From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 5 April 1790
To George Washington
Apr. 5. 1790. a quarter before one.
Mr. Jefferson has the honor of inclosing for the perusal of the President rough draughts of the letters he supposes it proper to send to the court of France on the present occasion. He will have that of waiting on him in person immediately to make any changes in them the President will be so good as to direct, and to communicate to him two letters just received from Mr. Short.
RC (DNA: RG 59, MLR); addressed; endorsed. FC (DNA: RG 59, SDC). Not recorded in SJL. Enclosures: (1) Drafts of Washington to Louis xvi and TJ’s two letters to Montmorin, all dated 6 Apr. 1790. (2) Short to secretary of state, 2 and 6 Jan. 1790 (see TJ to Short, 6 Apr. 1790).
Washington stated in his diary for Sunday, 10 Apr. 1790: “In the afternoon the Secretary of State submitted for my approbation Letters of credence for Mr. Short as Chargé de Affaires … and his own Letter to Monsr. Montmorin … also to Mr. Short on the subject of our Prisoners at Algiers.—And at Night he submitted the copy of a letter he had drafted to Mr. Carmichael” (Washington, Diaries, ed. Fitzpatrick, iv, 113; see TJ to Carmichael, 11 Apr. 1790). It is possible that TJ held the drafts of the letters until 10 Apr. because of the report on coinage on which he labored between 7 and 12 Apr. and that, in consequence, the above letter was not sent. See report under 14 Apr. 1790.