At length a confidential opportunity arrives for conveying to you a cipher; it will be handed you by the bearer, Mr, Lambe.  Copies of it are in the hands of Mr. Adams, at London, Mr. Barclay, who is proceeding to Morocco, and Mr. Lambe, who is proceeding to Algiers.  This enables us to keep up such correspondences with each other, as maybe requisite.  Congress, in the spring of 1784, gave powers to Mr. Adams, Dr. Franklin, and myself, to treat with the Barbary States.  But they gave us no money for them, and the other duties assigned us rendered it impossible for us to proceed thither in person.  These things having been represented to them, they assigned to us a certain sum of money, and gave us powers to delegate agents to treat with those States, and to form preliminary articles, but confining to us the signing of them in a definitive form.  They did not restrain us in the appointment of the agents; but the orders of Congress were brought to us by Mr. Lambe, they had waited for him four months, and the recommendations he brought, pointed him out, in our opinion, as a person who would meet the approbation of Congress.  We therefore appointed him to negotiate with the Algerines.  His manners and appearance are not promising.  But he is a sensible man, and seems to possess some talents which may be proper in a matter of bargain.  We have joined with him, as secretary, a Mr. Randall, from New York, in whose prudence we hope he will find considerable aid.  They now proceed to Madrid, merely with the view of seeing you, as we are assured they will receive from you lights which may be useful to them.  I hear that D’Expilly and the Algerine ministers have gone from Madrid.  Letters from Algiers, of August the 24th, inform me, that we had two vessels and their crews in captivity there, at that time.  I have never had reason to believe certainly, that any others had been captured.  Should Mr. Lambe have occasion to draw bills, while in Spain, on Mr. Adams, you may safely assure the purchasers that they will be paid.

An important matter detains Mr. Barclay some days longer, and his journey to Madrid will be circuitous.  Perhaps he may arrive there a month later than Lambe.  It would be well if the Emperor of Morocco could, in the mean time, know that such a person is on the road.  Perhaps you may have an opportunity of notifying this to him officially, by asking from him passports for Mr. Barclay and his suite.  This would be effecting too[sp.] good purposes at once, if you can find an opportunity.

Your letter of September the 2d did not get to my hands till these arrangements were all taken between Mr. Adams and myself, and the persons appointed.  That gave me the first hint that you would have acted in this business.  I mean no flattery when I assure you, that no person would have better answered my wishes.  At the same time, I doubt whether Mr. Adams and myself should have thought ourselves justifiable in withdrawing a servant of the United States from a post equally important with those, which prevented our acting personally in the same business.  I am sure, that, remaining where you are, you will be able to forward much the business, and that you will do it with the zeal you have hitherto manifested on every occasion.