From John Jay to François de Barbé-Marbois, 2 September 1785
To François de Barbé-Marbois
Office for foreign Affairs 2 Septr 1785
Sir
I have recd. the Letter you did me the Honor to write on the 25th. ult. and laid it before congress.1
I shall take the earliest opportunity of comm communicating to you the opinion they may direct me to give on the Subject, together with such ^the^ Information respecting it which you request on that Head.
Whenever Questions arise on the Construction of an article of the Treaty, I think it will always be most adviseable to submit it to their Consideration and Decision; and I flatter am persuaded they will on all such occasions be ^uniformly^ guided by the Spirit true Intent and meaning of the Treaty. Be assured Sir of my firm attachment to the Principles of it, and of my Disposition and Desire to see ^it^ construed and observed in such a manner, as may most conduce to the attainment of the Objects and mutual Benefits intended by it—with great Respect & Consideration I have the Honor to be Sir your most obt. & very h’ble Servt
Mr DeMarbois Chargé des affairs of his most christian majesty
Dft, NNC (EJ: 5765). Endorsed: “Draft …”
1. See Barbé-Marbois to JJ, 25 Aug. 1785, LbkC, in French, with translation by John Pintard, , 1: 420–22 (EJ: 1744). In this letter he reported that some Frenchmen wished to buy and hold lands in the United States and to be free to transmit them to their heirs. They wished to know whether under the terms of Article XI of the treaty of commerce with France they had the same freedom to do this as Americans did in France. He knew some states had passed laws to that effect but was uncertain if all had done so. JJ forwarded the letter to Congress on 2 Sept. See JJ to the President of Congress, 2 Sept., LS, DNA: PCC, item 80, 1: 369 (EJ: 134); LbkC, , 1: 434–35 (EJ: 1757).