Morris, Gouveneur, as Minister Plenipotentiary to France

A group of 3 documents signed (2 in French) regarding the naturalized Frenchman James Donatien LeRay and 7 autograph letters signed to LeRay, February–June 1794, all housed in a cream moiré folding case, green morocco spine with green suede lettering pieces:



Autograph document in French signed ("Gouv. Morris") and by numerous French officials on the verso, 2 pages (12 x 7 3/4 in.; 305 x 197 mm), Paris, 23 February 1793, red wax seal in lower left corner of recto, stamp and red wax seal of  France on the verso, being a passport to England for LeRay, a naturalized citizen of the United States and his American wife Grace Coxe. — Vellum document signed ("Gouv. Morris") and countersigned by H. W. Livingston, one half sheet (6 9/16 x 11 3/4 in.; 166 x 299 mm), Paris, 22 February 1794, being the appointment of James Donatius Leray as commissioner to negotiate a Treaty of Peace and Commerce with the Dey of Algiers, red wax seal affixed in lower left corner; marginal foxing. — Autograph letter signed ("Gouv. Morris"), 8 pages (12 x 8 in.; 305 x 203 mm),  Paris, 22 February 1794, being Leray's instructions on how to treat with the Dey; light, scattered spotting, blank lower portion of p. 8 age-darkened. — Document signed ("Gouv. Morris") and by various French officials beginning at the bottom of the first page and continuing to the verso, 2 pages (13 1/4 x 8 3/4 in.; 337 x 223 mm), Paris, 1 March 1794, being a passport to Geneva for Grace Coxe, French stamp and red wax seal on verso; loss to lower left corner.  — Autograph letter signed ("Gouv. Morris"), 1 1/2 pages with integral address leaf, Sainport, 23 April 1794, to Leray at Geneva, remitting money; stains and tear from wax seal (not present). — Autograph letter signed ("Gouv. Morris"), 1 1/2 pages with integral address leaf, Sainport, 26 April 1794, to Leray at Neuchâtel, willing to supply credentials for new passports but doesn't believe it necessary for the moment; stains and tear from wax seal (not present). — Autograph letter signed ("Gouv. Morris"), 4 pages, Paris, 5 May 1794, informs Leray that a newspaper article reported that Col. Humphreys had been appointed to negotiate with the Algerines, and transcribes part of a letter written (in French) on behalf of saving Leray's ancestral home, the Chateau de Chaumont. — Autograph letter signed ("Gouv. Morris"), 1 page with integral address leaf, Sainport, 12 May 1794, to Leray at Nyon, informs Leray that the delays in the business with which he was occupied stemmed from actions by the Comité de salut public, acknowledges several of Leray's letters; stains and tear from wax seal (not present). — Autograph letter signed ("Gouv. Morris"), 1 1/2 pages with integral address leaf, Sainport, 21 May 1794, to Leray at Nyon, writes that "The Bankers of the United States wrote to me lately that they had been oblig'd to apply for special Permission to pay Bills drawn by my order for the use of the United States which Permission was obtain'd ..."; stains and tear from wax seal (not present).  — Autograph letter signed ("Gouv. Morris"), 1 page with integral address leaf, Sainport, 10 June 1794, to Leray at Nyon, unable to provide any intelligence regarding Leray's fellow commissioners and orders him to continue his business in Nyon; stains and tear from wax seal (not present). 

Morris's Instructions to LeRay dated 22 February 1794 published in Jared Sparks. Life of Gouverneur Morris with Selections from his Correspondance (1832), pp. 402–405

Resolving the Barbary Wars. Soon after the formation of the United States, privateering in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean by Barbary corsairs prompted the U.S. to form a series of so-called "peace treaties." Individual treaties were negotiated with Morocco (1786), Algiers (1795), Tripoli (1797) and Tunis (1797)—and all of them more than once.

In 1794 Morris appointed LeRay to treat with the Dey of Algiers. A Treaty of Peace and Amity was concluded on 5 September 1795 between Hassan Bashaw of Algiers and George Washington as President of the United States, with Joseph Donaldson, Jr. representing the President. Yet the Treaty came with a price:  the United States was forced to pay nearly $1 million in cash, naval stores, and a frigate to ransom 115 sailors from the Dey.