1American Commissioners to John Lamb, 29 June–7 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
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...
2American Commissioners to John Lamb, [26 September 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
We have recieved your two letters of the 15 and 18 July from Alicant and are sorry to learn that your indisposition discourages you from travelling by land or by sea. We still think it most advisable both for your own interest and that of the United States, that you should return to Congress for their further instructions as soon as possible, and we again propose to you to embark from Spain by...
3III. Supplementary Instructions to John Lamb, 11 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
We have received information that two American vessels, the Dauphin from Philadelphia and the Maria from Boston with their crews and cargoes have lately been taken by the Algerines off the coast of Portugal and that the crews are reduced to slavery. Our full powers to that State being for the general purpose only of concluding a treaty of Amity and Commerce, the redemption of our citizens made...
4VI. Heads of Inquiry, 11 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
1. Commerce. What are the articles of their export and import? What articles of American produce might find a market in Algiers and at what prices? Whether rice, flour, tobacco, furs, ready built ships, fish, oil, tar, turpintine, ship timber &c. and whether any of these articles would hereafter be acceptable as presents? What duties are levied by them on exports and imports? Do all nations...