June last, to give me leave of absence for some time from the court of
France, and to appoint Mr. William Short _chargé des affaires_ for the
United States during my absence, and having since thought proper to call
me to the office of Secretary of State, comprehending that of Foreign
Affairs, I have now the honor of requesting you to give credence to
whatever Mr. Short shall say to you on my part. He knows the interest
which our republic takes in the prosperity of France, our strong desire
to cultivate its friendship, and my zeal to promote it by whatever may
depend on my ministry, and I have no doubt he will so conduct himself as
to merit your confidence. I avail myself of this occasion of tendering
you assurances of the sentiments of respect and esteem, with which I
have the honor to be your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble
servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER XXIV.--TO WILLIAM SHORT, April 6, 1790
TO WILLIAM SHORT.
New York, April 6, 1790.
Sir,
My last to you was of March the 28th. Since that, yours of the 2nd and
6th of January have come to hand, together with the ratification of the
consular convention.
I send you herewith a letter from the President to the King, notifying
my recall, with a letter of leave to Monsieur de Montmorin, and another
of credence for you to the same, all of which you will be pleased to
deliver to him. Copies of them are enclosed for your information.
We are extremely mortified at the prospect there is, that the act of
justice and gratitude to the court of France, which Congress, in the
first moment it ever was in their power, have been, and still are
preparing, may arrive too late, to save that court from the necessity of
parting with our debt to a disadvantage. The Secretary of the Treasury,
having by order of Congress reported a plan for funding both our foreign
and domestic debts, they thought it necessary, by a re-commitment, to
subject that part of it which concerned the domestic debt, to maturer
discussion. But the clause ‘for making such adequate provision for
fulfilling our engagements in respect to our foreign debt,’ was not
re-committed, because not susceptible of any abridgment or modification.
On the contrary, it was passed without a dissenting voice, and only
waits till the residue of that system of which it makes a part, can
be digested and put into the form of a law. I send you a copy of the
resolution, to be communicated to Monsieur de Montmorin and Monsieur
Necker, and anxiously wish it may arrive in time to prevent a
disadvantageous alienation, by satisfying these ministers that we are
exerting ourselves to repay to that country, in her hour of difficulty,
what she generously advanced for us, in ours.
You may remember, I purchased some officer’s fusils, had them packed in
my presence, and sent with my own baggage to Havre. When they arrived
here, the plates and other principal parts of the locks were no longer
in the box. It is necessary, therefore, that the workman send you six
new locks, which may be applied to the stocks and barrels we have, and
that you be so good as to forward these by the first safe conveyance.
Press the negotiation for our captives, in the line and on the terms I
had fixed, not binding us further without further advice, and be pleased
to apprize us of its present situation and future progress, as being a
subject we have at heart.
The Leyden gazettes furnishing so good information of the interesting
scenes now passing in Europe, I must ask your particular attention to
the forwarding them as frequently as it is possible to find conveyances.
The English papers bring their lies very fresh, and it is very desirable
to be provided with an authentic contradiction in the first moment.
You will receive, herewith, the newspapers and other interesting papers,
as usual.
I have the honor to be, with the most perfect esteem, Sir, your most
obedient and most humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER XXV.--TO THE COUNT DE FLORIDA BLANCA, April 11, 1790
TO THE COUNT DE FLORIDA BLANCA.
New York, April 11, 1790.
Sir,
The President of the United States having thought proper to name Mr.
William Carmichael their _chargé des affaires_, near his Catholic
Majesty, I have now the honor of announcing the same to your Excellency,
and of praying you to give credence to whatever he shall say to you on
my part. He knows the concern our republic takes in the interest and
prosperity of Spain, our strong desire to cultivate its friendship, and
to deserve it by all the good offices which esteem and neighborhood may
dictate; he knows also my zeal to promote these by whatever may depend
on my ministry. I have no doubt that Mr. Carmichael will so conduct
himself as to merit your confidence; and I avail myself with pleasure
of this occasion of tendering to you assurances of those sentiments of
respect and esteem, with which I have the honor to be, your Excellency’s
most obedient and most humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER XXVI.--TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, April 11, 1789
TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.
New York, April 11, 1789.
Sir,
A vessel being about sail from this port for Cadiz, I avail myself of it
to inform you, that under the appointment of the President of the
United States, I have entered on the duties of Secretary of State,
comprehending the department of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Jay’s letter of
October the 2nd acknowledged the receipt of the last of yours which
have come to hand. Since that date he wrote you on the 7th of December,
enclosing a letter for Mr. Chiappe.
