Cardoza Nunez, interpreter at the Court of Morocco, of the annexed declaration, in Arabic, made by Taher Fennish, by order of the Emperor of Morocco, in addition and explanation of the tenth article of the treaty, between his Majesty and the United States of America. TH: BARCLAY.

Madrid, December 4, 1786.

FROM THOMAS BARCLAY TO MESSRS. ADAMS AND JEF

FERSON.

Gentlemen,

Alicant, January 6, 1787.

I have not had the pleasure of addressing you since my arrival at this place, being hitherto without any thing to say worth your attention.

Mr. Lamb had embarked for Minorca, before I got here; but as he is in correspondence with Mr. Montgomery, I was in hopes of learning through that channel, the possibility of our meeting, before I should return to France; a matter that I am of opinion might have been attended with some advantages.

But the letters which he has lately written held out nothing, and therefore I contented myself with writing to him the motives which induced me to come here, and am without expectation of seeing him. As the Spanish, Portuguese and Neapolitan Ministers were preparing to embark from Carthagena, I went and passed one day at that place, in hopes of learning something that might be useful, and took that opportunity of impressing on the mind of the Count d'Espilly, some matters that had before

been talked over at Madrid and the Escurial, and I left him seemingly in the best disposition towards our people at Algiers, and very ready to obey the instructions concerning us, which the Count de Florida Blanca had given him. Since my return from Carthagena, I have received letters from thence informing me that the Count d'Espilly has orders from Court not to proceed to Algiers, without further instructions, as the plague is at Constantine, within fifty leagues of that place. But as it was lately reported that the Dey, who is very far advanced in years, was much indisposed, it is no ways improbable that this circumstance may have had its weight, for the knowledge of the plague being at Constantine is not new. It was even believed before I left Africa that the city of Bona was depopulated with that distemper. However this may be, I most sincerely wish the negotiations respecting our country could go hand in hand, with those of the European powers, for there is no doubt that when the Barbary States have made peace with them, they will turn all their views towards us, and if another capture or two be made, the terms of peace will be raised most extravagantly.

I shall make no apology to you, gentlemen, for the communicating whatever has occurred to me on this subject, and as it is probable I shall not have occasion again to resume it, I will now add that I know no American subject in Spain or France, (Mr. Jefferson is out of the question) so adequate to the task of negotiating at Algiers, as is Mr. Carmichael. I am perfectly convinced that when it is renewed, he ought, if possible, to undertake it; and I beg leave to recommend this hint to your serious consideration. I am sure Mr. Carmichael has no ob

jects under his care half so interesting, and if his situation will permit, he ought not to hesitate.

I wish much to know your sentiments of the treaty with Morocco, though it is not quite as good as I desire, . it is as much so as I could make it. I beg you will favor me with your opinions when you are at leisure. The answer from Corunna is what I feared it would be, no ways decisive. It is two or three years since Mr. Carmichael endeavored to procure a settlement, and I much fear I shall be obliged to go and force one.

I am, with great respect, &c.

THOS. BARCLAY.

FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JOHN JAY.

Sir,

Paris, February 8, 1787.

The packet being to sail the day after to-morrow, I have awaited the last possible moment of writing by her, in hopes I might be able to announce some favorable change in the situation of the Count de Vergennes, but none has occurred, and in the meantime he has become weaker by the continuance of his illness; though not desperately ill, he is dangerously so. The Comptroller General, M. de Calonne, has been very ill also, but he is getting well. These circumstances have occasioned the postponement of the Assemblée des Notables to the 14th instant, and will probably occasion a further postponement, as I shall set out this day sevennight for the waters of Aix, you will probably hear the issue of the Count de Vergennes' illness, through some other channel

before I shall have the honor of addressing you again, I may observe the same as to the final decision for the enfranchisement of Honfleur, which is in a fair way of being speedily concluded. The exertions of Monsieur de Crevecoeur, and particularly his influence with the Duke d'Harcourt, the principal instrument in effecting it, have been of chief consequence iu this matter.

I am, with due respect, &c.

TH: JEFFERSON.

FROM JOHN JAY TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

New York, April 25, 1787.

Dear Sir,

Since my last to you of the 9th February, I have been honored with yours of the 27th October, 12th November, 31st December, 9th January, and 1st and 8th February last, all of which, together with the papers that accompanied them, have been communicated to Congress; but neither on them, nor your preceding ones, have any instructions been, as yet, ordered; so that this letter, like many others, will not be very interesting.

It is greatly to be regretted, that communications to Congress are not kept more private. A variety of reasons, which must be obvious to you, oppose it; and while the federal sovereignty remains just as it is, little secrecy is to be expected. This circumstance must, undoubtedly, be a great restraint on those public and private characters from whom you would otherwise obtain useful hints and information. I, for my part, have long experienced the inconvenience of it, and in some instances very sensibly.

The death of Count de Vergennes, of which Major Franks informed us, is to be lamented; and the more so, as the talents, industry and disposition towards us, of his successor, are uncertain. Who will take his place, is an important question to us as well as to France.

The Convention, of which you have been informed, will convene next month at Philadelphia. It is said that General Washington accepts his appointment to it, and will attend. I wish their councils may better our situation; but I am not sanguine in my expectations. There is reason to fear that our errors do not proceed from want of knowledge; and, therefore, that reason and public spirit will require the aid of calamity, to render their dictates effectual.

The insurrection in Massachusetts is suppressed, but the spirit of it exists, and has operated powerfully in the late election. Governor Bowdoin, whose conduct was upright, and received the approbation of the Legislature, is turned out, and Mr. Hancock is elected. Many respectable characters in both Houses, are displaced, and men of other principles and views elected. Perhaps these accounts are exaggerated. Perhaps Mr. Hancock will support his former character, and that the present Legislature will be zealous to maintain the rights of Government, as well as respect the wishes of the people. Time alone can ascertain these matters. The language, however, of such changes is not pleasant or promising.

For your information, I enclose a copy of certain resolutions of Congress, relative to infractions of the treaty of peace. How they will be received, or what effect they will have, I know not. Some of the States have gone so far in their deviations from the treaty, that I fear they VOL. III.-29