At a glanceKey from adjacent plaintext · partial (97% of the cipher)
- The letters
- Eighteen letters with coded passages, 1786–1791: Thomas Barclay to Jefferson and Adams (Madrid 1786, Lorient 1787), Jefferson to Barclay (4 July 1787), to Adams (28 September 1787) and to William Carmichael at Madrid (1787–1791), Carmichael to Jefferson (1788–89), and William Short to John Jay (Paris, October 1789).
- Where
- Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Papers, series 1, and National Archives, RG 59, Despatches from US Ministers to France, vol. 1 (microfilm M34 roll 2). Printed in The Papers of Thomas Jefferson (Founders Online). Catalogue no. 483.
- The cipher
- A two-part code of about 1,750 numbers for words, syllables, letters and stops, written with dots between the groups, with several numbers for common items. No key sheet survives.
- How it was deciphered
- Jefferson decoded Barclay’s and Carmichael’s letters between the lines and kept clear-text sheets of his own coded letters. Every group was transcribed from the images and its value taken only from those decodings: 348 values (key.tsv).
- What it says
- Barclay’s arrest for debt at Bordeaux, the Barbary captives, Spanish policy on the Mississippi and the Kentucky settlers, the Russian, Swedish and Turkish wars, and in 1791 the Mississippi and a joint front against the British navigation act.
- Still open
- Jefferson’s coded postscript to Adams (the press copy is blotted; the original is at the Massachusetts Historical Society), and about twenty groups that occur only once, among them the editors’ Rayneval, trouble and sea of 4 July 1787.
- Credit
- The reading of every passage was first printed by the editors of The Papers of Thomas Jefferson (Julian P. Boyd and successors, 1954–1982); it was used here to align the text and is checked group by group below.
01 The code and the letters
In 1785 Jefferson and John Adams, the American commissioners for treaties, sent Thomas Barclay to Morocco and John Lamb to Algiers. Each carried a copy of a code made for the mission, so that the agents, the commissioners and William Carmichael, the American chargé at Madrid, could write to one another in secret. The Jefferson Papers number it Code No. 11. Lamb never gave Carmichael his copy; the one Barclay left at Madrid, copied by a clerk and handed over by David Franks, turned out to be a different code (Code No. 13), and Carmichael could not read Jefferson’s coded letter of 25 September 1787. Jefferson sent him a checked copy on 1 February 1788, and from May 1788 they wrote to each other in it. In 1790 Jefferson, by then Secretary of State, had to send to Philadelphia for Barclay’s copy because the Department had none, and in August 1790 he replaced it; the editors think he believed the Spanish ministry could read it.
The editors decoded every coded passage, “employing a partially reconstructed key”, and printed their guesses in brackets. They never printed the key. Of Jefferson’s letter to Barclay of 4 July 1787 they wrote that they had “only partially reconstructed this code (Code No. 11), for which no key has been found”.
| Letter | Groups | Plaintext from |
|---|---|---|
| Barclay to the Commissioners, Madrid, 10 April 1786 | 153 | Jefferson’s interlinear decoding |
| Barclay to Jefferson, undated [about 3 July 1787], two footnotes | 7 | none |
| Jefferson to Barclay, Paris, 4 July 1787 (press copy) | 17 | none (editors only) |
| Jefferson to Carmichael, 25 September 1787 | 219 | Jefferson’s clear-text sheet |
| Jefferson to Adams, 28 September 1787 (press copy) | about 30 | blotted, not legible |
| Jefferson to Carmichael, 15 December 1787, test line | 40 | the opening of his letter of 14 June 1787 |
| Carmichael to Jefferson, 8 May, 29 May, 5 June, 24 July 1788 | 509 | Jefferson’s interlinear decoding |
| Jefferson to Carmichael, 3 June 1788 | 53 | Jefferson’s list of the coded passages |
| Jefferson to Carmichael, 25 December 1788 (press copy) | 32 | none (editors only) |
| Carmichael to Jefferson, 26 January 1789 | 182 | Jefferson’s interlinear decoding |
| Jefferson to Carmichael, 9 August 1789 (press copy) | 27 | none (editors only) |
| Short to Jay, Paris, 9, 25 and 28 October 1789 (Nos. 2, 5, 6) | 120 | the clerk’s decoding in the State Department copy (Nos. 2 and 6) |
| Jefferson to Carmichael, Philadelphia, 11 April 1791 | 544 | the “decyphered” sheet sent with it |
Barclay’s undated letter is filed in the Library of Congress under his letters of 12 June 1787 (frames 0476–0481 of the series); Short’s No. 6 of 28 October 1789 (“the ransom of our prisoners”) is a coded passage that the Founders search for Code No. 11 does not list.
02 The key and where it comes from
Jefferson read Barclay’s and Carmichael’s coded letters with his own copy and wrote the meaning over the numbers, a word over several groups or a syllable over one. For his own coded letters he kept a clear-text sheet, and the State Department clerk wrote the meaning over Short’s numbers in the despatch book. All of this was transcribed group by group from the images, and a value was admitted to the key only from those decodings (grade H), from a clear sheet where the word sits on a single group, or from a pair printed in the editors’ notes from Jefferson’s or Carmichael’s own statements. The editors’ reading of a letter was used to align it, never as evidence for a value.
The result is 348 values (key.tsv). The code is two-part: the numbers do not follow the alphabet (1196 is the, 1199 to, 1201 back, 1194 si), so a missing value cannot be bracketed by its neighbours. It has homophones: the full stop is 1013 or 1235, is 1363 or 1306, the 1196 or 1190, their 1365 or 1565, minister 396 or 896. Carmichael’s copy had 1360 where Jefferson’s had 1363 (is), and Jefferson’s corrections over Carmichael’s numbers (1567 to 1527 sa, 1396 to 1390 ne, 146 to 140 Sweden and others) are in the transcription notes. About 800 distinct numbers occur in the eighteen letters, so most of the code is still unknown.
The printed test line of 15 December 1787, with which Jefferson checked Carmichael’s copy, has two misprints in the edition: the twelfth group is 519, not 515, and the fifteenth 1097, not 1057. Its plaintext is the opening of his letter of 14 June 1787: the first four groups are De-ar Si-r (1420.1250.1194.1307), and groups 14–40 decode as “[go]t back to Paris three days ago, I resume immediately the correspondence with which you have been pleased to”.
03 The reading, and the editors’ guesses checked
Of 1,917 counted groups, 1,868 (97.4%) carry a reading. 1,519 are graded H (a contemporary decoding or clear sheet), 153 C (the value is attested in another letter and agrees), 216 M (the editors’ reading, not checked by any other occurrence) and 16 I (a guess with no support). Jefferson’s quotations of Carmichael’s numbers and groups struck out by the writers (37 in all) are not counted.
The brief for this target was to settle the bracketed readings of the July 1787 letters. Each was checked against every occurrence of its groups:
- Jefferson to Barclay, 4 July 1787. M. 1420. 374. 1139. 1128. is M. de Mon-tmor-in: the same three groups spell Montmorin in the clear-text sheet of 25 September 1787, and 1420 = de is confirmed by the test line (De-ar). The editors’ [Rayneval] is 1336.459.1089. The last group ends imperi-al in Carmichael’s letter of 29 May 1788 (Jefferson’s decoding), which fits -val, but it is la in la-t-ter twice in 1791, and 1336 and 459 occur nowhere else. Rayneval, Montmorin’s first secretary, is the likely man, but the code does not prove it (grade I). The editors’ [trouble] is 223, a single occurrence (grade I).
- The editors’ [sea] is contradicted. “Opposition from another quarter of the 495.”: 495 is the first half of larger in Barclay’s letter of 10 April 1786, “a 495.1243 sum”, with Jefferson’s larger written over it and 1243 = -er (Stadholder, premier, error). Barclay writes 4 as a looped stroke, as in 1458 can on the line above; there is no leading 1. Sea is 1164 in Jefferson’s decoding of L’Oiseau (l-sea-w, the editors’ note). The word Jefferson meant is open: “of the larg-” does not read, so either he slipped in encoding or 495 has a second value no decoding shows. His letter to Jay of 21 June 1787 puts the opposition with the ministry of justice (Lamoignon, the garde des sceaux), not across the sea.
- Barclay’s footnotes, about 3 July 1787. The dagger note is 265, Congress: Jefferson wrote Congress over 265 in Carmichael’s letter of 26 January 1789, and it is the Congress of Barclay’s 1786 letter. The asterisk note has six groups, not the five the editors’ “The Pro[cu]re[ur]” implies: 1196.1084.758.861.1307.626, with 1196 = the, 861 = e and 1307 = r from Jefferson’s decodings. It reads The [Pro][cur]e r [General?], the Procureur général Dudon who had Barclay released; 1084, 758 and 626 occur only here.
- Jefferson to Carmichael, 25 December 1788. “our Kentuck[ians]” is 457.980.913.537.814, and 537 is u (Jefferson’s U-lloa), so the editors’ [ians] on 537.814 is a wrong split: our Ke-nt-u-[814], with 814 unknown (ck, cky or ckians).
- Jefferson to Carmichael, 9 August 1789. 1107 is t, the end of Braban-t, so the editors’ [tal]k is t-alk; the group read 1001 at first is 1111, this (“Is this true?”). “Their” is written 1569, which is you in Carmichael’s letter of 8 May 1788: probably a slip for 1565, their.
04 How it was done
- The eighteen Founders documents that mention Code No. 11 were collected, with the editors’ notes on single numbers. No published key or later study of the code was found.
- The Library of Congress images were found through the item records and, once those sat behind a bot check, by reading the thumbnails of the image server volume by volume; that is how Barclay’s misfiled letter and the 1791 letter were reached. Short’s despatches came from the National Archives catalogue.
- Subagents transcribed every coded passage group by group with Jefferson’s decoding or the clear sheet beside it; the doubtful groups named above were re-read on the images at two to four times enlargement.
- A segmentation solver that cut each passage’s plaintext among its groups was tried and set aside: a few wrong starting values spread through the blotted 1787 press copy. The key was built instead only from the decodings (attested_key.py), and every group was graded (make_reading.py).
- Each bracketed reading was then checked against all the other occurrences of its groups.
The key is recovered from adjacent plaintext: the contemporary decodings and clear-text sheets in the same correspondence, not a key sheet. The statistical test of the project does not apply: words spread over several groups make a quarter of the read groups look polyphonic. The check is that every value in key.tsv is a contemporary decoding.
05 What remains
- Jefferson to Adams, 28 September 1787: the coded postscript (about 30 groups) is blotted past reading in the Library of Congress press copy. The editors read the original at the Massachusetts Historical Society, not seen here.
- Single-occurrence groups (grade I or open): 495, 223, 1336 and 459 in the letter of 4 July 1787; 1084, 758 and 626 in Barclay’s footnote; 814, 904, 1581 and 1438 in the letter of 25 December 1788; the group under a paper flaw in t-alk (9 August 1789); 1612 for the Marquis (Lafayette) in Short’s No. 5, which has no decoding in the copy.
- Groups 5–13 of the 1787 test line: the plaintext (the heading and “Having”) is known, but not how it falls among the nine groups.
