From George Washington to John Jay, 1 December 1789
To John Jay
[New York] December 1st 1789
The President of the United States hath read with attention the Papers herewith returned, relating to our Affairs in Morocco: and as far as he can form an opinion without knowing the contents of Guiseppe Chiappe’s Letters of the 25th of April & 18th of July 17891—no translation thereof being sent—approves the Draft of the Letters to the Emperor and Guiseppe & Francisco Chiappe;2 and wishes, as the case seems to require it, that they may be forwarded by the first good conveyances that offers.3
ADf, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB, DLC:GW.
For an account of the services of the Chiappe brothers to the United States, see Giuseppe Chiappe to GW, 18 July 1789, source note.
1. For Chiappe’s letter of 25 April 1789, see his letter to GW, 18 July 1789, n.1.
3. GW returned drafts of two letters, one from Jay to Francisco Chiappe, “Agent of the United States at Morocco,” and another to Giuseppe Chiappe, “Agent of the United States at Mogador,” both dated 1 Dec. 1789. The two letters described the formation of the new government and informed the brothers of GW’s election. Jay wrote Francisco Chiappe that the “President has been informed how well you and your Brothers deserve of the United States; and I am persuaded that due Attention will be paid to your and their Services.
“I have now the Honor of transmitting to you a Letter from the President to his Imperial Majesty, with a Copy of it for your Information: I also enclose a Letter for your Brother Guiseppe, which I request the Favor of you to forward to him” (DNA: RG 59, Foreign Letters of the Continental Congress and the Department of State). The letter to Giuseppe Chiappe contained much of the same information: “Your Letters of 25th April and 18th July which were addressed to the President of Congress, arrived after the new Government had taken place; they were therefore delivered to the President of the United States, who possesses Powers and Prerogatives in many Respects similar to those which are enjoyed by the King of England. . . . I am directed by the President . . . to assure you that nothing shall be wanting so to arrange and conduct all Affairs between our two Countries, as may be perfectly satisfactory to his Imperial Majesty” (DNA: RG 59, Foreign Letters of the Continental Congress and the Department of State).