1To Thomas Jefferson from the Abbés Arnoux and Chalut, 11 November [1785] (Jefferson Papers)
11 Nov . [ 1785 ]. Extend dinner invitation to TJ and David Humphreys for that day on the part of Chalut de Verin of the farmers-general; they are to be at the Place Vendôme at two o’clock. D’Estaing will also attend. The Abbés are grateful to TJ for forwarding the letter from Adams. RC ( MHi ); 2 p.; dated “Vendredi lle. 9bre.”; addressed.
2To Thomas Jefferson from the Abbés Arnoux and Chalut, 13 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 13 Nov. 1785 . Extend dinner invitation to TJ and his party for that day on the part of Chalut de Verin of the Farmers General; they hope “ qu’il ne lui restera aucune raison de refus .” RC ( MHi ); 2 p.; dated: “dimanche 12. 9bre. 1785”; addressed. Since 12 Nov. 1785 fell on a Saturday, the date of this letter has been corrected to the 13th. TJ evidently had declined the invitation for...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Abigail Adams, 11 February 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Col. Humphries talks of leaving us on Monday. It is with regret, I assure you, Sir, that we part with him. His visit here has given us an opportunity of becoming more acquainted with his real worth and merit, and our friendship for him has risen in proportion to our intimacy. The two American Secretaries of Legation would do honor to their country placed in more distinguished stations. Yet...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Abigail Adams, 24 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I hope if the Marquiss de la Fayette is returned to Paris he may be able to give us some account of Colln. Smith for whom we are not a little anxious, having no intelligence from him since the begining of September when he wrote that he should tarry at Berlin till the reviews were over which would be by the 20th. of that month and then should make the utmost expedition to Paris where his stay...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Abigail Adams, 20 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favours by Colln. Smith and by the Baron Polintz came safe to hand. As you have justly estimated the Worth and merit of the former, you will easily suppose we were very glad to see him, and equally so to wellcome Colln. Humphryes upon English Ground. I hope his reception here will be as agreeable to him as he expected. He will inform you I dare say that he has seen both the Lions, and His...
6To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 25 February 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Give me Leave to introduce to you Mr. Samuel Hartley a Relation of the late Minister at Paris. He has Business at Paris which he will explain to you, whether you can be of any Service to him in that or not, your Civilities will be very agreable to him and oblige Dear Sir your most humble Servant, RC ( DLC ). Noted in SJL as received 31 Apr. [1 May?] “by Mr. S. Hartley and Colo. Jas. Hartley.”
7To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 4 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Preston has at last found and sent me your Letter. Dr. Bancroft spoke to me, about Commodore Jones’s Demand upon Denmark: but upon looking into the Papers we found that the Commodore is recommended by Congress wholly to the Minister at the Court of Versailles, so that We were apprehensive our Powers would be disputed. The Danish Minister however was not here; I offered to go with Dr....
8To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 5 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
The Chevalier de Pinto, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, from Portugal, after a long absence by leave of his Court is lately arrived here from Lisbon. Upon several occasions, when I met him at Court and upon visits, he told me that he had orders from his Court to confer with me upon the Project of a Treaty between the United States and Portugal, but he [nev]er descended to...
9To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 6 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Yesterday I received your Favour of 30. May with its Inclosures. You have Since that day no doubt received my answer to yours of the 11th., in which I agreed perfectly with you in the Propriety of Sending Mr. Lamb to Congress without Loss of time. I am content to send Mr. Randal with him but had rather he Should come to you first and then to me, and embark in London after we shall have had...
10To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 13 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received a Letter from my Friend General Warren of Milton Hill near Boston, acquainting me, that Congress have it in Contemplation to appoint their Ministers Consuls General, or rather to give them Authority to appoint Consuls, and that you are to have the nomination of that officer for Lisbon, that his son Winslow Warren, went sometime ago and settled at Lisbon, partly upon Some...
11To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 2 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Nathaniel Barrett, a Gentleman of a respectable Family in Boston, of a fair Character and long Experience in Trade, will have the Honour to deliver you this Letter. He comes to France for the express Purpose of negotiating with proper Persons concerning the Proposals of Monsieur Tourtille de Sangrain, relative of Sperma Cœti oil. I beg Leave to recommend him and his Business to your...
12To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 23 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 11th. with the enclosures from Mr. Lamb, Mr. Carmichael and Mr. Barclay. I am not surprized that Mr. Lamb has only discovered that our means are inadequate, without learning the Sum that would be Sufficient. Il faut marchander avec ces Gens la. They must be beaten down as low as possible. But We shall find at last the Terms very dear. The Algerines will never...
13To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 20 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Barretts Arrival at Paris, is a lucky Event, and his appointment by the Merchants in Boston a judicious step; but I am not so clear in the Choice he makes of L’Orient to reside in. Paris, or even Havre, seems to me a better situation, Paris in preference to all others. If Boylstone would Act in concert with him, his Capital would be equal to every Thing which relates to the Business: But...
