101William Short to John Jay, 29 March 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I make use of a private conveyance to London in order to send you the gazettes of France and Leyden to this date. You will recieve also at the same time the observations of Mr. Necker on the report of the committee of finance, the journals of the assembly, and a proposal of the Bishop of Autun for rendering uniform the standard of weights and measures. You will see that he proposes this...
102To Alexander Hamilton from William Short, 4 April 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
In my letter of the 28th. of January & the postscript of the 31st. of the same month, which I had the honor of addressing you, I made you acquainted with the then situation of the debt due by America to France & the precipitate loan negociated by the bankers of the United States at Amsterdam. I informed you at the same time that I did not doubt a stop would be thus put to Mr. Neckers...
103William Short to John Jay, 4 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor of forwarding for the President of the United States, a letter from Count D’Estaing which he submitted to my inspection some days ago. He had concieved the present a favorable moment for carrying into execution the plan there proposed, for the reasons mentioned in his letter. He had hoped that the influence and credit which M. de la fayette enjoys would have been sufficient to...
104William Short to John Jay, 12 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I make use of the present private conveyance merely to forward to you the journals of the national assembly and some other papers. You will find among them the answer of M. Montesquieu to M. Necker, and the list of gratifications called the livre rouge . It is thought the committee of pensions exceeded their powers in publishing this list. The preface contains a kind of unnecessary libel...
105William Short to John Jay, 23 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last the national assembly have completed a subject which had fixed the attention of all parties, and which in the course of its deliberation seemed to threaten serious disorders—the emission of a paper currency. In order to insure its success and to distinguish it as much as possible from other paper currencies, it is to bear an interest of 3. p.Ct. p. Ann. to be calculated daily and...
106William Short to John Jay, 1 May 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I still continue to address you my letters under the ancient form because I have had no indication of any other mode of making my official communications. Until then I shall suppose the department of foreign affairs under your direction, particularly as I learn by a letter recieved yesterday from Mr. Jefferson, dated the 14th. of December, that he had declined, so far as depended on him,...
107To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 9 May 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 14th. of December written from Eppington arrived here at the end of the last month after a passage of four months and an half. It gave a real pleasure which I will not attempt to describe, in shewing me that the long silence which had prevailed did not proceed from any forgetfulness on your part. I have taken care to let every body know this circumstance. Your friends were...
108William Short to John Jay, 9 May 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
It has been for some time publicly advertised here that the French packet would in future sail regularly every two months for New-York to begin the 15th. of this month. After so many disappointments few people will probably commit their letters to that conveyance for some time. I am induced to do it by an assurance from the Administrators of the post that they shall be punctual in future. It...
109William Short to John Jay, 11 May 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
When I wrote to you the day before yesterday there were such various conjectures as to the preparations making in Spain for fitting out a fleet, that I thought it useless to trouble you with them, and particularly as I had learned in a letter recieved some time ago from Mr. Carmichael, that he had given and should continue to give you information respecting what was doing there relative to...
110William Short to John Jay, 16 May 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of writing to you on the 11th. of this month. It was then altogether problematical what would be the dispositions of the national assembly as to the warlike preparations which were making in England and Spain. The leading members were uncertain themselves what turn the decisions on this subject would take. A letter written to them by M. de Montmorin the day before yesterday...
111William Short to John Jay, 23 May 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The constitutional question of the right of war and peace , which I mentioned to you in my last, has occupied the assembly without interruption since that time. It was finally decided yesterday evening as you will see by the articles of the decree which I have the honor to inclose you. It seems to have given general satisfaction. The ministry and aristocratic party are contented because they...
112To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 5 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Dr. Bancroft being about to set off immediately for London I make use of his conveyance merely to send you the gazettes of France and Leyden, and journals of the national assembly, which have considerably accumulated in my hands for the want of some means of forwarding them to New-York. I shall add to them some other papers relative to the pension list and which are the continuation of those...
113To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 14 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
It has not been until three days ago that I have been relieved from the anxiety which arises naturally from the long silence of those who are absent and from whom we wish to hear. The first moments which followed the arrival of your letters of April the 6th. private and duplicate and April the 27th. were such as you may easily concieve. They shewed me that you had written often and that I had...
