The latter was the sole

forces to two thousand men. object avowed, yet the former entered for something into the measure. However, I am satisfied the good sense of the people is the strongest army our government can ever have, and that it will not fail them. The commercial convention at Annapolis, was not full enough to do business, they found, too, their appointments too narrow, being confined to the article of commerce. They have proposed a meeting at Philadelphia, in May, and that it may be authorized to propose amendments, of whatever is defective in the Federal Constitution.

When I was in England I formed a portable copying press, on the principle of the large one they make there, for copying letters. I had a model made there, and it has answered perfectly. A workman here, has made several from that model. The itinerant temper of your Court will, I think, render one of these useful to you. You must, therefore, do me the favor to accept of one. I have it now in readiness, and shall send it by the way of Bayonne, to the care of Mr. Alexander there, unless Don Miguel de Lardizabel can carry it with him.

My hand admonishes me it is time to stop, and that I must defer writing to Mr. Barclay till to-morrow. I have the honor to be, &c.

TH: JEFFERSON.

FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, December 31, 1786.

Sir,

I had the honor of addressing you on the 12th of the last month, since which your favor of October 12th has been received, enclosing a copy of the resolution of Congress for recalling Mr. Lamb. My letter by Mr. Randall informed you, that we had put an end to his powers, and required him to repair to Congress. I lately received a letter from him, dated Alicant, October 10th, of which I have the honor to enclose you a copy, by which you will perceive that the circumstance of ill health, either true or false, is urged for his not obeying our call. I shall immediately forward the order of Congress. I am not without fear, that some misapplication of the public money, may enter into the causes of his declining to return. The moment that I saw a symptom of this in his conduct, as it was a circumstance which did not admit the delay of consulting Mr. Adams, I wrote to Mr. Carmichael to stop any moneys, which he might have in the hands of his banker. I am still unable to judge whether he is guilty of this or not, as by the arrangements with Mr. Adams, who alone had done business with the bankers of the United States in Holland, Mr. Lamb's 'drafts were to be made on him, and I know not what their amount has been. His drafts could not have been negotiated if made on us both, at places so distant. Perhaps it may be thought, that the appointment of Mr. Lamb was censurable in the moment in which it was made. It is a piece of justice, therefore, which I owe to Mr. Adams, to declare that the propositions went first from me to him.

I take the liberty of enclosing you a copy of my letter to Mr. Adams, of September 24th, 1785, in which that proposition was made. It expresses the motives operating on my mind in that moment, as well as the cautions I thought it necessary to take; to these must be added the difficulty of finding an American in Europe fit for the business, and willing to undertake it. I knew, afterwards, that Dr. Bancroft (who is named in the letter) could not, on account of his own affairs, have accepted even a primary appointment. I think it evident that no appointment could have succeeded, without a much greater sum of money.

I am happy to find that Mr. Barclay's mission has been attended with complete success. For this we are indebted, unquestionably, to the influence and good offices of the Court of Madrid. Colonel Franks, the bearer of this, will have the honor to put into your hand the original of the treaty, with other papers accompanying it. It will appear by these, that Mr. Barclay has conducted himself with a degree of intelligence and of good faith, which reflect the highest honor on him.

A copy of a letter from Captain O'Bryen to Mr. Carmichael is also herewith enclosed. The information it contains will throw further light on the affairs of Algiers. His observations on the difficulties which arise from the distance of Mr. Adams and myself from that place, and from one another, and the delays occasioned by this circumstance, are certainly just. If Congress should propose to receive the negotiations, they will judge whether it will not be more expedient to send a person to Algiers who can be trusted with full powers; and, also, whether a mission to Constantinople may not be previously neces

sary. Before I quit this subject, I must correct an error in the letter of Captain O'Bryen. Mr. Lamb was not limited, as he says, to one hundred, but to two hundred, dollars a piece for our prisoners. This was the sum which had been just paid, for a large number of French prisoners, and this was our guide.

The difference between Russia and the Porte seems patched up for the present. That between Spain and Naples is not yet healed, and probably will not be cordially; but if it does not lead to a war, it will probably end in a settled coolness, and the King of Spain's ceasing to interfere with that Government. The mediation of this Court, I suppose, has been excited by the fear, that Naples might throw itself, into the other scale of the European balance. This has been much feared from the new King of Prussia. Such a weight as this, shifted into the scale of the Emperor, Russia and England would spread a cloud over the prospects of this kingdom. Of the possibility of this event, you will be so much better informed by Mr. Dumas, that it would be going out of my province to take up more of your time with it. The packets at L'Orient have orders to go to Havre, from which place they will ply after the month of February. This will enable me to resume that channel of correspondence with you, as I can always send a confidential servant by the diligence, in twenty-four hours to that place, to put my letters in the hand of our agent there, who will find a passenger or other trusty person to take charge of them, without their going into the post mail. Through passengers and the same agent, your letters to me may be safely conveyed, unopened. I enclose you the Leyden and French gazettes to this date;

in the latter you will find an authentic copy of the treaty between France and England. I am also desired to send you the papers in the case of André Caron, praying that justice may be done him.

I have the honor of being, &c.

TH: JEFFERSON.

FROM JOHN LAMB TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Alicant, October 10, 1786.

I have received your Excellency's letter; I am not able to take passage by sea or land; I have been confined these three months.

I am exceedingly sorry that I cannot have a full settlement in Europe; what I have written concerning it is real.

The letter of credit I will return by the first safe hand. By post all my letters are broken, therefore I think it will be unsafe by that method of conveyance; but in the meantime, shall draw no more.

I am, with great respect, &c.

JOHN LAMB.

Extract of a letter from Thomas Jefferson to John

Sir,

Adams.

Paris, September 24, 1785.

My letter of September 19th, written the morning after Mr. Lamb's arrival here, would inform you of that