TO MR. CARMICHAEL.

Paris, June 20, 1786.

Dear Sir,

My last to you was of the 5th of May, by Baron Waltersdorff. Since that
I have been honored with yours of April the 13th, and May the 16th and
18th. The present covers letters to Mr. Lambe and Mr. Randall, informing
them that the demands of Algiers for the ransom of our prisoners and
also for peace, are so infinitely beyond our instructions, that we must
refer the matter back to Congress, and therefore praying them to come on
immediately. I will beg the favor of you to forward these letters. The
whole of this business, therefore, is suspended till we receive further
orders, except as to Mr. Barclay's mission. Your bills have been
received and honored. The first naming expressly a letter of advice, and
none coming, it was refused till the receipt of your letter to me, in
which you mentioned that you had drawn two bills. I immediately informed
Mr. Grand, who thereupon honored the bill.

I have received no public letters of late date. Through other channels,
I have collected some articles of information, which may be acceptable
to you.

*****

In a letter of March the 20th, from Dr. Franklin to me, is this passage.
'As to public affairs, the Congress has not been able to assemble more
than seven or eight States during the whole winter, so the treaty with
Prussia remains still unratified, though there is no doubt of its being