John Jay Papers

Journal of the Office of Foreign Affairs, 1–28 November 1789

Journal of the Office of Foreign Affairs

[New York, 1–28 November 1789]

Novemr. 1st. Received a Letter from Mr. Jefferson of 5th. August 1789, mentioning that the Tumults in Paris had nearly ceased— that the Baron de Besenval and Duke de la Vauguyon have been taken and confined—that Mr. Necker has returned, and a new Ministry been appointed, and that the National Assembly is engaged in framing a Bill of Rights.—1

November 2d. Received a Letter from Alexander Hamilton Esquire, Secretary of the Treasury, of this Date, enclosing one to him from the Auditor, & requesting to be furnished with Extracts of such of the Instructions to the american Ministers and Agents in France, as relate to the procuring of Monies and Supplies, and settling of Accounts.—2

See 4 Vol. of american Letters page

13th. Received a Letter from Isaac Pinto of this Date, requesting some further Compensation than what he has received for his Services as Interpreter of the Spanish Language.—3

See 4 Vol. of american Letters page

16th. Mr. Jay communicated to the President, Mr. Jefferson’s Letter of 29th. July4 & 5th. August 1789, and Mr. Pintard’s Letter of 9th. October 1789 with its Enclosures, and afterwards returned them to the Office.—5

18th. The President communicated to Mr. Jay a Letter from Mr. Thomas Pinckney of 22d. October last, in which he declines the Appointment of Judge for South Carolina district Court, and returns his Commission: and desired him to prepare a proper Commission for Mr Willm. Drayton to succeed Mr. Pinckney:— Whereupon Mr. Jay had a Commission made out accordingly, which he gave to the President, and also returned to him Mr. Pinckney’s Letter and Commission.—

See book of6

24th. Received a Letter from Mr. Henry Motz of 24th. September 1789, mentioning that Lord Dorchester had received Mr. Jay’s Letter of 4th. September, and given the necessary Directions to enable Mr. Ellicott to make his astronomical Observations, &c.—7

See 4 Vol. of american Letters page.

November 24th. Received a Letter from Capt. Isaac Guion of 30th. September 1789, mentioning that Lord Dorchester had complied with the President’s Request, and that he was on his Return from Quebec to Niagara, and enclosing Copies of two Letters from his Lordship’s Secretary to Lieut. Coll. Harris on the Subject.—8

See 4 Vol. of american Letters page

Received a Letter from Mr. Dumas of 14th. August 1789, mentioning a recent Tumult at Rotterdam, and the Dissatisfaction & Quarrels that prevail at Amsterdam, requesting that he may be commissioned to negociate a Treaty between the United States and the Court of Brussels, and to deliver Letters from them to the said Court, the Emperor, their High Mightinesses and other Powers; announcing their new Form of Government, and enclosing Anecdotes respecting the Purchase of Grain at Amsterdam, and the Disappointment of a Person who expected to be sent as Minister to the Court of France.—9

Mr. John Trumbull delivered to Mr. Jay a Letter from Mr. Jefferson of 17th. October 1789, informing that he intended to embark at Cowes in a Vessel bound to the Chesapeak &c;, and also the Letter Book and Account Book of Silas Deane which Mr. Jefferson had purchased.

The abovementioned Letter was communicated to the Presidt. and afterwards returned to the Office.—10

26th. Received two Letters from Don Guiseppe Chiappe, Agent of the United States at Mogador, of 25th. April & 18th. July 1789, complaining of no late Advices having been received from the United States; intimating the Expediency of more Attention, stating the Case of Captain Proctor, who had been taken by the Emperors Cruisers and released by his Majesty’s Orders; and mentioning the Emperor’s Enquiries relative to our Ports &c:—11

November 28th. Mr. Jay in a Note to the President of this Date, communicated the following Account of the Negociation, Treaty and Affairs with Morocco Vizt.—12

