respect due to his most Catholic Majesty forbids me to postpone
communicating to him my appointment and arrival; and the same motive
will induce me to remain here till he shall be pleased to signify to
me his pleasure. For although nothing would afford me more sensible
pleasure, than the honor of presenting to his Majesty the despatches,
which I am charged by Congress to deliver to him, yet on this, as on
every other occasion, it shall be my study to execute the trust
reposed in me, in the manner most pleasing to his Majesty, agreeable
to the true intent and meaning of the article abovementioned.
And that his most Christian Majesty may have the highest evidence of
the intention and desire of Congress fully and faithfully to execute
this article, I shall immediately do myself the honor of communicating
the same, together with my appointment and arrival; and I flatter
myself, that the request of Congress for his favorable interposition,
will meet with the same friendly attention, which he has uniformly
extended to all their concerns, and of which I am too sensible not to
derive the highest satisfaction from acknowledging it on every
occasion.
Mr Carmichael, my Secretary, will have the honor of delivering this
despatch to your Excellency, as well as of giving every information in
his power to afford. This gentleman was a member of Congress at the
time of his appointment, and will be able more fully to express the
ardor with which the United States desire to establish a union with
France and Spain, on principles productive of such mutual attachment
and reciprocal benefits, as to secure to each the blessings of
uninterrupted tranquillity.
I have the honor to be, with great consideration and respect, &c.
JOHN JAY.
P. S. I do myself the honor of transmitting to your Excellency,
herewith enclosed, a copy of my letter to his Excellency the Count de
Vergennes.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Cadiz, January 27th, 1780.
Sir,
This morning M. Gerard set out from this city for France, and Mr
Carmichael, charged with despatches from me to the Spanish Ministry,
accompanies him as far as Madrid.
We arrived here the 22d inst. and I have been so much engaged ever
since in preparing letters, &c. as not to have an opportunity of
writing circumstantially to your Excellency by Captain Proctor, who I
am told, is to sail early in the morning for the Delaware or
Chesapeake.
We left Martinique on the 28th of December, in the Aurora frigate,
bound to Toulon. On touching here for intelligence we were informed
that the enemy had acquired a decided superiority in the
Mediterranean, and that the coast was infested by their cruisers, all
of whom we had fortunately escaped. Hence it became improper for me to
proceed to France by water, and it would in my opinion have been
indelicate, and therefore imprudent to have passed silently through
this kingdom to that, for the purpose of making a communication to his
most Christian Majesty, which could be fully conveyed by paper. On
this subject I shall take the liberty of making a few further remarks
in a future letter.
Congress will be enabled to judge of the propriety and plan of my
conduct, from the papers herewith enclosed, viz. a copy of a letter to
M. Galvez, the Spanish Minister; a copy of a letter to the Count de
Vergennes; of both these I have sent copies to Dr Franklin; a copy of
a letter to Mr Arthur Lee; and a copy of my instructions to Mr
Carmichael.
It is in pursuance of what appears to me to be my duty, that I shall
render frequent, particular, and confidential accounts of my
proceedings to Congress. I flatter myself care will be taken to
prevent the return of them to Europe.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN JAY.
* * * * *
INSTRUCTIONS TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.
Cadiz, January 27th, 1780.
You will proceed to Madrid with convenient expedition, and, if M.
Gerard, with whom you set out, should travel too deliberately, I
advise you to go on before him. The propriety of this, however, will
depend much on circumstances, and must be determined by your own
discretion.
On delivering my letter to M. Galvez, it would be proper to intimate,
that I presumed it would be more agreeable to him to receive my
despatches from you, who could give him information on many matters
about which he might choose to inquire, than in the ordinary modes of
conveyance. And it may not be amiss to let him know, that his not
receiving notice of our arrival from me by M. Gerard's courier, was
owing to a mistake between that gentleman and me.
