The former is adapted to the
existing abuses, the latter goes to those possible, as well as to those
existing.
With respect to Doctor Spence, supposed to have been taken by the
Algerines, I think the report extremely improbable. O'Bryan, one of our
captives there, has constantly written to me, and given me information
on every subject he thought interesting. He could not have failed to
know if such a capture had been made, though before his time, nor to
inform me of it. I am under perpetual anxiety for our captives there.
The money, indeed, is not yet ready at Amsterdam; but when it shall
be, there are no orders from the board of treasury to the bankers, to
furnish what may be necessary for the redemption of the captives: and
it is so long since Congress approved the loan, that the orders of the
treasury for the application of the money would have come, if they
had intended to send any. I wrote to them early on the subject, and
pointedly. I mentioned it to Mr. Jay also, merely that he might suggest
it to them. The payments to the foreign officers will await the same
formality.
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