would enable him to resume those pious occupations; and that he should be always ready to offer his ministry in behalf of the American captives. The supplies which they have received came certainly from the Spanish consul. I transmitted some time ago to Mr. Jay an account of them which was sent me by one of the captives. "The general of the Mathurins considered those supplies too considerable, as they would necessarily excite at the same time the suspicions and the avarice of the Algerines. It would have the appearance of cruelty to forbid further supplies from any person whatsoever, and to let the prisoners depend as it were on the charity of the Mathurins, who might be furnished with small sums from time to time for that purpose. But it is perhaps the only means of shortening their captivity. Whoever remains here should be authorized fully to act according to circumstances with respect to the captives." Extract of a Letter from the Same to the Same. July 7, 1790. "My last letters will have informed you of the present situation of the business relative to the American captives at Algiers. You will have seen that nothing has been done, or possible to be done, for their redemption; still I will leave nothing untried, and will write you regularly as you desire respecting it. I omitted mentioning above that the number of our prisoners at Algiers is now reduced to fourteen, a Scotch boy who was among them having been redeemed by the intervention of the English consul. The price was somewhat more than 7000 livres ; but additional and unavoidable expenses raised it on the whole to about 8000 livres. The person of whom I spoke in the beginning of this letter told me that he thought the remaining captives might be redeemed at the same price for the common sailors, and about £1200 for each of the captains. He added, that the Spanish consul was at present in the greatest favour with the regency, and would be the most proper person for being charged with such a commission. The same person told me that he had understood the present emperor of Morocco had begun his reign by showing dispositions to observe the treaties made by his predecessor. He thought it probable that ours would be continued. In general, however, I have understood that we should be obliged to renew it. This is the opinion also of Mr. Carmichael." No. 4. Extract of a Letter from Mr. John Lamb to the Honourable Thomas Jefferson. Algiers, March 29, 1786. "I AM sure by the best information the sum will by no means answer our object if the amount is not greatly augmented. It is my duty to advise to abandon the undertaking, as it will be entirely in vain to persevere. It is lost money, the expenses that arise on the attempt. The last amount that I can give please to let me know. I shall wait at Carthagena for the same. The people will cost for their redemption at least twelve hundred hard dollars per head. The number is twenty-one. Your excellency sees how feeble we are." No. 5. Extract of a Letter from Mr. Paul Randal to the Honourable Thomas Jefferson. Alicant, April 2, 1786. "As the money is paid according to the treaty, the dey has set the sum of 3600 dollars on every Spanish captain; 3000 for each mate or pilot, and 1200 for the private seamen and soldiers." No. 6. Extract of a Letter from Richard O'Brien to the Honourable Thomas Jefferson. Algiers, June 2, 1788. "If any one is redeemed, it is at a very exorbitant price. A few days ago an old Savoy captain of a merchant vessel was redeemed for the sum of 2150 Algerine chequins, which is equal to £967 10 sterling, and even with that price it was with much time the dey was prevailed on to let him be redeemed; and I think that sailors will be as high as £400 sterling, as they are very scarce here at present, and much wanted to do the duty for the publick." No. 7. Extract of a Letter from Richard O'Brien to the Honourable Thomas Jefferson. Algiers, Dec. 12, 1789. "IN December, 1789, there are in Algiers 2 mas ters at thé dey's price, 2 mates, at 4000 dollars each, 11 mariners, at 1500 dollars each, 20 per cent. a duty on slaves, } $12,000 Agreeable to the dey's price in 1786, the whole cost is 8,000 16,500 $36,500 1,825 $38,325 A Mr. Joseph Cowen Bockerie, the principal Jew merchant of Algiers, assures me that he will engage, and well knows that he could obtain the Americans released from slavery on the following terms, viz. For 2 masters, at 2000 sequins each, 2 mates, at 3000 dollars each, 11 mariners, at 1300 dollars each, $8,000 6,000 14,300 First cost, 28, 300 1,415 Fees and duties to the regency amounting to 20 per cent. Spanish dollars, 29,715 Mr. Bockerie says that at the very furthest he would procure us at 2,000 dollars each, which would be in all 30,000 dollars, or 6,750 pounds sterling; and the Dutch and Spanish consuls are of the same opinion." No. 8. Extract of a Letter from James Simpson. Gibraltar, Aug. 25, 1790. "HAVING lately been desired to inquire,by means of my correspondents at Algiers, how many Americans remained there, and the sum [that] would be demanded for their ransom, I take the liberty of enclosing for your information copy of the return made me, and to say, that as the gentleman encharged me to make this inquiry, wrote in a style as if the generous and humane idea of ransom flowed from a private source, I much fear, as the sum demanded is considerable, I shall not have the happiness of being encharged by them with direc tions for carrying it into execution." Richard O'Brien, captain-ransom demanded ENCLOSED. List of American Prisoners at Algiers, July 9, 1790, with the sums demanded by the Regency for their Ransom. Crew of the ship Dolphin, captured July 30, 1785. Andrew Montgomery, mate, Jacob Tessanior, French passenger, 2,000 1,500 2,000 William Paterson, seaman, (keeps a tavern) 1,500 James Hall, 725 Crew of the schooner Mary, taken July 25, 1785. Isaac Stephens, captain, 2,000 Alexander Forsyth, mate, 1,500 James Cathcart, seaman, (keeps a tavern,) 900 Algerine zequins 16,475 1,6471 Duty on the above sum 10 per cent. 347923 Mexican dollars at 38 mozunas each, are FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE SENATE RELATIVE TO FRANCE. JAN. 17, 1791. "I LAY before you a letter from his most christian majesty, addressed to the President and members of Congress of the United States of America. 1. GEORGE WASHINGTON. TRANSLATION. Very dear great Friends and Allies, We have received the letter by which you inform us of the new mark of confidence that you have shown to Mr. Jefferson, and which puts a period to his appointment of minister plenipotentiary at our court. The manner in which he conducted during his residence with us has merited our esteem and entire approbation, and it is with pleasure that we now give him this testimony of it. It is with the most sincere pleasure that we embrace this opportunity of renewing those assurances of regard and friendship which we feel for the United States in general, and for each of them in particular under their influence. We pray God that he will keep you, very dear friends and allies, under his holy and beneficent protection. Done at Paris, this 11th September, 1790. Your good friend and ally, LOUIS. MONTMORIN. [Seals.] The United States of North America. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE SENATE RELATIVE TO FRANCE. JAN. 19, 1791. I LAY before you a representation of the charge des affaires of France, made by order of his court, on the acts of Congress of the 20th of July, 1789 and 1790, imposing an extra tonnage on foreign vessels, not excepting those of that country; together with the report of the Secretary of State thereon and I recommend the same to your consideration, that I may be enabled to give to it such answer as may best comport with the justice and the interests of the United States. GEO. WASHINGTON. : DOCUMENTS. THE Secretary of State having received from the charge des affaires of France a note on the tonnage payable by |