chase
it. The merchants holding public paper are obliged to part with it at
any price, to raise money.

I am, with much respect, Dear Sir, your most obedient and most humble
servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CXXXVIII.--TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, March 21, 1793

TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS.

Philadelphia, March 21, 1793.

Sir,

The death of Admiral Paul Jones first, and afterwards of Mr. Barclay,
to whom the mission to Algiers, explained in the enclosed papers, was
successively confided, have led the President to desire you to undertake
the execution of it in person. These papers, being copies of what had
been delivered to them, will serve as your guide. But Mr. Barclay having
been also charged with a mission to Morocco, it will be necessary to
give you some trouble with respect to that also.

Mr. Nathaniel Cutting, the bearer hereof, is despatched specially, first
to receive from Mr. Pinckney in London any papers or information, which
his agency in the Algerine business may have enabled him to communicate
to you: he will then proceed to deliver the whole to you, and accompany
and aid you in the character of secretary.

It is thought necessary that you should, in the first instance, settle
Mr. Barclay's accounts respecting the Morocco mission, which will
probably render it necessary that you should go to Gibraltar. The
communications you have had with Mr. Barclay in this mission, will
assist you in your endeavors at a settlement. You know the sum received
by Mr. Barclay on that account, and we wish as exact a statement as can
be made of the manner in which it has been laid out, and what part of
its proceeds is now on hand. You will be pleased to make an inventory of
these proceeds now existing. If they or any part of them can be used for
the Algerine mission, we would have you by all means apply them to that
use, debiting the Algerine fund and crediting that of Morocco with the
amount of such application. If they cannot be so used, then dispose of
the perishable articles to the best advantage, and if you can sell those
not perishable for what they cost, do so, and what you cannot so sell,
deposite in any safe place under your own power. In this last stage of
the business, return us an exact account, 1. Of the specific articles
remaining on hand for that mission, and their value. 2. Of its cash on
hand. 3. Of any money which may be due to or from Mr. Barclay or any
other person on account of this mission: and take