January 1781. To paid bill for painting coach wheels, November,

1777,

Liv.

321,137 18 7

2,400

294

Deduct wrong charges in

sundry entries, entered

before in page fifty, 9,706 6 5

16

323,847 18 7

2,973 0 0

4,825 2 4

60,932 00 5

262,915 18 2

FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JOHN JAY.

Sir,

Paris, August 10, 1788.

I have waited till the last moment of Mrs. Barclay's departure, to write you the occurrences since my letter of 3rd instant. We have received the Swedish account of an engagement between their fleet and the Russian on the Baltic, wherein they say they took one and burnt another Russian vessel, with the loss of one on their side, and that the victory remained with them. They say at the same time, that their fleet returned into port and the Russians kept the sea. We must therefore suspend our opinion, till we get the Russian version of this engagement. The Swedish manifesto was handed about to-day at Versailles by the Swedish Ambassador in manuscript. The King complains that Russia has been ever endeavoring to sow dissensions in his kingdom, in order to re-establish the ancient constitution, that he has long borne it through a love of peace, but finds it no longer bearable; that still however he will make peace on these conditions, 1st. that the Empress punishes her Minister for the note he gave into the Court of Stockholm; 2nd. that she restores the Crimea to the Turks; and 3rd. that she repays to him all the expenses of his armament. The Russian force in vessels of war on the Black sea five frigates and three ships of the line are shut up in port, and cannot come out till Oczakow shall be taken; this fleet is commanded by Paul Jones with the rank of Rear-Admiral. The Prince of Nassau commands the gallies and gun boats. It is now ascertained that the States General will assemble the next year, and probably in the month of May.

Tippoo Saib's Ambassadors had their reception this day at Versailles with unusual pomp. The presence was so numerous that little could be caught of what they said to the King, and he answered to them. From what little I could hear nothing more passed than mutual assurances of good will. The name of the Mareschal de Richlieu is sufficiently remarkable in history to justify my mentioning his death which happened two days ago; he was aged 92 years.

I have the honor to be, &c.

TH: JEFFERSON.

FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JOHN JAY.

Sir,

Paris, August 11, 1788.

In my letter of the last night written in the moment of Mrs. Barclay's departure, I had the honor of mentioning to you that it was now pretty certain, that the States General would be assembled in the next year, and probably in the month of May. This morning an arrét, is published, announcing that their meeting is fixed at the first day of May next, of which I enclose you a copy by post, in hopes it will get to Bourdeaux in time for Mrs. Barclay. This arrêt ought to have a great effect towards tranquillizing the nation. There are still, however, two circumstances which must continue to perplex the administration. The first is the want of money occasioned not only by the difficulty of filling up the loan of the next year, but by the withholding the ordinary supplies of taxes, which is said to have taken place in some in

stances.

This gives apprehension of a bankruptcy under some form or other, and has occasioned the stocks to fall in the most alarming manner. The second circumstance is that justice both civil and criminal continues suspended. The Parliament will not resume their functions, but with the whole body, and the greater part of the baillages decline acting. The present arrêt announces a perseve

rance in this plan.

I am informed from Algiers, of the 5th of June, that the plague is raging there with great violence, that one of our captives was dead of it, and another ill; so that we have there in all now only 15 or 16, that the captives are more exposed to its ravages than others; that the great redemptions by the Spaniards, Portuguese and Neapolitans, and the havoc made by the plague had now left not more than 400 slaves in Algiers, so that their redemption was not only become exorbitant, but almost inadmissible; that common sailors were held at 400 pounds sterling, and that our 15 or 16 could probably not be redeemed for less than from 25 to 30,000 dollars. An Algerine cruiser, having 28 captives of Genoa aboard, was lately chased ashore by two Neapolitan vessels, the crew and captives got safe ashore, and the latter of course recovered their freedom. The Algerine crew was well treated, and would be sent back by the French, but the Government of Algiers demand of France 60,000 sequins or 27,000 pounds sterling for the captives escaped, that is, nearly 1000 pounds each. The greater part of the regency were for an immediate declaration of war against France; but the Dey urged the heavy war the Turks were at present engaged in, that it would be better not to draw another power on them at present,

that they would decline renewing the treaty of one hundred years, which expired two years ago, so as to be free to act hereafter; but for the present they ought to accept payment for the capture as a satisfaction. They accordingly declared to the French Consul that they would put him and all his countrymen into irons, unless the sixty thousand sequins were paid. The Consul told him his instructions were positively, that they should not be paid. In this situation stood matters between that pettifogging nest of robbers and this great kingdom, which will finish, probably, by crouching under them, and paying the sixty thousand sequins. From the personal characters of the present administration, I should have hoped, under any other situation than the present, they might have ventured to quit the beaten track of politics hitherto pursued, in which the honor of their nation has been calculated at nought, and to join in a league for keeping up a perpetual cruise against the pirates, which, though a slow operation, would be a sure one for destroying all their vessels and seamen, and turning the rest of them to agriculture. But a desire of not bringing upon them another difficulty, will probably induce the Ministers to do as their predecessors have done. The enclosed paper of this morning gives some particulars of the action between the Russians and Swedes, the manifesto of the Empress, and the declaration of the Court of Versailles as to the affair of Trincomali.

I have the honor to be, &c.

TH: JEFFERSON.