The receipt of his letter of September the 9 th, 1788, having never been
acknowledged, the contents of which were important and an answer wished
for, I send you herewith a duplicate, lest it should have miscarried.
You will also receive, herewith, a letter of credence for yourself, to
be delivered to the Count de Florida Blanca, after putting thereon the
proper address, with which I am unacquainted. A copy of it is enclosed
for your information.
I beg leave to recommend the case of Don Blas Gonzalez to your good
offices with the court of Spain, enclosing you the documents necessary
for its illustration. You will perceive, that two vessels were sent
from Boston in the year 1787, on a voyage of discovery and commercial
experiment in general, but more particularly to try a fur-trade with the
Russian settlements, on the northwest coast of our continent, of which
such wonders have been published in Captain Cook’s voyages, that it
excited similar expeditions from other countries also; and that the
American vessels were expressly forbidden to touch at any Spanish port,
but in cases of extreme distress. Accordingly, through the whole of
their voyage through the extensive latitudes held by that crown, they
never put into any port but in a single instance. In passing near the
island of Juan Fernandez, one of them was damaged by a storm, her rudder
broken, her mast disabled, and herself separated from her companion. She
put into the island to refit, and at the same time, to wood and water,
of which she began to be in want. Don Blas Gonzalez, after examining
her, and finding she had nothing on board but provisions and charts, and
that her distress was real, permitted her to stay a few days, to refit
and take in fresh supplies of wood and water. For this act of common
hospitality, he was immediately deprived of his government, unheard, by
superior order, and remains still under disgrace. We pretend not to
know the regulations of the Spanish government, as to the admission
of foreign vessels into the ports of their colonies; but the generous
character of the nation is a security to us, that their regulations can,
in no instance, run counter to the laws of nature; and among the first
of her laws, is that which bids us to succor those in distress. For an
obedience to this law, Don Blas appears to have suffered; and we are
satisfied, it is because his case has not been able to penetrate to his
Majesty’s ministers, at least, in its true colors. We would not choose
to be committed by a formal solicitation, but we would wish you to avail
yourself of any good opportunity of introducing the truth to the ear of
the minister, and of satisfying him, that a redress of this hardship on
the Governor would be received here with pleasure, as a proof of respect
to those laws of hospitality which we would certainly observe in a like
case, as a mark of attention towards us, and of justice to an individual
for whose sufferings we cannot but feel.
With the present letter, you will receive the public and other papers as
usual, and I shall thank you in return, for a regular communication of
the best gazettes published in Madrid.
I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem, Sir,
your most obedient and most humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER XXVII.--TO MR. GRAND, April 23, 1790
TO MR. GRAND.
New York, April 23, 1790.
Dear Sir,
You may remember that we were together at the Hôtel de la Monnoye, to
see Mr. Drost strike coins in his new manner, and that you were so kind
as to speak with him afterwards on the subject of his coming to America.
We are now in a condition to establish a mint, and should be desirous
of engaging him in it. I suppose him to be at present in the service
of Watt and Bolton, the latter of whom you may remember to have been
present with us at the Monnoye. I know no means of communicating our
dispositions to Drost so effectually as through your friendly agency,
and therefore take the liberty of asking you to write to him, to know
what emoluments he receives from Watts and Bolton, and whether he would
be willing to come to us for the same? If he will, you may give him an
expectation, but without an absolute engagement, that we will call for
him immediately, and that with himself, we may probably take and pay him
for all the implements of coinage he may have, suited to our purpose. If
he asks higher terms, he will naturally tell you so, and what they are;
and we must reserve a right to consider of them. In either case, I will
ask your answer as soon as possible. I need not observe to you, that
this negotiation should be known to nobody but yourself, Drost, and Mr.
Short. The good old Dr. Franklin, so long the ornament of our country,
and, I may say, of the world, has at length closed his eminent career.
He died on the 17th instant, of an imposthume of his lungs, which having
suppurated and burst, he had not strength to throw off the matter, and
was suffocated by it. His illness from this imposthume was of sixteen
days. Congress wear mourning for him, by a resolve of their body.
I beg you to present my friendly respects to Madame Grand, the elder and
younger, and to your son, and believe me to be, with sentiments of great
esteem and attachment, Dear Sir, your most obedient and most humble
servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER XXVIII.--TO THE MARQUIS DE LA LUZERNE, April 30,1790
TO THE MARQUIS DE LA LUZERNE.
New York, April 30,1790.