14To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 1 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Favour of the 18th. did not reach me, till last night. I am glad the Doctor has arrived safe and in so good health, and would fain hope he may contribute to compose the jarring Parties in Pensilvania, as well as assist in improving the Union of the States. Mrs. Rucker has a Letter from her Sister at New York, which mentions the Arrival of Mr. Otto, so that I think Madame la Comtess de...
15John Adams to Carmarthen, 13 March 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Adams presents his Compliments to the Right Honourable The Marquis of Carmarthen and acquaints his Lordship that Mr. Jefferson, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of Versailles, is now here, and as they have something to Communicate to His Lordship relative to the affairs of the United States, they request a Time when they may have the honor to pay their respects to...
16To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 16 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Smith, a Son of the Lady you Saw here, who is a Sister of our old Acquaintances the Rutledges, will deliver you this Letter. He goes to reside Sometime in France. Mr. Jay, in a Letter of the 7. of April, writes me “We are well, ’tho not officially informed, that all the States have granted the Impost to Congress, except New York, in whose Legislature there is a Strong Party, against it.”...
17To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 19 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I am favoured with yours of 27. Decr. and am obliged to you for what you said to the Count De Vergennes in the Case of the Chevalier De Mezieres. You may always very safely depend upon it, that I never have given and never shall give any opinion against the Letter or Spirit of the Treaty with France. In this Case I have never given any opinion at all. Indeed I have never been consulted. The...
18To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 28 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received yours of the 12, but yesterday, and wish it were in my Power to order the Interest due to the French Officers to be paid; but it is not. They must remain unpaid, be the Consequence what it may untill Congress or the Board of Treasury order it. Indeed, I dont know how your Subsistence and mine is to be paid after next month. Mr. Grand will be likely to advance yours, but from...
19To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 17 February 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I was sometime in doubt, whether any Notice Should be taken of the Tripoline Ambassador; but receiving Information that he made Enquiries about me, and expressed a Surprise that when the other foreign Ministers had visited him, the American had not; and finding that He was a universal and perpetual Ambassador, it was thought best to call upon him. Last Evening, in making a Tour of other...
20To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 21 February 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have desired Colonel Smith to go Express to Paris, to intreat you to come here without loss of Time. The Portuguese Minister has received his Instructions from his Court, and we may here together conduct and finish the Negotiation with him, I suppose in three Weeks. But there is another Motive more Important. There is here a Tripolitan Ambassador with whom I have had three Conferences. The...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Lewis Alexander, 10 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honoured with Your esteemed favor dated 31th. May inclosed Copy of the regulation resolved on in Committé by his Majesty for the general advantage of our trade, and the particular of united States Speculators in Tobacco. I have according to your desire duly published this notice to our Merchants. They are rejoiced in hopes of the Considerable extension it tends for this Branch of...
22To Thomas Jefferson from American and French Merchants at L’Orient, 21 April 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
We the American and French Merchants established at L’Orient, interested in the Trade with the United States of America, take the Liberty to lay before your Excellency the unhappy Situation we find ourselves in, and to sollicit your Influence to make it less disadvantageous and more certain in future. We have received a Number of Cargoes of Tobacco since the Peace, which we have sold to the...
23Enclosure: Draught of a treaty of Amity and Commerce between –– and the United states of America, 11 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The parties being willing &c. [as in the draught proposed to Denmark, except in the following passages] Art. 4 [to be as follows] More especially each party shall have a right to carry any kinds of produce manufactures and merchandize of whatever place they be the growth or manufacture, in their own or any other vessels, to any parts of the dominions of the other, where it shall be lawful for...
24American Commissioners to John Jay, 28 March 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Soon after the arrival of Mr. J. in London, we had a conference with the Ambassador of Tripoli, at his House. The amount of all the information we can obtain from him was that a perpetual peace was in all respects the most advisable, because a temporary treaty would leave room for increasing demands upon every renewal of it, and a stipulation for annual payments would be liable to failures of...
25I. Projet of a Treaty Submitted by the American Commissioners, [March–April 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
Draught of a treaty of Amity and Commerce between her Majesty the Queen of Portugal N. 1e and the United States of America. The Parties being willing to fix in a permanent and equitable manner the rules to be observed in the Commerce they desire to establish between their respective Countries, have judged that the said end cannot be better obtained than by taking the most perfect equality and...
26III. Observations by the Commissioners, [March–April 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
Observations on the alterations proposed in the draught of the treaty between her most faithful majesty, and the U.S. of America. Note 1. 2. 3. Art. 1 & 2 agreed to. Note 4 Art. 2. proposes after the words ‘trade there in all sorts of produce manufactures and merchandize’ in the 2d and 3d clauses, to add ‘the importation of which shall not be prohibited by the laws.’ [A regulation of the...
