George Washington Papers

Memoranda on Thomas Jefferson’s Letters, 27 August 1789

Memoranda on Thomas Jefferson’s Letters

—27th Augt 1789

Mr Jefferson

Information from our Bankers in Holland that they had money in hand sufft to answer the demands for the Foreign Officers & Captives:1 and moreover that the residue of the Bonds of the last loan were engaged.

The Sum necessary for the first is

60,393⅌—17s.—10d. a year—and 26,000⅌ was sent him to complete the business of the Medals. The officers was paid up to the first of the year 1789.

Desires an order may be sent to the Bankers in Holland to furnish, & Mr Grand to pay the arrearages which may be due on the first of Jan. 1790.

The Bankers give it as their opinion that our credit is much advanced on the Exchange of Amsterdam that we may probably execute any money arrangements we may have occasion for on that side of the Water.

280,000⅌ remitted Mr Jefferson by our Bankers in Holland—viz.—Wilhelm & Jan Willinck N. and J. Van Staphorst & Hubbard.

The organization, and operation, these Gentlemen Bankers say of the New Government, has given great strength & stability to our Credit and causes it to be considered as the most certain & solid effects circulating among them.

They propose transfering the French debt here, due from the United States to the Court of Versailles and this without delay.

The Schooner Polly of Salem, Joseph Proctor Master, was siezed by two Moorish Cruizers, on a pretence of not knowing what colours she was under, and carried into Mogadore—The measure was disapproved by the Moorish Monarch who ordered the Vessel to be restored and compensation to be made.2

Augt 30th3

He mentions, Mr Neckers Loan for 80 Millions was subscribing to fast.

That a Mr Brossier (an unsuccessfuly Trader) applies for the Consulship at Havre—Mr Nathl Cutting of Massachusetts has settled at the place.4

Mr Vernes of L’Orient has left that place--And Mr Appleton is no longer at Rouen.5

D, in GW’s handwriting, DLC:GW.

This letter was written by Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 27 Aug. 1789 (Boyd, Jefferson Papers, description begins Julian P. Boyd et al., eds. The Papers of Thomas Jefferson. 41 vols. to date. Princeton, N.J., 1950–. description ends 16:356–61).

1For the debt owed by the United States to French officers who served in the American Revolution, see La Radiere to GW, 26 April 1789, n.1. For the American captives held by the Algerians, see Mathew Irwin to GW, 9 July 1789, source note.

2For the capture of the schooner Polly, Joseph Proctor, master, see Giuseppe Chiappe to GW, 18 July 1789. See also GW to Sidi Mohammed, 1 Dec. 1789.

3The material from this point to the end of the memoranda is taken from a letter from Jefferson to Jay, 30 Aug. 1789 (Boyd, Jefferson Papers, description begins Julian P. Boyd et al., eds. The Papers of Thomas Jefferson. 41 vols. to date. Princeton, N.J., 1950–. description ends 15:373–74).

4See James I. Brossier to Jefferson, 10 Feb. 1789, and Jefferson to Brossier, 11 Feb. 1789, ibid., 14:532, 537–38.

5For Jacob Vernes’s application for the consulship in Bordeaux, see his letter to Jefferson, 3 Nov. 1789, ibid., 15:538–43.

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