From John Montgomery to John Adams, 22 April 1794
From John Montgomery
Alicante 22d April 1794
Sir
My Brother Robt in his respects of the1 had the honour of returning his most greatfull acknowledgments for your kind support of obtaining for him the Consulship of this district and as he on every occation transmits to the Secretary of State such informations as may be usefull to Goverment I have suspended my pen from trobling your Excellency With any letters on Political matters—
The Port of Barcelona being Within this district according to my Brothers Commission he has appointed me his Agent and Vice Consul there Untill the further pleasure of Congress is known on that subject
Its extensive trade and local situation With respect to Algiers required a Man of intelligence and known integrity in order both to represent our Country With the dignity it merits and to Watch the motions of the Algerins and transmit to Goverment and to our Fleets and Cruzers every need full information respecting those Pirates.— But as a Vice Consul in a place of the Magnitude of Barcelona labour Under many dificualties that a Consul is not exposed to I must beg leave to request that your Excellency Will have the goodness to recommd to His Excellency The President the memorial I have transmitted the Secretary of State Under this date praying the Consulship of the above place—
I shall be happy at All times in being honoured With your Command and Wishing you every happiness I have the Honour to be / Sir / Your Excellencys / Obt Humbl Servt
John Montgomery
By official advices we are possitively informed that the Portuguse have again declared War against the Algerins and that the Truce no longer exists and the Dutch have made peace With them pirates2
RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “His Excellency John Adams / Vice President of US / Philadelphia Boston”; internal address: “To His Excellency Vice President / of the United States”; docketed by JA: “Montgomery / April 22d. / 1794.”; Dupl (Adams Papers).
1. Blank in MS. This was Robert Montgomery’s 19 Oct. 1793 letter, above.
2. Largely engineered by a British ministry that hoped to fight France with Portuguese naval power on its side, a 12 Sept. 1793 truce briefly mended the rift between Portugal and Algiers. Mutual depredations against shipping resumed after Portugal balked at the $2.4 million cost of the agreement, later repudiating the truce and implementing a blockade in November (, 15:161; , 27:197).