FC (DNA: PCC, No. 121). Recorded in SJL as received 19 Dec. 1787. Enclosure, signed by St. Clair, Jay, and Thomson, with seal of the United States attached, is in MHi.

Jefferson’s letter of 9 Jan. 1787, requesting new powers and authority to reopen the negotiations concerning a consular convention without reference to the previous authorization or the draft that had been developed under it or the differences between the two that Jay had noted, was referred back to Jay by Congress on 20 Apr. He reported on 10 May that in his “opinion the Court of France regard the Consular convention in its present form as an interesting object and that no Article or provision in it will escape their recollection. He nevertheless thinks that the policy of yielding to such circumstances as cannot without risque and hazard be neglected or controuled will induce them at least to consent to the proposed Article for limiting the duration of the Convention. And as he perceives no inconvenience likely to result from giving Mr. Jefferson a commission authorising him in general terms to negotiate and conclude a Convention … for ascertaining the authority and powers of french and American Consuls, he thinks it will be adviseable to send him such a Commission, that he may thereby have an opportunity of endeavouring to realize the advantages he expects from it and which under a new administration (perhaps not well advised of what has passed) may be attainable” (JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford and others, eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, Washington, D.C., 1904–37, 34 vols. description ends , xxxiii, 423–7; Jay’s report included the text of the commission and that of the present and following letter to TJ, all of which Congress approved).