On the 28th. day of June 1786 Mr. Barclay concluded a Treaty with the Emperor of Morocco. On the 1st. & 25th. days of January 1787 the said Treaty was conditionally ratified by Mr. Adams & Mr. Jefferson, under whose Direction the Negociations for it were placed by Congress, and conducted by Mr. Barclay. On the 18th. day of July 1787 the said Treaty was finally ratified by Congress.—

On the 23d. day of July 1787 Congress wrote a Letter to the Emperor, and transmitted it together with their Ratification to Mr. Jefferson, & Mr. Jay wrote at the same time to Tahar Fennish the Emperor’s Minister, thanking him for his Civilities to Mr. Barclay &c.—13

Mr. Barclay before he left Morocco, appointed Don Francisco Chiappe Agent at Morocco, Don Joseph Chiappe at Mogadar, and a Don Gulielmo14 Chiappe at Tangier, subject to the Pleasure of Congress. On the 23d. July 1787 Congress confirmed these Appointments.—

On the 24th. July 1787 Mr. Jay wrote to Mr. Jefferson, informing him that it was the Pleasure of Congress, that their Ministers at Versailles and London should regularly correspond with these Agents. On the 26th. July 1787 Mr. Jay wrote in like manner to Mr. Carmichael.15

Mr. Jefferson enclosed, among other Papers, in his Letter of 23d. May 1788,16 a Copy of a Declaration of 23d. February 1788 of the Emperor in Favor of the Americans, distinguishing between the English and them, and granting them for three Years, the Privilege of paying in his Ports only 5pr. Cent Duty on the Importation of their Merchandizes. These Papers arrived the 31st. of July, and were communicated to Congress the 1st. August 1788.—

On 29th. May 1788 Mr. Jay received a Letter from Mr. Barclay, dated 27th. of the same Month,17 mentioning his having received the like Intelligence from Joseph Chiappe; and on the same Day Mr. Jay communicated it to Congress—

In a Letter of the 5th. November 1788, which arrived in May 1789, Mr. Carmichael transmitted the following Papers, Vizt.—

Copies of two Letters from Francisco Chiappe to him of 20th. August and 5th. October 1788, conveying the Emperors Assurances of Amity &c:—

A Letter from Francisco Chiappe to the President of Congress of 20th. August 1788, informing that his Letter of 23d. July 1787 and the Ratification of the Treaty, had been received by the Emperor of Morocco—

A Letter from the Emperor of Morocco to Congress of 17th. August 1788, enclosing Copies of Letters he had written to the Bashas of Tunis and Tripoli in Favor of the United States—18

On the 20th. July 1789, Mr. Jay received a Letter from Mr. Barclay of that Date, mentioning that the present would be a favorable Juncture to attempt to form Treaties with the Porte, Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli, and enclosing the following Papers, Vizt.

A Letter to him from Joseph Chiappe of 28th. March 1789 complaining of his Silence, and mentioning the commercial Advantages the Americans enjoy in the Emperor’s Dominions.—

Copy of a Letter from Francisco to Joseph Chiappe of 12th. February, together with Joseph’s Answer of 24th. February 1789, respecting the Indulgence granted for three Years by the Emperor, to such Americans as trade to his Ports, of only paying half Duties on their Importations.

Two Letters from Guiseppe Chiappe of 25th. April & 18th. July 1789, to the President of Congress, complaining of no late Advices having been received from the United States, intimating the Expediency of more Attention, stating the Case of Capt. Proctor who had been taken by the Emperor’s Cruisers and released by his Majesty’s Orders, and mentioning the Emperor’s Enquiries relative to our Ports &c.—19

The Papers mentioned in the aforegoing Account, and the following Drafts accompanied it, Vizt.

