Chapter 4 Summary and Analysis

The letters of chapter four range from May 1786 to January 1787. Jefferson visited England in March 1786 on Adams's request, but he was coldly received at the court. He was unable to secure an Anglo-American commercial treaty; the British only delayed and showed indifference.

The treaty with Portugal looked strong before during the six-week period Jefferson was in England. But the treaty was not ratified. In any event, Queen Maria protected American vessels through the Algerine corsairs to protect against the Barbary Pirates.

Adams and Jefferson had to deal with the Barbary states on several occasions. They started dealing with them when advised by a French foreign minister. He also recommended that they operate through agents, and they followed this advice. There were two missions made to Algiers, and one was successful while the other failed. American morality was offended by the ruthless...