Treat the French Ambassador with great attention and candor, and that
degree of confidence only, which prudence, and the alliance between us
may prescribe. In your conversations with people about the Court,
impress them with an idea of our strong attachment to France; yet, so
as to avoid permitting them to imbibe an opinion of our being under
the _direction_ of any counsels but our own. The former will induce
them to think well of our constancy and good faith, the latter, of our
independence and self respect.
Discover, if possible, whether the Courts of Madrid and Versailles
entertain, in any degree, the same mutual disgusts, which we are told
prevail at present between the two nations, and be cautious when you
tread on this delicate ground. It would also be useful to know who are
the King's principal confidants, and the trains leading to each.
To treat prudently with any nation, it is essential to know the state
of its revenues. Turn your attention, therefore, to this object, and
endeavor to learn whether the public expenditures consume their
annual income, or whether there be any, and what overplus or
deficiency, and the manner in which the former is disposed of or the
latter supplied.
If an opportunity should offer, inform yourself as to the regulations
of the press at Madrid, and, indeed, throughout the kingdom; and the
particular character of the person at the head of that department.
Endeavor to find some person of adequate abilities and knowledge in
the two languages, to translate English into Spanish with propriety,
and, if possible, elegance. I wish also to know, which of the
religious orders, and the individuals of it, are most esteemed and
favored at Court.
Mention, as matter of intelligence, rather than in the way of
argument, the cruelties of the enemy, and the influence of that
conduct on the passions of Americans. This will be the more necessary,
as it seems we are suspected of retaining our former attachments to
Britain.
In speaking of American affairs, remember to do justice to Virginia,
and the western country near the Mississippi. Recount their
achievements against the savages, their growing numbers, extensive
settlements, and aversion to Britain, for attempting to involve them
in the horrors of an Indian war. Let it appear also from your
representations, that ages will be necessary to settle those extensive
regions.
Let it be inferred from your conversation, that the expectations of
America, as to my reception and success, are sanguine; that they have
been rendered the more so by the suggestions of persons generally
supposed to speak from authority, and that a disappointment would be
no less unwelcome than unexpected.
I am persuaded, that pains will be taken to delay my receiving a
decided answer as to my reception, until the sentiments of France
shall be known. Attempts will also be made to suspend the
acknowledgment of our independence, on the condition of our acceding
to _certain_ terms of treaty. Do nothing to cherish either of these
ideas; but, without being explicit, treat the latter in a manner
expressive of regret and apprehension, and seem to consider my
reception as a measure, which we hoped would be immediately taken,
although the business of the negotiation might be postponed till
France could have an opportunity of taking the steps she might think
proper on the occasion.
You will offer to transmit to me any despatches, which M. Galvez may
think proper to confide to you; or to return with them yourself, if
more agreeable to him.
You will be attentive to all other objects of useful information, such
as the characters, views, and connexions of important individuals; the
plan of operations for the next campaign; whether any, and what secret
overtures have been made by Britain to France, or Spain, or by either
of them to her, or each other; whether any of the other powers have
manifested a disposition to take a part in the war; and whether it is
probable that any, and which of them, will become mediators for a
general peace, and on what plan. If the war should continue, it would
be advantageous to know whether Spain means to carry on any serious
operations for possessing herself of the Floridas, and banks of the
Mississippi, &c. &c. &c.
Although I have confidence in your prudence, yet permit me to
recommend to you the greatest circumspection. Command yourself under
every circumstance; on the one hand, avoid being suspected of
servility, and on the other, let your temper be always even, and your
attention unremitted.
You will oblige me by being very regular and circumstantial in your
correspondence, and commit nothing of a private nature to paper unless
in cypher.
JOHN JAY.
* * * * *
WILLIAM CARMICHAEL TO JOHN JAY.
Madrid, February 15th, 1780.
