merchants in spite of themselves. It is needless to observe, that the unsuccessful attempts of Spain and those under which the Republic of Venice, perhaps, hides other views, have increased the strength as well as the self-love of all the barbarians. We are assured that the Algerines have fitted out merchantmen with heavy cannon. This would render it necessary to blockade the place with two ships of the line, so that one of the two might remain moored near the bar, while the other might prepare to support such of the frigates as should give chase.

But their chebecs, even their frigates, and all their vessels, although overcharged with men, are moreover so badly armed and manoeuvred that assistance from without would be most to be feared.

Your Excellency has told me the only and true means of bringing to terms the only people who can take a pleasure in disturbing our commerce. You see I speak as an American citizen, this title dear to my heart, the value of which I fully prize, affords me the happy opportunity of offering still more particularly the homage, the sincere attachment and respect with which I have the honor to be, &c.,

ESTAING.

FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, May 27, 1786.

Sir,

In my letter of the 12th instant, which goes by the same packet, but was delivered to a private hand, I had the honor of enclosing to you letters from Mr. Carmichael, Mr. Barclay, and Mr. Lamb, on the Barbary affairs. Others came to hand last night, which are now copying, and will be enclosed to you by the post of this day as far as they can be copied. The whole cannot possibly be in readiness, and it is the last post which will be in time for the packet. By these you will see that Mr. Lamb is returned to Spain. I expect soon from Mr. Adams an answer to my letter proposing to instruct Mr. Lamb to repair to Congress.

The agreement supposed to be made between Spain and Algiers, that the latter shall make no peace with any nation not under treaty with the Porte, is difficult of explanation. Its existence, however,

may account for the difference of opinion between the Counts de Vergennes and D'Espilly as to the expediency of our treating with the Porte. If Mr. Adams concurs with me in opinion, we shall cease all further proceedings with the Barbary Powers till we receive further instructions from Congress except as to Morocco, which I have hopes we may better succeed in.

I have the honor to be, &c.,

TH: JEFFERSON.

FROM P. R. RANDALL TO JOHN ADAMS AND THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Madrid, May 14, 1786.

Since my arrival here from Carthagena I have been in constant expectation of a secure opportunity for forwarding the enclosed, being nearly the copy of a letter I wrote to my father shortly after my landing in Spain. It contains all the observations I have been enabled to make, by reason of the obstacles which (in my situation at Algiers) prevented particular inquiry. Indeed, I had not the most distant idea of remaining for so short a time; otherwise, perhaps, I might have afforded greater satisfaction in this respect.

I have not received any letters from Mr. Lamb since his arrival at Alicant, but have lately heard that he is released from quarantine. He may, therefore, be expected here every day, as he had informed Mr. Carmichael of his intention of coming up immediately.

I shall be governed by his orders, and endeavor still to evince that nothing on my part has been, or shall be, wanting to fulfil my duty; although I must hope that circumstances will be considered if my services have not been equal to the expectation formed of them. Haste, and the little opportunity I have had to prepare my observations, as well as the manner of writing in a crowd, I trust will plead my apology for delivering them in their present state, especially as my father might have communicated in New York the intelligence they contain. I have, therefore, conceived that alterations might be improper, as your Excellency will distinguish what is well founded, and may be enabled to judge what opinion might be formed of them in New York.

The Envoys from Portugal and Naples are still at Carthagena, awaiting the completion of the Spanish treaty.

This Court would undoubtedly have wished Mr. Lamb to remain in like manner, if his instructions could have justified the delay, before their interference could, consistent with their own interest, be employed in favor of the United States.

The Portuguese Envoy told me at Carthagena that he had no expectations of succeeding, and would rather see a confederacy formed against the Barbary States by those with whom they are at war. He appeared much dissatisfied at being so long delayed.

It would be presumption in me to offer any news, Mr. Carmichael being so much better enabled to afford information, and will write by the present occasion.

I am, with proper respect, &c.,

P. R. RANDALL.

FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, May 27, 1786.

