Translation of the within Letter from his Excell cy. Sidi Hadg Taher Ben Abdelhack Fennish to their Excell cies: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson Esq rs.— Grace to God who is the Sole unity Whose Kingdom is the Only Existing one To their Excellencies John Adams and Thomas Jefferson Esq rs. This is to Acquaint You that I am ordered by the Emperor my Master (whom God preserve) to Acknowledge the...
32Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 16 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you the 26 th. of last Month and expected to have followed my Letter in a Week, but several unforeseen Matters have hitherto detained us; however I expect we shall set out tomorrow or the day following. The 13 th. Instant the Treaty was sent to me by the Effendi since which some important alterations have been made which the Villainy & carelessness of the Talbe Houdrani (to whom the...
33Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 11 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
I arrived here today, and shall Continue My Journey to Tangiers Early in the Morning,— The Plague being at Constantina occasions a Rigorous Quarranteen of 40 Days (from Barbary) in Spain— I shall therefore Endeavor to Get into Ceuta, which being in the hands of the Spaniards is an Exception to the Above remark, and I think the Quarranteen from thence is only [ ten ] Twelve Days— The Treaty...
34Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 10 September 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am at present waiting for a fair wind to embark for Ceuta to avoid the quaranteen in Spain, and I embrace the Delay occasion’d by the Strong Easterly Winds that have prevail’d for Sometime, to reply to the Queries with which you honour’d me at parting.— You put them respecting the Barbary States generally but as my business has been with the Emperor of Morocco only, I Shall confine myself to...
35Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 13 September 1786 (Adams Papers)
Though, in a letter written at this place—dated the 10 th. instant, I gave you a long answer to the questions with which you charged me, I will now add some farther particulars on the Subject of this Country, which you will possibly be inclined to know.— The Emperor is on the most cordial and friendly footing with Spain, the presents, made him from that Court, have been uncommonly great, and...
36Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 18 September 1786 (Adams Papers)
As you will probably wish to know the particulars of the Negotiations of the Treaty with the Emperor, and as the perusal will not take up a great deal of time, I shall lay them before you— After the first Audience was over M r. Taher Fennish, in whose Hands the Negotiation was placed, came from the Emperor and informed me that His Majesty had read the Translation of the Letters—That he had...
37Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 2 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
By the bearer Colonel Franks I do myself the honor to Send you in a Small Box the following articles. 1 st: A Book containing the original Treaty in Arabic between the Emperor of Morocco and the United States.— 2. Three translations of the Treaty in English, to each of which is added a translation of a Declaration made by Tahar Fennish by order of His Majesty in addition & explanation of the...
38Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 7 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to you from Cadiz the 2 nd: of last month, a Copy of which goes under the cover of this and the original, with the papers mentioned therein, will I hope be very soon deliver’d to you by Colonel Franks.— On my arrival here I had the pleasure of receiving M r. Jefferson’s letter of the 26 Sep r. informing me that for the present any farther attempts to arrange matters with the Barbary...
39Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 15 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
I came here a few days ago to deliver a Letter from the Emperor of Morocco to the King, which I put into the Hands of the Count de Florida Blanca, acknowledging the Sense I had of his Attention & thanking him with great sincerity on the Part he had taken in our business at Morocco, He seemed very much pleased with our Success, and smiling replyed “Now that we have happily finished this Treaty...
40From Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 10 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
Since I wrote to you from hence the 6 th. of last month I have been much aflicted with the Rheumatism in my Loins, which confin’d me to my bed with pains great beyond Description. I am now free of them, and Shall leave this place in a few Days. Upon further reflection, I thought it best not to abandon the Idea of meeting M r. Lamb, and therefore I wrote to him, at Port Mahon, that I woud go to...
41Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 13 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
I Do my self the honor to Inclose you the Books of 82 pages Containing All my Accounts respecting my Missions to Morocco, by which you will see that the amount of the Expences attending the Negociation Including the Presents and all the Travelling Charges of Mr. Franks and my self amount to Livres 95179:10.— which sum I shall place to the Debts of the United states. The Particulars of the...
42Continental Congress to the American Commissioners: Instructions, [7 May 1784–3 June 1784] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives; press copy of copy: American Philosophical Society The instructions that follow established a new diplomatic commission to negotiate and sign a total of twenty treaties of amity and commerce with European and North African powers. Their creation was a long and contentious process. On October 29, 1783, Congress authorized the peace...
43Charles Thomson to the American Commissioners, 18 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have the honor of forwarding three comm[issions] which were not prepared in time to go by Mr Jefferson, [and] a duplicate of the instructions he carried with him. I [also] enclose a copy of the Journal of the last session of Congress as far as printed and a news paper containing the Ordinance for putting the treasury into commission and an act...
44Charles Thomson to the American Commissioners, 16 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives; copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania In obedience to the order of the Committee of the States, I have the honor to send you copies of the papers relating to the brig L’Amiable Elizabeth a french vessel that was deserted by her Crew at Sea and was boarded and taken up by citizens of the United States and carried into St Johns in Newfoundland, where she was seized by...
45Charles Thomson to the American Commissioners, 13 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania In pursuance of the Orders of the Committee of the States, I have the honor to transmit to you the copy of a letter signed T. Gilfillan, dated London the 19 feby 1784 with a copy of an inspection roll of Negroes taken on board certain vessels at anchor near Staten Island on the 30 of November 1783, to be made use...