- 47 groups of the 1791 press copy and 173 of the 25 September 1787 one have blotted digits. Their plaintext is fixed by the clear sheets, so they count as read, but the numbers are not.
- 216 groups rest only on the editors’ reading (grade M): their values are not attested by any contemporary decoding.
Full texts
The transcription and the decryption of every document on this page, so that the reading can be used and checked. Short files are shown here; all are in the repository.
Barclay to the American Commissioners, Madrid, 10 Apr 1786
Barclay reports from Madrid that Lamb's mission to Algiers has failed: no peace without a larger sum, and the Dey refuses to treat.
Transcription
# Barclay to the American Commissioners, Madrid, 10 Apr 1786: code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 1013.1264.914.1458.1118.1456.1321.?65.1608.895.272. 495.1243.187.1199.1645.742.1266.1056.1160.708.922.491.846. 181.1199.394.1199.1320.1266.742.633.1017.1013. 160?.967.751.1064.461.1199.76.698.1571. 698.586.1363.1194.314.310.436.765.742.1266.1013.1266.1285. 993.228.666.?55.230.708.1571.967.408.434.1116.1252.1152. 1508.1196.1603.1056.631.1001.704.1546.1128.985.1266.1547. 983.755.1623.922.846.181.1?17.1199.253.69.559.1063.1538. 887.1549.962.1017.272.76.1166.1347.1118.1456.1056.1160.1001. 154.961.708.1199.1118.1196.1117.1064.577.1001.739.1548.1252. 1506.880.1538.1017.1199.1196.89.1001.704.251.43?.1060.1362. 962.1623.1640.1262.1244.1196.450.1152.1508.556.557.1160. 1350.1199.1244.1016.1111.559.347.1235.
Decryption
barclay_17860410_decryption.txt
# Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Papers ser. 1, mtj1 005_0494-0497 (RC, TJ interlinear decoding) # each group with its reading and grade (H contemporary decoding or clear sheet, C attested elsewhere, M editors' reading only, I conjecture); one line per manuscript line 1013[. M] 1264[no H] 914[peace H] 1458[can H] 1118[be H] 1456[made H] 1321[until H] ?65[Congress H] 1608[grant H] 895[(grant) M] 272[a H] 495[larger H] 1243[(larger) C] 187[sum H] 1199[to H] 1645[pay H] 742[for H] 1266[it H] 1056[, M] 1160[and H] 708[that H] 922[he H] 491[will H] 846[re(turn) H] 181[(re)turn H] 1199[to H] 394[Spain H] 1199[to H] 1320[wait H] 1266[(wait) C] 742[for H] 633[order(s) H] 1017[(s) C] 1013[. M] 160?[Dey of Algiers H] 967[has H] 751[refused H] 1064[(refused) M] 461[(refused) M] 1199[to H] 76[treat H] 698[with H] 1571[Mr. Lamb H] 698[with(out) H] 586[(with)out H] 1363[assigning H] 1194[(assigning) C] 314[(assigning)? M] 310[(assigning)? M] 436[any H] 765[reason H] 742[for H] 1266[it H] 1013[. M] 1266[It H] 1285[does H] 993[not H] 228[appear H] 666[by H] ?55[either H] 230[letter H] 708[that H] 1571[Mr. Lamb H] 967[has H] 408[had H] 434[any H] 1116[audience H] 1252[excluded] 1152[(audi)ence H] 1508[of H] 1196[the H] 1603[Dey of Algiers H] 1056[, M] 631[but H] 1001[I H] 704[shall H] 1546[think H] 1128[(think)? C] 985[? M] 1266[it H] 1547[very H] 983[strange H] 755[(strange) M] 1623[if H] 922[he H] 846[re(turns) H] 181[(re)turn(s) H] 1?17[(s) M] 1199[to H] 253[Europe H] 69[without H] 559[know H] 1063[(know)ing H] 1538[excluded] 887[what H] 1549[terms H] 962[(terms) M] 1017[(s) C] 272[a H] 76[treat(y) H] 1166[(treat)y C] 1347[may H] 1118[be H] 1456[made H] 1056[, M] 1160[and H] 1001[I H] 154[find H] 961[(find) M] 708[that H] 1199[to H] 1118[be H] 1196[the H] 1117[case H] 1064[(case) M] 577[unless H] 1001[I H] 739[have H] 1548[your H] 1252[dir(ection) H] 1506[(di)rection H] 880[(direction) M] 1538[(directi)on C] 1017[(s) C] 1199[to H] 1196[the H] 89[contrary H] 1001[I H] 704[shall H] 251[hold H] 43?[my H] 1060[self H] 1362[excluded] 962[(ju)st(ifiable) H] 1623[(just)if(iable) H] 1640[(justif)ia(ble) H] 1262[(justifia)ble H] 1244[at H] 1196[the H] 450[expence H] 1152[(exp)ence M] 1508[of H] 556[some H] 557[time H] 1160[and H] 1350[money H] 1199[to H] 1244[at(tain) H] 1016[(at)tain C] 1111[this H] 559[know(lege) H] 347[(know)le(ge) M] 1235[(knole)ge C]
Reading
. no peace can be made until Congress grant a larger sum to pay for it , and that he will return to Spain to wait for orders s . Dey of Algiers has refused to treat with Mr. Lamb without assigning any reason for it . It does not appear by either letter that Mr. Lamb has had any audience of the Dey of Algiers , but I shall think ? it very strange if he returns s to Europe without know knowing what terms s a treaty may be made , and I find that to be the case unless I have your direction s to the contrary I shall hold my self justifiable at the expence of some time and money to attain this knowlege knolege
Barclay's coded footnotes, ca. 3 July 1787 read in part
Barclay's two coded footnotes name the Procureur général at Bordeaux (Dudon) as his adviser and Congress as the 'Particular Quarter' owing him money.
Builds coherent sentences, but under the read bar of 95% of words read as sense (86% here); the holes are marked in the reading.
Transcription
# Barclay to Jefferson, undated [ca. 3 Jul 1787], two coded footnotes: code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 1196.1084?.758.861.1307.626. 265.
Decryption
barclay_17870703_decryption.txt
# Barclay to Jefferson, undated [ca. 3 Jul 1787], the two coded footnotes # (LoC, Jefferson Papers ser. 1, mtj1 007_0478 and 007_0479, foot of the pages; filed under 12 Jun 1787) * (to "one of the Most Respectable Characters in Bordeaux") 1196[the C] 1084?[Pro- I] 758[-cur- I] 861[e C] 1307[r C] 626[General? I] + (to "a Particular Quarter") 265[Congress C]
Reading
* The Procurer [General?] (the editors: "The Pro[cu]re[ur]"; six groups, not five) + Congress
Jefferson to Barclay, 4 July 1787 read in part
Jefferson reports a conference on Barclay's arrest at Bordeaux with Montmorin's first secretary (Rayneval, by the editors' conjecture); the word the editors read as 'sea' is a group that means 'larg-' elsewhere in the code.
Builds coherent sentences, but under the read bar of 95% of words read as sense (94% here); the holes are marked in the reading.
Transcription
# Jefferson to Barclay, Paris, 4 Jul 1787: code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 1420.1336.459.1089. 1420.374.1139.1128. 495.223.1336.459. 1089. 1420.374.1139.1128.
Decryption
# Jefferson to Barclay, Paris, 4 Jul 1787 (LoC, Jefferson Papers ser. 1, mtj1 007_0605, press copy) # Coded words only, in order, with their values. Grade: C = value attested in another letter of the # correspondence; I = conjecture (the editors' bracket or this reading) with no other occurrence. l.3 M. 1420[de C] 1336[Ray- I] 459[-ne- I] 1089[-val? I: -al in imperi-al, la in la-t-ter] l.4 M. 1420[de C] 374[Mon- C] 1139[-tmor- C] 1128[-in C] l.5 another quarter of the 495[larg- in Barclay 10 Apr 1786; editors: sea; open] l.5 the difficulty of the case 223[trouble I] him. 1336[Ray- I] 459[-ne- I] l.6 1089[-val? I] observed to me l.16 the distress in which M. 1420[de C] 374[Mon- C] 1139[-tmor- C] 1128[-in C] found himself
Reading
Yesterday I had a long conference with M. de [Rayneval?]. It is impossible for a person to be more cordially disposed than M. de Montmorin but opposition from another quarter of the [495: larg-; the editors' "sea" is not supported] and the difficulty of the case [trouble?] him. [Rayneval?] observed to me that there was no country in Europe but France which took any notice of the character of a minister en passage between two other nations ... and ended by pressing the distress in which M. de Montmorin found himself, and how much they should be relieved by an amicable arrangement.
Jefferson to Carmichael, Paris, 25 Sep 1787
Jefferson tells Carmichael of Smith's mission to Portugal, the failure to march into Holland, and a possible triple alliance of France, Austria and Russia.
Transcription
# Jefferson to Carmichael, Paris, 25 Sep 1787: code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 454?.1072. 1173?.272.1444?.924?.1528.1013. 284?.1308.1528.1013. 819?.1484?.1308.960?.1829?.1066?. 132?.78.304?.719?.863?.1499?.1002?.322?.772. 742.1069?.1272?.662?.604?.1102?.1372?.480?. 1306?.1288.970?.1017?.40?.1137?.83?.984?.480?.40?.1082?.402?.106?. 968?.1161.1192?.1261?.1317?.924?.968?. 726?.1191?.1036?.272?.1557?.0?.1366?.1452?.760?.4???.1372?.638?.1557?. 762?.289?.1196?.1279?.1456?.663?.340. 1064?.1280?.1307.1411?.1359?.832?.73?.1017?.890?.823?.72.940.1028.154?.442?. 159?.733.78.976?.1790?.312?.44?.1490?.1075?.1?8?.940?.64?.941?.1122?. 973?.1308?.644?.1052?. 1001.589.7??.?.1307?.890?.??.1092?.832?.1092?.173?.????. 964?.1408?.941?.1489?.1324?.1407?.114?.6??.481?.708.922.1343?.1196.72.123?.1140?. 1355?.993.1064?.936?.708?.1249?.947?.910?.1183?. 72.773?.646?.1???.1196.1070?. 1045?.1059?.790?.1180?.374.1139.1128.1411?.1415?.941.505?.742. 298?.847?.38?.307?.1087?.640.394.566.1199?.1196.471?.924?.582?. 991?.979?.1243.600?.750?.1187?.698?.922?.1192?.438?.1128?.1081?. 1324?.922.1363?.396?.1180?.1237?.600?.576?.781?.288?.922.1161?.1543?.409?.260?. 742.1301?.1428?.38?.1497.587?.8?3?.251?.1243. 74?.1265?.672.993.1476?.1089?.253?.