Sir,

In my letter of January 2d I had the honor of stating to you what had passed here on the subject of the commerciable articles between this country and the United States. I beg leave now to resume that subject. I therein informed you that this Government had agreed to receive our fish-oils on the footing on which they receive those of the Hanseatic towns, which gave us a reduction of duty from 36liv. 15s. on the barrique, to 11liv. 5s., amounting to about 42liv. on the English ton, according to a statement by Monsieur Sangrain, enclosed in that letter. This was true. But there was another truth which neither that statement, nor any other evidence I then had, enabled me to discover, and which it is but lately I could be ascertained of; which is, that there is another duty called the droit des huiles et savons, to which the Hanse-Towns are subject, as we are also of consequence. This is of six deniers on the nett pound, and ten sous per livre on that, amounting to 3liv. 15s. on the nett hundred, French weight, or to 60liv. 13s. 6d. the English ton. This, with the reduced duty, makes about 102liv. 13s. 6d., or very nearly four guineas, according to the present exchange, on the English ton. Though this be still advantageous when compared with the English duty of eighteen guineas, yet it is less so than we had expected, and it will remain when we apply for a renewal of the indulgence, to see whether we can obtain further reduction.

The fur trade is an object of desire in this country. London is at present their market for furs. They pay for them there in ready money. Could they draw their furs into their own ports from the United States, they would pay us for them in productions; nor should we lose by the exchange of market, since, though the French pay the London merchants in cash, those merchants pay us in manufactures. A very wealthy and well-connected company proposing here to associate themselves with an American company, each to possess half the interest, and to carry on the fur trade between the two countries. The company here expect to make the principal part of the advances. They also are soliciting considerable indulgences from this Government, from which the part of the company on our side the water will reap half the advantage. As no exclusive idea enters into this scheme, it appears to me worthy of encouragement. It is hoped the Government here will interest themselves for its success. If they do, one of two things may happen-either the English will be afraid to stop the vessels of a company consisting partly of French subjects, and patronized by the Court; in which case the commerce will be laid open generally; or if they stop the vessels, the French company, which is strongly connected with men in power, will complain in form to their Government, who may thus be interested as principals in the rectification of this abuse. As yet, however, the proposition has not taken such a form as to assure us that it will be prosecuted to this length.

As to the article of tobacco, which had become an important branch of remittance to all the States, I had the honor of communicating to you my proposition to the Court to abolish the monopoly of it in their farm; that the Count de Vergennes was, I thought, thoroughly sensible of the expediency of this proposition, and disposed to befriend it; that the renewal of the lease of the farms had been consequently suspended six months, and was still in suspense, but that so powerful were the Farmers General, and so tottering the tenure of the Minister of Finance in his office, that I despaired of preventing the renewal of the farm at that time.

Things were in this state when the Marquis de la Fayette returned from Berlin. On communicating to him what was on the carpet, he proposed to me a conference with some persons well acquainted with the commercial system of the country. We met; they proposed the endeavoring to have a committee appointed to inquire into the

subject. The proposition was made to the Count de Vergennes, who befriended it, and had the Marquis de la Fayette named a member of the committee. He became, of course, the active and truly zealous member for the liberty of commerce, others, though well disposed, not choosing to oppose the farm openly. This committee has met from time to time. It shewed an early and decisive conviction that the measure taken by the farm to put the purchase of their tobaccoes into monopoly on that side the water as the sale of them was on this, tended to the annihilation of commerce between the two countries. Various palliatives were proposed from time to time. I confess that I met them all with indifference; my object being a radical cure of the evil by discontinuing the farm, and not a mere assuagement of it for the present moment, which, rendering it more bearable, might lessen the necessity of removing it totally, and perhaps prevent that removal.

In the meantime the other branches of the farm rendered the renewal of the lease necessary, and it being said to be too far advanced to have the article of tobacco separated from it and suspended, it was signed in the month of March, while I was in England, with a clause, which is usual, that the King may discontinue when he pleases, on certain conditions.

When I found here a memorial from the merchants of L'Orient complaining of their having six thousand hogsheads of tobacco on hand, and of the distresses they were under from the loss of this medium of remittance, I enclosed it to the Count de Vergennes and asked his interference. I saw him on the 23d instant, and spoke to him on the subject. He told me there was to be a committee held the next day at Berni, the seat of the Comptroller General, and that he would attend it himself to have something done. I asked him if I was to consider the expunging that article from the farm as desperate.

He said the difficulty of changing so ancient an institution was immense; that the King draws from it a revenue of twenty-nine millions of livres; that an interruption of this revenue at least, if not a diminution, would attend a change; that the finances were not in a condition to bear even an interruption; and, in short, that no Minister could venture to take upon himself so hazardous an operation. This was only saying explicitly what I had long been sensible of, that the Comptroller General's continuance in office was too