with his Majesty, the Emperor of Morocco, it will be proper to
instruct the captains of American armed ships to let freely pass all
ships sailing under the flag of his Majesty, the Emperor, and will be
provided with a certificate similar to the within mentioned copies.
I shall probably be obliged to remain here some days; as soon as my
business shall be despatched, I shall set out for Cadiz, and from
thence go to Sale, the place of my residence.
Whenever your Excellency may be pleased to honor me with your orders,
you may address your letters to Messrs Paul Greppi, Azarino, and
Company, merchants at Cadiz, who will take care to forward them to me.
I am with profound respect, &c.
D'AUDIBERT CAILLE.
* * * * *
No. 2.
TO D'AUDIBERT CAILLE.
Sir,
Your favor of the 21st day of April, 1780, with the papers enclosed in
it, has come safe to hand.
The declaration of his Majesty, the Emperor of Morocco, does honor to
his liberality and wisdom, and I shall with great pleasure transmit
the copy of it, as well as of the other papers enclosed with it, to
his Excellency the President of Congress.
Although I have no particular instructions on the subject, yet the
knowledge I have of the sentiments of Congress enables me to give
assurances of their disposition to cultivate peace and harmony with
all nations. I am persuaded that his Majesty's declaration will be
very agreeable to them, and that a correspondent conduct on their part
towards the subjects of Morocco, will convince him of the truth of
these assurances. I am much obliged to you for this mark of attention,
and I flatter myself that by extending your good offices to such
Americans as may resort to the ports of Morocco, they will have reason
to consider you among the number of their friends.
Should anything interesting to America occur in Morocco, I request the
favor of you to communicate it.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN JAY.
* * * * *
No. 3.
COPY OF M. D'AUDIBERT CAILLE'S APPOINTMENT.
Translation.
Copy of a French translation of a writing in Arabic, the most
authentic of those that are written at the Court of his
Majesty the Emperor of Morocco.
"Let the name of the only God be praised; there is neither
wisdom nor power but what proceeds from the Lord most high
and most mighty.
"We make known by this our present and generous writing, that
we have appointed the Christian, D'Audibert Caille, who is
the bearer hereof, to officiate as consul for all those
nations who have no consuls in our dominion, and who are,
the empire of Germany, Russia, Prussia, Naples, Sardinia,
Rome, Tuscany, the States of America, Genoa, Ragusa, Hamburg,
Lubec, and Dantzic; all of whom may come into our ports, and
each of them there traffic under the flag of his nation, such
as it may be. The said consul will assist them, by our order,
in whatever may be useful to them in like manner as the other
consuls do towards the subjects of their nations. And all the
officers and governors of our ports will acknowledge him for
a consul as they do the other consuls, and whichsoever of the
said nations shall come into our ports, they shall not be
molested by any of our officers or commandants whatsoever, of
our ports. To all our captains whom we shall order to cruise
by sea, the said consul will give a passport, and we renew
our order to him to hoist the flag of peace at his house,
without being therein opposed by anybody. He may also hoist
it in any port whatever, where he may have a house of
commerce, and he shall be mediator between us and the said
nations, because we esteem him. Given the 8th of the moon of
Alcahda, 1193. (1st of November, 1779.)"
Signed by the Emperor.
We, Stephen d'Audibert Caille, a French merchant resident at Sale,
appointed by his Majesty, the Emperor of Morocco, consul of those
foreign nations who have none in his dominions to protect them in that
capacity on all occasions, and to be mediator between him and those
nations, certify to all whom it may concern, that the above copy is
conformable to the original, compared by Don Miguel Cassori, the
interpreter of his Catholic Majesty. In faith of which we sign the
present certificate, sealed with the seal of the consulate of peace
at Sale. Done at Aranjues, where I happen to be in passing, the 21st
of April, 1780.
S. D'AUDIBERT CAILLE.
* * * * *
No. 4.
Translation.