Decryption
# Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Papers ser. 1, mtj1 008_0145-0149 (PrC and clear-text sheet) # each group with its reading and grade (H contemporary decoding or clear sheet, C attested elsewhere, M editors' reading only, I conjecture); one line per manuscript line 454?[Grand H] 1072[Grand H] 1173?[pay a H] 272[pay a H] 1444?[bill H] 924?[bill H] 1528[yours H] 1013[yours H] 284?[letter H] 1308[of H] 1528[yours H] 1013[yours H] 819?[board H] 1484?[board H] 1308[of H] 960?[treasury H] 1829?[treasury H] 1066?[treasury H] 132?[100,000 florins at his disposal H] 78[100,000 florins at his disposal H] 304?[100,000 florins at his disposal H] 719?[100,000 florins at his disposal H] 863?[100,000 florins at his disposal H] 1499?[100,000 florins at his disposal H] 1002?[100,000 florins at his disposal H] 322?[100,000 florins at his disposal H] 772[100,000 florins at his disposal H] 742[for you an order H] 1069?[for you an order H] 1272?[for you an order H] 662?[for you an order H] 604?[draw on H] 1102?[draw on H] 1372?[draw on H] 480?[fund H] 1306?[Smith's mission to Portugal H] 1288[Smith's mission to Portugal H] 970?[Smith's mission to Portugal H] 1017?[Smith's mission to Portugal H] 40?[Smith's mission to Portugal H] 1137?[Smith's mission to Portugal H] 83?[Smith's mission to Portugal H] 984?[causeless as given H] 480?[causeless as given H] 40?[causeless as given H] 1082?[causeless as given H] 402?[causeless as given H] 106?[causeless as given H] 968?[ostensible H] 1161[ostensible H] 1192?[ostensible H] 1261?[ostensible H] 1317?[real cause H] 924?[real cause H] 968?[real cause H] 726?[remaining a secret between him & Congress H] 1191?[remaining a secret between him & Congress H] 1036?[remaining a secret between him & Congress H] 272?[remaining a secret between him & Congress H] 1557?[remaining a secret between him & Congress H] 0?[remaining a secret between him & Congress H] 1366?[remaining a secret between him & Congress H] 1452?[remaining a secret between him & Congress H] 760?[remaining a secret between him & Congress H] 4???[any other hinted H] 1372?[any other hinted H] 638?[any other hinted H] 1557?[any other hinted H] 762?[little provision H] 289?[little provision H] 1196?[little provision H] 1279?[little provision H] 1456?[made here H] 663?[made here H] 340[event H] 1064?[Segur H] 1280?[Segur H] 1307[Segur H] 1411?[declares H] 1359?[declares H] 832?[declares H] 73?[weeks ago H] 1017?[weeks ago H] 890?[weeks ago H] 823?[weeks ago H] 72[proposed in council H] 940[proposed in council H] 1028[proposed in council H] 154?[proposed in council H] 442?[march H] 159?[24,000 men H] 733[24,000 men H] 78[24,000 men H] 976?[24,000 men H] 1790?[Holland H] 312?[archbishop H] 44?[archbishop H] 1490?[archbishop H] 1075?[archbishop H] 1?8?[charged H] 940?[charged H] 64?[prevented this H] 941?[prevented this H] 1122?[prevented this H] 973?[duped by his H] 1308?[duped by his H] 644?[duped by his H] 1052?[duped by his H] 1001[I H] 589[know H] 7??[Russia proposed a confederation H] ?[Russia proposed a confederation H] 1307?[Russia proposed a confederation H] 890?[Russia proposed a confederation H] ??[Russia proposed a confederation H] 1092?[this court H] 832?[this court H] 1092?[this court H] 173?[this court H] ????[itself H] 964?[wished H] 1408?[wished H] 941?[wished H] 1489?[final determination H] 1324?[final determination H] 1407?[final determination H] 114?[final determination H] 6??[final determination H] 481?[emperor, that he H] 708[emperor, that he H] 922[emperor, that he H] 1343?[into the proposition H] 1196[into the proposition H] 72[into the proposition H] 123?[into the proposition H] 1140?[into the proposition H] 1355?[yet H] 993[not seem that France has closed H] 1064?[not seem that France has closed H] 936?[not seem that France has closed H] 708?[not seem that France has closed H] 1249?[not seem that France has closed H] 947?[not seem that France has closed H] 910?[not seem that France has closed H] 1183?[not seem that France has closed H] 72[proposal H] 773?[proposal H] 646?[favor of H] 1???[favor of H] 1196[the queen H] 1070?[the queen H] 1045?[Breteuil H] 1059?[Breteuil H] 790?[Breteuil H] 1180?[and H] 374[Montmorin H] 1139[Montmorin H] 1128[Montmorin H] 1411?[decidedly for H] 1415?[decidedly for H] 941[decidedly for H] 505?[decidedly for H] 742[decidedly for H] 298?[triple alliance H] 847?[triple alliance H] 38?[triple alliance H] 307?[aided by Spain H] 1087?[aided by Spain H] 640[aided by Spain H] 394[aided by Spain H] 566[law to the world H] 1199?[law to the world H] 1196[law to the world H] 471?[law to the world H] 924?[law to the world H] 582?[law to the world H] 991?[premier H] 979?[premier H] 1243[premier H] 600?[accused with hesitation H] 750?[accused with hesitation H] 1187?[accused with hesitation H] 698?[accused with hesitation H] 922?[accused with hesitation H] 1192?[accused with hesitation H] 438?[accused with hesitation H] 1128?[(they?) H] 1081?[(they?) H] 1324?[tho he is H] 922[tho he is H] 1363?[tho he is H] 396?[minister and an able one for peace he H] 1180?[minister and an able one for peace he H] 1237?[minister and an able one for peace he H] 600?[minister and an able one for peace he H] 576?[minister and an able one for peace he H] 781?[minister and an able one for peace he H] 288?[minister and an able one for peace he H] 922[minister and an able one for peace he H] 1161?[energy enough H] 1543?[energy enough H] 409?[energy enough H] 260?[energy enough H] 742[for war H] 1301?[for war H] 1428?[if H] 38?[takes place H] 1497+[takes place H] 587?[takes place H] 8?3?[Stadholder H] 251?[Stadholder H] 1243[Stadholder H] 74?[whether it H] 1265?[whether it H] 672[or not H] 993[or not H] 1476?[quit Europe H] 1089?[quit Europe H] 253?[quit Europe H]
Reading
Grand pay a bill yours letter of yours board of treasury 100,000 florins at his disposal for you an order draw on fund Smith's mission to Portugal causeless as given ostensible real cause remaining a secret between him & Congress any other hinted little provision made here event Segur declares weeks ago proposed in council march 24,000 men Holland archbishop charged prevented this duped by his I know Russia proposed a confederation this court itself wished final determination emperor, that he into the proposition yet not seem that France has closed proposal favor of the queen Breteuil and Montmorin decidedly for triple alliance aided by Spain law to the world premier accused with hesitation they? tho he is minister and an able one for peace he energy enough for war if takes place Stadholder whether it or not quit Europe
Jefferson to Adams, Paris, 28 Sep 1787, postscript decoded, not read
Jefferson's postscript to Adams that France is arranging with the two empires; written by mistake in the Barclay code, which Adams could not read.
A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.
Transcription
# Jefferson to Adams, Paris, 28 Sep 1787, postscript: code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 1???.1???.6??.9??.7??.172?.1???.1???.1???.1???. 1???.1??.1?9?.9??.7??.1???.9??. 1???. 9??.1???.77?.1???.1???.1???.1???.1???.1???. 7??.8??.1???.
Decryption
# Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Papers ser. 1, mtj1 008_0161-0163 (PrC; RC at Massachusetts Historical Society) # each group with its reading and grade (H contemporary decoding or clear sheet, C attested elsewhere, M editors' reading only, I conjecture); one line per manuscript line 1???[very good channel that this court is decided M] 1???[very good channel that this court is decided M] 6??[very good channel that this court is decided M] 9??[very good channel that this court is decided M] 7??[very good channel that this court is decided M] 172?[very good channel that this court is decided M] 1???[very good channel that this court is decided M] 1???[very good channel that this court is decided M] 1???[very good channel that this court is decided M] 1???[very good channel that this court is decided M] 1???[arranging M] 1??[arranging M] 1?9?[arranging M] 9??[two empires M] 7??[two empires M] 1???[two empires M] 9??[two empires M] 1???[see M] 9??[them recall their officers in the M] 1???[them recall their officers in the M] 77?[them recall their officers in the M] 1???[them recall their officers in the M] 1???[them recall their officers in the M] 1???[them recall their officers in the M] 1???[them recall their officers in the M] 1???[them recall their officers in the M] 1???[them recall their officers in the M] 7??[Dutch service M] 8??[Dutch service M] 1???[Dutch service M]
Reading
very good channel that this court is decided arranging two empires see them recall their officers in the Dutch service
Jefferson to Carmichael, Paris, 15 Dec 1787, test line read in part
A test line: the opening of Jefferson's letter of 14 June 1787 put into code so that Carmichael could check his copy of the code.
Builds coherent sentences, but under the read bar of 95% of words read as sense (78% here); the holes are marked in the reading.
Transcription
# Jefferson to Carmichael, Paris, 15 Dec 1787, test line: code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 1420.1250.1194.1307.1531. 458.48.1200.134.1140.1469.519.563.1129.1097.1201.1199.1531.1571.1040.870.423. 1001.855.521.1173.917.1559.505.1196.51.1152.698.141.1569.996.861.804.1337.1199.
Decryption
# Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Papers ser. 1, mtj1 008_0689 (PrC); plaintext 007_0489 # each group with its reading and grade (H contemporary decoding or clear sheet, C attested elsewhere, M editors' reading only, I conjecture); one line per manuscript line 1420[de C] 1250[ar M] 1194[si C] 1307[r C] 1531[?] 458[?] 48[?] 1200[?] 134[?] 1140[?] 1469[?] 519[?] 563[?] 1129[go C] 1097[t C] 1201[back M] 1199[to C] 1531[Paris C] 1571[three C] 1040+[days M] 870[ago M] 423[, M] 1001[I C] 855[resume M] 521[(immediately) M] 1173[im M] 917[(immediately) M] 1559[(immediately) M] 505[(immediately) M] 1196[the C] 51[correspond M] 1152[ence C] 698[with C] 141[which C] 1569[you C] 996[have M] 861[been C] 804[pleased C] 1337×[(pleased) M] 1199[to C]
Reading
de ar si r [1531] [458] [48] [1200] [134] [1140] [1469] [519] [563] go t back to Paris three days ago , I resume immediately im immediately the correspond ence with which you have been pleased to
Carmichael to Jefferson, Aranjuez, 8 May 1788
Carmichael explains that his cipher was wrong, has had no official news from America, and sketches Floridablanca's tactics against Eden.