27American Commissioners to Carmarthen, 4 April 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreably to your Lordships request expressed to one of us in Conversation, and again communicated to us through Mr. Fraser , we have drawn up the enclosed Project of a Treaty of Commerce, which we do ourselves the Honour to propose to the Consideration of his Majesty’s Ministers. We have the honor to be Tr ( DNA : PCC , No. 86); in Smith’s hand; endorsed by him. Tr ( DLC ); also in Smith’s...
28American Commissioners to John Jay, 25 April 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Soon after our meeting together in London, We had a Conference with the Secretary of State for foreign affairs, in which we communicated to him, the joint Commission of Congress, for negotiating a Treaty of Commerce with Great Britain, and left an attested Copy of it in the hands of his Lordship. At the same time his Lordship was informed that as the Commission was limited to two years...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Madame d’Anterroches, 12 March 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ay rescus avec bien de la reconnaissance la lettre dont vous m’avés honnoré. Je vous ay infiniment de l’obligation de vouloir bien faire passer une lettre à mon fils et des renseignemens que vous me prometés sur tout ce qui le regarde. Son long silence m’afflige au dernier point, ayant appris qu’il a été très malade. Ô monsieur, que mon coeur est navré. Depuis prè de onze ans que les...
30[To Thomas Jefferson from Madame d’Anterroches, 19 February 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Puy d’Arnac, near Tulle, 19 Feb. 1786. Recorded in SJL as received 27 Feb. 1786. Not found; but see entry for TJ’s reply of 2 Mch., and TJ to James Monroe, same date.]
31To Thomas Jefferson from Ebenezer Gearey, Jr., and John Arnold, Jr., 19 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
We received your letter of the 13th. June which mentions Capt. Cutting an American Coming to this Place who you depended upon to make such inquiries respecting our (affairs or) Confinement as would be necessary for your government. If you will Please to Remember we mentiond in our letter 24th May that the Comadant sent some of his officers to the prison with an interpretor the next day after...
32To Thomas Jefferson from Lister Asquith, 28 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
St. Pol de Léon, 28 Nov. 1785 . They have now been in prison for fourteen weeks “and yet have no appearance of our releasement without you have got it finished at Paris.” Asquith heard from Desbordes, Frères that they had written to TJ advising him to try to have the case settled by the French ministry. “As they [the Farmers-General] could find no flaw against us for smugling they now pretend...
33To Thomas Jefferson from Lister Asquith, 20 February 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
St. Pol de Léon, 20 Feb. 1786 . Acknowledges TJ’s letter of 13 Jan.; but not having received a discharge, again begs for assistance; his “Pœple and self are almost all laid up by sickness occasioned by the colds and Damps of this place,” and are dejected “by the Constant insults of the pœple here”; they have been told that the Farmers General have so much influence in the courts that they can...
34To Thomas Jefferson from Lister Asquith, 15 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
St. Pol de Léon, 15 May 1786 . Not having heard from TJ or Short writes again concerning the unhappy situation of himself and his companions; suspects that the farmers-general are afraid to set them at liberty because they know the case will be presented to Congress, who will not tolerate such treatment; gives an account of an English vessel that was captured and condemned for smuggling salt...
35To Thomas Jefferson from Lister Asquith, 1 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
St. Pol de Léon,1 May 1786 . Is writing again because he has had no letters from TJ, Short, or Desbordes, Frères. There is still no prospect of their being released and he now realizes that the farmers-general wanted his “submission” in order to “get the Vessel, and Cargo, into their hands; and afterwards to keep us confin’d” on other pretexts; believes the farmers are afraid to set the...
36To Thomas Jefferson from Lister Asquith, 14 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
We have just received our Sentence and Condemnation from Brest by the Hands of the Farmers Officers, which one of the Coppys I have sent inclosed and I cannot understand any thing of it. We are all now allmost distracted by their unjust Sentence and implore your protection, as we have your best assurances for it and intirely rely on you for your assistance as we are innocent of the Crime we...
37To Thomas Jefferson from Lister Asquith, 20 March 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
May it Please your Excellency, Sir I received your Letter of the 5th. Inst. and am sorry to find that things should turn out so unfavorable as I am entirely innocent of the Crime laid to my Charge and which I have suffered for but as I find it is useless to go any further with it I must thro Nessessity submit to their Sentence sooner than life any longer in Prison and give up all Claims to the...
38To Thomas Jefferson from Lister Asquith, 2 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
St. Pol de Léon, 2 Jan. 1786. Has been daily expecting to hear from TJ since his letter of 23 Nov.; fears that the letters have been detained. Knowing that he and his companions are innocent of any crime, suspects they are being starved to force them to escape. They are being tortured in mind and body; have no fire; and the snow falls on them through the roof when they lie down. He is certain...