114To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 14 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I received three days ago the first letters which have come to my hands from you since your arrival at New-York. That of the latest date was April 30th. It contained a copy of that of April 6th. together with the newspapers sent. I delivered today to M. de Montmorin the letter of the President to the King, and another directed to him containing one of leave for you and of credence for me. I...
115To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 25 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
[Since my last I have seen the General of the Mathurins, who gives little hopes of any thing being done for our captives through his chanel, although he continues assurances of his zeal in case of any opportunity presenting itself, and I am persuaded he may be counted on as to these assurances. He had begun by transmitting a small sum of money to a person of confidence at Algiers to relieve...
116To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 29 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
My last private was of the 14th. inst. On the 25th. I sent you my No. 34. together with a duplicate of that of the 14th. I have as yet recieved only the letters therein mentioned and of course remain in the same state of anxiety and uncertainty as when I then wrote. That however has not influenced the activity with which the execution of your commissions was begun. Petit and the packers assure...
117To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 29 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last the King has sanctioned the decree which I then mentioned there were hopes he would reject at least a part of. It was well known that the assembly wished the veto to be used in that instance, as a little reflexion had shown them the inconvenience, not to say worse, of some parts of it. Mr. Necker and M. de Montmorin were for using the veto, but the Garde des sceaux opposed it and...
118To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 7 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The intelligence of your long and painful indisposition has given me, in common with all your friends here a real concern. They join me in solliciting you not to allow too intense an application to business to expose you again to an attack which by repetition must necessarily become dangerous. The account of the President’s narrow escape affected sincerely all the friends to America here. His...
119To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 7 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just recieved your letter of the 27th of May, which has been sent here from L’Orient by Mr. de Crevecoeur. [My last letters will have informed you of the present situation of the business relative to the American captives at Algiers. You will have seen there that nothing has been done, or possible to be done, for their redemption. This I know will not surprize you when you recollect the...
120To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 11 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you on the 7th. of this month in answer to your’s of the 27th. of May. That letter was sent by the way of Havre. This will be sent to L’Orient to go by the packet in the case of its sailing. But that you know is a conveyance too uncertain to be counted on and therefore I consider this letter as an adventure.—The intelligence which I mentioned in my last as coming from Bilbao, and in...
121To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 16 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I did not recieve until yesterday the letters which I mentioned, in my last to you of the 11th. inst., had been promised by a person who called here and left the newspapers. They were forwarded to me by M. Bondfield of Bordeaux. I had previously recieved duplicates of all of them except that of March the 30th. At present I have recieved all the letters which I know of your having written...
122To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 22 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last the federal deputies from the provinces have been leaving Paris daily to return to their respective homes. The most perfect harmony continued to the last, which was contrary to the fears or hopes of every party. The assembly are at present employed in discussing their judiciary system, and the organisation of their army. There is little hope however that they will adopt the best...
123To Alexander Hamilton from William Short, 3 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have had the honor of recieving both the original & duplicate of your letter of the 29th. of May. Mine of the 4th. of April had not then reached you. In it I mentioned the subject of a conversation I had a few days before with Mr. Necker —the hopes he had founded on the unauthorized loan made at Amsterdam & his impatience, occasioned by the distressing penury of French finances, to know the...
124To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 4 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Some time ago the Count de Mercy made an application to M. de Montmorin for a passage of some troops on the territory of France, on their march to the low countries. On its being known in that quarter that the passage was promised, the directoire du départment sent an express to the national assembly to take their orders on it, previous to the arrival of the troops. This circumstance had...
125To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 4 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Your furniture is at length all packed up, and the last articles are this moment gone to Neuilly to meet the vessel which is to take them in there. They are all plumbed so as not to be opened any where. They will be recieved at Havre by M. de la Motte, who promises to take charge of them. Your directions with respect to the mode of packing the several articles were not strictly followed. The...
