George Washington Papers
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From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 9 June 1796

To Timothy Pickering

Philadelphia 9th June 1796

Sir,

The Instructions for Mr King, herewith returned, appear to me to be proper. To them, however, I think might be added a desire that he should attempt to remove any doubts which may arise in the construction of the [ ] article relative to our Trade ⟨with⟩ the East Indies; and to get relieved if it be practicable from the restrictions on our Vessels going from thence with their Cargoes to China.1

I shall not impede the forwarding the other Instructions to the Accou[n]tant, for the British Spoliations—as they are now drawn. At the sametime I cannot forbear observing that I think £500 St⟨erling⟩ would have been ample compensation for such a character.

1st Because no such Officer was conceiv⟨ed n⟩ecessary by the Ne⟨goc⟩iators of the Treaty; nor provided for in the estimate to Congress.

2d Because among other inducements to the appointment of Mr Gore—his supposed knowledge of Commerce was one (a legal & Commercial character being deemed necessary for the purposes of the Commission)—Why then it may be asked, seek for the latter character in an Accountant of new creation uncontemplated by the Treaty? and this question more than probable will be accompanied with the charge of favouritism to the wishes of the person designated and his friends—and—

4th Because our Secretaries of Legation are not allowed half what is proposed to be given as compensation to this Accountant.2

Go: Washington

ALS (letterpress copy), DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW. A transcription made in 1866 from the letter sent Pickering shows no significant variation from the letterpress copy (MHi: Pickering Papers).

1Pickering prepared final instructions dated 8 June for Rufus King, the new U.S. minister to Great Britain: “As the whole correspondence between the Department of State and Mr Pinckney are to be delivered over to you, I beg leave to refer you to the instructions given to him, whether originally or in the course of that correspondence, for information and direction, so far as they may be pertinent to the present state of things.” The instructions then covered several trade and commercial aspects of the Jay Treaty before turning to the matter GW raised for clarification. “Doubts have been suggested relative to that part of the 13th Article of Mr Jay’s treaty which declares, that the vessels of the United States shall not carry any of the articles exported by them from the British Territories in the East Indies, to any port or place except to some port or place in America, whre the same shall be unladen. The doubt on this passage is, whether after they shall be thus unladen they may be reexported to Europe, or elsewhere. Further, it is said that ‘such regulations shall be adopted by both parties as shall from time to time be found necessary to enforce the due and faithful observance of this stipulation.’ The doubt on this passage is whether the two parties are to concur in these regulations … or are they separately to be formed, by the laws of the respective Governments. It will be expedient to have these doubts removed, with any others which a revision of the treaty shall bring into view.

“While the ‘coasting trade of those British Territories’ in the East Indies, shall continue to be exclusively reserved to the British, an attempt may be made to gain for us a participation in the trade between the British Territories and those of any other powers in that part of the world.

“These, Sir, are the subjects which on this occasion have occurred as proper to engage your attention in your negociations with the British Government. Doubtless in the course of these negociations other proper topics of discussion will present themselves, which you will be pleased to communicate, with your ideas thereon, to this Department, to be laid before the President for his information and consequent directions” (DNA: RG 59, Diplomatic and Consular Instructions; see also Miller, Treaties, description begins Hunter Miller, ed. Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States of America. Vol. 2, 1776-1818. Washington, D.C., 1931. description ends 255–56, and GW’s first message to the U.S. Senate, 19 May, and n.1 to that document).

2For these instructions to Samuel Cabot, see Pickering to GW, 8 June, n.2.

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