To George Washington from David Humphreys, 8 April 1795
From David Humphreys
On Board the Brig Sophia Delaware Bay
April 8th 17951 Evening
My dear & most respected Sir
I beg leave to explain myself on a part of the plan for the management of the Algerine business, on which I had not an opportunity of doing it in conversation.2 My idea is that Mr Donaldson should not commence any negociation whatsoever at Algiers, or even appear in a public character (but merely as the bearer of a letter & under sanction of a Flag) unless he shall receive secret & confidential assurances of success, amounting almost to a moral certainty, from the Consul of France.3 A circumstance, from our latest intelligence from Alicant, to be but little expected. But still th⟨is⟩ measure seems indispensably necessary in order not to lose any possible chance of success, to comply with the wishes of Government after the late appropriation for the object,4 & to satisfy the public mind that there has been no delay in the matter. In the interim, agreeably to the plan you was pleased to suggest, my intention, is, to hasten (upon a candid disclosure of the real state of facts) to concert with Mr Monroe & the Executive of France what measures are best to be pursued, & to embrace whatever mode of execution shall upon a full view of the circumstances be deemed advisable. The unfortunate, if not improper moment, at which I was obliged to call to take leave of you on Sunday last,5 and the state of my feelings at the time, prevented me from going into explanations after it was decided I should go to France, & mentioning some details which m⟨mutilated⟩ at least, serve to shew that I do not consult ⟨mulilated⟩ own ease or convenience. It is unnecessary to ⟨mutilated⟩ how far I have sacrificed both in the course of the past winter, in taking measures which I believed best calculated to promote the interests of the United States. But perhaps I may derive some satisfaction from a conviction that justice has been done to the purity of my intentions, by acknowledging I could not have been influenced by any private or sinister motives.
I am apprehensive, that there is much delicacy in the existing political connection between this Country & France; and that it may not perhaps be the most favorable moment to expect powerful intervention in our favour. However, in consequence of what I have learned from yourself & the Secry of State, I shall not fail to give to our Minister in that Republic strong assurances of the continued friendly dispositions of our Government; & attempt to prove how much that nation is interested in the accomplishment of our wishes.
I will hope for your indulgence, in suggesting that, although it may not be convenient to bring the French Minister into company (particularly at your dinners) with the Ministers of the nations at war with his own, yet it may perhaps be highly important to shew him that the neglect, is compensated by attention in some other way. I have known a neglect of invitation to a Diplomatic Dinner [to] become a subject of official discussion.
I pray you will pardon my solicitude that your character should appear more perfect than that of any other human being. I entreat also that my best respects may be presented to Mrs Washington & my Compliments to the rest of the family.
Expecting few occasions which will make it either necessary or proper to trouble you with my letters; I hasten to conclude with assurances, that no one of all your friends has ever been more sincerely attached to the promotion of your glory, & that no one more ardently prays for your health & happiness than Your sincere friend & humble Servant
D. Humphreys
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. GW signed a passport for the Sophia on 28 March (copy, DNA: RG 59, Records of the Passport Division, Letters Requesting Passports, 1795). For Humphreys’s passport, see the source note to GW’s Circular to Barbary Powers, 30 March. The Sophia sailed two days after Humphreys wrote his letter (Philadelphia Gazette & Universal Daily Advertiser, 10 April 1795).
2. Humphreys recently had returned to the United States to consult with GW’s administration about future treaty negotiations with rulers of the Barbary States—particularly to secure peace with Algiers and the release of captured American citizens there. For information about Humphreys’s mission, see his letter to GW, 3 Feb., and GW’s circular letter to the Barbary States, 30 March.
Secretary of State Edmund Randolph wrote Humphreys on 28 March: “The instructions heretofore communicated to you in several letters from the office of the Department of State, respecting the negociation with the Dey of Algiers &c. for concluding a treaty of peace and liberating our Citizens from captivity, contain the sentiments of the President on those subjects, and will serve accordingly for your general government. If we should not be able to make a Treaty, comprehending all the articles contained in our Treaty with Morocco; we must acquiesce in the liberation of our Citizens and a Treaty of Peace only.
“With respect to Morocco; it is proposed to obtain from the Prince Mulay Soliman, a recognition of the Treaty between the United States and his father the former Emperor. This you will endeavour to effect if possible for twenty thousand Dollars; but if you shall find that it cannot be accomplished under twenty five thousand Dollars, you are authorized to go to that amount. This negociation you may either accomplish yourself, or by such Agency as you shall deem best calculated for the purpose, according as you shall find the state of affairs in Morocco, upon your arrival in Europe.
“For want of more particular knowledge of Tunis and Tripoli, you can only be informed generally.” Humphreys was to conclude peace treaties between the United States and each of those two states “upon as nearly similar principles to those contained in the Treaty between the late Emperor of Morocco and the United States, as the circumstances will allow, or upon such general friendly terms as the existing state of affairs may seem to justify.” The two treaties, however, had to be concluded for $25,000 each “in money or presents” (DNA: RG 59, Diplomatic and Consular Instructions, 1791–1801).
3. In his letter of 28 March, Randolph also informed Humphreys that GW had named Joseph Donaldson, Jr., of Philadelphia as consul to Tunis and Tripoli. “He will of course,” wrote the secretary, “be employed as Agent to negociate with them” unless the situation required Humphreys to journey to the Mediterranean. Donaldson then would, “(if deemed necessary) be employed in an Agency with Mr Pierre Eric Skjoldebrand,” U.S. consul for Algiers, “in ascertaining and agreeing upon the provisional or preliminary terms of a Treaty with Algiers, and in causing (under your directions and instructions) the money appropriated by law for that purpose, to be paid at Algiers, in the manner which shall be agreed upon” (DNA: RG 59, Diplomatic and Consular Instructions, 1791–1801).
On 3 April, GW signed a commission for Donaldson as U.S. consul at Tunis and Tripoli. On the following day he signed Donaldson’s certificate of citizenship (see 326–37). GW submitted the appointment to the Senate on 12 June, and that body confirmed it the next day ( 179–81).
On 4 April, Randolph wrote Humphreys that in addition to his instructions of 28 March, he could decide whether to include Donaldson and Skjöldebrand in the upcoming negotiations with Algiers or use Donaldson alone. Randolph promised to “remove the idea of indelicacy towards the French Republic, by assigning to our minister at Paris the reason, why an attempt to negotiate was made in the first instance without their aid. But it is supposed proper and is therefore recommended to you, to proceed as early as possible to France, for the purpose of obtaining the cooperation of that government in this negotiation” (DNA: RG 59, Diplomatic and Consular Instructions, 1791–1801).
On 5 April, Randolph sent GW draft instructions “proposed by Colo. Humphries to be given to Mr Donaldson” and asked “whether the ideas come up to what the President were pleased to express this morning” (AL, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB, DNA: RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State). The draft has not been identified. Humphreys sent the formal instructions to Donaldson on 18 May (DNA: RG 59, Despatches from U.S. Ministers to Spain).
4. Humphreys referred to “An Act for the reimbursement of a Loan authorized by an Act of the last Session of Congress,” 21 February. This act authorized the Bank of the United States to lend to the government all or part of the $800,000 “(remaining unapplied) in pursuance of the authority granted to borrow” one million dollars according to the act of 20 March 1794 “‘making further provision for the expenses attending the intercourse of the United States with foreign nations;[’] and further to continue in force the act, intituled ‘An act providing the means of intercourse between the United States and foreign nations.[’]” ( 418).
5. The previous Sunday was 5 April.