Missionaries from
Cambridge would soon be greeted with more welcome, than from the
tritheistical school of Andover. Such are my wishes, such would be my
welcomes, warm and cordial as the assurances of my esteem and respect
for you.
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER CLXVI.--TO JOHN ADAMS
TO JOHN ADAMS.
Monticello, November 1, 1822.
Dear Sir,
I have racked my memory and ransacked my papers, to enable myself to
answer the inquiries of your favor of October the 15th; but to little
purpose. My papers furnish me nothing, my memory, generalities only.
I know that while I was in Europe, and anxious about the fate of our
seafaring men, for some of whom, then in captivity in Algiers, we were
treating, and all were in like danger, I formed, undoubtingly, the
opinion that our government, as soon as practicable, should provide a
naval force sufficient to keep the Barbary States in order; and on this
subject we communicated together, as you observe. When I returned to
the United States and took part in the administration under General
Washington, I constantly maintained that opinion; and in December, 1790,
took advantage of a reference to me from the first Congress which met
after I was in office, to report in favor of a force sufficient for
the protection of our Mediterranean commerce; and I laid before them
an accurate statement of the whole Barbary force, public and private.
I think General Washington approved of building vessels of war to that
extent.
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