Papers of John Adams, volume 20
The honour I had of an Aquaintance with your Excellency Shortly after your arrival at the Court of Varsailles; and some friendly letters you was pleased to write me after my return to Alicante, together with my affection for the United States to which you have rendered so many signal services, Impel me to take the liberty of addressing you at this time with my Sincerest Congratulations on your being Ellected Vice President; accept Sir of my warmest wishes for your wellfare and happiness, and may that Success and Prosperity which has so much distinguished your Character continue to attend you thro’ a long And useful Life.1
As by a long residence here as a Merchant I have aquired a tolorable knowledg of the Language and manners of the People, and the Intrests of this Countrey with respect to Ours and of Ours with respect to this; I may be able occationally to give such Informations on those points as your Station of second Legislator of our Countrey may require for your goverment in frameing any laws respecting our commerce with Spain, in which should you think I can be any way useful I Shall be highly honoured by recieving any of your Commands
As Madrid is at so great a distance from every part of the Coast of
Spain; a person who Resides there cannot be of Such immediate service to our Vessels and
the Active part of our commerce as may often be required, which will I Suppose make it
Necessary to follow the Example of Other Nations, and appoint Consuls in the Principal
Ports, whoes business it will be to attend to those matters in perticular, and Give such
advices to Congress as may be prudent and useful in that Line, and as I have by
approbation of the Honorable Mr
93 Jay and Mr. Carmichael
continued to do the office of Consule ever Since the Independance, I hope you will do me
the honour to confirm me in it, and you may depend on my utmost Exertions to be useful
and Give every Satisfaction to the United states, with honour to your recommendation,
being with the greatest respect and Veneration / Dear Sir / Your Excellency’s Obedient
and Affectionate / Humble Servant
tMontgomery
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency the Honorable John Adams.”
Irish-born merchant Robert Montgomery (b. 1754) solicited Thomas
Jefferson for a consular appointment in Spain on 22 May 1787, stating that he had
operated “the first American House of Commerce” there since 1776 and that John Jay
would vouch for him. Throughout JA’s and Jefferson’s diplomatic tenure in
Europe, Montgomery regularly reported on the Barbary corsairs’ movements, plague
conditions in Spain, and the plight of the American captives in Algiers. His brother
John also petitioned JA on his behalf, writing on 16 Feb. 1790 and 28
June (both Adams Papers). George
Washington nominated Robert Montgomery as consul at Alicante on 19 Feb. 1793. He was
confirmed by the Senate the next day and served until his death in 1823 (Jefferson, Papers
, 11:376; Franklin, Papers
, 26:242; U.S. Senate, Exec. Jour.
, 2d Cong., 2d sess., p. 130, 131; Philadelphia National Gazette, 21 Feb. 1824).