126Enclosure II: William Short to John Browne Cutting, 11 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I am happy to be able to add to the testimony of Purdie’s being a Citizen of the United States. I remember perfectly being at College at Williamsburg with a person of that name, and that he was son of the Postmaster General at that place. I not only recollect the name and knew the family while at College, but I recollect also the person of Purdie so as to be able to swear to his identity if I...
127To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 15 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved your letter of July the 1st. some days ago, and in time to comply with its instructions. Two days before, I had understood that there was such a probability of Congress removing to Philadelphia that I had desired M. de la Motte to send your furniture to that place. I have this moment recieved a letter from Rouen which informs me that your effects had arrived there in safety and had...
128To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 22 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
This letter is begun merely to introduce to you Monsieur de Tevernal an officer of artillery, and M. des Rochers, his friend, who are going to settle on the Siota. They intend to land at Philadelphia and the Marquis de la fayette desires me to recommend them to your civilities. He gives them a letter to the President. I am persuaded I need say nothing further to insure them such marks of...
129To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 22 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The committee of impositions have not yet made their report to the assembly although they have announced the outlines. Their plan at present after violent debates between the two parties mentioned in my letter of the 15th. inst., is the result of mutual sacrifices. It is considered as defective by both who say that nothing but mere necessity can justify it. It is to admit of the cultivation of...
130To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 27 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The diplomatic committee made their report the day before yesterday on the subject of the Family-compact. It was extensive and eloquent of which you will easily be persuaded when you know that Mirabeau was the author. Still there did not appear a perfect accord between the principles laid down in the report and the decree proposed by the committee in consequence of them. It was said that there...
131To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 5 September 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last in which I mentioned that the national assembly had voted an augmentation of their armament to forty-five ships of the line, nothing has transpired in England to shew what effect it produced in the British cabinet. We know only that on the exchange war is considered as inevitable in consequence of it. I should suppose however that Mr. Pitt would not take any decisive measure on...
132To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 9 September 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
It is not yet known here with what eye the British Minister views the late vote of the national assembly for augmenting their ships in commission. The preparations in England were already carried on with so much activity that no alteration seems to have taken place there. Lord Howe is now cruising with his fleet off the coast. It is supposed he will not be long out. The Spanish fleet has not...
133To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 9 September 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
My last private was of the 22d. of August. I then hoped long before this to have recieved from Havre an account of the charges paid there for your effects so as to have given you a complete account of the pecuniary transactions between us. For what reason I know not that account has not been yet sent; I therefore return the memoires which are now in my hands, as vouchers for the cash paid...
134To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 26 September 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved to-day within a few hours of each other your two letters of July 26. and Aug. 12.—I am sorry to find that my letters have all had such uncommonly long passages. I sent them for the most part to Havre, where they remained until the sailing of the first vessel. I avoided making use of the English packet though a more regular conveyance, because I thought it sufficient to have my...
135To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 3 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I am this moment informed of a conveyance for London, and forward you by it the newspapers as usual to which I beg leave to refer you for the present politics of Europe.—I inclose you also several letters which have been entrusted to me for you: among them are three from the American captives at Algiers. They will inform you of their present situation there, which you will find conformable to...
136To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 3 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The papers inclosed besides the three letters from Algiers mentioned in my No. 43 . of to-day, are two others addressed to me, one to the Marquis de la fayette, and the copy of one to Mr. Carmichael—a letter from Hilsborough which Baron Grimm recommends to you and begs you to obtain an answer for it and send it to him—one for Philadelphia to which Tronchin begs your attention, and three others...
137To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 21 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last the colonial committee have made their report on the disturbances of St. Domingo, and the conduct of the general assembly of that island. The report was an historical series of the events which have taken place in that colony from the convocation of the States-general in France, together with the proposition of a decree in consequence of them. I refer you for the one and the...
138To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 25 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved within these two days your letters which came by the French Packet and those by Mr. Barrett. They are besides those mentioned in my No. 44. and postscript of to-day, of the following dates July 26. Aug. 25. and 31. Your commissions therein contained shall be punctually executed, and particularly you may assure Mr. Vernon should you see him that it will give me real pleasure to...
