John Jay Papers

From John Jay to the President of Congress (Cyrus Griffin), 12 September 1788

To the President of Congress (Cyrus Griffin)

Office for foreign Affairs 12th. September 1788

Sir

On the 12th. October last Congress was pleased, on a Report from the Board of Treasury, to resolve that the Balance of the Appropriation for the Barbary Treaties of the 14th. February 1785 not then applied to that Object, be constituted a Fund for redeeming the American Captives at Algiers, and that the same be for that Purpose subject to the Direction of the Minister of the United States at the Court of Versailles.1

As neither this Act nor any other that I recollect provides for the Subsistence of these Captives, whose Situation claims from their Country such Aids and Supplies as may be necessary to render their Condition as comfortable as the Pains and Rigours of Slavery may permit; I take the Liberty of submitting to Congress the Propriety of directing their Minister at Versailles out of the beforementioned Fund, to make such Provision for the Maintenance and comfortable Subsistence of the american Captives at Algiers, and to give such Orders touching the same, as shall to him appear right and proper.—

Mr. Jefferson indeed instructed Mr. Lamb to supply as well as to redeem them;2 but Mr. Lamb is now in this Country and Mr. Jefferson observes in his Letter that his giving such Instructions “must rest for Justification on the Emergency of the case”, and that “it would be a Comfort to know that Congress does not disapprove of this Step”.3 On this Letter I reported, Vizt. 11th. May 1786, a Resolution4 importing such Approbation, but I am not informed that it was ever agreed to.

Mr. Jefferson has found it necessary in order to facilitate their Redemption, to let it be reported and believed at Algiers that Congress would not redeem them. That Intelligence has greatly added to their Distress; but it would not be expedient that they should at present be undeceived.5 Little Supplies may however be conveyed in so indirect a Manner as not to be traced either by them or by the Algerines, and would tend greatly to the Comfort of these unhappy People.—6 With Great Respect and Esteem I have the Honor to be Your Excellency’s Most obt. and very hble: Servt.

John Jay

LS, DNA: PCC, item 80, 3: 577–80 (EJ: 00364). Endorsed: “… respecting funds provided / for prisoners at Algiers / Read Sept. 13th. 1788— / acted on Sept. 13th. 1788—” Dft, NNC (EJ: 05846); LbkC, DNA: Domestic Letters description begins Domestic Letters of the Department of State, 1784–1906, RG 59, item 120, National Archives (M40). Accessed on Fold3.com. description ends , 3: 443–44 (EJ: 02317); 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 , 34: 523–24.

1. The congressional resolution of 12 Oct. 1787, in 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 , 33: 664, was enclosed in JJ to TJ, 24 Oct. 1787, Dft, NNC (EJ: 05824); LbkC, DNA: Foreign Letters description begins Foreign Letters of the Continental Congress and Department of State, 1785–1790, RG 59, item 121, National Archives (M61). Accessed on Fold3.com. description ends , 285–88 (EJ: 02517); DC description begins William A. Weaver, ed., Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States of America, from the Signing of the Definitive Treaty of Peace, 10th September, 1783, to the Adoption of the Constitution, March 4, 1789 (7 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1833–34) description ends , 3: 288–91; PTJ description begins Julian T. Boyd, Charles T. Cullen et al., eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson (42 vols. to date; Princeton, N.J., 1950–) description ends , 12: 265–68.

2. Supplementary instructions to John Lamb, signed in London by JA on 1 Oct. 1785, and in Paris by TJ, 11 Oct. 1785. See PTJ description begins Julian T. Boyd, Charles T. Cullen et al., eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson (42 vols. to date; Princeton, N.J., 1950–) description ends , 8: 616–17.

3. TJ to JJ, 11 Oct. 1785, C, DNA: PCC, item 87, 1: 129–32; C, DLC: Jefferson (EJ: 10108); DC description begins William A. Weaver, ed., Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States of America, from the Signing of the Definitive Treaty of Peace, 10th September, 1783, to the Adoption of the Constitution, March 4, 1789 (7 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1833–34) description ends , 2: 407–9; PTJ description begins Julian T. Boyd, Charles T. Cullen et al., eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson (42 vols. to date; Princeton, N.J., 1950–) description ends , 8: 608–9.

4. 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 , 30: 259–60.

5. Deleted in Dft: “But it would greatly Alleviate [their] Distress to find that ^that^ their Country taking Measures to had not forgotten them entirely, but was taking Measures at least to mitigate their Calamities. It might also suggest to their Minds an Idea of the real ^true^ Reason why the Business of their Redemption appeared to be [tota?]lly neglected [illegible].”

6. On 13 Sept., Congress adopted resolutions approving TJ’s instructions to Lamb and authorizing TJ to provide for the subsistence of American captives in Algiers. 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 , 34: 524–25.

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    Jay Papers
    Title
    From John Jay to the President of Congress (Cyrus Griffin), 12 September 1788
    Author
    Jay, John
    Recipient
    Griffin, Cyrus
    Date
    12 September 1788

    Reference

    Cite as
    “From John Jay to the President of Congress (Cyrus Griffin), 12 September 1788,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-05-02-0052. [Original source: The Selected Papers of John Jay, vol. 5, 1788–1794, ed. Elizabeth M. Nuxoll. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2017, pp. 80–81.]