1140. CAPTIVES, Jefferson and.—
I do
not wonder that Captain O'Bryan has lost patience
under his long continued captivity, and
that he may suppose some of the public servants
have neglected him and his brethren. He May
possibly have imputed neglect to me, because a
forbearance to correspond with him would
have that appearance, though it was dictated
by the single apprehension, that if he received
letters from me as Minister Plenipotentiary of
the United States at Paris, or as Secretary of
State, it would increase the expectations of
his captors, and raise the ransom beyond what
his countrymen would be disposed to give, and
so end in their perpetual captivity. But, in
truth, I have labored for them constantly and
zealously in every situation in which I have
been placed. In the first moment of their captivity,
I first proposed to Mr. Adams to take
upon ourselves their ransom, though unauthorized
by Congress. I proposed to Congress and
obtained their permission to employ the Order
of Mercy in France for their ransom, but never
could obtain orders for the money till just as
I was leaving France, and was obliged to turn
the matter over to Mr. Short. As soon as I
came here, I laid the matter before the President
and Congress in two long reports, but Congress
could not decide until the beginning of
1792, and then clogged their ransom by a
previous requisition of peace. The unfortunate
death of two successive commissioners [Paul
Jones and Mr. Barclay] have still retarded their
relief, and even should they be now relieved,
will probably deprive me of the gratification of
seeing my endeavors for them crowned at
length with success by their arrival when I
am here. It would, indeed, be grating to me
if, after all, I should be supposed by them to
have been indifferent to their situation. I will
ask of your friendship to do me justice in
their eyes, that to the pain I have already felt
for them, may not be added that of their dissatisfaction.—
To Colonel David. Washington ed. iii, 531.
(Pa.,
1793)
