us. Why should people, who have so much more territory than they know what to do with, be so solicitous to acquire more? The moneys due by the United States to subjects of France have given occasion to applications by M. de Marbois, and to reports on them by the Board of Treasury, which are now under the consideration of Congress. You, my dear sir, are not unacquainted with the state of our finances, nor with the difficulties resulting from the inefficiency of our Federal Government. Time and more experience must and will cure these evils; when or how is less certain, and can only be conjectured. I had the honor last summer of writing a letter to the Marchioness, in answer to one she was so obliging as to favor me with. Did it ever come to hand? Mrs. Jay writes to her by this conveyance. We and many others are pleased with the expectation of seeing you both here, and with the opportunity we shall then have of personally assuring you of our esteem and attachment. I am, dear sir, &c., JOHN JAY. FROM THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE TO JOHN JAY. Paris, October 28, 1786. Sir, Owing to several circumstances, and particularly to a journey I have made through some garrison towns, your favor of June 16th has reached me very lately. That there should remain the least doubt with M. Gardoqui, respecting the adoption of the English limits, is a matter of amazement to me. The original letter having been sent, I herewith enclose a copy with a few observations. I think its presentation to M. Gardoqui will the better convince him, as he knows Count de Florida Blanca's respect for his own word of honor. And may I be allowed to add that the more this letter is known, the better it will impress the public with ideas favorable to the Spaniards; and the Spaniards with a sense of engagements which men of honor cannot trifle with. As to the navigation of the Mississippi, you know better than I what are the strong prejudices of that Court against it. But we both know equally well that in a little time we must have the navigation one way or other, which I hope Spain may at last understand. It has been said in some newspapers that the Floridas should be given up to France. But nothing has come to our knowledge which gives the least ground for an idea of that kind. As Mr. Jefferson sends you a letter relative to commerce, which improves the condition of the treaty with England, whereby she has no claims on the favors enjoyed by the United States, although she is to be treated like the other most favored nations, and as M. Dumas is writing on Dutch affairs, I will only beg leave to inform you that the appointment of the convention has had already a good effect in Europe, and that great benefit will be derived on this side of the water also from the commercial and Federal measures, which it is my happiness to hear are now under consideration. Although there may be a diversity of opinions, whether a peace must be purchased at any rate from the Barbary Powers, or a war must be carried on against them until they come to proper terms, there can in no mind be any doubt about the advantages of a third measure, which is a confederacy of six or seven powers, each of them giving a small quota, and the reunion of which would ensure a constant and sufficient number of cruisers against those pirates, and after they are brought to terms, would guard against the breaking of a peace which the Powers would mutually guaranty to each other. Portugal, Tuscany, Naples, Venice, and Genoa, are now at war with those regencies. I would like at the same time to have the armament so managed as to use American flour, fish, and naval stores. This plan is not as yet very well digested in my head, but I beg leave to submit to Congress the propriety of empowering their Ministers to stipulate for such an arrangement. I have the honor to be, &c., LA FAYETTE. P. S. In case Congress have no particular orders for me, (if they had I should be most happy to wait on them, either as a soldier in their armies, or in any other manner,) I may, perhaps, accept the invitation of the Empress of Russia, to be presented to her next spring in her new dominions of the Crimea, which excite my curiosity. Should any thing turn out that may employ me as a servant of the United States, I hope they know my zeal. FROM JOHN JAY TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE. Sir, New York, February 16, 1787. Congress being again convened, I have communicated to them the letter you did me the honor to write on the 28th October last. The paper it enclosed had been laid before M. Gardoqui, and made known to his Court; but it seems the Count de Florida Blanca does not consider it in the same point of light that we do, viz: as a conclusive approbation of, and consent to, the limits fixed by our treaty with Britain. On the contrary, he extends the claims of Spain higher up the river. That and the navigation of the river present serious points of opposition between us. I think with you that Spain deviates from the line of true policy respecting those objects; but in this, as in other cases, it is often more easy to perceive errors than to correct them. You have heard long before this that the convention you allude to miscarried. Another is now in contemplation, and some of the States have delegated distinguished characters to represent them at it. Whether all or how many of the States will adopt that measure