Draft of a Letter to the Emperor of Morocco, in Answer to his of 17th. August 1788, to be signed by the President.—

Draft of a Letter to Francisco Chiappe in Answer to his of 20th. August 1788.—

Draft of a Letter to Guiseppe Chiappe in Answer to his of 25th. April and 18th. July 1789.—20

Received two Letters from Coll. Humphreys of this Date, mentioning that it is the President’s Desire, that a proper Commission should be made out for Mr. Cyrus Griffin to be Judge of the Virginia District Court, and another for Mr. William Nelson to be Attorney of the said District, and that a Letter for Mr. Jefferson which was left at the Office of for: Affairs should be returned to him.—21

See 4 Vol. of am. Letters page

According to the above Notice, commissions were made out under the Seal of the United States for Mr. Griffin and Mr. Nelson, and left at the Presidents; as was also the Letter for Mr. Jefferson.—

D, in the hand of Henry Remsen Jr., DNA: PCC, item 127, 2: 197–202 (EJ: 03805).

1. 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 , 15: 333–34.

2. See AH to JJ, 2 Nov., 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 , 4: 106–7 (EJ: 02388); PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 5: 494. JJ’s reply to AH, 2 Jan. 1790, consisted of a covering note transmitting extracts from appropriate letters and congressional journals. 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 , 4: 115–17 (EJ: 02394); PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 6: 42. On Chaumont’s accounts, one of the topics being investigated by the comptroller Oliver Wolcott Jr., see PRM description begins E. James Ferguson et al., eds., The Papers of Robert Morris, 1781–1784 (9 vols.; Pittsburgh, Pa., 1973–99) description ends , 9: 87–89, 92, 541–42.

3. See Pinto to JJ, 13 Nov. 1789, ALS, DNA: PCC, item 78, 18: 667–70 (EJ: 10519); LbkC, DNA: Domestic Letters, 4: 107–8 (EJ: 02389). Isaac Pinto (1720–91), Jewish merchant, scholar, and patriot, is best known as the translator of the first Jewish prayer book printed in America (1761, 1766). During his later years he taught Spanish privately. New-York Journal, 20 Jan. 1791. No further correspondence with Pinto has been found. For the details of his appointment as translator, see the OFA Journal description begins Daily Journals, Office of Foreign Affairs, 1784–1790, 2 vols., Papers of the Continental Congress, RG 360, item 127, National Archives (M247). Accessed Fold3.com description ends for 24 Nov. 1786 (EJ: 03769).

4. See TJ to JJ, 29 July, 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 , 15: 314–15.

5. See the OFA Journal description begins Daily Journals, Office of Foreign Affairs, 1784–1790, 2 vols., Papers of the Continental Congress, RG 360, item 127, National Archives (M247). Accessed Fold3.com description ends , 2–19 Oct., above.

6. For Thomas Pinckney’s letter, and for Drayton’s appointment and commission, sent under cover of a letter from GW to Drayton, 18 Nov. 1789, see PGW: PS description begins Dorothy Twohig et al., eds., The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series (19 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1987–) description ends , 4: 215–16, 305–6.

7. As directed by GW, JJ had written Lord Dorchester (Guy Carleton), Governor General of British North America, to ask him to allow Andrew Ellicott to make astronomical observations in Canada to delineate the boundaries of land ceded by New York State to the United States in the vicinity of Lake Ontario and the Strait of Niagara. See JJ to Dorchester, 4 Sept. 1789, Dft, NNC (EJ: 05917); Cs, DLC: Washington (EJ: 10066); UkLPR: CO 42/65 (EJ: 04926); 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 , 4: 83–85 (EJ: 02371), published in full in PGW: PS description begins Dorothy Twohig et al., eds., The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series (19 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1987–) description ends , 3: 601–3, where the entire project is explained; and the letter of Dorchester’s secretary, Henry Motz, to JJ, 24 Sept. 1789, ALS, DNA: PCC, item 78, 16: 619–20 (EJ: 05159); LbkCs, 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 , 4: 410–11 (EJ: 02391), and UkLPR: CO 42/65 (EJ: 04925).

8. Isaac Guion to JJ, 30 Sept. 1789, enclosing copies of two letters from François Le Maitre, military secretary, to Lt. Col. Harris, or the commanding officer at Niagara, 24 Sept. 1789, ALS, DNA: PCC, item 78, 14: 775–88 (EJ: 05158); 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 , 4: 111–15 (EJ: 02392).