Dear Sir,
I arrived in this city late in the evening of the 11th, after a
tedious and disagreeable journey. The next day, although much
indisposed, I waited on the French Ambassador, who had by a message
over night, requested M. Gerard to engage me to dinner. I was received
by him and all his family in the most friendly manner, and was offered
every service in his power, to render us without those personal
professions, which give birth to many unmeaning words and more
suspicion. Indeed, I have neither expressions nor time to represent
the apparent candor and liberality of his sentiments. He entered fully
into the good disposition of his Court, and informed me, that the
King, as a further proof of his friendship for us, had agreed to pay
us annually the additional sum of three millions of livres during the
continuance of the war, in order to enable us to purchase the
necessaries for our army, &c. &c. and that his Majesty had also
determined to send a considerable marine and land force early in the
year to America, to be at the disposition and under the direction of
our General. Seventeen sail of the line, and four thousand troops, are
also to be sent to the West Indies, if they have not already sailed.
Judge after this, if attention, candor, and apparent unreservedness,
were not the more necessary on my part.
On inquiring, I found that M. Galvez was at the Pardo, about two
leagues from Madrid, where the King resides at present, and in the
course of conversation discovered, that the proper channel of address
ought to have been through the Count de Florida Blanca.
The Ambassador offered to introduce me, but as this could not be done
with propriety without previous application, he undertook to make it
the day following, and to fix the time for my reception by both, and I
think the manner will be the sole difficulty.
Among other circumstances, which induce this conclusion, is the
certain knowledge I have obtained, that M. Mirales received
instructions several months past to enter into engagements with
Congress, to take into pay a body of troops to assist in the conquest
of Florida. Your own good sense will point out the use, which may be
made of this intelligence. It answers to the point of the
instructions, which I had the honor to receive from you. The short
time I have been in this city has not hitherto given me an opportunity
of writing so circumstantially as I could wish, in the matters
abovementioned, and much less of giving a decided opinion on many
objects contained in your instructions. I find, however, hitherto no
difficulty in acquiring in time a knowledge on most of the subjects
recommended to my attention.
I have reason to believe, that the same disgusts do not subsist
between the Crowns as between the nations, but the most perfect
harmony and good understanding.
I have been positively assured, and from good authority, that no
overtures have been made for peace.
The Dutch are arming, which is a circumstance in our favor, as their
preparations originate from their discontent with England, on account
of the late affair of the convoy.
Mr Harrison is here, and proposes to proceed to Cadiz next week, which
will furnish me a good opportunity of writing to you. I enclose you
the last paper received from America; the people were in high spirits,
and everything in a good state in the beginning of January.
I cannot conclude without mentioning the very polite manner in which
the French Ambassador offered his personal civilities in everything,
that depended on him, to be useful to you in this place.
M. Gerard will write to you himself, yet I must do him the justice to
mention his personal kindness to me, and the candid representations he
has made in every public company here of the prosperous situation of
our affairs.
I have the honor to be, &c.
WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Cadiz, February 20th, 1780.
Sir,
The papers herewith enclosed are duplicates of those, which I had the
honor of transmitting to your Excellency by Captain Desaussure. As yet
I have received no intelligence from Madrid, owing I believe to the
extreme badness of the roads.
When at Martinique, I informed Congress by letter, dated the 25th of
December last, that I had drawn a bill in favor of the officers of the
Confederacy on Dr Franklin, for one hundred guineas. At the time that
letter was written, I had made the officers that promise, and had
directed the bills to be made out accordingly, but just as I was
coming away and closing accounts with Mr Bingham, he, perceiving that
the money I was about to draw for the officers was to come out of my
salary, in the first instance, was so obliging as to offer to advance
that sum on the credit of Congress, and thereby save me the necessity
of drawing. I accepted his offer, and gave notice of it to the
officers by Mr Lawrence, the clerk of the frigate.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN JAY.
* * * * *
COUNT DE FLORIDA BLANCA TO JOHN JAY.
Translation.
Pardo, February 24th, 1780.
