To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 11 April 1793
From Gouverneur Morris
Paris 11 April 1793
Dear Sir
An Opportunity presents itself which I make Use of to transmit Copy of my Letter of the first to Monsieur Lebrun with that of his Answer of the eighth and of the Decrees which were therein enclos’d viz of the eighteenth of February and twenty sixth of March. I have not sufficient Confidence in the Conveyance to give you any Information beyond what you will derive from the News Papers of which I shall send a Packet. Accounts from the Northward are contradictory and uncertain. The Enemy was however ready for Action three Days ago and therefore I presume that we shall hear of him presently. I am with Esteem & Respect Dear Sir your obedient Servant
Gouv Morris
RC (DNA: RG 59, DD); at head of text: “No. 28”; at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr Secretary of State”; endorsed by TJ as received 9 Sep. 1793 and so recorded in SJL. FC (Lb in DLC: Gouverneur Morris Papers). PrC of Tr (DNA: RG 59, MD); in a clerk’s hand; at head of text: “Duplicate.” Tr (Lb in same, DD). Enclosures: (1) Morris to Lebrun, 1 Apr. 1793, enclosing the forms of the certificates of registry for American vessels, describing the conditions under which the United States grants such certificates in accordance with a 1789 act of Congress, promising to forward a copy of a 1793 registration act as soon as he has received one, and asking for a copy of the decrees of the National Convention mentioned in Lebrun’s 29 Mch. 1793 letter. (2) Lebrun to Morris, 8 Apr. 1793, promising to forward Morris’s letter to the Minister of Marine so that it can be made known in French ports, observing that it would be desirable for American vessels to be furnished with passports similar to the model annexed to the 1778 treaty of commerce, and stating that he had requested Genet to ask the United States to issue a regulation to this effect. (3) Decree of the National Convention regulating the trade of American vessels with France and her colonies, [19] Feb. 1793. (4) Decree of the National Convention regulating American trade with French colonies in America, 26 Mch. 1793 (Trs in DNA: RG 46, Senate Records, 3d Cong., 1st sess., in French and English; PrCs in DNA: RG 59, MD; Trs in Lb in same, DD; in French and English).