139To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 27 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you very fully on the 21st. and 25th. of this month, by M. de Trys who is gone to embark for America. In the latter I acknowleged the reciept of your several letters which arrived here almost at the same time although they came by different routes viz. those of Aug. 25. 26. 31. 31. by the French packet and those of July 26 pe and a duplicate of the same date pu . and Aug. 10. I...
140To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 30 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you the day before yesterday by the way of the English Packet. This will not arrive in time for that conveyance unless the English Ambassador should send off a courier for London this evening, in which case I shall ask the favor of him to forward it. It is merely to inform you and to beg you to inform the Secretary of the Treasury that I have recieved at length his letters of Aug. 29....
141To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 2 November 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
It was not my intention to have written to you again from this place except by a person who is setting out for Philadelphia by the way of Havre; but the arrival of the long expected courier from Madrid induces me to send a few lines by the English post, merely to inform you that the negotiations at Madrid have ended in the conservation of peace.—This comes by the English messenger who in...
142To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 6 November 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letters to you were of the 21st. and 25th. ulto. by M. St. Triest, 27th. by the English packet, 30th. and 2d. inst. by the way of London. This last was merely to inform you that the English messenger had passed through this place, and brought despatches as well to the Spanish as English Ambassador which decided that peace would not be interrupted between those two powers. Since then...
143To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 7 November 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
This letter accompanies my No. 46. and will be delivered to you with the several papers therein mentioned by M. Louis Osmont. He is a young man that Madame D’Houdetot insists on my recommending to what she calls your protection, viz. your counsel and advice. Notwithstanding I have on all occasions avoided sending you these kind of recommendations, yet I think you will easily see Sir that it...
144To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 25 November 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
It has just come to my knowlege that there is a vessel bound for New-York which has been for some time waiting in the Texel for a sailing wind and that it is probable a letter sent by this evening’s post may arrive in time to go by her. Under that idea I anticipate a letter I intended writing by the post of to-morrow for the English packet to inform you of my arrival at this place on the 20th....
145To Alexander Hamilton from William Short, 26 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I took the liberty of acknowleging the reciept of your letters of Aug. 29th. and Sept. 1st. through the Secretary of State who I begged at the same time to inform you that I was preparing immediately to obey them. I beg leave to refer you also to him (to whom I had an unexpected opportunity of writing yesterday by the way of France) for what has been done in consequence of your letter of Aug....
146To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 26 November 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you yesterday by a vessel in the Texel to inform you of my arrival here on the 20th. inst. and of the causes of my delay in Paris.—I mentioned also that the report of the committee of impositions on tobacco was now under discussion in the national assembly, but that nothing had been decided on it so low down as the 19th. I mentioned also and begged you to communicate to the...
147To Alexander Hamilton from William Short, 2 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
My last letter of the 26th of November will have informed you of my arrival at this place. I have been hitherto employed in ascertaining what measures would be most conducive to the honor & interests of the United States in the execution of the commission you have confided to my care. In the course of this business several of the objects to which you directed my enquiries naturally presented...
148To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 2 December 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my arrival here, I have written to you in date of the 25th. and 26th. ulto. One of these letters was sent through our bankers here, the other by the English packet. I write at present to inclose you a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury. As it is committed immediately to the hands of an American who sails immediately from this port for Boston, I have spoken without reserve on several...
149Enclosure: William Short to Schweizer, Jeanneret, and Company, 17 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Votre courier m’a apporté la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire en date du 14. Je suis faché que le Ministre avec lequel vous me dites avoir eu une entrevue ne vous aye pas donné communication de la lettre que j’ai eu l’honneur de lui adresser en date du 8 de ce mois; comme elle vous auroit probablement evité la peine que vous vous etes donné depuis. Je lui ai marqué dans cette...
150To Alexander Hamilton from William Short, 18 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the honor of writing to you from this place on the 26th ulto. & the 2d inst. The first by the way of England; the last by an American vessel going from hence immediately to Boston. In this I gave you a very full account of such circumstances as had come to my knowlege since my arrival here; & of the steps which had been taken in the business on which I came. A duplicate of it will...