is uncertain, the people being divided in sentiment respecting the expediency of it. Our frontiers yet enjoy peace, but whether owing to the season of the year, or to the pacific disposition of the Indians, is problematical. The insurrection in Massachusetts appears to be suppressed; but time only can discover whether that suppression is radical or temporary. The public papers, herewith enclosed, will give you the details. What plan or system Congress will adopt relative to the hostile Barbary States is not yet decided. The one you suggest has advantages. The great question, I think, is whether we shall wage war or pay tribute? I, for my part, prefer war, and consequently am ready for every proper plan of uniting and multiplying their enemies. Mrs. Jay joins with me in requesting the favor of you to present our compliments and best wishes to the Marchioness. I have the honor to be, &c., JOHN JAY. FROM THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE TO JOHN JAY. Sir, Paris, February 7, 1787. This letter goes in the first packet from Havre, a change advantageous both to passengers and correspondents, and through the hands of Colonel Franks, whose good conduct at Morocco has entitled him to a share of that respect which has been deservedly paid to the American Embassy. Mr. Barclay's refusal of the presents has been a matter of wonder to every African, and I dare say to some Europeans, whose accounts do full justice to him. To Mr. Jefferson's despatches I refer for useful intelligence. The affairs of Holland do not make a progress towards conciliation. It seems that the King of Prussia will not find himself the better for counteracting, in many points, the line of conduct of his deceased uncle. A treaty of commerce is signed between France and Russia. The Empress has set out on her journey towards the Crimea. She had permitted my waiting on her; but I am detained by the assembly of Notables, an event not very common, neither expected, which does honor to the King and his Ministry, and will, I trust, be productive of public good. I have had the honor to send copies of my old correspondence with the Count de Florida Blanca. The enclosed one will supply any accident that may have befallen the others. We are told that the unhappy disturbances in New England have subsided. To us they do not appear so dangerous as to Europeans; but sufficiently so to give us a great deal of concern. May all Americans know the blessings of their own constitutions, and from comparison judge, that if they are to correct, it would be madness in them to destroy. I hope the convention at Philadelphia will answer the essential and urgent purposes of the Confederation, commerce, and the establishment of a uniform and republican militia. Each State has within itself the means fully sufficient to set right the opinions of mistaken citizens, and those means seem to me principally founded on the good sense, knowledge, and patriotic liberality of the people. Every wrong measure of theirs would hurt, not only the consequence of the United States; but also the cause of liberty in all parts of the world. With the most sincere regard and attachment, I have the honor to be, &c., LA FAYETTE. FROM THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE TO JOHN JAY. Paris, May 30, 1787. Sir, Had I been sooner acquainted with Mr. Forrest's departure 1 would have given you more particular accounts of the latter part of our session, but have only time to enclose the speeches that were made by the heads of the several departments. Not that such etiquette speeches are in any way interesting on the other side of the Atlantic, but because you will in the same book find that of the Archbishop of Toulouse, wherein he gives the King's answer to the several demands of the Bureau. You will see that if the madness and corruption of the late Administration have laid us under a necessity to acknowledge that, after all other means would be exhausted, taxes must be employed to fill up the vacancy, yet we have gained not a little by the convocation of the Assembly. A more equal repartition of taxes, including the clergy, who hitherto had escaped them, and the powerful ones among the noblesse, who were not very exact; Provincial Assemblies on an elective principle, which, by-the-by, are big with happy, very happy consequences, that will come to light as we go on; economy to the amount of forty millions, at least; the destruction of interior custom-houses; a modification of the Gabelle;* an annual publication of the account of the finances; the printing of all pensions, gifts, &c. ; more proper arrangements within some departments; and a more general instruction, habit of thinking on public affairs, &c., &c., are the good effects of this assembly, which, although it was not national since we were not representatives, behaved with great propriety and patriotism. On the last day of our session I had the happiness to carry two motions in my Bureau, which were, I may almost say, unanimously agreed to the one in favor of the Protestant citizens of France, the other for an examination of the laws, particularly the criminal ones. Enclosed is the resolve framed by the Bureau, which Count D'Artois, our President, presented to the King, and was graciously received. I was the more pleased with it, as some step of the kind with respect to the Protestants, which had been tried in the Parliament of Paris, * Imposts. |