Sir,
Having received by the hands of Don Joseph de Galvez, the letter which
your Excellency sent by Mr Carmichael, and having communicated the
contents to his Majesty, I have it in command to inform you, that his
Majesty highly approves the choice, which the American Congress have
made of you to the trust mentioned in your letter, as well on account
of the high estimation in which his Majesty holds the members who made
the choice, as the information he has received of your probity,
talents, and abilities. His Majesty also received with pleasure the
information of the desire which the Colonies have to form a connexion
with Spain, of whose good disposition they have already received
strong proofs. Nevertheless, his Majesty thinks it necessary in the
first place, that the manner, the forms, and the mutual correspondence
should be settled, upon which that Union must be founded, which the
United States of America desire to establish with this monarchy. For
this purpose there is no obstacle to your Excellency's coming to this
Court, in order to explain your intentions and those of the Congress,
and to hear those of his Majesty, and by that means settling a basis
upon which a perfect friendship may be established, and also its
extent and consequences.
His Majesty thinks, that until these points are settled, as he hopes
they will be, it is not proper for your Excellency to assume a formal
character, which must depend on a public acknowledgment and future
treaty. But your Excellency may be assured of the sincerity and good
dispositions of his Majesty towards the United States, and of his
earnest desire to remove every difficulty, for the mutual happiness of
them and of this monarchy. This has been intimated to Mr Carmichael,
who can communicate the same to your Excellency, to whom I beg leave
to make a tender of my service, being, &c.
COUNT DE FLORIDA BLANCA.
* * * * *
TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.
Cadiz, February 25th, 1780.
Dear Sir,
Your favor of the 15th instant was delivered to me last evening. I
congratulate you on your safe arrival, and hope the agreeable
circumstances of your present situation will compensate for the
fatigue and trouble you experienced on the way to it.
It gives me pleasure to hear the French Ambassador has been so
obliging, and I am glad to find from your letter, that your
attentions to him at least keep pace with his civilities, especially
as you are no stranger to the distinction between the candor and
politeness of a gentleman, and that unbounded confidence which is
seldom necessary.
The intelligence you received from him is so agreeable and so
interesting, that although the nature of it leaves me no room to doubt
of this having been signified by the Court of France to Congress,
either through Dr Franklin or the Count de la Luzerne, yet as
unexpected accidents may have retarded its arrival, I shall also
transmit it by a vessel, which will sail in a few days for Boston.
I regret your not having been more particular on the subject of the
mistake you have been led to suppose in the direction of my letter, as
I wish to have the means of determining whether it was from decisive
authority that M. Gerard, whose opinion I requested on that subject,
without hesitation told me, that M. Galvez was the Minister with whom
all business with the United States was to be transacted, and urged
several reasons for his being of that opinion. From that gentleman's
knowledge of the Courts of Europe, and the departments established for
the despatch of business in each, particularly with that of Madrid,
with which his Court had been so long and so intimately acquainted, I
was induced to desire and confide in his information on that point.
Very conclusive reasons, therefore, are necessary to induce a belief
of his having been mistaken. But as it is of importance that all
errors of this kind be known, and, if possible, corrected, I must
request your attention to this matter in your next.
I am at a loss to determine from your letter whether or not you have
sent my despatches to M. Galvez. From your not having seen that
gentleman, nor expecting to be introduced to him till the 17th
instant, I conjecture that my letter did not reach him till that day;
if so, I fear the delay will appear as singular to him as I confess it
does to me. It does the more so to me, as my letter would have
introduced you, and as you were apprised of my apprehension that pains
would be taken to delay my receiving a decided answer, as to my
reception, until the sentiments of France should be known. Perhaps the
advice you received, as to the time and manner most proper for the
delivery of it, was a little influenced by a desire of gaining time. I
wished to have felt the pulse of Spain, and, by their conduct on this
occasion, to have been enabled to determine whether their councils,
with respect to the United States, are in any and in what degree
independent of those of France, or whether directed by them. This
would have been very useful in the further progress of the business,
and might have been easily obtained, had my letter been delivered
immediately on your arrival, because in that case, before the
sentiments of the French Court could have been asked and received,
sufficient time would have elapsed to justify your applying to M.
