We are to make a small jaunt of twenty-eight leagues next Thursday, to see a new road. Friday is a desperate day. I think that you had best write to him a line requesting an interview at our return, it not being easy for him to appoint a day before hand.

In fear that you might want the papers annexed, I would not detain them. I am very sensible of your remembrance, having the honor to call myself, with the most perfect esteem and respect, sir, &c.

OTAMENDI.

13th December.

Enclosed in a letter from William Carmichael, without signature or address.

Sir,

Algiers, December 15, 1785.

Count d'Espilly is returned from the Court of Madrid, since the 7th of October last; he was expected here with so much impatience, that the Dey would absolutely see him, before he had even time to go to the French Consul's country house, where the Countess, his lady, had remained after his departure from hence, to convince the Dey of the sincerity of the promise he had made him, of returning.

It is said he had orders from his Court to signify to the Dey, that all the offers made by Don Joseph de Mazzardo, were absolutely without orders, and that his Catholic Majesty disapproved them in the fullest extent. The Count complained to the Dey in the strongest terms, his having permitted the cruisers to sail until his

return, and it is doubtless this prince assured him it ought not to give the Count the least uneasiness, as he had threatened all the Rais in general, and each in particular, before their sailing, that he would cause the first of them that committed the least insult to the Spanish flag, or to any part of the Spanish coast, to be immediately strangled, and, in fact, the twelve cruisers that sailed on the 3rd of October last, are all returned, without giving Spain the least cause of complaint, notwithstanding a Catalan bark, richly laden, returning from the West Indies, abandoned by her crew, fearing the truce agreed upon was expired, as generally reported in Europe, was brought in here by one of the cruisers, but immediately returned, without difficulty, to the Count, on his first application. A like accident happened to a Venitian snow, of twelve guns, also abandoned by her crew, under the dread of the Tunisians, was picked up by one of the cruisers of this regency, but lost on the coast of Arzeo, and which, most probably, has saved the Venitian Consul a very disagreeable refusal, as they had already reported here that this snow was a Russian.

The Dey promised the Count d'Espilly, that he will not permit any of the cruisers to sail before the month of March next is expired, and it is assured, his Excellency has written his Catholic Majesty to the same effect.

This Prince has also, within these few days, returned to the Count seven fusileers, belonging to Oran, sent here by the Bey of Mascara, found by the Moors at some distance from the stipulated limits of that garrison, as this regency, on the first overtures of a peace, would not agree that Oran should be included, but which they have at length consented to, so that Oran remains with

out any communication with the Moors of the Kingdom of Algiers, and in the same manner that Ceuta has been for a long time with the Moors of Morocco.

FROM COUNT DE FLORIDA BLANCA.

Translation.

Most excellent Sir,

Having immediately granted the passports to Messrs. Lamb and Randall, requested in a note of 22nd of this month, from Dr. William Carmichael, the underwritten, first Secretary of State, by order of his Majesty, transmits a letter for the Captain General of Catalonia, to facilitate their passage to Algiers, in what may depend upon him. And as to their commission to treat of peace between the United States and that Regency, the King will not omit to repeat the proofs of his good will towards the United States, according to circumstances and their reciprocal good correspondence.

At the Pardo, 31st May, 1786.

FLORIDA BLANCA.

FROM COUNT DE FLORIDA BLANCA.

Translation.

Most excellent Sir,

Messrs. Lamb and Randall, Americans, commissioned by the United States to treat of peace with that Regency, being about to pass to Algiers, I recommend them to your Excellency by order of the King, that you may facilitate

their embarkation, and do them any services that may de

pend on your Excellency.

At the Pardo, 31st May, 1786.

FLORIDA BLANCA.

FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, May 22, 1786.

Sir,

The duty has been imposed on me of making the following communication to Congress.

It is necessary for me previously to observe, that though the government of the United Netherlands have both an ordinary and extraordinary Ambassador here, yet the patriotic party now decisively possessed of all the powers of government have sent hither a Rhingrave de Salm, as possessing plenary confidence, to treat with this Court on some matters not yet made known to the public. His character and credit accordingly are so well known here, that passing by the regular Ambassadors, they are actually in negotiation with him.

He took occasion to speak with me to-day on the subject of Mr. Dumas: after saying much in his favor, he assured me that Congress could not so much oblige the patriotic party, as by naming Mr. Dumas to their diplomatic appointment at the Hague; and further that should they have any thing interesting to do there, there was no who could do it so effectually as Mr. Dumas.

other man,

I wished to avoid flattering his expectations and therefore mentioned to him the resolution of Congress, confining their diplomatic appointments to citizens of the United States.

He seemed to admit they could not expect him to be made Minister Plenipotentiary, but asked if it would not be possible to give him the character of Resident.

I told him we were in the usage of appointing only one character inferior to that of Minister Plenipotentiary which was that of Chargé d'Affaires : that I was far from presuming to say, that could be obtained in the present case; but that one other difficulty occurred to me in that moment. I observed that they had a Minister Plenipotentiary with Congress, and that Congress naming for their Court only a Chargé d'Affaires might perhaps be considered as disrespectful, and might occasion the recall of their Minister. He assured me it would not; nay, that it should not. We are, contiuued he, but a party, and therefore cannot make a formal declaration on this subject, but we know how far we can undertake, and if you please, the members of our party shall go and make a declaration privately, before the French Ambassador at our Court, that nothing amiss shall be conceived of it, and that our Minister shall not be affected by it. I told him this would not be desired. He asked me if I thought Count de Vergennes writing a second letter on this subject would be of service.

I told him I could not suppose a repetition of his application could be material.

My object in avoiding a second letter from the Count de Vergennes, as well as the declaration before the French Ambassador, was, that embarrassments might not be multiplied, if Congress should not think proper to comply with their requests. He concluded by desiring I would urge this matter to Congress.