I am very much obliged to you for your Kind Letter, and to Mr Higginson for his and intend to answer both very particularly, but my time is so taken up at present with preparing Papers for Algiers and Morroco that I cannot spare a moment for anything elce.1

Mr Higginsons Letter Shews him to be a great Master of the subject, but there are some things in it, which must be handled here with great discretion. this Nation notwithstanding all their aukward endeavours to despise the United States, really Consider them as a great rival Power, I have not time to be particular, but I am much mistaken if their whole Conduct towards us is not Governed by that Principle. Our Oyl will not be received here upon better terms I fear untill the British Whale Fishery Shall fail. that it will be found unprofitable, and will decline in two or three years, I beleive, but untill that time ours will suffer if We cannot find other Markets

The Mass. as far as I can see are in the only right Way. every encouragement that can be given to their own Navigation and Manufactures, will be profitable to them in one way or another, it will procure them the Commerce which they want or ensure to them a substitute for it.

We Shall have a tedious Negotiation to go through with this Country as well as with the Powers of Barbary, and we must wait with Patience for events that we cannot force. I am inclined to think that the Ministry would, if they could pursue their own Judgments agree with us upon tolerable Terms: but they have to consider what they can carry through Parliament, and opposition is as silent as Administration at present. the Question with Admn. is not what is for the Good of the Nation only, but what will escape opposition. the Question with opposition is not what is for the Public Good alone but what will discredid Ministry. What can be expected from such Inquiries.

It is astonishing that our Manufacture of Pot-Ash Should not revive. it looks as if our People were very thoughtless and would do 485nothing While their money lasted, but as that is now gone they must Work—

I see no reasonable Ground to hope that our Commerce will be relieved in the Smallest degree by anything which will be done here, for a long time to come, nor indeed ever, untill the states have demonstrated to the World the Falsity of certain Postulata upon which this Nation has Grounded its Policy: One is that the states are not and cannot be United. Another is that We cannot manufacture amongst ourselvs. and a third is that we cannot supply ourselvs from the rest of Europe, but must in all events come to them

I firmly beleive they had rather increase the Ships and seamen of France than those of New England. this is strong: but it is true: and you may safely pursue it through all its Consequences, if Mr Higginson believes this, he will see that the Discontent and despair which he apprehends in our sea Ports must happen, unless you can prevent it by Frugality and Industry, by encouraging your own Manufactures and by striking out new Channells of Commerce with other Nations of Europe

The English profit largely by the fears of our seamen of the Moors and Algeerianes. We are sending Mr Barclay and Mr Lamb to treat, but whether we Shall be rich enough to succeed I know not. I have Letters from Algiers from Obrien of Philadelphia and stevens of Boston: but the spirit of forgery is gone forth in so many Shapes that there is still a Possibility of doubt altho Mr Jefferson and I shall act as if there was none.2 these forgeries will go on even after we Shall have signed Treaties, and a thousand Artifices devised to continue the fears of our sailors, keep up the Premiums of Insureance and the Price of their Fish in the Medeterranean Markett—

I am with much Esteem your friend—

Coll Franks arrived Yesterday afternoon, with your Favour of Septr. 24.—1 I have Signed all the Papers as you Sent them, not 486perceiving any Alteration necessary.—2 I am afraid, that our Agent to Algiers going without any military Power will not Succeed: as the Danger of having their Town bombarded, or their Vessells taken, is the Principal Argument which the Dey has to use with the People, to reconcile them to a Peace. however We must try the Experiment.— I have recd. a Letter from Mr Stephen Sayre, dated N. York 25. Aug. inclosing, another of 23. of Aug. Signed by Messrs Gerry, King, Hardy, Monroe, & Grayson recommending Strongly Mr Sayre to you and me, to be employed as Agent to Morocco, Algiers and the other Powers, and inclosing another Letter to you, probably to the Same Effect. This Letter I now inclose to you. it is but a day or two that these Letters have been recd by me.—3 Franks is gone to See if Mr Randolph4 can be prevailed on to go. if he cannot, will you join Sayre with Lamb? if you will, insert his Name in the Papers.— Mr Lamb will meet Mr Sayre at Madrid, where I Suppose he now is. But if he is not, Lamb must not wait for him a Moment. I Should very readily undertake the Trouble, of having Bills drawn upon me, both by Mr Barclay and Mr Lamb, if the good of the Service could be promoted by it. But you are Sensible there must be a Loss, in transferring Money, from Amsterdam to London: Yet the Advantage may ballance it.

You are diffident of Interpositions: but it is possible We may carry this too far. I think Mr Barclay and Mr Lamb would do well, to visit all the foreign Consulls, every one of whom will I am persuaded, Shew them Civilities, and do nothing at all to obstruct their negotiations. They will not dare to do it, without Orders, and no Cabinet in Europe I verily believe, would venture to give Such orders. it will not be from Governments, that We shall receive Opposition. Agents of Insurance Offices in London, or of Merchants trading in Fish &c in the Mediterranean, may Stimulate the Corsairs by exaggerated Representations of our Wealth and the Riches of our Prizes, but that is all. As nothing can be more hostile to the United States, than any Endeavours to embarrass, obstruct or counteract them in their Endeavours to form Treaties of Peace with the Barbary Powers, I wish you would impress it upon Mr Barclay and Mr Lamb, to be attentive to this, and obtain Proofs; and if the Consul or Agent of any foreign Power should be found and proved to do any Thing against Us, that they transmit to Us the earliest Account of it, with the Evidence; Congress would no doubt order a formal Complaint to be made against him to his Court, and in this Way he would be held up 487publicly to the Execrations of all Mankind, and probably be punished by his Master.

We have prevailed upon John Randal Esqr to go with Mr Lamb, So that Sayre I Suppose must be out of the Question, especially as We know not that he is arrived in Europe. I Should think that much time may be Saved, by Mr Lambs going directly to Marseilles, and from thence over to Algiers but if you think there will be a greater Advantage, in seeing the Algerine Envoy at Madrid, or the Comte de Spilly,5 if he negotiated the late Treaty for Spain, I shall Submit entirely to your better Judgment.

As our Commission authorizes Us, I suppose it will be construed that it requires Us to constitute the Agents by Writing under our Hands and Seals: I have accordingly made out four Commissions, which if you approve you will sign and Seal, as I have done.6

I have written Letters to Mr Barclay and Mr Lamb authorizing them to draw upon me. These Letters You will please to Sign, as the Signature of both of Us will be necessary. You will be so good as to write also to Messrs Wilhem and Jan Willink and Nicholas & Jacob Vanstaphorst of Amsterdam, giving your Approbation and Consent to their Paying the Bills to be drawn upon me by Barclay and Lamb, otherwise they may think my Authority alone, imperfect.7

I am sir your most obedient And / humble servant