9. See Dumas to JJ, 14 Aug. 1789, Dft, NL-HaNA (EJ: 12408); ALS, with enclosed anecdotes, in French with translation by Pintard, DNA: PCC, item 93, 4: 172–84.

10. See TJ to JJ, 17 Oct., ALS, DNA: PCC, item 87, 2: 620 (EJ: 12058); PrC, DLC: Jefferson (EJ: 10211); 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 , 15: 524. On Deane’s letter books and accounts, see TJ to JJ, 3 Aug. 1788, and 12 Mar. 1789, above.

11. See Giuseppe Chiappe to the President of Congress, 25 Apr., and 18 July 1789, in French with translations by John Pintard, DNA: PCC, item 98, 376–86, 387–94; PGW: PS description begins Dorothy Twohig et al., eds., The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series (19 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1987–) description ends , 3: 229–32.

12. No copy of this note to GW of 28 Nov. has been found in GW’s papers. A text called Memorandum Concerning Negotiations with the Emperor of Morocco, originally dated 1 Dec. and redated 3 Dec. 1789, is in the Adams Papers, MHi. On the signing of the treaty with Morocco, see Thomas Barclay to JJ, 30 July 1786, JJSP description begins Elizabeth M. Nuxoll et al., eds., The Selected Papers of John Jay (4 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 2010–) description ends , 4: 363; and, for the background, see the editorial note, “The Barbary States: A Problem with No Ready Solution,” JJSP description begins Elizabeth M. Nuxoll et al., eds., The Selected Papers of John Jay (4 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 2010–) description ends , 4: 201–6.

13. See JJ to Taher Ben Abdelhack Fennish, 24 July 1787, and notes, JJSP description begins Elizabeth M. Nuxoll et al., eds., The Selected Papers of John Jay (4 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 2010–) description ends , 4: 526.

14. Thus in ms. Girolomo (sometimes referred to as Geronimo) Chiappe.

15. JJ to TJ, 24 July 1787, Dft, NNC (EJ: 05899), and 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 , 264–66 (EJ: 02505); 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 , 11: 618–20; and to Carmichael, 26 July 1787, Dft, NNC (EJ: 05900), and 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 , 267–69 (EJ: 02507).

16. TJ to JJ, 23–27 May 1788, DNA: PCC, item 87, 2: 103–10, and, for the enclosed messages sent by Chiappe regarding trade, and translations, which bear dates of 29 Feb. and 2 Mar. 1788, 159–66; PrC, DLC: Jefferson (EJ: 10171); 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, 644–45; 13, 188–96.

17. Barclay to JJ, 27 May 1788, DNA: PCC, item 91, 443–46.

18. Carmichael to JJ, 5 Nov. 1788, Dupl., with enclosures, DNA: PCC, item 97, 308–14 (EJ: 03671); Tripl., with enclosures, and translations, PCC, item 88, 516–53; 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 , 6: 393–97.

19. Barclay to JJ, 20 July 1789, DNA: PCC, item 98, 344–45 (EJ: 05186); LbkC, Domestic Letters, 4: 39–40 (EJ: 02359).

20. For the letter to the Emperor of Morocco as approved and adopted by GW, see GW to Sidi Mohammed, 1 Dec. 1789, PGW: PS description begins Dorothy Twohig et al., eds., The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series (19 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1987–) description ends , 4: 353–54; for the draft, see NNC (EJ: 05920). For JJ’s letters to the Chiappes, see JJ to Giuseppe Chiappe of 1 Dec., below, and notes.

21. Humphreys’s letters have not been found. The letter for TJ has not been identified.

Index Entries

    You Are Looking At

    Source Project
    Jay Papers
    Title
    Journal of the Office of Foreign Affairs, 1–28 November 1789
    Date
    1–28 November 1789

    Reference

    Cite as
    “Journal of the Office of Foreign Affairs, 1–28 November 1789,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-05-02-0110. [Original source: The Selected Papers of John Jay, vol. 5, 1788–1794, ed. Elizabeth M. Nuxoll. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2017, pp. 161–166.]