Transcription
# Carmichael to Jefferson, Aranjuez, 8 May 1788: code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 1348.1508.1106.386.1508.381.461.712.1307.1128.911.941.1128. 708.280.947.1161.601.941.834.11?9.480.1?.740.1508.1128.1522.256.1113.1001. 704.1128.1092.995.698.640.1611.1140.1533.1856.1140.246.456. 801.1597. 1001.739.1264.1010.1401.1508.1237.1509.950.1509.694.861.221.742.658.233.1017. 1077.1097. 708.1062.1360.862.941.776.29. 119?.896.1360.1508.272.558. 1190.854.1591.861.1568.737.647.1508.1052.899.739.559.452. 595.820.880.850.1368.1287.177.508.1017.1092.1538. 1365.1280.1257.1056.1524.942.1360.1597. 547.817.1032.1413.452.1305. 892.1017.382.522.1397. 934.906.865.1550.1527.522.1081.1106.288. 1172.129.1273.1317.1057. 586.1109.505.395.922. 188.1039.978.1057.177.806.1310.1134.842. 408.248. 378.962.1140. 956.924.1161.1482. 1212. 866.1567.1149.1007.1508.59.708.896.408.1368.150.941.1366. 1569.1397. 684.1112.550.567.656.1196.173.167.737.92.1017.737. 8?5.559.452.1163.1111.981.1057.1360. 1129.1199.983.836.698.?89.1096.1001.1338.1017.707.238.
Decryption
carmichael_17880508_decryption.txt
# Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Papers ser. 1, mtj1 009_0339-0342 (RC, TJ interlinear) # each group with its reading and grade (H contemporary decoding or clear sheet, C attested elsewhere, M editors' reading only, I conjecture); one line per manuscript line 1348[your(s) H] 1508[of H] 1106[the H] 386[1st. H] 1508[of H] 381[Feb. H] 461[cypher H] 712[(cypher) M] 1307[(cypher) C] 1128[in(closed) H] 911[(in)clos(ed) M] 941[(inclos)ed C] 1128[in H] 708[that H] 280[letter H] 947[has H] 1161[en(abled) H] 601[(en)abl(ed) M] 941[(enabl)ed C] 834[me H] 11?9[to H] 480[pro(fit) H] 1?[(pro)fit H] 740[altho' late H] 1508[of H] 1128[in(formation) H] 1522[(in)formation H] 256[(formation) M] 1113[: H] 1001[I H] 704[shall H] 1128[in(close) H] 1092[one H] 995[left H] 698[with H] 640[by H] 1611[Mr. Barclay H] 1140[and H] 1533[Mr. Franks H] 1856[, M] 1140[and H] 246[trust H] 456[mine H] 801[mis(take) H] 1597[(mis)take M] 1001[I H] 739[have H] 1264[no H] 1010[ad(vice) H] 1401[(ad)vice M] 1508[of H] 1237[an H] 1509[(offi)cial? H] 950[offi(cial) H] 1509[(official) H] 694[nature? H] 861[(natur)e H] 221[America H] 742[for H] 658[many H] 233[month(s) H] 1017[(s) C] 1077[never H] 1097[; H] 708[That H] 1062[paper H] 1360[is H] 862[date(d) H] 941[(date)d H] 776[8 H] 29[November H] 119?[The H] 896[minister H] 1360[is H] 1508[of H] 272[a H] 558[sus(picious) H] 1190[(sus)pi(cious) H] 854[(suspici)ous H] 1591[natur(e) H] 861[(natur)e C] 1568[as H] 737[are H] 647[most H] 1508[of H] 1052[his H] 899[whom H] 739[have H] 559[know(n) H] 452[(know)n C] 595[abi(lities) H] 820[(abilities) M] 880[(abili)ti(es) M] 850[(abiliti)es M] 1368[in H] 1287[an H] 177[other H] 508[put(s) H] 1017[(s) C] 1092[one H] 1538[on H] 1365[their H] 1280[guard H] 1257[(guard) C] 1056[, M] 1524[part H] 942[each H] 1360[is H] 1597[take H] 547[place H] 817[person H] 1032[de(fensive) H] 1413[(defensive) M] 452[(defensive) C] 1305[(defensive) M] 892[arm(s) H] 1017[(s) C] 382[ground H] 522[&c. H] 1397[may H] 934[mee(t) H] 906[(me)et H] 865[ad(versary) H] 1550[(ad)ver(sary) H] 1527[(adver)sa(ry) H] 522[&c. H] 1081[nar(?) H] 1106[fel(low) C] 288[(fel)low H] 1172[fough(t) H] 129[(fought) M] 1273[ret(reat) H] 1317[(ret)reat H] 1057[t? C] 586[out H] 1109[par(ley) H] 505[(par)ley M] 395[when H] 922[he H] 188[would H] 1039[figh(t) H] 978[(fight) H] 1057[(t) C] 177[other H] 806[stood H] 1310[(sto)od H] 1134[firm H] 842[. M] 408[had H] 248[over H] 378[six H] 962[st(and) H] 1140[(st)and C] 956[cha(llenge) H] 924[(challenge) C] 1161[(challeng)e? C] 1482[. M] 1212[amb(assador) H] 866[(amb)as(sador) H] 1567[(ambas)sa(dor) H] 1149[(ambassa)dor M] 1007[.? M] 1508[of H] 59[Portugal C] 708[their H] 896[minister H] 408[had H] 1368[assur(ed) H] 150[(assur) M] 941[(assur)ed C] 1366[him H] 1569[you H] 1397[may H] 684[draw H] 1112[(dra)w H] 550[some(thing) H] 567[(some)thing M] 656[from H] 1196[the H] 173[court H] 167[where H] 737[are H] 92[motive(s) H] 1017[(s) C] 737[are H] 8?5[well H] 559[know(n) H] 452[(know)n C] 1163[there H] 1111[this H] 981[flee(t) H] 1057[(t) C] 1360[is H] 1129[go H] 1199[to H] 983[west(ward) H] 836[(west)ward M] 698[with H] ?89[provisions H] 1096[(provisions) M] 1001[(provisions)? C] 1338[(provisi)on(s)? C] 1017[(s) C] 707[4 H] 238[months H]
Reading
carmichael_17880508_reading.txt
yours of the 1st. of Feb. cypher inclosed in that letter has enabled me to profit altho' late of information formation : I shall inclose one left with by Mr. Barclay and Mr. Franks , and trust mine mistake I have no advice of an official? nature? America for many months s never ; That paper is dated 8 November The minister is of a suspicious nature as are most of his whom have known abilities in an other puts s one on their guard , part each is take place person defensive arms s ground &c. may meet adversary &c. nar? fellow fought retreat t? out parley when he would fight t other stood firm . had over six stand challenge . ambassador .? of Portugal their minister had assured assur assured him you may draw something from the court where are motives s are well known there this fleet t is go to westward with provisions s 4 months
Carmichael to Jefferson, 29 May 1788
Carmichael on the Swedish armaments, the Russian minister's suspicion of England, and a British ship carrying war stores to the Turks.
Transcription
# Carmichael to Jefferson, 29 May 1788: code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 643.1196.1209.511.1508.457.548.882.1008.1237.739.804.134.1161. 1414.1185.892.1082.1265.456.1128.140.161.452.?96. 1199.26.141.173.1128.298.1364.1399. 167.946.1208.1478.1173.1671.1440.1089.173.922.1098.1399. 130.1221.1399. 1196.896.72.941.168.381.1017.313.22.38. 491.64.520.656.177.656.272.1206.1194.846. 152.1243.121.808.1001.672.1266.1166.1113. 922.947.561.816.1350.1527.123.396.143.1339. 960.1199.1670.1301.1700. 1299.468.908.991.922.1478. 761.933.1266.1017.1313.48. 538.839.744.114.256.452.1117.723.82.916.452.642.1307. 1405.452. 173.146.697.905. 1017.1697.59.1199.1565.856.1266.1166. 582.959.134.1140.1357.886.656. 26.1418.1527.1181.941.523.186.?285.452.1225.779. 953.1301.1586.800.855.582.324.1387.1164. 587.135.484.1414.1559.1552.697.941.1301.1699. 842.1307.408.1224.969.1156. 630.630.816.1550.1527.123.1428.394.1573. 556.941.1848.1301.1396.371.905.1266. 214.1661.1204.583.1307. 1527.173.290.1076.1843.1141. 161.452.865.1206.708.922.1770.503.845.1536.1199.559. 187.560.671.941.146.1140.329.1199.865.941. 742.1548.807.1265.1299.1531.737.761.362.
