Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 17

To Thomas Jefferson

From John Jay
From John Jay, 1 November 1785 Jay, John Adams, John
From John Jay
Dear Sir New York 1st: November 1785

My last to you was of the 14th: Ult: by the Ship Betsey Capt. Thomas Watson—since that time, I have had the Pleasure of receiving and laying before Congress your Dispatches of 6th, 8th, & 10th: August last.—

We concur so perfectly in Sentiment respecting public Affairs and what ought to be done, that I find no Occasion to enlarge on those Heads.—

In a late Report I have called the Attention of Congress to this serious Question Vizt. Whether the United States should withdraw their Attention from the Ocean and leave Foreigners to fetch and carry for them, or whether it is more their Interest to look forward to naval Strength and maritime Importance, and to take and persevere in the Measure proper to attain it?—1

The Diversity of Opinions on this point renders it necessary that it should be well considered and finally decided. The Eastern and 559Middle States are general for the latter System, and tho’ the others do not openly avow their preferring the former, yet they are evidently inclined to it. Hence it is that the most leading Men in Congress from that Quarter, do not only not promote Measures for vesting Congress with power to regulate Trade, but as the common Phrase is throw cold Water on all such Ideas.—

Having few or no Ships of their own, they are averse to such Duties on foreign ones as will greatly advance the Price of Freight; nor do they seem much disposed to sacrifice any present Profits for the Sake of their Neighbours who have Ships and wish to have more.—

We hear much of the Algerines having declared War against the United States—none of our Advices are official, but as the Intelligence comes directly from Nantes, Bordeaux and L’Orient there seems to be much Reason to fear it is true.—

The public Papers herewith sent, will inform you of our common occurrences; and I wish it was in my power to tell you what Congress mean to do respecting many Matters on which they are to decide. The Representation is at present slender and will I suspect continue so till the new Members come on.—

I have the Honor to be with great and sincere Esteem and Regard / Dear Sir / Your most obt. & very hble: Servt.

John Jay—

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Honorable John Adams Esqr. / Minister Plenipotentiary of the / Ud. Ss. at the Court of London.”

 1.

Here Jay summarizes the eleventh paragraph of his 20 Oct. report to Congress that focused on reports, mentioned in the penultimate paragraph of this letter, that Algiers had declared war on the United States. That information stemmed largely from a 14 July letter from a M. de Soulanges informing French authorities of the Algerian action. John Paul Jones enclosed a copy of that letter with his 6 Aug. letter to Jay, who presented both documents to Congress on 13 Oct. ( JCC , 29:833–834; from Thomas Jefferson, 6 Aug., note 3, above). Jay recommended that the United States neither negotiate with nor pay tribute to Algiers. Instead Congress should subsidize armed ships for trade with Spain, Portugal, Madeira, the Canary Islands, and the Mediterranean; create a navy to protect American ships in such trade; and authorize a naval alliance with Portugal against Algiers ( JCC , 29:842–844).