TREATIES WITH OTHER POWERS.

A subsequent letter from Mr. Jefferson, viz: 27th January, 1786, mentions that the Emperor is willing to proceed with us. There is reason to believe that Denmark is also ready, and that Naples has intimated the same thing.

Your Secretary has in former reports expressed his sentiments, respecting treaties of the kind proposed, but as the first overtures for them were made by America, it seems difficult now to retract, merely because the answers though favorable have been so long delayed. The delicate situation of the United States requires caution, and it might be better to submit to some temporary evil, rather than disgust those powers, who may now be ready to enter into treaties with us; and whose ports in case of war might be very convenient to us. Your Secretary is therefore much inclined to think, that it would be more prudent to renew the commission, and by limiting the duration of the proposed treaties to a short term, provide that the inconveniences arising from them, shall not be of longer continuance. Circumstances will by that time probably place the United States on more advantageous ground, and enable them to make treaties far more beneficial, than any that can now be expected. In his opinion however no further overtures should be made, nor any negotiations for such treaties commenced with any nation, except those who may have declared their readiness and inclination to enter into them.

All which is submitted to the wisdom of Congress. JOHN JAY.

VOL. II-56

FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JOHN JAY.

Sir,

Paris, December 24, 1785.

Since my last to you, which were dated the 6th and 11th of October, I have been honored with yours of the 1st, 14th and 15th of September. Since the departure of Mr. Fitzhugh, who carried my last, no confidential opportunity of writing has offered. The present I send by way of London, and being to pass through the post offices of both countries, shall mention in it nothing but what both are welcome to see.

I now transmit you Mr. Limozin's answer, relative to Fortin's case. You will see by this, that Fortin never had commenced a suit here at all, and of course was premature in his complaints of the delay of justice.

I enclose, also, a copy of a receipt of Commodore Jones, for moneys paid him on account of the prizes taken by him. It will enable the Commissioners to enter due debits. The Mareschal de Castries having been pleased to direct copies of the receipts to be furnished to me, in proportion as payments are made, I shall take care to forward them.

The prospectus of the mercantile establishment at Trieste, for a commerce with the United States, which I have the honor of now enclosing, was communicated to me by the Imperial Ambassador here, by order of his Sovereign, who asks the patronage of Congress for this company. I assured his Ambassador, that they might rely on every protection from Congress, should any circumstances ever call for their interference.

I take the liberty of sending you copies of two letters I wrote to Messrs. Van Staphorst, in answer to some inquiries they made of me, relative to some paper securities of the United States, proposed to them by Mr. Daniel Parker.

Being informed that they afterwards received these securities, as for the United States, perhaps these letters may throw light on that measure. At any rate, they will shew, that I considered it as out of my province, and meddled not in it, further than by informing them of matters of fact.

An American gentleman, who will leave this place for New York, about the 1st of February, will enable me to write to you on subjects, not proper for the present conveyance.

In the meantime, it may be expedient to mention that the duties here on American whale oil, are reduced to eleven livres, five sous, the barrel of five hundred pounds, French, or about two livres in the English hundred. They were, before, thirty-six livres fifteen sous, the barrel of five hundred pounds.

I have the honor to be, &c.

TH: JEFFERSON.

MR. LIMOZIN'S ANSWER RELATIVE TO FORTIN'S CASE.

Havre de Grace. October 4, 1785.

Most Honored Sir,

Agreeably to my promise, I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency a copy of the letter I wrote the 11th October, 1782, to Joseph Fortin, about the estate to

which he would be entitled, had his father not altered his Christian name when he landed in America.

With the copy of the said letter, is that of the register taken from the books of the Church, and an authentic advertisement of sales.

By these vouchers, your Excellency will be able to see, that it is impossible for that Fortin to claim the said estate, as long as he will call himself son of Joseph Fortin, as he does by the vouchers he sent me; because none of the family of the deceased Fortin who left that estate, was called Joseph.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ANDREW LIMOZIN.

FROM ANDREW LIMOZIN TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Havre de Grace, October 11, 1785.

Most Honored Sir,

I received, just now, the letters your Excellency has honored me with the 8th of this month.

I have not been imprudent enough to begin a law suit with the vouchers Fortin sent me, because, according to our laws, I was sure to lose it directly, and to prevent (by giving communication of such vouchers) the said Fortin to ever have the least right to the estate, about which I wrote to him.

For, under the name of Joseph Fortin, he will never be entitled to enjoy the said estate. For it is proved by the Church books, that none of the deceased Fortin's family, who left the estate, were called Joseph, but that there is one missing called Jean Baptiste.

I would not begin a law suit, because I should be sure to lose it, and who would re-imburse me for my expenses? There is no other method for that Fortin, but to get his vouchers under the name of Jean Baptiste, instead of that of Joseph, and if he cannot do it, he will never get a farthing.

I have the honor to send you certified copies of the two receipts which Mr. Jones has given to the treasurer of the port of L'Orient for the sums which have been paid to him, as shares of the prizes belonging to the subjects of the United States.

You will observe, sir, that Mr. Jones has received one hundred and five thousand one hundred and eighty-five livres, three sols, six deniers, for the crew of the Alliance frigate, and seventy five thousand eight hundred and fifty three livres, eighteen sols, four deniers, as well for the shares of prizes due to him personally, as for those of the Americans, belonging to the vessels called the Bon Homme Richard, and the Pallas frigate.

I have the honor to be, &c.

LE M. DE CASTRIES.