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CORRESPONDENCE

OF

THOMAS JEFFERSON,

ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS

FOR THE FORMATION OF

TREATIES OF AMITY AND COMMERCE, AND MIN

ISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY TO FRANCE,

WITH

THE ANSWERS OF JOHN JAY,

SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

VOL. I.-39

609

CORRESPONDENCE.

Sir,

FROM JOHN JAY TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

New York, March 15, 1785.

I have the honor of transmitting to you, herewith enclosed, an extract from the Journal of Congress, respecting your appointment to represent the United States at the Court of Versailles as their Minister. On which be pleased to accept my sincere congratula

tions.

The next packet will bring you a letter of credence, and such other papers as this appointment may, in the opinion of Congress, render proper.

Mr. Randall, who is the bearer of this, has also in charge a packet of newspapers, directed to Mr. Adams, Doctor Franklin, and yourself.

I have the honor to be, &c.,

JOHN JAY.

FROM JOHN JAY TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Office for Foreign Affairs, March 22, 1785.

Sir,

The packet being still here, I have the honor of transmitting to you, herewith enclosed, your commission and letter of credence.

Mr. Randall, who goes as a passenger in the packet, has my other

letters, and will be the bearer of this. him to your attention.

I have the honor to be, &c.,

Permit me to recommend

JOHN JAY.

Extract from the Secret Journal of Congress, March 22, 1785.

The Secretary for Foreign Affairs reported the following Commission to Mr. Jefferson, to which the seal was affixed:

"The United States of America in Congress assembled, to our trusty and well-beloved Thomas Jefferson, Esq., send greeting:

66

We, reposing special trust and confidence in your integrity, 'prudence, and ability, have nominated, constituted, and appointed, and by these presents do nominate, constitute, and appoint, you, the 'said Thomas Jefferson, our Minister Plenipotentiary to reside at the Court of his most Christian Majesty, and do give you full power and authority there to represent and to do and perform all such matters ' and things as to the said place or office doth appertain, or as may by our instructions be given unto you in charge. This commission 'to continue in force for the space of three years from this day, 'unless sooner revoked.

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"In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of the United 'States to be hereunto affixed. Witness his Excellency Richard

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Henry Lee, President, at the city of New York, this tenth

day of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, and of our sovereignty and independence the ninth.

"RICHARD HENRY LEE.

"Attest: CHARLES THOMSON."

Sir,

FROM JOHN JAY TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Office for Foreign Affairs, April 15, 1785.

Mr. Randall, who sailed in the last French packet, was charged with despatches for you and other Ministers. Among them were your commission, &c., to succeed Dr. Franklin at the Court of Versailles.

The probability of your now being in England renders it less necessary and perhaps expedient that I should not go into minute details, especially as this letter would in that case pass through the British Post Office.

I enclose a "statement of the duties payable by vessels of the 'United States in the ports of Marseilles, Bayonne, L'Orient, and 'Dunkirk." You may find it useful on several occasions.

Two of the Commissioners lately appointed for the Treasury, viz : Mr. Osgood and Mr. Walter Livingston, have accepted and proceeded to business. The third, viz: Mr. Gervais, of South Carolina, having declined, another will soon be elected to supply his place. So we may hope soon to see the affairs of that department arranged and regulated.

The making adequate provision for our debts, and other exigencies of Government, has been too long delayed, and still meets with obstacles. An opinion of the necessity of it however gains ground, and I flatter myself will eventually become general and operative. I have the honor to be, &c.,

JOHN JAY.

FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, May 11, 1785.

Sir,

I was honored, on the 2d instant, with the receipt of your favor of March 15th, enclosing the resolution of Congress of the 10th of the same month, appointing me their Minister Plenipotentiary at this Court; and also of your second letter, of March 22d, covering the commission and letter of credence for that appointment.

I beg permission, through you, sir, to testify to Congress my gratitude for this new mark of their favor, and my assurances of endeavoring to merit by a faithful discharge of the duties annexed to it.

Fervent zeal is all which I can be sure of carrying into their service, and where I fail through a want of those powers which nature and circumstances deny me, I shall rely on their indulgence, and much also on the candor with which your goodness will present my proceedings to their eye. The kind terms in which you are

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