. A like disposition on our part, has been rising for some time. In what events these things will end, we cannot foresee. Our countrymen are eager in their passions and enterprises, and not disposed to calculate their interests against these. Our enemies, (for such they are, in fact) have, for twelve years past, followed but one uniform rule, that of doing exactly the contrary of what reason points out. Having early, during our contest, observed this in the British conduct, I governed myself by it, in all prognosVOL. III-3

tications of their measures; and I can say, with truth, it never failed me, but in the circumstance of their making peace with us. I have no letters from America of later date than the new year. Mr. Adams had, to the beginning of February. I am in hopes our letters will give a new spur to the proposition, for investing Congress with the regulation of our commerce.

This will be handed you by a Baron Walterstorff, a Danish gentleman, whom, if you did not already know, I should take the liberty of recommending to you. You were so kind as to write me, that you would forward me a particular map, which has not come to hand. I beg you to be assured of the respect and esteem, with which I have the honor to be, &c.

TH: JEFFERSON.

FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO M. DUMAS.

Paris, May 6, 1786.

Sir,

Having been absent, in England, for some time past, your favors of February the 27th, March the 28th, and April the 11th, have not been acknowledged so soon as they should have been. I am obliged to you for assisting to make me known to the Rhingrave de Salm, and the Marquis de la Coste, whose reputations render an acquaintance with them desirable. I have not yet seen either, but expect that honor from the Rhingrave very soon. Your letters to Mr. Jay and Mr. Van Berckel, received in my absence, will be forwarded by a gentleman who leaves this place for New York, within a few days. I sent the treaty with Prussia, by a gentleman who sailed

from Havre the 11th of November. The arrival of that vessel in America, is not yet known here. Though the time is not long enough to produce despair, it is sufficiently so to give inquietude,lest it should be lost. This would be a cause of much concern to me. I beg the favor of you to mention this circumstance to the Baron de Thulemeier, as an apology for his not hearing from us. The last advices from America bring us nothing interesting. A principle object of my journey to London, was to enter into commercial arrangements with Portugal. This has been done almost in the precise terms of those of Prussia. The English are still our enemies. The spirit existing there, and rising in America, has a very lowering apect. To what events it may give birth, I cannot foresee. We are young, and can survive them; but their rotten machine must crush under the trial. The animosities of Sovereigns are temporary, and may be allayed; but those which seize the whole body of a people-and of a people too, who dictate their own measures-produce calamities of long duration. I shall not wonder to see the scenes of ancient Rome and Carthage, renewed in our day; and if not pursued to the same issue, it may be because the republic of modern powers will not permit the extinction of any one of its members. Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy; and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it. But the temper and folly of our enemies, may not leave this in our choice. I am happy in our prospect of friendship with the most estimable powers of Europe, and particularly with those of the confederacy, of which yours is. That your present crisis may have a happy issue, is the prayer and wish of him, who has the honor to be, &c. TH: JEFFERSON.

FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JOHN ADAMS.

Dear Sir,

Paris, May 11, 1786.

I do myself the honor of enclosing 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 does he know. But as he knew our ultimatum, we are to suppose, from his letter, that it would be a price infinitely beyond that. A reference to Congress hereon, seems to be necessary. Till that can be obtained, Mr. Lamb must be idle at Algiers, Carthagena, or elsewhere. Would he not be better employed in going to Congress? They would be able to draw from him and Mr. Randall, the information necessary to determine what they will do. And if they determine to negotiate, they can re-appoint the same, or appoint a new negotiator, according to the opinion they form on their examination. I suggest this to you as my first thoughts; an ultimate opinion should not be formed till we see Mr. Randall, who may be shortly expected. In the meantime, should an opportunity occur, favor me with your ideas hereon, that we may be maturing our opinions. I shall send copies of these three letters to Mr. Jay, by the packet which sails from L'Orient, the first of next month.

I have the honor to be, &c.

TH: JEFFERSON.