The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 1 (of 9)

The following resolution was passed by Congress relative to Mr. Jefferson's mission to Europe.—Ed.

BY THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

    April 1st, 1783.

Resolved, That the Secretary for Foreign Affairs inform the Hon. Thomas Jefferson, in answer to his letter of the 13th of March, that Congress consider the object of his appointment so far advanced as to render it unnecessary for him to pursue his voyage, and that Congress are well satisfied with the readiness he has shown in undertaking a service which from the present situation of affairs they apprehend can be dispensed with.

    Extracts from the minutes,
    Charles Thompson, (copied)
    Secretary.

110

Mr. Jefferson being released from his mission to Europe on account of the news of peace, and having returned to Virginia, was again appointed by the Legislature a delegate to Congress on the 6th of June, 1783. On the 3d of the following November he arrived at Trenton, where Congress was then sitting, and took his seat on the 4th, on which day that body adjourned to meet at Annapolis on the 26th. Mr. Jefferson remained in the discharge of his duties as a delegate until the 7th of May, 1784, when Congress, having determined to add a third minister plenipotentiary to Mr. Adams and Dr. Franklin, conferred the appointment on him. On the 6th of August, 1784, he reached Paris. The purpose for which he had been associated with Mr. Adams and Dr. Franklin was to negotiate commercial treaties with the European nations. In June, 1785, Mr. Adams removed to London as our minister at that court, and Dr. Franklin obtained permission to return to America, thus leaving Mr. Jefferson our only representative at Paris in the character of minister plenipotentiary. Here he remained until the 26th of September, 1789, something more than five years, when he took leave of Paris, and landed at Norfolk in the latter part of November.—Ed.

111

The remainder of this letter is in cypher to which there is no key in the Editor's possession.

112

The original of this letter was in cypher. But annexed to the copy in cypher, is the above literal copy by the author.

113

Mr. Short was Mr. Jefferson's private secretary. The propositions of our ministers for commercial treaties, were received with coldness by all the European powers except Prussia, Denmark, and Tuscany. Frederick met their propositions cordially, and a treaty was soon concluded with his minister at the Hague. With Denmark and Tuscany our own ministers, from considerations of policy, protracted the negotiations until their powers expired.—Ed.

114

Livy, Sallust, Cæsar, Cicero's epistles, Suetonius, Tacitus, Gibbon.

115

This was the officer who, on the evacuation of Fort Mifflin, after the British had passed the chevaux de frise on the Delaware, was left with fifteen men to destroy the works, which he did, and brought off his men successfully. He had, before that, been commander of the Rattlesnake sloop of war, and had much annoyed the British trade. Being bred a seaman, he has returned to that vocation.

116

A hogshead of tobacco weighs generally about one thousand pounds English, equal to nine hundred and seventeen pounds French. The seven hogsheads he sailed with would therefore weigh, according to this estimate, six thousand four hundred and twenty-three pounds. They actually weighed more on the first essay. When afterwards weighed at Landivisian, they had lost eighty-four pounds on being carried into a drier air. Perhaps, too, a difference of weights may have entered into this apparent loss.

117

Minister of Foreign Affairs for France.