Sir,
When in the course of your legation to the United States, your affairs
rendered it necessary that you should absent yourself a while from that
station, we flattered ourselves with the hope that that absence was not
final. It turned out, in event, that the interests of your sovereign
called for your talents and the exercise of your functions, in another
quarter. You were pleased to announce this to the former Congress
through their Secretary for Foreign Affairs, at a time when, that body
was closing its administration, in order to hand it over to a government
then preparing on a different model. This government is now formed,
organized, and in action; and it considers among its earliest duties,
and assuredly among its most cordial, to testify to you the regret which
the people and government of the United States felt at your removal from
among them; a very general and sincere regret, and tempered only by the
consolation of your personal advancement, which accompanied it. You will
receive, Sir, by order of the President of the United States, as soon
as they can be prepared, a medal and chain of gold, of which he desires
your acceptance, in token of their esteem, and of the sensibility with
which they will ever recall your legation to their memory.
But as this compliment may hereafter be rendered to other missions, from
which yours was distinguished by eminent circumstances, the President
of the United States wishes to pay you the distinguished tribute of an
express acknowledgment of your services, and our sense of them. You came
to us, Sir, through all the perils which encompassed us on all sides.
You found us struggling and suffering under difficulties, as singular
and trying as our situation was new and unprecedented. Your magnanimous
nation had taken side with us in the conflict, and yourself became
the centre of our common councils, the link which connected our common
operations. In that position you labored without ceasing, till all our
labors were crowned with glory to your nation, freedom to ours, and
benefit to both. During the whole, we had constant evidence of your
zeal, your abilities, and your good faith. We desire to convey this
testimony of it home to your own breast, and to that of your sovereign,
our best and greatest friend; and this I do, Sir, in the name, and by
the express instruction of the President of the United States.
I feel how flattering it is to me, Sir, to be the organ of the public
sense on this occasion, and to be justified, by that office, in adding
to theirs, the homage of those sentiments of respect and esteem, with
which I have the honor to be your Excellency’s most obedient and most
humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER XXIX.--TO WILLIAM SHORT, April 30, 1790
TO WILLIAM SHORT.
New York, April 30, 1790.
Dear Sir,
My last letter to you was of the 6th instant, acknowledging the receipt
of your favors of the 2nd and 6th of January. Since that, Mr. Jay has
put into my hands yours of the 12th of January, and I have received your
note of February the 10th, accompanying some newspapers.
Mine of the 6th covered the President’s letter to the King for my
recall, and my letters of leave for myself and of credence to you,
for the Count de Montmorin, with copies of them for your information.
Duplicates of all these accompany the present; and an original
commission for you as _chargé des affaires_, signed by the President.
At the date of my former letters, I had not had time to examine with
minuteness the proper form of credentials under our new constitution: I
governed myself, therefore, by foreign precedents, according to which a
_chargé des affaires_ is furnished with only a letter of credence from
one minister of Foreign Affairs to the other. Further researches have
shown me, that under our new constitution, all commissions (or papers
amounting to that) must be signed by the President. You will judge
whether any explanation on this subject to M. de Montmorin be necessary.
I enclose you also the copy of a letter written to the Marquis de la
Luzerne, to be communicated to the Count de Montmorin, and by him to the
King, if he thinks proper.
It has become necessary to determine on a present proper to be given to
diplomatic characters on their taking leave of us; and it is concluded
that a medal and chain of gold will be the most convenient. I have,
therefore, to ask the favor of you to order the dies to be engraved with
all the despatch practicable.
The medal must be of thirty lines diameter, with a loop on the edge to
receive the chain. On one side, must be the arms of the United States,
of which I send you a written description, and several impressions in
wax to render that more intelligible; round them, as a legend, must be
‘The United States of America.’ The device of the other side we do not
decide on. One suggestion has been a Columbia (a fine female figure),
delivering the emblems of peace and commerce to a Mercury, with a legend
‘Peace and Commerce’ circumscribed, and the date of our republic, to
wit, IV July ‘MDCCLXXVI,’ subscribed as an exergum: but having little
confidence in our own ideas in an art not familiar here, they are only
suggested to you, to be altered, or altogether postponed to such better
device as you may approve, on consulting with those who are in the habit
and study of medals. Duvivier and Dupre seem to be the best workmen;
perhaps the last is the best of the two.
The public papers, which accompany this, will give you fully the news of
this quarter.
I am with great and sincere esteem, Dear Sir, your most obedient and
most humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER XXX.--TO MR. DUMAS, June 23, 1790
TO MR. DUMAS.
New York, June 23, 1790.
Dear Sir,
I arrived at this place the letter[sp.] end of March, and undertook
the office to which the President had been pleased to appoint me, of
Secretary of State, which comprehends that of Foreign Affairs. Before I
had got through the most pressing matters which had been accumulating, a
long illness came upon me, and put it out of my power for many weeks to
acknowledge the receipt of your letters.
