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This will be accompanied by the gazettes of France and Ley- den, to the present date.
I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the highest esteem and respect, Sir,
your most obedient and
most humble servant,
TH: JEFFERSON.
LETTER CXXII.
TO ELBRIDGE GERRY.
Paris, October 11, 1785.
DEAR SIR,
I received, last night, the letter signed by yourself and the other gentlemen, delegates of Massachusetts and Virginia, recommend ing Mr. Sayre for the Barbary negotiations. As that was the first moment of its suggestion to me, you will perceive by my letter of this day, to Mr. Jay, that the business was already established in other hands, as your letter came at the same time with the pa pers actually signed by Mr. Adams, for Messrs. Barclay and Lambe, according to arrangements previously taken between us. I should, with great satisfaction, have acceded to the recommenda tion in the letter : not indeed as to Morocco, because, no better man than Mr. Barclay could have been substituted ; but as to Al giers, Mr. Lambe being less known to me. However, I hope well of him, and rely considerably on the aid he will receive from his secretary, Mr. Randall, who bears a very good character. I suppose Mr. Adams entitled to the same just apology, as matters were settled otherwise, before he probably received your letter. I pray you to communicate this to the other gentlemen of your and our delegation, as my justification.
The peace made between the Emperor and Dutch, leaves Europe quiet for this campaign. As yet, we do not know where the storm, dissipated for the moment, will gather again. Proba bly over Bavaria or Turkey. But this will be for another year.
When our instructions were made out, they were conceived on a general scale, and supposed that all the European nations would be disposed to form commercial connections with us. It is evident, however, that a very different degree of importance was annexed to these different states. Spain, Portugal, England and France, were most important. Holland, Sweden, Denmark, in a middling
