Papers of John Adams, volume 18

To John Adams from David Ramsay, 14 May 1786 Ramsay, David Adams, John

From David Ramsay

Sir, New-York May 14th 1786

Your favor of the 9th of February with the pamphlet inclosed came to hand on the 13th instant for which please to accept my thanks.

Your official dispatches of the 4th of March contain very important intelligence. I am not distressed at the footing on which the 292 British put their tenure of the western posts. It will promote the general cause of justice & restrain our legislatures from interfering in private contracts which they are too apt to do.1

The Algerine depredations have made more converts to the necessity of vesting Congress with larger powers and of supporting public credit than the many labored addresses heretofore presented to the public. I hope for much good out of these partial evils.

Mr Dilly has declined publishing my history from an apprehension that it would expose him to prosecutions.2 I cannot but be of opinion that his apprehensions are ill founded. I expect the end of the matter will be a pirated edition & that mine will remain unsold. I flatter myself he will make no difficulty in furnishing you with the copy designed for your own use.

Congress have now ~~seven~~ eleven States on the floor. Shame to tell for the first six months we did not for four days exceed eight. A strange langour seemed to prevail; but I hope it is going off. When the contents of your last dispatches are communicated confidentially to the Governors I think they will produce salutary consequences. The British posts will effect a repeal of every legal impediment to the recovery of debts. The Foreign debt will force on us systems of revenue which will also comprehend the Domestic debt. Things for some time past have been proceeding from bad to worse. I trust we have already reached the point of ultimate depression from which public affairs will revert in a direction contrary to what they have lately been in. The States seem generally impressed with ideas of the necessity of commercial systems. Almost all have appointed deputies to attend the proposed convention in Annapolis. A plan will shortly be brought into Congress to recommend a continental convention for the purpose of enlarging the powers of Congress. Our government hitherto has rather been advisory than an efficient system. You do me great honor by ~~proposing~~ requesting a continuance of my correspondence. Your letters have given me infinite pleasure & have established your reputation in the minds of every member of Congress as not only the industrious but the able Statesman. In this opinion no one joins more heartily than he who has the honor to subscribe himself— / with the most exaulted / sentiments of respect & esteem / your most obedient & / very humble servant

David Ramsay.

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Hon. John Adams. Esq.”; endorsed: “David Ramsay Esq. / May 14. Ansd. Aug. 1. / 1786.”

293 1.

With his 4 March letter to John Jay ( Dipl. Corr., 1783–1789 , 2:580–591), JA enclosed a copy of the Marquis of Carmarthen’s 28 Feb. letter regarding the evacuation of the frontier posts, above. Jay sent both letters to Congress on 12 May, where they were read three days later (PCC, No. 84, VI, f. 147, 151–178; No. 80, II, f. 333–334).

For Ramsay’s History, the problems he faced in having it published in England, and JA’s efforts on his behalf, see JA’s 9 Feb. letter to Ramsay, and note 1, above.

Paul R. Randall to the American Commissioners, 14 May 1786 Randall, Paul R. American Commissioners

Paul R. Randall to the American Commissioners

Madrid May 14th. 1786 1

Since my Arrival here from Carthagena I have been in constant Expectation of a secure Opportunity for forwarding the inclosed, being nearly the Copy of a Letter I wrote to my Father shortly after my landing in Spain.2 It contains all the Observations I have been enabled to make by Reason of the Obstacles which (in my Situation at Algiers) prevented particular Enquiry. Indeed I had not the most distant Idea of remaining for so short a Time: otherwise perhaps I might have afforded greater Satisfaction in this Respect.3

I have not recieved any Letters from Mr. Lamb since his Arrival at Alicant but have lately heard that he is released from Quarantine—he may therefore be expected here every Day—as he had informed mr. Carmichael of his Intention of coming up immediately.

I shall be governed by his Orders & endeavour still to evince that nothing on my Part has been or shall be wanting to fulfill my Duty—although I must hope that Circumstances will be considered if my Services have not been equal to the Expectation formed of them.

Haste & the little Opportunity I have had to prepare my Observations as well as the Manner of writing in a Croud, I trust will plead my Apology, for delivering them in their present State—especially as my Father might have communicated in New-York the Intelligence they contain, I have therefore concieved that Alterations might be improper—as your Excellencies will distinguish what is well founded, & may be enabled to judge what Opinion may be formed on them in New-York.

The Envoys from Portugal & Naples are still at Carthagena awaiting the Completion of the Spanish Treaty.

This Court would undoubtedly have wished mr Lamb to remain in like manner—if his Instructions could have justified the Delay—before their Interference could consistent with their own Interests be employed in Favor of the United States.

The Portuguese Envoy told me at Carthagena, that he had no Expectations of succeeding—and would rather see a Confederacy 294 framed against the Barbary States—by those with whom they are at War.

He appeared much dissatisfied at being so long delayed. It would be Presumption in me to offer any News—mr. Carmichael being so much better enabled to afford Information—& will write by the present Occasion.4

I am with proper Respect / your Excellencies / most obedient & humble servt.

P R Randall (An exact & literal Copy. Test: W short)

FC in William Short’s hand and enclosures (PCC, No. 87, I, f. 385–421); internal address: “Their Excellencies John Adams & / Thomas Jefferson Esqrs: Ministers / Plenipoteniary from the United States of / America at the Courts of Great Britain & France / respectively.” For the enclosures, see notes 2 and 3.

Thomas Jefferson received Randall’s letter and its enclosures on 26 May and sent copies of them, and other documents recently received, to Congress with his 27 May letter to John Jay (Jefferson, Papers , 9:590). With his letter of 30 May, below, Jefferson apparently sent JA all of the documents enclosed with his letter to Jay. Upon receiving Jefferson’s letter, JA wrote to Jay on 6 June, below, enclosing all of the documents that he had received from Jefferson. The PCC thus contains two complete sets of these documents, for which see note 1 to Jefferson’s 30 May letter to JA , below.

The copy of the extract from Randall’s letter to his father that Jefferson sent to JA is in Randall’s hand. This is probably because of the time William Short already had spent in copying the extract as enclosed by Jefferson in his 27 May letter to Jay and which is printed in same, 9:526–536.

Written on 2 and 3 April, while at the “House of Quarantine Alicant,” the first portion of the letter contains a detailed account of the information gleaned by Randall during the five days that he spent in Algiers. He described John Lamb’s fruitless efforts to open negotiations and the dey of Algiers’ refusal to negotiate owing to the United States’ lack of a treaty with the Ottoman Empire, of which Algiers was nominally a part. He commented on Algiers’ relations with European nations, emphasizing the high cost of negotiations due to the gifts required by the dey and the sums needed to redeem enslaved sailors. In the second part of the letter written on 3 April, Randall, likely using information obtained from Spanish officers who were quarantined with him, described the Algerian government and the composition and strength of its navy. For the effect of Randall’s commentary, see Jefferson’s second letter of 30 May (Jefferson, Papers , 9:595) and JA’s 6 June reply, below.

The second enclosure, in Short’s hand, was a declaration signed by Lamb that Randall’s departure from Algiers and return to Spain was owing to Lamb’s “particular Desire” (Jefferson, Papers , 9:536).

William Carmichael wrote to Jefferson on 16 May, enclosing Randall’s letter as well as one from the Conde d’Expilly, in which the Spanish negotiator referred to the Dey of Algiers’ refusal to treat. Carmichael indicated his willingness to go to Constantinople to open negotiations with the Ottomans (same, 9:538–540).