Galvez for an answer; and, whatever that might have been, certain
inferences would have been deducible from it. For these reasons, and
not from an expectation of opposition from France, I regret this
delay. But as my conjectures may prove groundless, and if just, you
may have very cogent reasons, I forbear further remarks till I shall
again have the pleasure of hearing from you.
Are you sure that the intelligence you heard respecting M. Mirales is
_certain_? I am sorry by this question to lengthen your next letter,
especially as writing in cypher is tedious and disagreeable. But that
intelligence is important; if credited, it may have an influence on
American measures, which, if it should be groundless, might be
injurious. The transmission of information to Congress, by which their
councils and determinations may be affected, is a very delicate
business, and demands the greatest care and precision. It is not
uncommon, you know, for one gentleman to think a matter certain, which
another of no greater discernment, and judging by the same evidence,
will deem somewhat doubtful. I would choose, therefore, with respect
to all interesting intelligence, and particularly such as I may
transmit to Congress, to possess as far as possible every circumstance
necessary to form a judgment of its credibility, such as the rank and
character of the informants, and the means they have of acquiring the
information they give, that I may represent it as entitled to that
degree of credit only, which, on full consideration, it may appear to
deserve. I observe this less with reference to the case in question
than as a general rule. Besides, as we correspond in cypher, no danger
can result from being explicit.
I am well satisfied that the short time you had been at Madrid did not
admit of your writing on the several subjects contained in your
instructions, on all of which, if allowed sufficient time, I am
persuaded you will be able to obtain important information. However,
as the object of your going to Madrid was to prevent delays in my
receiving an answer to the letter to M. Galvez, the other
instructions, however important, are to be considered as secondary,
and though I wish that great and constant attention may be paid them,
yet by no means to the neglect or prejudice of the first.
I am much obliged to you for the American paper enclosed in your
letter. Everything from our country is interesting. If you should find
any more of them, whose contents afford either information or
entertainment, send them, and you shall receive from me all I may meet
with here, which come under that description.
The letter you gave me reason to expect from M. Gerard has not yet
arrived; perhaps the next post will bring it. On the first occasion I
have of writing to him, I shall take the liberty of mentioning the
sense you have of his personal kindness and attention to you.
The polite offers of the French Ambassador to be useful to me in all
things that depend on him at Madrid, as well as his civilities to you,
demand my acknowledgments, which I must beg the favor of you to
present to him.
I am, Dear Sir, &c.
JOHN JAY.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Cadiz, February 29th, 1780.
Sir,
I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency in the enclosed
papers,[16] all the intelligence I have received from Madrid. Mr
Secretary Thompson will decypher them. An opinion begins to prevail,
that America will be the theatre of war the ensuing campaign, and that
the islands there will be the principal objects of contention.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN JAY.
FOOTNOTE:
[16] See above, p. 207, Mr Carmichael's letter, dated February 15th,
and Mr Jay's reply, p. 211, dated February 25th. See also a letter in
_Carmichael's Correspondence_, dated February 18th.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Cadiz, March 3d, 1780.
Sir,
Agreeably to my promise to the Marquis de la Flotte, I must inform
your Excellency, that a Monsieur Jean Guy Guatier, merchant at
Barcelona, recommended to the Marquis by Monsieur Aubere, the French
consul there, is desirous of becoming the consul of the United States
at that port. He had been encouraged, as M. Aubere says, to expect
this appointment by Dr Franklin, but as he supposed my arrival would
prevent the Doctor's interference, it became necessary to make the
application to me. I told the Marquis that my commission did not
authorise me to comply with his request, and that all I could do would
be to mention his friend's application to Congress.