From Thomas Jefferson to the Executive Directory of the Batavian Republic, 30 May 1801
To the Executive Directory of the Batavian Republic
Citizens Directors,
The interests of the United States which were committed to the care of William Vans Murray, their Minister Resident near the Batavian Republic, admitting of his absence, we have yielded to his request to be permitted to return to America. He will accordingly take his leave of you, and will embrace that occasion to assure you of our friendship and sincere desire to preserve and strengthen the harmony and good understanding so happily subsisting between the Batavian Republic and the United States. We are persuaded he will do this in the manner most expressive of these sentiments, and of the respect and sincerity with which they are offered.
We pray God to keep you, Citizens Directors, under his Holy protection.
Written at the City of Washington, the thirtieth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and one.
Th: Jefferson
Tripl (R. M. Smythe, New York City, 1993); in a clerk’s hand except signatures; at foot of text: “By the President,” followed by signature of James Madison as secretary of state; addressed: “To the Executive Directory of the Batavian Republic”; with seal of the United States; endorsed by William Vans Murray: “Triplicate. 14. Recall Recd Paris Sunday 9 Augt. 1801.” FC (Lb in DNA: RG 59, Credences); dated 1 June; in a clerk’s hand. Tr (Lb in NNPM: William Vans Murray Letterbooks); in Murray’s hand; dated 30 May; at head of text: “Copy of my letter of Recall.”
Madison informed James Monroe that the letters authorizing Murray and William Loughton Smith to return to america were ready for TJ’s signature on Monday, 1 June. Madison’s letter to Murray, enclosing the original of the letter above and instructing Murray to assure the government of the Batavian Republic that the recall was not due to any “unfriendly or disrespectful motives,” was also dated 1 June. Murray received the letter of recall in Paris, where he had gone to negotiate the ratification of the Convention of 1800, on 27 July (, 1:245, 246, 480–1). The government of the Batavian Republic acknowledged Murray’s recall in a letter to TJ of 12 Sep. 1801 that recognized the friendly and harmonious relationship between the two republics (RC in DNA: RG 59, Ceremonial Letters; in Dutch, in a clerk’s hand, signed by Augustinus Gerhard Besier, countersigned by Steven Dassevael, and attested by Maarten van der Goes; with a translation, partially in English and partially in French, in the hand of Jacob Wagner).
TJ and Madison also sent a letter, nearly identical to the one above, to João, the prince regent of Portugal, announcing the withdrawal of Smith as minister plenipotentiary. Smith, in Lisbon, received the papers relating to his recall on 25 July (Lb in DNA: RG 59, Credences, in a clerk’s hand, at head of text: “Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States of America To His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of Portugal,” with text identical to the letter printed above, except “Great and Good Friend” in place of “Citizens Directors” in salutation and text, “your Royal Highness” in place of “the Batavian Republic,” “William Smith” in place of Murray’s name, “Minister Plenipotentiary” in place of “Minister Resident,” and dated 1 June 1801; , 1:255, 486). In a letter of 11 Sep., João acknowledged the recall, praised Smith’s abilities, and affirmed the friendly relationship between Portugal and the representatives of the United States (RC in DNA: RG 59, Ceremonial Letters; in Portuguese, in a clerk’s hand, signed by João and countersigned by João de Almeida de Mello e Castro, the secretary of state for foreign affairs and war; addressed: “Aos Estados Unidos da America, que muito amo, e prezo”—that is, “To the United States of America, which I much love and esteem”).