rience we do not think the verbal assurances Gardoqui sufficient to affirm to you what a written answer will be; it will be the same, however, from the duke, that it would have been from him. In the conversations which Mr. Carmichael has had with him he has always found his sentiments consonant to the professions made by Gardoqui.]

We shall do ourselves the honour of writing to you again without delay, and in the mean time beg you, &c.

WM. CARMICHAEL,
W. SHORT.

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO CONGRESS, RELATIVE TO SPAIN and algiers. MARCH 3, 1794.

I TRANSMIT to you an extract from a letter of Mr. Short, relative to our affairs with Spain; and copies of two letters from our minister at Lisbon, with their enclosures, containing intelligence from Algiers. The whole of these communications are made in cenfidence, except the passage in Mr. Short's letter, which respects the Spanish convoy.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Extract of a Letter from Wm. Short to the Secretary of State. St. Lorenzo, November 6, 1793.

ON our learning that the Portuguese government had granted the first convoy for American vessels, and mentioning this circumstance to M. de Gardoqui, he advised the making a request to this effect here; and this with a kind of assurance of success, so different from his usual manner, as showed he was confident thereof. Mr. Carmichael accordingly did it; and he informed me yesterday that he had received an immediate answer from the duke de la Alcudia no tifying him of government having already come to that resolution. This will add also to the security and certainty of Mr. Blake's embarkation, and enable us to determine his departure with less regard to the port, although as yet we do not know what time is fixed for the Spanish convoy. We shall regret less the delay he has met with here if it should enable us to send by him the answer expected.

Mr. Carmichael informs me that in his audiences of the duke (since he has taken into his hands this subject which had been communicated by us very fully in our letter of Oc

tober 1st to M. de Gardoqui) he has regularly pressed him for the answer, and as regularly been promised that it should be given with the least possible delay. He mentioned that a recurrence to papers was necessary, which, added to the present crowd of business, had rendered some delay unavoidable.

This shows that he had not judged proper to reduce the answer to its simplest terms, which might have been that they would or would not interfere between the United States and their Indian neighbours. The mind of government must be fully made up on that subject, except as far as depends on future circumstances; and if their answer is to be delayed for them, it would certainly not be proper for us to detain Mr. Blake on that account.

I have already had the honour of writing you an account of the ordinance with respect to the commerce of New Or leans. M. de Gardoqui has for a long time past had the intention of introducing several changes there. He bas lately informed us Mr. Rendon (formerly charge des affaires of Spain at Philadephia) was appointed intendant of that place, with very extensive powers, and independent of the Baron de Carondelet. He desired us to announce this in. America; and conceives it will give much satisfaction there as an indication of the sentiments of this court towards the United States. His conversation thereon would give an inference that he now contemplated a communication with New Orleans by our citizens, which the ordinance above mentioned and his former conversations did not admit of. So far as the injuries the United States have hitherto received have procceded from the conduct of the Spanish agents, or are to depend in future on the manner of execut ing the orders sent from hence, I conceive from M. Rendon's character and knowledge of the United States, that his appointment is a favourable circumstance to the harmony of the two countries.

D. Humphreys Esq. to the Secretary of State. Alicant, Nov. 19, 1793.

SIR,-I had the honour to write to you on the 16th; and in a postscript to my letter of that date, to Mr. Church, requested him to inform you, that the largest of the Algerine frigates was then coming into this harbour. It prov ed not to be the largest, but one of the others, which had returned some days since from a cruise in the Atlantick. The captain reported to Mr. Montgomery (who at my re

quest went along side of the frigate) that he had taken seven American vessels, and carried three of them with him into Algiers. The only names of the captains which he recollected were, captain Newman, from Cadiz to Amsterdam, with sugar, captain Moss, from Cadiz to Hamburgh, with hides, &c. and captain Jackson, from Malaga to America, with wine and raisins. In the midst of these distressing events I think it a duty incumbent on me to be as particular as I am able in my correspondence.

On the 15th inst. the brig Marian, captain Rosseter, from New York, arrived at Carthagena. He saw no cruisers until he was entering the bay, when he had a very extraordinary escape; as there was a xebeck in the harbour at the time.

I have as yet heard nothing in answer to the memorial and letter mentioned in my former despatches. With sentiments of perfect esteem, &c. D. HUMPHREYS.

P. S. The Algerine frigate sailed yesterday on another

cruise.

P. S. I open this letter to let you know the dey has refused giving a passport. I will write the particulars by the next post, as I shall lose the opportunity, if I do not close this instantly.

There are 12 masters, 16 mates, and 87 mariners prisoners at Algiers.