Decryption
carmichael_17880529_decryption.txt
# Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Papers ser. 1, mtj1 009_0469-0472 (RC, TJ interlinear)
# each group with its reading and grade (H contemporary decoding or clear sheet, C attested elsewhere, M editors' reading only, I conjecture); one line per manuscript line
643[Here H] 1196[the H] 1209[at(tention) H] 511[(at)tention H] 1508[of H] 457[our H] 548[poli(ticians) H] 882[(politicians) M] 1008[(politicians) M] 1237[? H] 739[have H] 804[been H] 134[much H] 1161[en(gaged) H]
1414[(en)gaged H] 1185[.? M] 892[arm(aments) H] 1082[(armaments) M] 1265[(armament)s? M] 456[made H] 1128[in H] 140[Sweden H] 161[Russia(n) H] 452[(Russia)n C] ?96[minister H]
1199[to H] 26[England H] 141[which H] 173[court H] 1128[in(triguing) H] 298[(in)trigu(ing) H] 1364[(intriguing) H] 1399[(intrigui)ng M]
167[where H] 946[em(barrass) H] 1208[(em)bar(rass) C] 1478[(embar)rass M] 1173[im(perial) H] 1671[(imperial) M] 1440[(imperial) M] 1089[(imperial) M] 173[court(s) H] 922[He H] 1098[thi(nks) H] 1399[(thi)nks M]
130[promot(ing) H] 1221[(promot) M] 1399[(promoti)ng M]
1196[the H] 896[ends H] 72[propos(ed) H] 941[(propos)ed C] 168[present H] 381[measure(s) H] 1017[(s) C] 313[bring H] 22[about H] 38[alliance H]
491[will H] 64[prevent H] 520[them H] 656[from H] 177[other(s) H] 656[from H] 272[a H] 1206[des(ire) H] 1194[(des)i(re) H] 846[(desi)re H]
152[for(mer) H] 1243[(for)mer C] 121[super(iority) H] 808[(superiority) M] 1001[(superi) C] 672[(superi)or(ity) H] 1266[(superior)i(ty) H] 1166[(superiorit)y H] 1113[: C]
922[he H] 947[has H] 561[long H] 816[con(versation) H] 1350[(con)ver(sation) H] 1527[(conver)sa(tion) H] 123[(conversa)tion H] 396[minister H] 143[state H] 1339[on H]
960[who H] 1199[to H] 1670[(prevent)? M] 1301[war H] 1700[? M]
1299[at H] 468[present H] 908[ap(prehends) H] 991[(apprehends) M] 922[(apprehends) C] 1478[(apprehend)s M]
761[Great H] 933[Britain H] 1266[it('s) H] 1017[(s) C] 1313[under(hand) H] 48[(under)hand H]
538[same H] 839[quarter H] 744[count H] 114[Flo(rida Blanca) H] 256[(Florida Blanca) M] 452[(Florida Blanca) C] 1117[(Florida Blan)ca C] 723[hath H] 82[spo(ken) H] 916[(spoken) M] 452[(spoke)n C] 642[Mr. H] 1307[E(den)? C]
1405[(E)den H] 452[(Ede)n C]
173[court H] 146[Sweden H] 697[Turk(s) H] 905[(Turks) M]
1017[(s) C] 1697[,? M] 59[contrary H] 1199[to H] 1565[their H] 856[neutral(ity) H] 1266[(neutral)it(y) H] 1166[(neutralit)y C]
582[ship H] 959[800 H] 134[and H] 1140[and H] 1357[50 H] 886[tons H] 656[from H]
26[England H] 1418[Gi(braltar) H] 1527[sa(iled) H] 1181[(sa)il(ed) M] 941[(sail)ed C] 523[thence H] 186[Con(stantinople) H] ?285[(Con)stantinople H] 452[(Constantinople) C] 1225[(Constantinople) M] 779[(Constantinople) M]
953[(Constantinople)? C] 1301[war(like) H] 1586[(war)like M] 800[sto(res) H] 855[(sto)res M] 582[ship H] 324[L'(Oiseau) H] 1387[(L'Oiseau) M] 1164[(L'Oiseau) H]
587[(L'Oiseau) H] 135[French (frigate) H] 484[(French frigate) M] 1414[(frigate) M] 1559[(frigate) M] 1552[cap(tured) H] 697[(cap)tur(ed) H] 941[(captur)ed H] 1301[war H] 1699[. M]
842[? M] 1307[Mr. H] 408[had H] 1224[re(ply) H] 969[(re)ply M] 1156[dis(course) H]
630[(dis)course H] 630[course H] 816[con(versation) H] 1550[(con)ver(sation) C] 1527[(conver)sa(tion) C] 123[(conversa)tion H] 1428[if H] 394[Spain H] 1573[was H]
556[forc(ed) H] 941[(forc)ed C] 1848[into H] 1301[war H] 1396[ne(ck) H] 371[(ne)c(k) M] 905[(nec)k M] 1266[it H]
214[pea(ce) H] 1661[(pea)ce M] 1204[ai(grir) H] 583[(aigrir) M] 1307[(aigrir) C]
1527[sa H] 173[court H] 290[letter H] 1076[Peters(burg) H] 1843[(Petersburg) M] 1141[(Petersburg) M]
161[Russia(n) H] 452[(Russia)n C] 865[ad(ds) H] 1206[(ad)ds H] 708[that H] 922[he H] 1770[? M] 503[ex(pected) H] 845[(expected) M] 1536[(expect)ed M] 1199[to H] 559[know H]
187[sum H] 560[fur(nished) H] 671[(fur)nish(ed) M] 941[(furnish)ed C] 146[Sweden H] 1140[excluded] 329[how? H] 1199[to H] 865[ad(d) H] 941[(ad)d C]
742[for H] 1548[your H] 807[govern(ment) H] 1265[(govern)ment M] 1299[at H] 1531[Paris H] 737[are H] 761[great H] 362[enemies H]Reading
carmichael_17880529_reading.txt
Here the attention of our politicians ? have been much engaged .? armaments made in Sweden Russian minister to England which court intriguing where embarrass imperial courts He thinks promoting promot promoting the ends proposed present measures s bring about alliance will prevent them from others from a desire former superiority superi superiority : he has long conversation minister state on who to prevent? war ? at present apprehends Great Britain it's s underhand same quarter count Florida Blanca hath spoken Mr. Eden? court Sweden Turks s ,? contrary to their neutrality ship 800 and 50 tons from England Gibraltar sailed thence Constantinople warlike stores ship L'Oiseau French frigate frigate captured war . ? Mr. had reply discourse course conversation if Spain was forced into war neck it peace aigrir sa court letter Petersburg Russian adds that he ? expected to know sum furnished Sweden how? to add for your government at Paris are great enemies
Jefferson to Carmichael, Paris, 3 Jun 1788
Jefferson on Littlepage, the survey for a canal across the isthmus of Panama, and the new French minister's quarrel over etiquette.
Transcription
# Jefferson to Carmichael, Paris, 3 Jun 1788: code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 1360.1363. 1001.739.1264.1010.1401.1508.1237.1509.950.1509.694.861.221.742.658.233.1017.1077.1097. 263.1320.1532.1372.1562.1072.1099.410. 1363.1746. 157.1017.1308.1030.1271.272.1181.1587.1390. 272.589.1015.1166.1458.773. 548.880.1453. 907.1577.1577. 1317.881.649.548.880.1453.1140.588.680.881.1?7?.1?9?. 1?44?.130?.296.141.947.1056.1282.1096.941.1366.
Decryption
# Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Papers ser. 1, mtj1 009_0503-0511 (PrC and list of encoded passages) # each group with its reading and grade (H contemporary decoding or clear sheet, C attested elsewhere, M editors' reading only, I conjecture); one line per manuscript line 1360[excluded] 1363[excluded] 1001[excluded] 739[excluded] 1264[excluded] 1010[excluded] 1401[excluded] 1508[excluded] 1237[excluded] 1509[excluded] 950[excluded] 1509[excluded] 694[excluded] 861[excluded] 221[excluded] 742[excluded] 658[excluded] 233[excluded] 1017[excluded] 1077[excluded] 1097[excluded] 263[Littlepage H] 1320[Littlepage H] 1532[Littlepage H] 1372[returned to Poland H] 1562[returned to Poland H] 1072[returned to Poland H] 1099[returned to Poland H] 410[returned to Poland H] 1363[isthmus H] 1746[isthmus H] 157[isthmus H] 1017[isthmus H] 1308[of H] 1030[Panama H] 1271[Panama H] 272[Panama H] 1181[Burgoine H] 1587[Burgoine H] 1390[Burgoine H] 272[a survey H] 589[a survey H] 1015[a survey H] 1166[a survey H] 1458[canal H] 773[canal H] 548[political H] 880[political H] 1453[political H] 907+[reasons H] 1577[report H] 1577[report H] 1317[reasons H] 881[reasons H] 649[reasons H] 548[political H] 880[political H] 1453[political H] 1140[and H] 588[philosophical H] 680[philosophical H] 881[philosophical H] 1?7?[philosophical H] 1?9?[philosophical H] 1?44?[the new French H] 130?[the new French H] 296[the new French H] 141[the new French H] 947[the new French H] 1056[minister which has disgusted him H] 1282[minister which has disgusted him H] 1096[minister which has disgusted him H] 941[minister which has disgusted him H] 1366[minister which has disgusted him H]
Reading
Littlepage returned to Poland isthmus of Panama Burgoine a survey canal political reasons report reasons political and philosophical the new French minister which has disgusted him
Carmichael to Jefferson, 5 Jun 1788
Carmichael on a Spanish ordinance meant to force a custom house on Biscay.
Transcription
# Carmichael to Jefferson, 5 Jun 1788: code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 1116.1128.1165.1167.1368.272.893.319.333.1199.1048. 1067.1001.520.865.1219.197.898.354.861. 561.1041.1567.1314.266.
Decryption
carmichael_17880605_decryption.txt
# Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Papers ser. 1, mtj1 009_0516-0517 (RC, TJ interlinear) # each group with its reading and grade (H contemporary decoding or clear sheet, C attested elsewhere, M editors' reading only, I conjecture); one line per manuscript line 1116[be H] 1128[in(tended) H] 1165[(in)ten(ded) H] 1167[(inten)ded M] 1368[as H] 272[a H] 893[bug(bear) H] 319[(bug)be(ar) C] 333[(bugbe)ar M] 1199[to H] 1048[com(pel) H] 1067[(com)pel H] 1001[? C] 520[them H] 865[ad(mit) H] 1219[(ad)mit M] 197[custom H] 898[ho(use) H] 354[(ho)us(e) H] 861[(hous)e H] 561[long H] 1041[held H] 1567[view H] 1314[tho H] 266[difficult H]
Reading
carmichael_17880605_reading.txt
be intended as a bugbear to compel ? them admit custom house long held view tho difficult
Carmichael to Jefferson, 24 Jul 1788
Carmichael on the 1360/1363 error in his cipher, Littlepage, and Campomanes and Ulloa on the Panama canal.
Transcription
# Carmichael to Jefferson, 24 Jul 1788: code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 1194.319.615.825. 1508.1196.1098.1057.1549.1111.1243.891.1307. 1609. 263.1311.1432. 385.1283.424.830. 1456.772. 1299.1117.1252.1303.842.1307.537.924.924.1171. 678.1184. 707.1555.959.1371.1611.569.1015.1166. 272.315.1611.
Decryption
carmichael_17880724_decryption.txt
# Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Papers ser. 1, mtj1 009_0892-0895 (RC, TJ interlinear) # each group with its reading and grade (H contemporary decoding or clear sheet, C attested elsewhere, M editors' reading only, I conjecture); one line per manuscript line 1194[si(gnification) H] 319[(si)g(nification) H] 615[(sig)ni(fication) H] 825[(signi)fication H] 1508[of H] 1196[the H] 1098[la(tter) H] 1057[(la)t(ter) H] 1549[(lat)ter H] 1111[this H] 1243[er(ror) H] 891[(er)ro(r) H] 1307[(erro)r H] 1609[.? M] 263[Little(page) H] 1311[(Littlepage) M] 1432[(Littlepage) C] 385[Cam(pomanes) H] 1283[(Cam)po(manes) H] 424[(Campo)man(es) H] 830[(Campoman)es H] 1456[Can(al) H] 772[(Can)al H] 1299[at H] 1117[Ca(diz) H] 1252[(Ca)di(z) H] 1303[(Cadi)z? M] 842[? M] 1307[Mr. H] 537[U(lloa) H] 924[(U)l(loa) H] 924[(Ul)l(oa) H] 1171[(Ull)oa H] 678[sub(ject) H] 1184[(sub)ject H] 707[4 H] 1555[yet H] 959[8 H] 1371[Tunis H] 1611[Mr. Barclay H] 569[sur(vey) H] 1015[(sur)vey H] 1166[(surve)y? C] 272[a H] 315[copy H] 1611[? C]
Reading
carmichael_17880724_reading.txt
signification of the latter this error .? Littlepage Campomanes Canal at Cadiz ? Mr. Ulloa subject 4 yet 8 Tunis Mr. Barclay survey a copy ?
Jefferson to Carmichael, Paris, 25 Dec 1788 read in part
Jefferson asks Carmichael what is being concerted between the Spanish court and the Kentucky settlers.
Builds coherent sentences, but under the read bar of 95% of words read as sense (88% here); the holes are marked in the reading.
Transcription
# Jefferson to Carmichael, Paris, 25 Dec 1788: code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 1405.452.846.1453.915. 816.1209.1225. 319.8.1548.173.1140.457.980.913.537.814.478.887.1363.?. 1271.1266.904.1266.1017.1548.1128.1581.1438.254.
