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LETTER CXX XI. TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.
Paris, November 4, 1785. DEAR SIR,
I had the honor of writing you on the 18th of October, and again, on the 25th of the same month. Both letters, being to pass through the post offices, were confined to particular subjects. The first of them acknowledged the receipt of yours, of September the 29th.
At length, a confidential opportunity arrives for conveying to you a cypher; it will be handed you by the bearer, Mr. Lambe. Co pies of it are in the hands of Mr. Adams, at London, Mr. Barclay, who is proceeding to Morocco, and Mr. Lambe, who is proceed ing to Algiers. This enables us to keep up such correspondences with each other, as may be 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 repre sented 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 re commendations he brought, pointed him out, in our opinion, as a person who would meet the approbation of Congress. We there fore 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 con siderable 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 Al giers, of August the 24th, inform me, that we had two vessels and their crews in captivity there, at that time. I have never had rea son 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.