D. Humphreys, Esq. to the Secretary of State. Alicant, Nov. 23, 1793.

SIR,-In a second postscript to my letter of the 19th 1 informed you of the refusal of the dey to grant a passport. I have now the honour to enclose to you copies of letters from the Swedish consul at Algiers, from his brother Pierre Eric Skjoldebrand, Esq. and from captain O'Frien. By the tenour of these you will clearly comprehend the actual disposition of the dey, and the real state of affairs in that regency.

From these communications it will also be but too evident, that no choice is left for the United States but to prepare a naval force with all possible expedition for the protection of their trade; and that there is but too much reason to fear, the corsairs, under a perfect sense of security from danger, elated with impunity and success, will infest the channel of England, and even the coasts of America, in another season, unless the most vigorous and decisive measures be instantly adopted on our part.

I shall advise with Mr. Carmichael and Mr. Short on any ulterior plans to which recourse may be had in this critical state of affairs on this side of the Atlantick.

It has been thought best to let the property of the United States remain on board the vessel in this harbour under the care of Mr. Montgomery, until Mr. Carmichael and Mr. Short can be consulted to know whether it can be landed by an order from court without duty, or in what manner it will be advisable to dispose of it.

I have made such effectual arrangements for supplying the immediate wants of our distressed citizens in captivity, who have been stripped of every thing but life, as the nature of the case seemed to dictate.

The copies of my letters to several persons in Algiers cannot be prepared to be transmitted to you by this conveyance, but I propose to have them enclosed in my next despatches.

As there remains nothing farther to be done here at present; as there has been an Algerine frigate cruising off this harbour for several days past in such a manner as to excite suspicions of her object; as it was judged by Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Cutting altogether unsafe for my person to be intercepted by an Algerine cruiser, even on board a neutral ves sel; and as there were several subjects of great importance to the publick on which I wished very much to confer with Mr. Carmichael and Mr. Short, I could not hesitate to take measures for proceeding directly to Madrid. It will not, however, be practicable to obtain the means of conveyance before the middle or perhaps before the end of next week.

But I hope, sir, you will pardon me if you should not receive letters dated between this time and that of my arrival at Madrid. With sentiments of perfect respect, &c.

D. HUMPHREYS.

P. S. In confirmation of the opinion of Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Cutting, respecting the invalidity of the protection afforded by a neutral vessel, I forgot to cite an expression of the dey, as related in a letter to Mr. Montgomery-"Let the American ambassador take care how he comes here, under the protection of any flag whatever."

In order to make you acquainted with the extent and par ticulars of our vessels captured, so far as I have been able to learn, I enclose to you the copy of a letter from captain Mc Shane.

TRANSLATION.

Swedish Consul to D. Humphreys, Esq. Algiers, Nov. 13,

1793.

SIR, I have had the honour of receiving your obliging letter of the 5th of this month, and am extremely flattered with the confidence and favourable opinion you have been pleased to entertain of me; I am nevertheless in the disagreeable situation of not being able to follow the inclination and sincere desire I have of meriting your noble and open confidence, worthy of a citizen of a free and respectable nation.

There are in Algiers so many jealous observers at this critical epoch, when the dey is about concluding two treaties of peace, and when every one of his ancient friends fears being sacrificed to those treaties of peace with a nation whose only policy is that of want of faith in them, as the soldiers, being unoccupied and without the prospect of prizes and plunder, will soon make some revolution which may cost the dey his life. Therefore, the least step I might make here in favour of the Americans (that is to say in political affairs, because to assist poor slaves, of whatever nation they may be, is an act of humanity for which a consul cannot be reproached with propriety) would not fail being instantly reported to several courts of Europe, who would complain to the court of Sweden, which would place me in a very unpleasant situation, for having acted against that foolish and imagined commercial interest of nations, and without the order or permission of my court. For the same reasons, sir, I have not ventured even to deliver your letter of credence and memorial to the dey; but at the same time being cordially attached to your nation, sir, desiring ardently to be able to contribute to the deliverance of your poor and unhappy countrymen from slavery (now amounting to 115) and endeavouring to merit as far as in my power the good opinion with which you ho nour me, I engaged my brother, who, not being here in any official capacity, having no appointment from our court, has followed me to Barbary from fraternal friendship, to remain here as long as he pleases, who, knowing the political affairs and channels of negotiation here, as well as myself, and having hitherto received several particular marks of favour and distinction from the dey, to undertake all that you have been pleased to confide; and I can assure you, sir, that every thing that is possible to be done for you and your nation he will do, and that he, as well as myself, will be happy in finding opportunities of being useful to a nation whom we both

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