Papers of John Adams, volume 21
The inclosed information relative to ransom & peace with the Algerines, being newly come to hand, I take the liberty of communicating it to you, & through you to the Senate.1 it concurs in some facts and opinions with what we had before learnt thro other channels, and differs in some others, so as, on the whole, to leave us still in considerable uncertainty as to interesting points.
I have the honor to be with sentiments of the most perfect respect, Sir, / Your most obedient / & most humble servant
FC (DLC:Jefferson Papers); internal address: “The Vice-President of the U.S. / President of the Senate.”
Not found. Jefferson enclosed an extract of William
Short’s 24 Aug. letter reporting that Ali Hassan Bashaw, the new dey of
Algiers, appeared amenable to ransoming the American captives. The
Senate referred the matter to committee and postponed further discussion
(Jefferson, Papers
, 22:66–72, 383; U.S. Senate, Exec. Jour.
, 2d Cong., 1st sess.,
p. 91, 92, 100).