John Jay Papers
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To John Jay from Thomas Barclay, 30 July 1786

From Thomas Barclay

Mogadore 30th. July 1786—

Dear Sir

meeting with a confidential Person going to Surinam and from thence to Philadelphia, I embrace the oppertunity of informing you of my return from Morocco, after having concluded a treaty of Peace & Commerce between the Emperor and the United States.1 This treaty I will send by express from the first Port I can reach in Europe to Mr. Jefferson and from him & Mr. Adams you will have the particulars; If they approve of it, it is thro’ them alone it ought to reach Congress2 with respect to my own sentiments, I believe it to be equal to all our purposes, & I am persuaded there is no Christian Nation on Earth who now stands higher in the esteem of His Majesty. The Emperors Letter to the President of Congress and the signals agreed upon by which the American and moorish Vessels are to be made Known to each other at sea will accompany the Treaty I am with the greatest respect &c. &c. &c.

Mr. Jay.

C, in hand of William S. Smith, DNA: PCC, item 92, 110–11.

1“Treaty of Peace and Friendship, with additional article; also Ship-Signals Agreement,” was sealed at Morocco with the seal of the Emperor of Morocco on 23 June 1786 and delivered to Barclay on 28 June 1786. The original is in Arabic. The additional article was signed and sealed at Morocco on behalf of Morocco on 15 July (original in Arabic); the Ship-Signals Agreement on 5 July 1786 (original in English).

2The certified English translations of the treaty and of the additional article was signed and sealed by TJ in Paris on 1 Jan. 1787, and by JA in London, 25 Jan. 1787. Congress ratified the treaty and additional article on 18 July 1787. The ship-signals agreement was not specifically included in the ratification and not proclaimed, but copies were ordered by Congress on 23 July 1787. JCC, description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends 32: 355–64. The original translation of the treaty, certified by Barclay and ratified by JA and TJ, is in DNA: PCC, item 91, 215–29; C, signed by CT, DNA: PCC Misc., Broadsides; Miller, Treaties, description begins David Hunter Miller, ed., Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States of America, 1776–1863 (8 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1931–48) description ends 2: 186–218. Barclay’s certification reads: “I Do Certify that the above is a True Copy of the Translation Made at Morocco by Isaac Cardoza Nunes, Interpreter, of a Declaration Made and Signed by Sidi Hage Tahar Fennish in addition to the Treaty between the Emperor of Morocco and the United States of America which Declaration the said Tahar Fennish Made by the Express Directions of His Majesty.” Miller, Treaties, description begins David Hunter Miller, ed., Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States of America, 1776–1863 (8 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1931–48) description ends 2: 218. For the background, see the editorial note “The Barbary States: A Problem with No Ready Solution,” above.

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