Decryption
# Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Papers ser. 1, mtj1 010_0626-0630 (PrC) # each group with its reading and grade (H contemporary decoding or clear sheet, C attested elsewhere, M editors' reading only, I conjecture); one line per manuscript line 1405[Eden M] 452[Eden C] 846[?] 1453[?] 915[?] 816[concerting C] 1209[concerting C] 1225[concerting M] 319[between C] 8[between M] 1548[your C] 173[court C] 1140[and C] 457[our Kentuck C] 980[our Kentuck C] 913[our Kentuck M] 537[[ians] I] 814[[ians] I] 478[What is it ? M] 887[What is it ? C] 1363[What is it ? C] i?[?] 1271[It mer M] 1266[It mer C] 904[[its] I] 1266[[its] I] 1017[[its] I] 1548[your C] 1128[in[vestig] I] 1581[in[vestig] I] 1438[in[vestig] I] 254[ation M]
Reading
Eden [846] [1453] [915] concerting between your court and our Kentuck [ians] What is it ? [i?] It mer [its] your in[vestig] ation
Carmichael to Jefferson, 26 Jan 1789
Carmichael on a French agent sent to visit the American back settlements and on Gayoso, sent as governor of the Natchez.
Transcription
# Carmichael to Jefferson, 26 Jan 1789: code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 1128.1196.238.1508.518.576.910.959.918.1301.672.1128. 152.272.123.141.1081.37.1556.1199.265.708.135.424.960.82.23.?. 1035.1140.960.1573.272.1406.1432.?.1226.1248.408.946.1208. 980.1126.1196.1311.371.906.742.?.1106.560.1199.1096.1266.457. 1281.793.?.984.1265.1140.1199.1336.832.272.1500.508.744. 1165.1508.1199.1111.173.1128.739.408.1264.1237.806.1243.1338. 1196.678.1184.1128.29.1218.1001.1010.1096.1187.1610.708.272.1209. 1016.1414.1861.881.272.1444.1117.785.452.272.1550.1166.1128.1559. 924.1255.1482.913.424.1140.960.824.23.986.1035.1071.1130.505. 249.924.1573.560.1199.1196.35.1368.42.1508.1196.1922.1207.1017. 1368.1001.1573.249.924.?.1618.1128.1656.698.1111.517.1140.1368. 922.1456.272.801.1559.552.1508.1052.794.755.1432.1199.?.1001. 816.1154.697.1187.708.922.408.550.1500.?048.45.666.1111.173. 1001.1125.1232.
Decryption
carmichael_17890126_decryption.txt
# Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Papers ser. 1, mtj1 010_0877-0885 (RC, TJ interlinear) # each group with its reading and grade (H contemporary decoding or clear sheet, C attested elsewhere, M editors' reading only, I conjecture); one line per manuscript line 1128[In H] 1196[the H] 238[Month H] 1508[of H] 518[Oct(ob.) H] 576[(Octob.) M] 910[1787 H] 959[(1787) C] 918[(1787) M] 1301[I H] 672[re(ceived)? C] 1128[in(formation) C] 152[(in)for(mation) H] 272[(infor)ma(tion) C] 123[(informa)tion C] 141[which H] 1081[I H] 37[commun(icated) H] 1556[(communic)ated M] 1199[to H] 265[Congress H] 708[That H] 135[French(man) H] 424[(French)man H] 960[who H] 82[excluded] 23[(spo)ke? M] ?[excluded] 1035[English H] 1140[and H] 960[who H] 1573[was H] 272[a H] 1406[good H] 1432[ge(ographer) H] ?[excluded] 1226[(geog)rapher H] 1248[(geographer) M] 408[had H] 946[em(barked) H] 1208[(em)bar(ked) H] 980[(embar)ked H] 1126[excluded] 1196[the H] 1311[pack(et) H] 371[(pack)et C] 906[? C] 742[for H] ?[excluded] 1106[York H] 560[sent H] 1199[to H] 1096[vi(sit) H] 1266[(vi)sit C] 457[our H] 1281[back H] 793[? M] ?[? M] 984[settle(ments) H] 1265[(settle)ments M] 1140[and H] 1199[to H] 1336[ren(der) H] 832[(ren)der M] 272[a H] 1500[[secret?] H] 508[excluded] 744[(ac)count H] 1165[there(of) H] 1508[(there)of H] 1199[to H] 1111[this H] 173[court H] 1128[[We] H] 739[have H] 408[had H] 1264[no H] 1237[[communication] H] 806[[communication] H] 1243[[communication] H] 1338[on H] 1196[the H] 678[sub(ject) H] 1184[(sub)ject C] 1128[In H] 29[November H] 1218[last H] 1001[I H] 1010[ad(vised) H] 1096[(ad)vi(sed) M] 1187[(advi)sed C] 1610[Mr. Jay H] 708[that H] 272[a H] 1209[cer(tain) H] 1016[(cer)tain H] 1414[Gayoso H] 1861[(Gayoso) M] 881[(Gayoso)? C] 272[a H] 1444[Bi(scayan) H] 1117[(Bis)ca(yan) H] 785[(Bisca)ya(n) H] 452[(Biscaya)n H] 272[a H] 1550[ver(y) H] 1166[(ver)y C] 1128[in(telligent) H] 1559[(in)te(lligent) M] 924[(inte)l(ligent) H] 1255[(intel)li(gent) M] 1482[(intelli)ge(nt) M] 913[(intellige)nt? M] 424[man H] 1140[and H] 960[who H] 824[spo(ke) H] 23[(spo)ke? M] 986[? C] 1035[English H] 1071[per(fectly) H] 1130[(per)fect(ly) M] 505[(perfect)ly M] 249[excluded] 924[(wel)l H] 1573[was H] 560[sent H] 1199[to H] 1196[the H] 35[Missisipi H] 1368[as H] 42[Governor H] 1508[of H] 1196[the H] 1922[excluded] 1207[(Nat)ch(ez) H] 1017[(Natche)z H] 1368[As H] 1001[I H] 1573[was H] 249[excluded] 924[(wel)l H] ?[excluded] 1618[(ac)qua(inted) H] 1128[(acqua)in(ted) H] 1656[(acquain)ted H] 698[with H] 1111[this H] 517[person H] 1140[and H] 1368[as H] 922[he H] 1456[made H] 272[a H] 801[mys(tery) H] 1559[(mys)te(ry) M] 552[(myste)ry? M] 1508[of H] 1052[his H] 794[voy(age) H] 755[(voyage) M] 1432[(voy)age? M] 1199[to H] ?[excluded] 1001[I H] 816[con(jectured) H] 1154[(con)jec(tured) H] 697[(conjec)tur(ed) C] 1187[(conjectur)ed C] 708[that H] 922[he H] 408[had H] 550[some H] 1500[[secret?] H] ?048[com(mission) H] 45[(com)mission M] 666[from H] 1111[this H] 173[Court H] 1001[I H] 1125[hea(r) H] 1232[(hea)r M]
Reading
carmichael_17890126_reading.txt
In the Month of Octob. 1787 I received? information which I communicated to Congress That Frenchman who spoke? English and who was a good geographer had embarked the packet ? for York sent to visit our back ? settlements and to render a [secret?] account thereof to this court [We] have had no [communication] on the subject In November last I advised Mr. Jay that a certain Gayoso a Biscayan a very intelligent man and who spoke ? English perfectly well was sent to the Missisipi as Governor of the Natchez As I was well acquainted with this person and as he made a mystery of his voyage to I conjectured that he had some [secret?] commission from this Court I hear
Jefferson to Carmichael, Paris, 9 Aug 1789
Jefferson asks whether the provinces of Spain begin to talk of their rights, and reports Brabant in commotion.
Transcription
# Jefferson to Carmichael, Paris, 9 Aug 1789: code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 1196.409.1167.864.1308.394.1083.1128.1099.1107.9??.1308.1569.738. 1579?.1017.1363.1111.1497.1271.402.1169.1107.1363.1128.1088.31.
Decryption
# Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Papers ser. 1, mtj1 011_0780-0783 (PrC) # each group with its reading and grade (H contemporary decoding or clear sheet, C attested elsewhere, M editors' reading only, I conjecture); one line per manuscript line 1196[the C] 409[provinces M] 1167[provinces M] 864[provinces M] 1308[of C] 394[Spain C] 1083[[beg] I] 1128[in C] 1099[to M] 1107[t M] 9??[alk M] 1308[of C] 1569[their C] 738[[Bru] I] 1579?[tes M] 1017[s C] 1363[Is C] 1111[this C] 1497[true? C] 1271[true? M] 402[true? M] 1169[[Braban]t I] 1107[[Braban]t I] 1363[is C] 1128[in C] 1088[com M] 31[[motion] I]
Reading
the provinces of Spain [beg] in to t alk of their [Bru] tes s Is this true? [Braban]t is in com [motion]
Short to Jay, Paris, 9 Oct 1789 (No. 2)
Short on the October days: a party of the Duke of Orleans suspected of tampering with Lafayette's troops, and the royal family at the mercy of a mob.
Transcription
# Short to Jay, Paris, 9 Oct 1789 (No. 2): code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 1266.1573.356.398.1187.272.209. 1199.1196.930.980.1508.672.953.1237.804. 1104.1137.1054.698.1052.1057.891.?.1017.1140.1196. 1126.6.1140.553.1420.1052.168.847.1280.1352. 1194.1286.272.123.739.804.1199.356. 1195.1279.360.1199.1196.405.1196.50. 1196.405. 1070.491. 1128.1196.49.272.1126.6. 1186.994.989.1515.128?.1257.
Decryption
# NARA RG 59, Despatches from U.S. Ministers to France vol. 1 = M34 roll 2 (letter-book copy) # each group with its reading and grade (H contemporary decoding or clear sheet, C attested elsewhere, M editors' reading only, I conjecture); one line per manuscript line 1266[it H] 1573[was H] 356[sus H] 398[pec H] 1187[ted H] 272[a H] 209[party H] 1199[to H] 1196[the H] 930[Du H] 980[ke H] 1508[of H] 672[Or H] 953[le H] 1237[ans H] 804[been H] 1104[tam H] 1137[per H] 1054[ing H] 698[with H] 1052[his H] 1057[t H] 891[ro H] op[op H] 1017[s H] 1140[and H] 1196[the H] 1126[mob H] 6[mob H] 1140[and H] 553[also H] 1420[de H] 1052[his H] 168[present H] 847[(present) H] 1280[— H] 1352[sin H] 1194[gular H] 1286[situation H] 272[— H] 123[— H] 739[have H] 804[been H] 1199[to H] 356[sus H] 1195[picion H] 1279[— H] 360[both H] 1199[to H] 1196[the H] 405[King H] 1196[the H] 50[assembly H] 1196[the H] 405[King H] 1070[queen H] 491[will H] 1128[in H] 1196[the H] 49+[hands H] 272[a H] 1126[mob H] 6[mob H] 1186[fa H] 994[mine H] 989[strong H] 1515[strong H] 128?[guar H] 1257+[ds H]
Reading
it was sus pec ted a party to the Du ke of Or le ans been tam per ing with his t ro op s and the mob and also de his present — sin gular situation — have been to sus picion — both to the King the assembly the King queen will in the hands a mob fa mine strong guar ds
Short to Jay, Paris, 25 Oct 1789 (No. 5)
Short on Mirabeau abandoning the Orleans party and seeking the ministry through Lafayette.
