1To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Church, 19 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Before I enter upon the particular motives of this address, permit me, Sir! to mention a circumstance, or two, which, if you shou’d recollect, may possibly apologize for the Liberty which I have taken, upon the grounds of some small pretensions to the honor of a former short acquaintance. In the Autumn of 1771, I took a Tour through the Island of Gt....
2To John Adams from Edward Church, 14 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
Notwithstanding the deep wound which one branch of our fishery had rec’d by an act of the british parliament, We were not without hope, while we had a free and an uninterrupted Commerce with the Mediterranean, and it’s neighbouring ports, that we might still be able not only to employ, but increase the number of our fishermen, and from our local advantages, it is not an extravagant Idea to...
3To George Washington from Edward Church, 11 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am one of that unfortunate number whom the late revolution has precipitated from a state of decent competence, and reduced to the necessity of joining the class of your most humble and needy petitioners; but it is not to be expected that the most fortunate revolutions can be favorable to the interest of every individual, I therefore presume not to complain, or to found any pretensions to...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 27 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Bordeaux, 27 July 1791 . After a long and tedious passage he arrived on the 1st and would have proceeded to Bilbao but for extreme illness of one of his daughters. He has been told he might not be allowed to function there as consul, and so has written to “the American Minister at … Madrid” for advice. As it is impracticable and expensive to move a large family from place to place, he will...
5To George Washington from Edward Church, 12 August 1791 (Washington Papers)
Impressed with the warmest gratitude for the honor of being remembered by you in the nomination of Consuls, and no less grateful for the singular favor thereby conferred on myself and family; more particularly in your having proposed an healthful pleasant Country for our residence, which at the same time held out the most flattering prospects of other advantages from the valuable and important...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 12 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Bordeaux, 12 Aug. 1791 . Being greatly alarmed by what he learned on arrival, he expressed his fears in his of the 27th, sent by brig Hetty , Captn. Drinker, for Philadelphia.—This day his fears confirmed by letter from Carmichael, a copy of which he encloses. He is thereby arrested at the threshold, unable to advance or retreat. He cannot in any sense hold TJ responsible, but appeals to him...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 16 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Bordeaux, 16 Dec. 1791 . Although he has only considered the matter for two days, he feels impelled by rapidly changing conditions in France to suggest the propriety and expediency “of improving this critical opportunity, to make the present substitute for money, now circulating in France under the denomination of Assignats , an instrument in the hands of his Excellency the President of the...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 1 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Bordeaux, 1 Jan. 1792 . He recurs to the proposal made in his last letter for repaying the American debt to France. It is now possible to purchase assignats with bills of exchange on London or Amsterdam at the rate of 6d. to 6 ½d. per livre, the livre currently being valued at 10d. sterling in America. These assignats are receivable into the public treasury at par and therefore would be...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 13 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
By a letter rec’d early in January last from my esteemed friend Mr. Wingate , dated 15th November, I was informed of the arrival of my letters to his Excellency the President of the United States, and to your Honor, upon the subject of the disagreeable situation in which my appointment to Bilboa had unfortunately placed me and my family. I can easily conceive that the more important publick...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 16 May 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Words cannot express my astonishment and distress at the tenour of your letter of 13th. March, which I this day received, the idea of demerit hinted at in your letter as a probable cause of precluding my pretensions, made me forget, for a moment, all the difficulties and troubles into which my appointment to Bilboa, had unhappily plunged me and my family, though intended, I am well convinced,...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 17 May 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I recollect with pain a very culpable omission in my letter yesterday, in answer to your favor of the 13 March, but my extreme distress will I hope in some measure excuse my neglect to acknowledge the very grateful sense with which I am deeply impressed, and which I then very sensibly felt for the benevolent and generous attention of his Excellency the President to the preservation of my...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 31 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Lisbon, 31 July 1793. He and his family arrived here by an expensive chartered vessel on 8 July after a long wait in Bordeaux. In order to comply with the request in TJ’s 26 Aug. 1790 letter for an account of American ships entering and clearing ports in his district, he must be furnished with their registers. Although this practice is customary with consuls of other nations, there is no...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 22 September 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Coll. Humphreys with Mr. Cutting embarked the 17th. Instt. on board a Swedish Vessel called the Postillion commanded by Abm: Herbst bound first for Gibralter. The Algerine Corsairs are (unfortunately for Us) more at liberty just at this time than heretofore, the Portugueze Ships of War, which were stationed on that Coast, being obliged to quit it, to follow the orders of their masters the...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 25 September 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Lisbon, 25 Sep. 1793 . He wishes to provide a more authoritative account of two actions between the French and the Spanish that his accompanying letter of 22 Sep. mistakenly described as having taken place near Perpignan. On 28 Aug. General Dagobert’s army surprised and defeated a Spanish force of about 3,000 men, commanded by General La Penha and camped near Montlouis, killing 700 to 800 of...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 8 October 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor to write you on the 22nd. Ulto. since which nothing material has occurred here. I have been diligent in my Enquiries concerning the Views of the belligerent Powers with regard to the U.S. and have solid grounds to believe that it is the determined purpose of England and Spain sooner or later to unite their Endeavours to Crush Us, I mean of the Courts and Kings of those Nations....
16To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 12 October 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Yesterday the 11th. I received the following note from Coll. Humphreys, our minister Resident at this Court, but now at Gibralter. “Dear Sir “We have advice of a Truce between the Portugueze and Algiers, and that an Algerine Fleet has gone into the Atlantic, Pray forward the inclosed with the intelligence and believe me” Your’s (Signed) D. Humphreys Immediately on receipt of this very alarming...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 22 October 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
On Saturday the 19th. Instant, the Vessels belonging to the Hanseatic Towns were ordered to be in readiness to sail the 25th. under Convoy of Two Portugueze Frigates, ordered by her Majesty to Convoy them to a certain Latitude. One of the Articles of the Truce with Algiers which was communicated to me on the 12th. Instt. by Luiz Pinto the Minister for foreign Affairs, expressly restricted the...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 22 October 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you this morning that I had written to his Excelly. Luiz Pinto Minister &ca. &ca. I herewith send a Copy of my Letter, and at the same time have the pleasure to inclose a most favourable, friendly, and pleasing answer from his Excellency, which I have this moment received, and which you will immediately see the necessity of communicating by expresses to all parts of the Union, that our...
19To James Madison from Edward Church, 23 June 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
23 June 1801, Paris. Discusses current political situation in Europe, then takes up his main point, which is to protest his dismissal during the Adams administration from his post as American consul in Lisbon. He left Lisbon late in 1795 for Paris on personal business, leaving a qualified substitute to carry on his consular duties. His stay was extended, and he undertook to serve as a liaison...
20To James Madison from Edward Church, 23 June 1801 (Madison Papers)
During my short Administration of the Consulate of the United States in Lisbon, I presume it will be acknowledged by all the American Traders, that the Commerce of the United States, was never before, or since so well protected and encouraged in Portugal, and not better I dare affirm in any o ther part of Europe, as I had the good fortune to conciliate the esteem and confidence of that...