39To Thomas Jefferson from Lister Asquith, 16 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
St. Pol de Léon, 16 Jan. 1786 . Has written four letters to TJ and, receiving no reply, fears they have been intercepted. Has been in prison five months; he and his companions are suffering from the cold weather, “often very wet by the rain and snow coming through the roof,” and distracted by fears for the welfare of their families; implores TJ to rescue them and hopes “the Justice of this...
40To Thomas Jefferson from Lister Asquith, 21 April 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Expecting of your arrival from England, have taken the Liberty of writing to you, as we have not any likeness of our being at Liberty. Having wrote to you, the Letter of my submission, 20th. March, I wrote also to Mr. Short 10th. Ultm. but have not received any Answers; the Captain General came here the 4th. Inst., to demand, if we intended to pay him all the Expences, that they had been at...
41To Thomas Jefferson from Lister Asquith, 5 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
St. Pol de Léon, 5 Dec. 1785 . Acknowledges TJ’s “kind and most exceptionable Letter.” He is relieved to know TJ has received the necessary papers and finds only two errors in TJ’s statement of his case: “1st. The Register which was taken out by Capt. Charles Harrison (when I was sick) unknown to me for 21 Tons (as he inform’d me, to save port charges), but he did not own any part of her. 2nd....
42To Thomas Jefferson from Lister Asquith, 14 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
St. Pol de Léon, 14 Nov. 1785 . Asquith has heard nothing from TJ since his letter of 12 Oct., but he encloses a letter from Picrel informing him that the case is to be settled at Paris. Diot says he has written TJ of this and thinks, since the arrangements were made in Brest, that Desbordes could give Asquith more information than he. At the advice of the judge of the admiralty, Asquith this...
43To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Bancroft, 13 February 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I some months since took the Liberty of writing you a Letter respecting the situation Mr. Paradise and a Claim of his on the State of Virginia: I was at that time apprehensive, that any partial favour or justice could not properly be shewn to him, or any individual; and yet my feelings were then so much affected by what I knew, and by what he had just represented to me of his difficulties,...
44To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Bancroft, 18 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Paradise who married one of the Daughters of the late Col. Ludwell of Virginia, and who is a Gentleman very justly esteemed for his integrity and benevolence of heart has requested me to Sollicit the favour of your Countenance and Assistance, in accellerating the payment of about one thousand Pounds, due to him upon the Securities of the State of Virginia, now in the Hands of his Steward...
45To Thomas Jefferson from John Banister, with a Note from Anne Blair Banister, 12 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Upon the receipt of your letter a few daies ago I applied immediately to Mr. Mark for a State of those affairs to which your enquiries are directed, and he promised as soon as he could go to Richmond and settle the interest of the Gentlemens Funds in the Loan to give me a full State of what is due from the publick to them; I know there is a fund appropriated to the Payment of foreign demands...
46To Thomas Jefferson from John Banister, 19 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your letter dated at Paris in June last, enclosing one from my Son, dated at Lyons, since which I have heard from neither you nor him, which fills me with unfavorable Presages as to his Health which was when he left us in a bad and dangerous State. May I hope Sir that you will take the trouble of informing me if any ill has happened to Jack, that has occasioned his...
47To Thomas Jefferson from John Banister, 2 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I am greatly obliged by your attention to Jack from whom I have had no letter since his arrival at Avignon. Our Post is so uncertain that I have not thought it prudent to risk any letters for France by that Conveyance to N. York, to go in the Packet, and this is the first ship that has Sailed from this Place for several Months. The inclosed are put under your Protection as I do not know how to...
48To Thomas Jefferson from John Banister, Jr., 5 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
It was not untill yesterday that I had the pleasure to recieve your favor of the ninth ulto. inclosing one from my Father. Permit me to thank you for your friendly solicitude concerning my health and at the same time to assure you that I shall not fail, in future, to write more frequently. I am still a valetudinarian; considerably incommoded by obstructions which are extreemly troublesom, and...
49To Thomas Jefferson from John Banister, Jr., 11 March 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
On my leaving Paris I promised to keep an account of the degrees of heat and cold to which this country is subject. Having omited bringing an instrument with me I had one made here but found it so illy graduated that I discontinued taking notes. I have however procured a copy of those keept by a gentleman the last year; they are the most perfect of any I can get and I have great pleasure in...
50Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 10 April 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The day before yesterday Mr. Carmichael received letters from Algiers, from Mr. Lamb dated the 29th. of last month, and from Mr. Randal the 26th. which I think a wrong date with a postscript from on Board a Vessel in the Bay of Alicant of the 1st. Inst. after a Passage of 26 Hours. He Cannot Come on Shore without a permission from Court to shorten his Quarantine, which Mr. Carmichael has...