Transcription
# Short to Jay, Paris, 25 Oct 1789 (No. 5): code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 1612. 744.741.272.1376. 209. 1612. 209.930.980. 414.676. 1343.495. 1128.1196.50. 922.1363.1071.623. 237.1001.1015. 396.1139.773. 377.145?. 922.128. 495.1156.7. 922.1196.94. 21.495. 1508.1128.911.?.50.5. 21.
Decryption
# NARA RG 59, Despatches from U.S. Ministers to France vol. 1 = M34 roll 2 (letter-book copy) # each group with its reading and grade (H contemporary decoding or clear sheet, C attested elsewhere, M editors' reading only, I conjecture); one line per manuscript line 1612[Marquis M] 744[Count C] 741[Mira- M] 272[a C] 1376[-beau M] 209[party C] 1612[Marquis M] 209[party C] 930[Du- C] 980[-ke C] 414[de- M] 676[-vote M] 1343[into M] 495[ministry M] 1128[in C] 1196[the C] 50[Assembly C] 922[he C] 1363[is C] 1071[per- M] 623[-son C] 237[exe- M] 1001[-cu- C] 1015[excluded] 396[minister C] 1139[mo- M] 773[-ral M] 377[worst M] 145?[can M] 922[he C] 128[moves M] 495[ministry M] 1156[disagree- C] 7[-able M] 922[He C] 1196[the C] 94[motion M] 21[memorial M] 495[ministry M] 1508[of C] 1128[en- C] 911[-clos- M] x[-ing M] 50[Assembly C] 5[proceeded M] 21[memorial M]
Reading
Marquis Count Mira- a -beau party Marquis party Du- -ke de- -vote into ministry in the Assembly he is per- -son exe- -cu- minister mo- -ral worst can he moves ministry disagree- -able He the motion memorial ministry of en- -clos- -ing Assembly proceeded memorial
Short to Jay, Paris, 28 Oct 1789 (No. 6)
Short mentions the ransom of the American prisoners at Algiers.
Transcription
# Short to Jay, Paris, 28 Oct 1789 (No. 6): code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 581.623.468.623.1043.
Decryption
# NARA RG 59, Despatches from U.S. Ministers to France vol. 1 = M34 roll 2 (letter-book copy) # each group with its reading and grade (H contemporary decoding or clear sheet, C attested elsewhere, M editors' reading only, I conjecture); one line per manuscript line 581[ran- H] 623[-som H] 468[pri- H] 623[-so- H] 1043[-ners H]
Jefferson to Carmichael, Philadelphia, 11 Apr 1791
Jefferson urges Carmichael to work for a joint front against the British navigation act and for the free navigation of the Mississippi.
Transcription
# Jefferson to Carmichael, Philadelphia, 11 Apr 1791: code groups as transcribed, one line per manuscript line 708.1508.272.818.423.1067.798.123.334.1196.1252.210.60?. 1057.1140.1196.1240.581.1422.1265.1508.457.322.1017.1338.1196.35.1235. 1196.152.1248.1428.1266.1458.1118.1007.1130.1187.491.152.272.846.1399. 905.272.1262.1140.834.1126.798.1262.861.1223.1207.1128.1196.1062.1199. 552.1140.449.861.597.1508.1196.423.1292.1237.1113.842.1307.1491.1332.49?. 494.1017.1266.1299.1531.1140.323.943.163.1482.1307.478.1017.1299.1255. 10?7.1376.4?2.1113.1196.1089.1057.1549.491.1481.1112.617.1299.1134.962. 1113.1140.1368.1199.1196.1089.1057.1549.1118.881.1406.1368.1199.1530.773. 122.10?7.708.1196.346.1508.210.1196.35.1363.277.1187.1368.881.1020. 1311.1262.708.1196.846.818.1547.1508.1266.491.57.1264.?77.1322.1527.123. 76?.708.1508.272.13??.1017.1128.1362.1272.1202.846.128.941.1235.1196. 27?.819.1140.449.861.597.1508.1196.138.742.11?6.1008.1255.1104.1225. 319.1196.179.1508.1266.1363.887.491.503.1008.1559.1196.1299.1303. 123.1140.464.380.1268.1117.123.1508.1196.30.371.1235.323.9?3.163. 1482.846.1066.1017.160.1017.834.708.773.924.842.1307.1179.11??. 1476.1017.37.12?.10?7.270.????.1165.118?.1199.117?.494.10?7. 1196.173.1308.451.698.1196.1415.7?2.70?.1196.210.1508.1196.35. 1573.1398.368.1187.1338.457.1324.1199.1476.906.457.98?.326. 793.1057.997.1017.1140.708.1266.1573.993.????.846.505.1206.80?. 1187.640.1196.1082.719.551.????.1017.1235.1111.1363.272.9?7.1031. 773.1243.891.1307.1140.137.962.1118.1043.849.1559.505.?61. 798.1252.1117.1556.1140.1017.1067.861.1232.505.672.842.1307. 1179.1149.1476.491.4?9.1015.1199.739.?04.272.1372.214.1391. 1307.1235.1266.1306.1497.1163.1234.14.1017.68.67.1017.1061. ?80.924.941.520.1199.600.1140.960.656.1432.4??.454. 1482.1001.1453.991.1362.1252.864.?13.993.520.1306.1015. 1017.964.1168.1196.210.1508.1190.35.1199.1118.?55.1199.1483. 1199.986.1140.960.1118.1255.861.1564.1524.1368.1363.373. 698.424.1135.1473.708.1365.145.1573.1196.426.145.1235. 631.1196.1322.880.1265.1017.1508.1196.761.220.1017.1508. 1196.537.615.1338.1234.1420.1008.1246.505.177.292.1059. 1140.1196.1547.517.1017.1199.399.842.1307.1179.1149.1476. 773.1055.1246.737.1222.821.248.1199.1196.145.443.880. 505.708.1196.2?0.1508.1196.35.1128.642.924.1140.792. 855.883.1???.1??7.????.????.???7.1363.1128.1156.1069.1194. 1120.1166.1390.864.1529.552.1140.137.962.1118.1523.1016.1187. 64?.434.8?9.10?7.1266.1397.1453.924.742.1235.1266.491.1118. 647.792.742.1206.1522.861.877.1428.716.1458.993.816.1167. 1202.39?.70?.716.1?91.1111.368.1128.1412.530.631.640.19.1017. 1??.4?1.1??6.832.708.816.1544.371.123.622.740.1199.991. 1575.352.
Decryption
# Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Papers ser. 1, mtj1 014_0279-0285 (PrC in clerk's hand and "decyphered" sheet) # each group with its reading and grade (H contemporary decoding or clear sheet, C attested elsewhere, M editors' reading only, I conjecture); one line per manuscript line 708[That H] 1508[of H] 272[a H] 818[co-operation H] 423[co-operation H] 1067[co-operation H] 798[co-operation H] 123[co-operation H] 334[against H] 1196[the H] 1252[British H] 210[navigation H] 60?[navigation H] 1057[act H] 1140[and H] 1196[the H] 1240[Arrangement H] 581[Arrangement H] 1422[Arrangement H] 1265[Arrangement H] 1508[of H] 457[our H] 322[Affairs H] 1017[Affairs [2/2] (s) H] 1338[on H] 1196[the H] 35[Missisippi H] 1235[. H] 1196[The H] 152[former H] 1248[former H] 1428[if H] 1266[it H] 1458[can H] 1118[be H] 1007[effected H] 1130[effected H] 1187[effected H] 491[will H] 152[form H] 272[a H] 846[remarkable [1/5] (re) H] 1399[remarkable H] 905[remarkable H] 272[remarkable [4/5] (a) H] 1262[remarkable [5/5] (ble) H] 1140[and H] 834[memorable [1/4] (me) H] 1126[memorable H] 798[memorable H] 1262[memorable [4/4] (ble) H] 861[Epoch [1/3] (e) H] 1223[Epoch H] 1207[Epoch H] 1128[in H] 1196[the H] 1062[History H] 1199[History [2/3] (to) H] 552[History H] 1140[and H] 449[freedom H] 861[freedom H] 597[freedom H] 1508[of H] 1196[the H] 423[Ocean H] 1292[Ocean H] 1237[Ocean H] 1113[: H] 842[Mr. H] 1307[Mr. [2/2] (r) H] 1491[Short H] 1332[Short H] 49?[will H] 494[press H] 1017[press [2/2] (s) H] 1266[it H] 1299[at H] 1531[Paris H] 1140[and H] 323[Colo. H] 943[Colo. H] 163[Humphreys H] 1482[Humphreys H] 1307[Humphreys [3/5] (r) H] 478[Humphreys H] 1017[Humphreys [5/5] (s) H] 1299[at H] 1255[Lisbon H] 10?7[Lisbon H] 1376[Lisbon H] 4?2[Lisbon H] 1113[: H] 1196[the H] 1089[latter H] 1057[latter [2/3] (t) H] 1549[latter H] 491[will H] 1481[shew H] 1112[shew H] 617[most H] 1299[at H] 1134[first H] 962[first H] 1113[: H] 1140[and H] 1368[as H] 1199[to H] 1196[the H] 1089[latter H] 1057[latter H] 1549[latter H] 1118[be H] 881[so H] 1406[good H] 1368[as H] 1199[to H] 1530[observe H] 773[observe H] 122[always H] 10?7[always [2/2] (s) H] 708[that H] 1196[the H] 346[Right H] 1508[of H] 210[navigating H] 1196[the H] 35[Missisippi H] 1363[is H] 277[considered H] 1187[considered H] 1368[as H] 881[so H] 1020[palpable H] 1311[palpable H] 1262[palpable [3/3] (ble) H] 708[that H] 1196[the H] 846[Recovery [1/3] (re) H] 818[Recovery [2/3] (co) H] 1547[Recovery H] 1508[of H] 1266[it H] 491[will H] 57[produce H] 1264[produce H] ?77[produce H] 1322[Sensation [1/3] (sen) H] 1527[Sensation H] 123[Sensation [3/3] (tion) H] 76?[than H] 708[that H] 1508[of H] 272[a H] 13??[Gross H] 1017[Gross [2/2] (s) H] 1128[Injustice [1/4] (in) H] 1362[Injustice H] 1272[Injustice H] 1202[Injustice H] 846[removed [1/3] (re) H] 128[removed H] 941[removed [3/3] (d) H] 1235[. H] 1196[The H] 27?[Extent H] 819[Extent H] 1140[& H] 449[Freedom H] 861[Freedom H] 597[Freedom H] 1508[of H] 1196[the H] 138[Port H] 742[for H] 11?6[facilitating H] 1008[facilitating H] 1255[facilitating H] 1104[facilitating H] 1225[facilitating H] 319[facilitating H] 1196[the H] 179[use H] 1508[of H] 1266[it H] 1363[is H] 887[what H] 491[will H] 503[excite H] 1008[excite H] 1559[excite H] 1196[the H] 1299[attention [1/3] (at) H] 1303[attention H] 123[attention [3/3] (tion) H] 1140[and H] 464[Gratification H] 380[Gratification H] 1268[Gratification H] 1117[Gratification H] 123[Gratification [5/5] (tion) H] 1508[of H] 1196[the H] 30[Public H] 371[Public H] 1235[. H] 323[Colo. H] 9?3[Colo. H] 163[Humphreys H] 1482[Humphreys H] 846[Humphreys [3/5] (re) H] 1066[Humphreys H] 1017[Humphreys [5/5] (s) H] 160[writes H] 1017[writes [2/2] (s) H] 834[me H] 708[that H] 773[all H] 924[all H] 842[Mr. H] 1307[Mr. [2/2] (r) H] 1179[Gardoqui's H] 11??