Thomas Jefferson Papers

Jacob Wagner to Thomas Jefferson, 17 September 1805

From Jacob Wagner

Department of State. 17 Septr. 1805.

Sir

By the Frigate President, Capt. Barron, which is now in the River, with about 100 of the late prisoners at Tripoli on board, dispatches from Mr. Lear with the Treaty have been received. I have the honor to enclose copies of the most important of the former and also of the leading articles of the latter. A letter from Mr. Pinckney dated 24 July mentions that Mr. Bowdoin had gone to England. Mr. Young set out for Madrid from Cadiz on the 16 of the same month, after which Mr. Pinckney would probably be ready to leave Spain. Capt. Bainbridge is expected to arrive this evening.

I have the honor to remain with the highest respect, Sir, Your most obed. servt.

Jacob Wagner

RC (DLC); at foot of text: “The President of the U. States”; endorsed by TJ as received 21 Sep. and “Tripoline affairs” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosures not identified, but see below.

The frigate President arrived at Hampton Roads, Virginia, on 10 Sep. (NDBW description begins Dudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers, Washington, D.C., 1939-44, 6 vols. and Register of Officer Personnel and Ships’ Data, 1801-1807, Washington, D.C., 1945 description ends , 6:275-6).

the most important: on 5 July, Tobias Lear wrote Madison detailing his negotiations with Tripoli and forwarding the proposed peace treaty and copies of relevant correspondence (Madison, Papers, Sec. of State Ser. description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, J. C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, Chicago and Charlottesville, 1962– : Sec. of State Ser., Pres. Ser., Ret. Ser. description ends , 10:14-22).

set out for Madrid: on 4 Sep., Pinckney wrote Madison to inform him of his intention to set out for Lisbon and that Moses Young would assume his duties. Wagner was likely informed of the consul’s movements in a letter sent by Young and calendared by the State Department, but not found (same, 145-6, 296-7).

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