#1786

367

Sir Paris May 23. 1786.

Letters received both from Madrid & Algiers while I was

in London having suggested that treaties with the state of the Barbary

would be much facilitated by a previous one with the Ottoman porte,

it was agreed between mr Adams and myself that on my return

I should consult on this subject the Count de Vergennes, whose

long residence at Constantinople rendered him the best judge of

it's expediency. various circumstances have put it out of my

power to consult him till to day. I stated to him the difficulties

we were likely to meet with at Algiers and asked his opinion what

would be the probable expence of a diplomatic mission to Constan-

-tinople, & what it's effect at Algiers. he said that the expence

would be very great for that presents must be made at that

court, and every one would be gaping after them; and that it

would not procure us a peace at Algiers one penny the cheaper.

he observed that the Barbary States acknoleged a sort of vassalage

to the Pote, & availed themselves of that relation when any thing

was to be gained by it: but that whenever it subjected them to

a demand from the Pote they totally disregarded it: that money

was the sole agent at Algiers, except so far as fear could be

induced also. he cited the present example of Spain, which tho'

having a treaty with the Pote, would probably be obliged to buy

a peace at Algiers at the expence of upwards of six millions of

livres. I told him we had calculated from the demands & infor-

-mation of the Tripoline Ambassador at London that to make peace

with the four Barbary states would cost us between two & three

hundred thousand guineas, if bought with money. the sum did

and seem to exceed his expectations. I mentioned to him that

considering the incertainty of a peace when bought, perhaps Congress

might think it more eligible to establish a cruise of frigates in the

Mediterranean & even to blockade Algiers. he supposed it would

require ten vessels great & small. I observed to him that Mons-

de Massiac had formerly done it with five; he said it was true

but that vessels of relief would be necessary. I hinted to him that

I thought the English capable of administering aid to the Al-

gerines. he seemed to think it impossible, on account of the

scandal it would bring on them. I asked him what had occasion-

-ed the blockade by M. de Massiac: he said, an infraction

of their treaty, by the Algernes. I had a good deal of

conversation with him also on the situation of affairs between England

& the United States: & particularly on their refusal to deliver up

our posts. I observed to him that the obstruction thrown in the way

of the recovery of their debts were the effect & not the cause as they

pretended, of their refusal to deliver up the posts: that the merchants

interested in these debts showed a great disposition to make ar-

range -rangements with us, that the article of time we could certainly

have settled & probably that of the interest during the war: but

that the minister showing now disposition to have these matters ar-

-ranged, I thought it a sufficient proof that this was not the true

cause of their detaining the posts. he concurred as to the justice

of our requiring time for the paiment of our debts said nothing

which shewed a difference of opinion as to the article of interest,

[scribble] and seemed to believe fully their object was to divert the chan-

nel of the fur trade before they delivered up the posts, and

expressed a strong sense of the importance of that commerce to us.

I told him I really could not foresee what would be the event of

this detention, that the situation of the British funds I desire of

their minister to begin to reduce the national debt seemed to in-

dicate that they could not wish a war. he thought so, but that

neither were we in a condition to go to war. I told him I was

yet uninformed what Congress proposed to do on this subject, but

that we should certainly always count on the good offices of France,

and I was sure that the offer of them would suffice to induce

Gr. Britain to do us justice. he said that surely we might al-

ways count on the friendship of France. I added that by the

treaty of Alliance, she was bound to guarantee our limits to

us, as they should be established at the moment of peace. he

said they were so [scribble] 'mais qu'il nous etoit necessaire de les

conslates.' I told him there was no question what our boundaries

were, that the English themselves admitted they were clear beyond

all question. I feared however to press this any further lest a rec-

procal question should be put to me, & therefore diverted the con-

versation to another object. This is a sketch only of a

conference which was lengthy. I have endeavored to give the sub-

stance [scribble] & sometimes the expressions where they were mate-

rial. I supposed it would be agreeable to Congress to have it

communicated to them, in the present undecided state in which

these subjects are. I should add that an explanation of the

transaction of Monseur de Massiac with the Algernes, before

hinted at, will be found in the inclosed letter from the Count

d'Estaing to me, wherein he gives also his own opinion. The

whole is submitted to Congress, as I conceive it my duty, to furnish

them with whatever information I can gather which may throw

any light on the subjects depending before them. I have the

honour to be with the most perfect esteem & respect Sir

Your most obedient

& most humble servt