An additional motive for this confidential mission arose in the same quarter.  The Court of Lisbon had on several occasions made the most amicable advances for cultivating friendship and intercourse with the United States.  The exchange of a diplomatic character had been informally, but repeatedly, suggested on their part.  It was our interest to meet this nation in its friendly dispositions and to concur in the exchange proposed.  But my wish was at the same time that the character to be exchanged should be of the lowest and most economical grade.  To this it was known that certain rules of long standing at that Court would produce obstacles.  Colonel Humphreys was charged with dispatches to the prime minister of Portugal and with instructions to endeavor to arrange this to our views.  It happened, however, that previous to his arrival at Lisbon the Queen had appointed a minister resident to the United States.  This embarrassment seems to have rendered the difficulty completely insurmountable.  The minister of that Court in his conferences with Colonel Humphreys, professing every wish to accommodate, yet expresses his regrets that circumstances do not permit them to concur in the grade of charge d’affaires, a grade of little privilege or respectability by the rules of their Court and held in so low estimation with them that no proper character would accept it to go abroad.  In a letter to the Secretary of State he expresses the same sentiments, and announces the appointment on their part of a minister resident to the United States, and the pleasure with which the Queen will receive one from us at her Court.  A copy of his letter, and also of Colonel Humphreys’s giving the details of this transaction, will be delivered to you.

On consideration of all circumstances I have determined to accede to the desire of the Court of Lisbon in the article of grade.  I am aware that the consequences will not end here, and that this is not the only instance in which a like change may be pressed.  But should it be necessary to yield elsewhere also, I shall think it a less evil than to disgust a government so friendly and so interesting to us as that of Portugal.

I do not mean that the change of grade shall render the mission more expensive.

I have therefore nominated David Humphreys minister resident from the United States to Her Most Faithful Majesty the Queen of Portugal.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

UNITED STATES, February 22, 1791.

Gentlemen of the Senate: 

I will proceed to take measures for the ransom of our citizens in captivity at Algiers, in conformity with your resolution of advice of the 1st instant, so soon as the moneys necessary shall be appropriated by the Legislature and shall be in readiness.

The recognition of our treaty with the new Emperor of Morocco requires also previous appropriation and provision.  The importance of this last to the liberty and property of our citizens induces me to urge it on your earliest attention.