Thomas Barclay to American Commissioners, February 10, 1787

Alicante 10 th. February 1787.

Gentlemen.

Since I wrote to you from hence the 6 th. of last month 1 I have been much aflicted with the Rheumatism in my Loins, which confin’d me to my bed with pains great beyond Description. I am now free of them, and Shall leave this place in a few Days. Upon further reflection, I thought it best not to abandon the Idea of meeting M r. Lamb, and therefore I wrote to him, at Port Mahon, that I woud go to Valencia and from thence to Barcelona, if he wou’d embark for this last place and meet me there— I inform’d him that my orders from Congress were to make a Settlement with all the people in Europe who are employ’d, or who have been employ’d, in their Service—and that the Ministers at London and Paris wish that I may be able to comply with the desire which he communicated to them of having his account Settled here—and I desir’d him to answer me by one letter address’d for me at Valencia and another at Barcelona. If his buisness or health will not permit him to see me I will probably go to Madrid from Valencia—or perhaps to France from Barcelona— But my movements will in Some measure be govern’d by the necessity I Shall find myself under of going to Coruña.— The Gentlemen, with whom my buisness lyes there, have not by any means comply’d with my request. They acknowledge that there is some property belonging to the Prizes carried in by Captain Cunnyngham, in their hands, but they have applyed it towards the Discharge of expences incurred by the South Carolina frigate, commanded by Commodore Gillon, and with respect to the public effects left by him, little can be known by what they write,— I fear nothing will ever be recover’d of any consequence from these effects or from this Balance—yet having them pointed out as objects to be attended to, I am unwilling to leave anything undone on my part; In the mean time—I Shall communicate to the Secretary of foreign affairs what I have collected on these Subjects, and determine hereafter whether I Shall pass to Coruña or not. 2

I receiv’d a letter from M r. Jefferson Dated the 26 th. of December, 3 in which he Says he will write to M r. Adams to join, him in desiring M r. Lamb to Settle his accounts—a Circumstance that proves very agreeable to me—However willing M r. Lamb may be to do it without Such a letter. I am Gentlemen with the greatest Respect and Esteem. / Your most obed t. Servant

Tho s Barclay 4

The Count D’Espilly &c. Sail’d from this Bay about ten Days ago for Algier.