Papers of John Adams, volume 18
I was Sometime in doubt, whether any Notice Should be taken of the Tripoline Ambassador, but receiving Information that he made Enquiries about me, and expressed a Surprize that when the other foreign Ministers had visited him, the American had not; and finding that He was a universal and perpetual Ambassador, it was thought best to call upon him. last Evening, in making a Tour of other Visits, I Stopped at his Door, intending only to leave a Card, but the Ambassador was announced at Home and ready to receive me.— I was received in State. Two great Chairs before the Fire, one of which was destined for me, the other for his Excellency. Two Secretaries of Legation, men of no Small Consequence Standing Upright in the middle of the Room, without daring to Sitt, during the whole time I was there, and whether they are not yet upright upon their Legs I know not. Now commenced the Difficulty. His Excellency Speaks, Scarcely a Word of any European Language, except Italian and Lingua Franca, in which, you know I have Small Pretensions. He began soon to ask me Questions about America and her Tobacco, and I was surprized to find that with a pittance of Italian and a few French Words which he understands, We could so well understand each other.— “We make Tobacco in Tripoli, Said his Excellency but it is too strong. Your American Tobacco is better.”— By this Time, one of his secretaries or upper servants brought in two Pipes ready filled and lighted; the longest, was offered to me; the other to his Excellency. it is long since I took a Pipe but as it would be unpardonable to be wanting in Politeness in so ceremonious an Interview, I took the Pipe, with great Complacency, placed the Bowl upon the Carpet, for the stem was fit for a Walking Cane, and I believe more than two Yards in length, and Smoaked in aweful Pomp reciprocating Whiff for Whiff, with his Excellency, untill Coffee was brought in. His Excellency took a Cup, after I had taken one, and alternately Sipped at his Coffee and whiffed at his Tobacco, and I wished he would take a Pinch in turn from his snuff box for Variety: and I followed the Example with Such Exactness and solemnity that the two secretaries, appeared in Raptures and the superiour of them who Speaks a few Words of French cryed out in Extacy, Monsiour votes etes un Turk.— The necessary Civilities being thus compleated, His Excellency began upon Business; asked many Questions about
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America: the soil Climate, Heat & Cold, &c and said it was a very great Country. But “Tripoli is at War with it.” I was “Sorry to hear that. had not heard of any War with Tripoli. America had done no Injury to Tripoli. committed no Hostility: nor had Tripoli done America any Injury or committed any Hostility against her, that I had heard of.—[”] [“]True said His Excellency but there must be a Treaty of Peace. There could be no Peace without a Treaty. The Turks and Affricans, were the souvereigns of the Mediterranean, and there could be no navigation there nor Peace without Treaties of Peace. America must treat as France & England did, and all other Powers. America must treat with Tripoli, and then with Constantinople and then with Algiers and Morocco.”— Here a secretary brought him some Papers, One of which a Full Power in French from the Pacha, Dey and Regency of Tripoli, as Ambassador, to treat with all the Powers of Europe, and to make what Treaties he pleased and to manage in short all the foreign Affairs of his Country, he delivered me to read.— He was ready to treat, and make Peace. if I would come tomorrow or next day, or any other day and bring an Interpreter, He would hear & propose Terms, and write to Tripoli and I might write to America, and each Party might accept or refuse them as they should think fit. How long would it be before one could write to Congress and have an answer? three months. This was rather too long, but he should stay here sometime.— When I had read his French Translation of his Full Power He Shewed me the Original in his own Language.
You perceive that his Excellency was more ready and eager to treat, than I was as he probably expected to gain more by the Treaty.— I could not see him Tomorrow nor next day but would think of it.
I must now my dear sir beg of You to send me a Copy of the Project of a Treaty sent by Mr Barclay and Mr Lamb, as I had not time to take one, when it was here.2 You will please to write me your Thoughts and Advice upon this Occasion. This is a Sensible Man, well known to many of the foreign Ministers who have seen him before, in Sweeden, at Vienna, in Denmark &c He has been so much in Europe that he knows as much of America, as anybody: so that nothing new will be suggested to him or his Constituents by our having Conferences with him. it seems best then to know his Demands. They will be higher I fear, than We can venture.
The King told one of the foreign Ministers in my hearing at the Levee, that the Tripoline Ambassador refused to treat with his 167 Ministers and insisted upon an Audience.3 But that all he had to say was that Tripoli was at Peace with England and desired to continue so. The King Added all he wants is, a Present, and his Expences born to Vienna or Denmark.
The Relation of my Visit is to be sure, very inconsistent with the Dignity of your Character and mine, but the Ridicule of it, was real and the Drollery inevitable. How can We preserve our Dignity in negotiating with Such Nations? and Who but a Petit Maitre, would think of Gravity upon such an Occasion.
With great Esteem your / most obedient
RC (DLC:Jefferson Papers); internal address: “Mr Jefferson.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 112.
