From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 23 October 1786
To John Adams
Paris Octr. 23d. 1786
Dear Sir
Your favor of Sept. the 11th. came to hand in due time and since that I have recieved the copies of the Prussian treaty you were so kind as to send me. I have recieved a short letter from Mr. Barclay dated Cadiz Septr. 25th. only announcing his arrival there and that he should proceed immediately to Madrid. At this latter place he would meet my letter informing him that we did not propose any thing further with the Piratical states at this time. The inclosed extract of a letter from Mr. Carmichael also mentions Mr. Barclay’s arrival at Cadiz. A letter from Mr. Carmichael some time ago informed me that a bill had been drawn on him by Mrs. Lamb in America, by order as she said of Mr. Lamb; This gentleman not proposing to proceed either to New-York, London, or Paris to settle his accounts, I desired Mr. Carmichael, if any money remained yet in the hands of Mr. Lamb’s banker at Madrid, to obstruct it’s going out until he could give us information. His answer was that it was all withdrawn by Mr. Lamb. By some means or other I omitted to mention these circumstances to you at the time. I mention them now to explain the reasons of Mr. Carmichael’s touching on that subject in the inclosed. We may now hourly expect from Mr. Barclay a copy of the preliminary treaty with Morocco. Is it your opinion that the definitive one should be executed through his agency, or that of Colo. Franks or of any other person? I beg you to present my most friendly respects to Mrs. Adams and to be assured yourself of the esteem and attachment with which I have the honor to be Sir, your most obedient humble Servant,
Th: Jefferson
RC (MHi: AMT); in Short’s hand, including signature; at foot of text: “(Test W Short Sec)”; addressed and endorsed. PrC (DLC). Enclosure (MHi: AMT): Extract of Carmichael to TJ, 3 Oct. 1786, q.v., note 1.
Letter from Mr. Barclay … Septr. 25th: An error for 26 Sep., under which date the letter is printed above. the definitive one: The definitive treaty, at least so far as Morocco was concerned, had already been concluded; see notes to Treaty with Morocco, printed immediately following Barclay to the Commissioners, 2 Oct. 1786. When TJ found that no addition could be made to the “book” to which the Emperor of Morocco had set his seal, and that Barclay had transmitted three copies of the English translation of the treaty, he attached a preamble and conclusion to one copy, which he and Adams then signed and transmitted to Congress even though it could not be regarded as an original in the usual sense.