*****
We are much pleased to learn the credit of our paper at Amsterdam. We
consider it as of the first importance, to possess the first credit
there, and to use it little. Our distance from the wars of Europe, and
our disposition to take no part in them, will, we hope, enable us to
keep clear of the debts which they occasion to other powers. It will be
well for yourself and our bankers, to keep in mind always, that a great
distinction is made here, between our foreign and domestic paper. As to
the foreign, Congress is considered as the representative of one party
only, and I think I can say with truth, that there is not one single
individual in the United States, either in or out of office, who
supposes they can ever do any thing which might impair their foreign
contracts. But with respect to domestic paper, it is thought that
Congress, being the representative of both parties, may shape their
contracts so as to render them practicable, only seeing that substantial
justice be done. This distinction will explain to you their proceedings
on the subject of their debts. The funding their foreign debts,
according to express contract, passed without a debate and without a
dissenting voice. The modeling and funding the domestic debt occasions
great debates and great difficulty. The bill of ways and means was
lately thrown out, because an excise was interwoven into its texture;
and another ordered to be brought in, which will be clear of that. The
assumption of the debts contracted by the States to individuals,
for services rendered the Union, is a measure which divides Congress
greatly. Some think that the States could much more conveniently levy
taxes themselves to pay off these, and thus save Congress from the odium
of imposing too heavy burthens in their name. This appears to have
been the sentiment of the majority hitherto. But it is possible that
modifications may be proposed, which may bring the measure yet into an
acceptable form. We shall receive with gratitude the copy of Rymer’s
Foedera, which you are so good as to propose for the use of our offices
here.
I have the honor to be, with great esteem, Dear Sir, your most obedient
and most humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER XXXI.--TO MR. DUMAS, July 13,1790
TO MR. DUMAS.
New York, July 13,1790.
Sir,
I wrote you last on the 23rd of June, since which I have received yours
of March the 24th to the 30th.
*****
Congress are still engaged in their funding bills. The foreign debts did
not admit of any difference of opinion. They were settled by a single
and unanimous vote: but the domestic debt requiring modifications and
settlements, these produce great difference of opinion, and consequently
retard the passage of the funding bill. The States had individually
contracted considerable debts for their particular defence, in addition
to what was done by Congress. Some of the States have so exerted
themselves since the war, as to have paid off near the half of their
individual debts. Others have done nothing. The State creditors urge,
that these debts were as much for general purposes as those contracted
by Congress, and insist that Congress shall assume and pay such of
them as have not been yet paid by their own States. The States who have
exerted themselves most, find, that notwithstanding the great payments
they have made, they shall by this assumption, still have nearly as much
to pay as if they had never paid any thing. They are therfore opposed
to it. I am in hopes a compromise will be effected by a proportional
assumption, which may reach a great part of the debts, and leave still
a part of them to be paid by those States who have paid few or none
of their creditors. This being once settled, Congress will probably
adjourn, and meet again in December, at Philadelphia. The appearance of
war between our two neighbors, Spain and England, would render a longer
adjournment inexpedient.
I have the honor to be, with great esteem, Dear Sir, your most obedient
and most humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER XXXII--TO WILLIAM SHORT, July 26, 1790
TO WILLIAM SHORT.
New York, July 26, 1790.
Dear Sir,
My public letters to you have been of the 28th of March, the 6th and
30th of April. Yours, which remain to be acknowledged, are of March the
9th, 17th, 29th, April the 4th, 12th, 23rd, and May the 1st; being from
No. 21 to 28, inclusive, except No. 23, which had come to hand before. I
will state to you the dates of all your letters received by me, with the
times they have been received, and length of their passage.
*****
You will perceive that they average eleven weeks and a half; that the
quickest are of nine weeks, and the longest are of near eighteen weeks
coming. Our information through the English papers is of about five
or six weeks, and we generally remain as long afterwards in anxious
suspense, till the receipt of your letters may enable us to decide what
articles of those papers have been true. As these come principally
by the English packet, I will take the liberty of asking you to write
always by that packet, giving a full detail of such events as may be
communicated through that channel; and indeed most may. If your letters
leave Paris nine or ten days before the sailing of the packet, we shall
be able to decide, on the moment, on the facts true or false, with which
she comes charged. For communications of a secret nature, you will avail
yourself of other conveyances, and you will be enabled to judge
which are best, by the preceding statement. News from Europe is very
interesting at this moment, when it is so doubtful whether a war will
take place between our two neighbors.