On this day JA also sent a shorter account of his meeting with Sidi Haji Abdrahaman to John Jay (JA, Works
, 8:372–373).
For the treaty with the Barbary States drafted by Benjamin Franklin and Jefferson in mid-1785, see Jefferson, Papers
, 8:347–354. Jefferson sent JA a copy with his 6 Aug. letter, but JA may have returned it for use by Thomas Barclay or John Lamb in their negotiations. There is, however, a FC of the draft treaty in the Adams Papers that was probably brought by Jefferson when he visited London in early March 1786 (vol. 17:306–308).
Aside from notions of diplomatic etiquette, Abdrahaman’s insistence on meeting with George III may well have included plans to renegotiate British trade relations with Tripoli. Although a 30 Aug. 1716 arrangement with Tripoli allowed British vessels with Mediterranean sea passes to travel freely, Barbary corsairs continued their depredations on British shipping and the enslavement of British crews (W. E. Minchinton, ed., The Trade of Bristol in the Eighteenth Century, Bristol, Eng., 1957, p. 112, 138; Nicholas B. Harding, “North African Piracy, the Hanoverian Carrying Trade, and the British State, 1728–1828,” Historical Journal, 43:30 [2000]).
th1786.
I should have paid the highest Respect to your Excellency’s Injunction of writing by every safe Opportunity—but that I conceived such Information, as I could have communicated hitherto, would have been only a Reiteration of Mr Carmichaels Letters.— At present,—as Mr. Lamb does not write,—nor has directed me thereto,—I think it my Duty to manifest an early Disposition of complying in every Respect with your Excellency’s Direction.
On the tenth instant we arrived here after an expeditious Journey from Madrid, and on the next Morning presented a Letter of Recommendation from the Count De Florida-blanca to the Captain General of this Province to forward Mr Lamb in everything expedient for his Embarkation for Algiers Mr. Lamb applying to the Captain General for Leave to extract the £2,000 Stg.—being his last Draught, and which your Excellency we trust is advised of.— the
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Captain Gen1. replied, that it was not within his Department to grant the License, and refered Mr. Lamb to the Intendant, who likewise refused:— notwithstanding which—I believe Mr Lamb upon the Explanation of his Business to the proper Officers, superintending this Branch of the Revenue is in Hopes of obtaining a Dispensation—and Permission to effect the same.—1 The Business remaining in this Dilemma is a unfortunate period for me to address your Excellency— however, as Mr Lamb thinks his Expectations pretty well grounded, I conceive it my indispensable duty to mention the Situation of these Affairs—altho’ a few Days or even Hours may make a considerable Alteration in them. The advanced Season renders it very embarrassing to await the express Authority of the Court for effectuating that Design,—so that the present Course of the Business is deemed the most expedient.
It may be impertinent in me to offer any Conjectures on the Propriety of proceeding immediately to Algiers and making a Dependance on the Count d’Expilly—who has endeavored to convince Mr Carmichael, that his utmost Exertions shall in no wise be wanting to assist this Negotiation; more especially as Mr Lamb is hourly expecting to accomplish his purpose here.
Mr. Harrison who is Bearer of this Letter is as perfectly acquainted with the progress already made in every Respect during our Residence in Madrid—and the little Continuance here, as I myself am— as well as the Counsels and Designs which have been agitated relative to Mr Lamb’s Mission— to him therefore I refer your Excellency, in the highest Confidence on his Judgment & discretion—as the particular Friend of Mr Carmichael, and a Gentleman who has had an Opportunity on many Occasions of discovering a generous Intention to serve his Country.
I shall consider myself entirely devoted to this Service, notwithstanding the Stipulation of six Months—and shall remain at Algiers, or elsewhere to accomplish my Duty—unless absolutely directed by your Excellencies to return. tho’ perhaps Mr Lamb may be desirious of my coming forward with some Dispatches—in which Case I shall think myself at Liberty of considering in what Manner I may be of most Service to my Country, in completing my Commission and the Confidence your Excellencies have done me the Honor to repose in me.
As I am not to consider this as an official Letter I have written with a less scrupulous Caution, than the Uncertainty of all Events 169 might render prudent— tho’ I wish to consider myself more a Candidate for your Excellency’s particular good Opinion—than as seeking a future Employment in the publick Service—which I find myself very inadequate to at present.
In a full and gratefull Dependance—I rest on the Honor of naming myself— / Your Excellency’s / Most devoted obedient Servant
I flatter myself—that expressing my most respectful Remembrance will not be unacceptable to Mrs & Miss Adams
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “John Adams Esqr. / Minister Plenipotentiary / from the United States of America / at the Court of London.—”; endorsed by WSS: “Barcelona Feby. 17th. 86 / from P. R. Randall—.”
In his 16 Feb. letter to JA (Adams Papers), John Lamb indicated that he hoped to obtain the £2,000 on “munday next,” that is, the 20th.