signature, to which I will add mine. A person
understanding English, French, and Italian, and at
the same time meriting confidence, was not to be met
with here. Colonel Franks, understanding the
two first languages perfectly, and a little Spanish
instead of Italian, occurred to Mr. Barclay as the
fittest person he could employ for a secretary.
We think his allowance (exclusive of his travelling
expenses and his board, which will be paid by Mr. Barclay
in common with his own) should be between one hundred
and one hundred and fifty guineas a year. Fix
it where you please, between these limits. What
is said in the instructions to Mr. Barclay, as to his
own allowance, was proposed by himself. My idea
as to the partition of the whole sum to which we are
limited (eighty thousand dollars), was, that one half
of it should be kept in reserve for the Algerines.
They certainly possess more than half the whole power
of the piratical States. I thought then, that
Morocco might claim the half of the remainder, that
is to say, one fourth of the whole. For this reason,
in the instructions, I propose twenty thousand dollars
as the limit of the expenses of the Morocco treaty.
Be so good as to think of it, and make it what you
please. I should be more disposed to enlarge than
abridge it, on account of their neighborhood to our
Atlantic trade. I did not think that these papers
should be trusted through the post office, and therefore,
as Colonel Franks is engaged in the business, he comes
with them. Passing by the diligence, the whole
expense will not exceed twelve or fourteen guineas.
I suppose we are bound to avail ourselves of the co-operation
of France. I will join you, therefore, in any
letter you think proper to write to the Count de Vergennes.
Would you think it expedient to write to Mr. Carmichael,
to interest the interposition of the Spanish court?
I will join you in any thing of this kind you will
originate. In short, be so good as to supply whatever
you may think necessary. With respect to the
money, Mr. Jay’s information to you was, that
it was to be drawn from Holland. It will rest
therefore with you, to avail Mr. Barclay of that fund,
either by your draft, or by a letter of credit to
the bankers in his favor, to the necessary amount.
I imagine the Dutch consul at Morocco may be rendered
an useful character, in the remittances of money to
Mr. Barclay, while at Morocco.
You were apprised, by a letter from Mr. Short, of the delay which had arisen in the execution of the treaty with Prussia. I wrote a separate letter, of which I enclose you a copy, hoping it would meet one from you, and set them again into motion.
I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, Dear Sir,
your most obedient
and most humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
[The following are the sketches of the letter to the Emperor of Morocco, and of the instructions to Mr. Barclay, referred to in the preceding letter.]