46David Hartley to the American Commissioners: Memorandum, [16 September 1784] (Franklin Papers)
AD and copy : National Archives David Hartley met with the American commissioners on September 16 for what would be the last time. The purpose of his visit was to inform them of his recall and to reassure them that the British government remained eager to establish friendly trade relations. He left with the commissioners the present memorandum—passages excerpted from two letters he had...
47Luigi Pio to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 26 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, September 26, 1784, in French: I received the letter you had the honor to write me on the 22nd of this month, concerning a treaty of amity and commerce that the United States of America wishes to make with the king, my master, for the good of our respective subjects. I will forward it to His Sicilian Majesty and as soon as I receive a response, I will...
48Aranda to the American Commissioners: Résumé, [27 September 1784] (Franklin Papers)
LS , translation, and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, [September 27, 1784], in Spanish: I received your letter of the 22nd by the hand of Mr. Humphreys, in which you communicate the intention of the United States of America to establish with his Catholic Majesty an agreement that may be advantageous to the two nations. Certainly such principles as communicated in your letter will be pleasing...
49Baron Staël von Holstein to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 5 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, October 5, 1784, in French: When I received your letter from Mr. Humphreys, secretary of the Commission for Treaties of the United States of America, which I will forward to the king, I suggested that in order to save time, I also communicate some notion of what additions are being proposed by the United States. If you agree, I will send the dispatches...
50Friedrich Wilhelm von Thulemeier to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 8 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨The Hague, October 8, 1784, in French: I have notified the king without delay of the dispositions of the United States for the conclusion of a treaty of amity and commerce, contained in your letter of September 9. His majesty has furnished me with full powers to conclude this treaty, of which I am enclosing a copy. It appears unnecessary to send you a copy of...
51Francesco Favi to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 16 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, November 16, 1784, in French: I sent to my court your letter of September 30. Your invitation was very agreeable to His Royal Highness, and he will receive with pleasure the communication of proposals.⟩ Published in Jefferson Papers, VII , 533, and, with an English translation, in Adams Papers, XVI , 430.
52The Duke of Dorset to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 24 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society ⟨Paris, November 24, 1784: I transmitted copies of the two letters you sent me to the Marquis of Carmarthen, His Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and am authorized to assure you of our ministers’ readiness to consider any proposals that will establish a system of mutual and permanent advantage to our two...
53Thulemeier to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 10 December 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨The Hague, December 10, 1784, in French: Your letter of November 10, conveyed by a Dutch courier, did not reach me until the 26th. I transmitted to the king a French translation of your draft treaty, to which the recent instructions of Congress obliged you to make a few changes that differ from the proposal I gave to Mr. Adams on April 9. I will notify you of...
54Pamphili to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 15 December 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, December 15, 1784, in French: I communicated to my court the overture contained in your letter of September 22. His Holiness orders me to tell you that all vessels flying the flag of the United States of America will be welcomed in the ports of Civitavecchia, on the Mediterranean, and Ancona, on the Adriatic, with the reciprocal understanding that ships...
55Sousa Coutinho to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 22 December 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, December 22, 1784, in French: I received your letter and the plan of a treaty it enclosed, which I will forward to the court at Lisbon. ⟩ Published in Jefferson Papers, VII , 580. The commissioners’ letter was dated Nov. 30 (above). The Portuguese court returned no answer until the fall of 1785, when it was prodded again by Sousa, himself responding to a...
56John Jay to the American Commissioners, 14 January 1785 (Franklin Papers)
LS and two copies: National Archives On the 21st. Ultimo I accepted the Place of Secretary for foreign Affairs. All the foreign letters which had been received during the recess of Congress were then and are still in the hands of a Committee to whom they had been referred—none have since arrived.— The adjournment from Trenton to this Place necessarily occasioned delay in business— Congress...
57Pio to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 22 January 1785 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, January 22, 1785, in French: I gave the king your letter of September 27, 1784, offering to conclude a treaty of amity and commerce. He has authorized me to assure you that nothing would give him greater pleasure. His Majesty has lately opened and established a free port at Messina in Sicily, open to all nations, as the enclosed edict will show. Moreover,...
58Thulemeier to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 24 January 1785 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨The Hague, January 24, 1785, in French: The king has authorized me to transmit to you some observations on the counterproject of the treaty of commerce, which you sent me on November 10 and which a Dutch courier delivered on the twenty-sixth. An express courier charged with dispatches for the Dutch ambassador at Paris provides me today with a safe and swift...
59The Conte di Scarnafiggi to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 2 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, February 2, 1785, in French: Having informed my court of the letter you wrote to me on September 22 of last year, notifying me that you were authorized by the United States of America to negotiate a treaty of commerce with His Sardinian Majesty, I hereby inform you that the king will be pleased if United States ships use the free port he has at Nice,...
60Thulemeier to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 11 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨The Hague, February 11, 1785, in French: The letter that you wrote to me in January, without indication of a specific date, reached me a few days ago. I transmitted to the king the offer to establish the ports of Emden and Stettin as free ports, and I await His Majesty’s orders, which I will hasten to make known to you. You will have received by now the...