The American Commissioners to John Lamb, [7 July 1786]

The American Commissioners to John Lamb

London June 29th. 1786— [7 July 1786]1

Sir—

The Importance of Peace with the Algerines, and the other Inhabitants of the Coast of Barbary, to the United States, renders it necessary that every information which can be obtained, should be laid before Congress: And as the demands for the Redemption of Captives as well as the amount of Customary Presents, are so much more considerable than seem to have been expected in America, it appears to us necessary that you should return without loss of Time to New York, there to give an Account to Congress of all the particulars which have come to your knowledge as well as of your own proceedings and of the Monies which have been paid on account of the United States, in consequence of your draughts upon the Minister in London.

From Congress when you arrive there you will receive orders for your future Government and in the meantime we have no further Occasion for your Services in Europe.

If you know of a Certain Passage immediately from any port in Spain, We advise you to avail yourself of it: if not, we think it most adviseable for you to come to Paris, and from thence, after having consulted with Mr. Jefferson, to repair to L’Orient and embark for New York, in the first Packett— As the Instructions we send to Mr: Randal are to come on to Paris in his Way to America, unless he should choose to accompany you from some port in spain, We desire you to furnish him with money for his Expences to Paris, & London out of the Cash already in your Hands, And We recommend to him as well as to you all reasonable attention to Economy

We are Sir Your most / Obedt. Humble Servt.

London June 29. 1786. John Adams2

Paris July 7. 1786. Th: Jefferson3

RC in WSS’s hand (MdAN-M:Rosenbach Coll.); internal address: “John Lamb Esqr. / &c &c &c.—”; endorsed: “Ministers Orders. / for Mr Lambs return.” LbC (Adams Papers description begins Manuscripts and other materials, 1639–1889, in the Adams Manuscript Trust collection given to the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1956 and enlarged by a few additions of family papers since then. Citations in the present edition are simply by date of the original document if the original is in the main chronological series of the Papers and therefore readily found in the microfilm edition of the Adams Papers (APM). description ends ); APM Reel 113.

1. JA drafted and signed this letter on 29 June and enclosed the fair copy for Thomas Jefferson’s signature with his 29 June letter (Jefferson, Papers description begins The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. Julian P. Boyd, Charles T. Cullen, John Catanzariti, Barbara B. Oberg, and others, Princeton, N.J., 1950– . description ends , 10:79). See also the commissioners’ letter to Paul R. Randall at [7 July], below, which JA sent with the same letter.

2. In JA’s hand.

3. In Jefferson’s hand.

Index Entries

You Are Looking At

Source Project: Adams Papers
Title: The American Commissioners to John Lamb, [7 July 1786]
Date: 7 July 1786

Reference

Cite as: “The American Commissioners to John Lamb, [7 July 1786],” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-18-02-0204. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 18, December 1785–January 1787, ed. Gregg L. Lint, Sara Martin, C. James Taylor, Sara Georgini, Hobson Woodward, Sara B. Sikes, Amanda M. Norton. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2016, p. 377.]