Circular to the States, 27 July 1787
Circular to the States
New York Office for foreign Affairs 27th. July 1787
Sir
I have the Honor of transmitting to your Excellency herewith enclosed, a Copy of the Signals agreed upon between the United States and the Emperor of Morocco, by which their respective Vessels are to be known to each other at Sea.1 The Design, Sir, of sending you this Paper is, that such american masters of Vessels2 as may make Voyages from your Commonwealth, in the Course of which they may expect to meet with Cruisers from Morocco, may be supplied with Copies. I have the Honor to be with great Respect Your Excellency’s Most obt. and hble. Servt.
John Jay
His Excellency the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia
[Enclosure]
The following Signals are agreed upon between Commodore Rais Farache on the part of his Majesty the Emperor of Morocco, and the Honble Thomas Barclay Esqr. Agent for the United States of America on their part, to the End that the Vessels of both Parties may be known to each other at Sea.
For Vessels of two or of three Masts.
In the Day, a blue Pendant is to be hoisted on the End of the Main Yard—and in the Night, a Lantern is to be hoisted on the same place.
For Vessels of ^one^ Mast only
In the Day, a blue Pendant is to be hoisted at the Mast Head—and in the Night a Lantern is to be hoisted on the Ensign Staff.
Done at Morocco the Ninth Day of the month of Ramadan in the Year one thousand two hundred.
Rais Farache (signed) Thomas Barclay
LS, with enclosure, Vi (EJ: 2669). Marked: “(Circular)”. Endorsed: “Morocco Signals / Done August 15. 87.” LS, with enclosure, to the Governor of New Jersey, MHi: Livingston (EJ: 4732); LS, with enclosure, to Governor of Rhode Island, RPB (EJ: 5274); LbkC, to George Clinton, without enclosure, , 3: 265 (EJ: 2157).
1. Congress directed JJ on 23 July 1787 to send the signals to the governors of all the states. 33: 396–97.
2. For a request for clarification as to whether this phrasing applied to all American-owned vessels, whether or not the master was an American citizen, see the Governor of Virginia (Edmund Randolph) to JJ, 5 Dec. 1787, below.