To James Madison from William Jones, 7 February 1814
From William Jones
Treasury Department
February 7th. 1814
Sir
In conformity with the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 30th. of July 1813. copies have been prepared at the Treasury, of the accounts in detail of the different ministers plenipotentiary, envoys extraordinary, secretaries of legation, and consuls appointed under the authority of the United States from the commencement of the present government: also, accounts of the expenses incurred in the treaty with Algiers and the payments which have been made under that treaty: and accounts of all other expenditures in relation to the Barbary Powers including those occasioned by the war with Tripoli, and the making of peace with that regency:1
Which several accounts I have the honor to transmit herewith, for the information of the House of Representatives.2 I have the honor to be with the greatest respect Sir, Your Obedient Servant
W Jones
Acting Secy. of the Treasury
RC (DNA: RG 233, President’s Messages, 13A-E1). In a clerk’s hand, signed by Jones. JM forwarded the report to the House of Representatives on 10 Feb. 1814 (ibid.). Enclosures not found, but see n. 2.
1. In addition to the information listed by Jones, the resolution requested summaries of the “unsettled accounts” of the War, Navy, and Treasury departments ( 13th Cong., 1st sess., 486–88).
2. The enclosures were “voluminous documents, comprising several large volumes” (ibid., 13th Cong., 2d sess., 1284). According to Treasury register Joseph Nourse’s 5 Feb. 1814 forwarding letter to Jones (1 p.), which is filed with the RC, they consisted of statements showing 1) the outfits, salaries, and itemized contingent expenses of the various diplomatic personnel, “with copies of their own Accounts and explanatory letters & notes as rendered by themselves,” and the settlements as determined by Treasury Department accountants; 2) sums approved for redeeming captives, concluding treaties, and “detailed Contingent Expenses” in U.S. relations with Algiers, also including copies of the accounts and explanations submitted by the diplomats, and their settlements; 3) similar costs incurred in relations with other “Barbary Powers,” including those of the war with Tripoli; and 4) the as-yet-unsettled accounts of Tobias Lear, former consul general at Algiers.