Papers of John Adams, volume 21
Supposing that the first Consular convention agreed on
with France, and not ratified by Congress, may explain as well as account
for some articles in that which was last agreed on & ratified, I take
84 the liberty of inclosing, for the
members of the Senate, copies of the Two conventions as they were printed
side by side, to shew where they differed.1 these differences are not as great
as were to be wished, but they were all which could be obtained. I have the
honour to be with the most profound respect and esteem, Sir, / Your most
obedient / & most humble servt
RC (DNA:RG 46, Records of the U.S.
Senate); addressed: “The Vice-President of the United / States /
President of the Senate”; internal address: “The Vice president of the
U.S. Presidt: of the Senate”; docketed:
“2d: Cong: Sess: 1st: / Mr. Jeffersons letter / to
the Vice President / of the United States / and President of the /
Senate. / Novr. 26th. / 1791.”
For the development of the Franco-American consular
convention, see vols. 16:501–502, 505;
17:248, 20:91–92. Jefferson’s enclosures, not found, were copies of the
unratified 1784 consular convention and the ratified 1788 convention.
Three days after Jefferson wrote this letter, the Senate passed the
consular bill, which the House amended and George Washington signed into
law on 14 April 1792. Under the act, Louis XVI’s title shifted from
“Most Christian Majesty” to “King of the French,” and consuls were
banned from participation in the carrying trade (Jefferson, Papers
, 22:335–336;
U.S. Statutes at
Large
, 1:254–257).