[Gardoqui's H] 1476[Gardoqui's [3/4] (qui) H] 1017[Gardoqui's [4/4] (s) H] 37[Communications [1/?] H] 12?[Communications [2/?] H] 10?7[Communications [3/?] H] 270[Communications / while / here H] ????[while / here H] 1165[tended H] 118?[tended [2/2] (ed) H] 1199[to H] 117?[impress [1/3] (im) H] 494[impress [2/3] (pres) H] 10?7[impress [3/3] (s) H] 1196[the H] 173[Court H] 1308[of H] 451[Madrid H] 698[with H] 1196[the H] 1415[Idea H] 7?2[Idea H] 70?[that H] 1196[the H] 210[Navigation H] 1508[of H] 1196[the H] 35[Missisippi H] 1573[was H] 1398[only H] 368[demanded H] 1187[demanded [2/2] (ed) H] 1338[on H] 457[our H] 1324[part H] 1199[to H] 1476[quiet [1/2] (qui) H] 906[quiet H] 457[our H] 98?[Western H] 326[Western H] 793[Settlers H] 1057[Settlers [2/4] (t) H] 997[Settlers H] 1017[Settlers [4/4] (s) H] 1140[and H] 708[that H] 1266[it H] 1573[was H] 993[not H] ????[sincerely H] 846[sincerely [2/3] (re) H] 505[sincerely [3/3] (ly) H] 1206[desired H] 80?[desired H] 1187[desired [3/3] (ed) H] 640[by H] 1196[the H] 1082[Maritime H] 719[Maritime H] 551[Maritime H] ????[States H] 1017[States [2/2] (s) H] 1235[. H] 1111[This H] 1363[is H] 272[a H] 9?7[most H] 1031[fatal H] 773[fatal [2/2] (al) H] 1243[Error [1/3] (er) H] 891[Error H] 1307[Error [3/3] (r) H] 1140[and H] 137[must H] 962[must [2/2] (st) H] 1118[be H] 1043[completely H] 849[completely H] 1559[completely H] 505[completely [4/4] (ly) H] ?61[eradicated [1/5] (e) H] 798[eradicated [2/5] (ra) H] 1252[eradicated [3/5] (di) H] 1117[eradicated [4/5] (ca) H] 1556[eradicated H] 1140[and H] 1017[Speedily [1/5] (s) H] 1067[Speedily H] 861[Speedily [3/5] (e) H] 1232[Speedily H] 505[Speedily [5/5] (ly) H] 672[or H] 842[Mr. H] 1307[Mr. [2/2] (r) H] 1179[Gardoqui H] 1149[Gardoqui H] 1476[Gardoqui H] 491[will H] 4?9[prove H] 1015[prove H] 1199[to H] 739[have H] ?04[been H] 272[a H] 1372[bad H] 214[peace H] 1391[maker H] 1307[maker [2/2] (r) H] 1235[. H] 1266[It H] 1306[is H] 1497[true H] 1163[there H] 1234[were H] 14[Characters H] 1017[Characters [2/2] (s) H] 68[whose H] 67[whose H] 1017[Stations [1/2] (s) H] 1061[Stations H] ?80[entitled H] 924[entitled [2/3] (l) H] 941[entitled [3/3] (d) H] 520[them H] 1199[to H] 600[credit H] 1140[and H] 960[who H] 656[from H] 1432[geographical H] 4??[geographical H] 454[geographical H] 1482[geographical [4/6] (ph) H] 1001[geographical [5/6] (i) H] 1453[geographical [6/6] (cal) H] 991[prejudices H] 1362[prejudices H] 1252[prejudices [3/4] (di) H] 864[prejudices H] ?13[did H] 993[not H] 520[themselves [1/4] (them) H] 1306[themselves H] 1015[themselves H] 1017[themselves [4/4] (s) H] 964[wish H] 1168[wish H] 1196[the H] 210[Navigation H] 1508[of H] 1190[the H] 35[Missisippi H] 1199[to H] 1118[be H] ?55[restored H] 1199[restored [2/3] (to) H] 1483[restored H] 1199[to H] 986[us H] 1140[and H] 960[who H] 1118[believe [1/4] (be) H] 1255[believe [2/4] (li) H] 861[believe [3/4] (e) H] 1564[believe H] 1524[perhaps H] 1368[as H] 1363[is H] 373[common H] 698[with H] 424[mankind H] 1135[mankind H] 1473[mankind H] 708[that H] 1365[their H] 145[Opinion H] 1573[was H] 1196[the H] 426[general H] 145[Opinion H] 1235[. H] 631[But H] 1196[the H] 1322[Sentiments [1/4] (sen) H] 880[Sentiments H] 1265[Sentiments [3/4] (ment) H] 1017[Sentiments [4/4] (s) H] 1508[of H] 1196[the H] 761[great H] 220[Mass H] 1017[Mass [2/2] (s) H] 1508[of H] 1196[the H] 537[Union H] 615[Union H] 1338[Union [3/3] (on) H] 1234[were H] 1420[decidedly H] 1008[decidedly [2/4] (ci) H] 1246[decidedly [3/4] (ded) H] 505[decidedly [4/4] (ly) H] 177[otherwise H] 292[otherwise H] 1059[otherwise H] 1140[and H] 1196[the H] 1547[very H] 517[Persons H] 1017[Persons [2/2] (s) H] 1199[to H] 399[whom H] 842[Mr. H] 1307[Mr. [2/2] (r) H] 1179[Gardoqui H] 1149[Gardoqui H] 1476[Gardoqui H] 773[alluded [1/3] (al) H] 1055[alluded H] 1246[alluded [3/3] (ded) H] 737[are H] 1222[now H] 821[come H] 248[over H] 1199[to H] 1196[the H] 145[Opinion H] 443[heartily H] 880[heartily H] 505[heartily [3/3] (ly) H] 708[that H] 1196[the H] 2?0[navigation H] 1508[of H] 1196[the H] 35[Missisippi H] 1128[in H] 642[full H] 924[full [2/2] (l) H] 1140[& H] 792[unrestrained [1/5] (un) H] 855[unrestrained H] 883[unrestrained H] 1???[unrestrained H] 1??7[unrestrained [5/5] (ed) H] ????[freedom H] ????[freedom H] ???7[freedom H] 1363[is H] 1128[indispensibly [1/?] (in) H] 1156[indispensibly H] 1069[indispensibly H] 1194[indispensibly H] 1120[indispensibly H] 1166[indispensibly H] 1390[indispensibly H] 864[necessary H] 1529[necessary H] 552[necessary [3/3] (ry) H] 1140[& H] 137[must H] 962[must H] 1118[be H] 1523[obtained H] 1016[obtained H] 1187[obtained [3/3] (ed) H] 64?[by H] 434[any H] 8?9[Means H] 10?7[Means [2/2] (s) H] 1266[it H] 1397[may H] 1453[call [1/2] (cal) H] 924[call [2/2] (l) H] 742[for H] 1235[. H] 1266[It H] 491[will H] 1118[be H] 647[most H] 792[unfortunate [1/5] (un) H] 742[unfortunate [2/5] (for) H] 1206[unfortunate H] 1522[unfortunate H] 861[unfortunate H] 877[indeed H] 1428[if H] 716[we H] 1458[can H] 993[not H] 816[convince [1/3] (con) H] 1167[convince H] 1202[convince [3/3] (ce) H] 39?[Spain H] 70?[that H] 716[we H] 1?91[make H] 1111[this H] 368[Demand H] 1128[in H] 1412[earnest H] 530[earnest H] 631[but H] 640[by H] 19[acts H] 1017[acts [2/2] (s) H] 1??[which H] 4?1[will H] 1??6[render H] 832[render H] 708[that H] 816[Conviction [1/4] (con) H] 1544[Conviction H] 371[Conviction H] 123[Conviction [4/4] (tion) H] 622[too H] 740[late H] 1199[to H] 991[prevent H] 1575[prevent H] 352[Evil H]
Reading
That of a co-operation against the British navigation act and the Arrangement of our Affairs on the Missisippi . The former if it can be effected will form a remarkable and memorable Epoch in the History and freedom of the Ocean : Mr. Short will press it at Paris and Colo. Humphreys at Lisbon : the latter will shew most at first : and as to the latter be so good as to observe always that the Right of navigating the Missisippi is considered as so palpable that the Recovery of it will produce Sensation than that of a Gross Injustice removed . The Extent & Freedom of the Port for facilitating the use of it is what will excite the attention and Gratification of the Public . Colo. Humphreys writes me that all Mr. Gardoqui's Communications Communications / while / here while / here tended to impress the Court of Madrid with the Idea that the Navigation of the Missisippi was only demanded on our part to quiet our Western Settlers and that it was not sincerely desired by the Maritime States . This is a most fatal Error and must be completely eradicated and Speedily or Mr. Gardoqui will prove to have been a bad peace maker . It is true there were Characters whose Stations entitled them to credit and who from geographical prejudices did not themselves wish the Navigation of the Missisippi to be restored to us and who believe perhaps as is common with mankind that their Opinion was the general Opinion . But the Sentiments of the great Mass of the Union were decidedly otherwise and the very Persons to whom Mr. Gardoqui alluded are now come over to the Opinion heartily that the navigation of the Missisippi in full & unrestrained freedom is indispensibly necessary & must be obtained by any Means it may call for . It will be most unfortunate indeed if we can not convince Spain that we make this Demand in earnest but by acts which will render that Conviction too late to prevent Evil
Key: key.tsv
06 Sources
- Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Papers, series 1 (General Correspondence), images mtj1 005_0494–0497, 007_0476–0481, 007_0489, 007_0605–0606, 008_0145–0149, 008_0161–0163, 008_0689, 009_0339–0342, 009_0469–0472, 009_0503–0517, 009_0892–0895, 010_0626–0630, 010_0877–0885, 011_0780–0783, 014_0279–0285: loc.gov/collections/thomas-jefferson-papers.
- National Archives, RG 59, Despatches from US Ministers to France, vol. 1 (30 September 1789–30 December 1790), microfilm M34 roll 2, frames 0010–0012, 0017, 0020: catalog.archives.gov/id/188667987.
- The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. J. P. Boyd et al., vols. 9–20 (Princeton, 1954–1982), and The Papers of John Adams, vol. 19, via Founders Online: TJ to Barclay, 4 July 1787, Barclay to TJ, about 3 July 1787, TJ to Carmichael, 15 December 1787, Carmichael to TJ, 8 May 1788, TJ to Carmichael, 25 September 1787 (with the editors’ history of the cipher), TJ to Adams, 28 September 1787.
Transcriptions, key, reading with grades, scripts and the work log: targets/jefferson1787/.