_Copy of the Declaration, which his Majesty the Emperor of
Morocco (whom God preserve) orders to be notified to all
the Consuls and Christian Merchants, who reside in the
Ports of Tangier, Sale, and Mogadore, dated the 20th of
February, 1778._
"That in future all vessels, which carry Russian, German,
Prussian, Hungarian, Neapolitan, Sardinian, Tuscanian,
Genoese, Maltese, or American flags, may freely enter into
the ports of his dominions; and in consequence of his
determination, he has given orders to the commanders of his
vessels, that they let freely pass, all ships and other
vessels carrying the said flags without molesting them. To
the end, that they may arrive at his ports, take
refreshments, and enjoy in them the same privileges and
immunities, with those of the other nations with whom his
Imperial Majesty maintains peace."
I, the underwritten, employed by his Imperial Majesty for foreign
affairs, certify, that the contents of the preceding declaration are
conformable to the truth. And in faith thereof, I sign this present
certificate. At Sale, the 30th of October, 1779.
PEDRO UMBERT.
* * * * *
We, Stephen d'Audibert Caille, a French merchant residing at Sale,
appointed by his Majesty, the Emperor of Morocco, to be consul of the
foreign nations who have none in his dominions to protect them in that
capacity on all occasions, and to be mediator between him and those
nations, certify, whom it may concern, that the said Don Pedro Umbert,
who has signed the above certificate, is employed for foreign affairs
at the Court of Morocco, and that in the said quality faith is to be
given to his signature. In witness whereof we sign these presents,
sealed with the seal of the consulate of peace, at Sale, the 1st of
December, 1779.
S. D'AUDIBERT CAILLE.
* * * * *
No. 5.
D'AUDIBERT CAILLE TO CONGRESS.
Translation.
Sale, September 6th, 1779.
In quality of a French merchant, who has resided in this town since
the year 1773, and whom his Majesty, the Emperor of Morocco, has
lately named consul for those foreign nations who have none in his
dominions to protect the strangers who might come to traffic in his
ports, in pursuance of the two manifestoes which he published last
year, I have the honor to inform your Excellencies, that it is his
intention to be at peace with the United States of North America, and
that their subjects can come to trade freely in his ports under
American colors, with the like safety with those of the principal
maritime powers in Europe who enjoy peace with him. Besides the good
reception, which the governors of the ports of this empire will give
to the subjects of the United States of North America, I will on my
part render them all the services, which may depend upon me as consul
for those foreign nations who have none, and as being charged to
invite them to come and traffic freely in these ports, in like manner
as they formerly did under the English flag.
In order that I may be able to convince his Majesty, the Emperor of
Morocco, that I have executed the commission he gave me to write as
above to the Congress, I entreat your Excellencies to be pleased to
honor me with an answer. If you think proper to write at the same time
to his Majesty, the Emperor of Morocco, relative to what I have
written to you on his part, I will take care to obtain a very
satisfactory answer; and I offer to interest myself very willingly, as
far as may depend upon me, that a treaty of peace may be made between
his Majesty, the Emperor of Morocco, and the United States of North
America, nearly similar to those which the principal maritime powers
have with him.
That this letter may the more safely pass to you, I address it to his
Excellency Dr Franklin, your Plenipotentiary with his Most Christian
Majesty. Your Excellencies may answer me through the same channel, or
directly by the way of Cadiz, addressing your letter to the Sieurs
Paul Grippi, Azarino, and Company. My address is, to Stephen
d'Audibert Caille, consul for those foreign nations who have none in
the dominions of his Majesty the Emperor of Morocco, residing at Sale,
or simply "to D'Audibert, Santigo, and Company," which is that of my
house of commerce.
I am, with the most profound respect, &c.
D'AUDIBERT CAILLE.
* * * * *
No. 6.
_General State of the Revenues and Expenses of Spain in the
Year 1778._
REVENUES.
Reals de vel.
Provincial duties, 70,000,000
Duties on tobacco, 55,000,000
Duties on salt, 20,000,000
Duties on wool, 17,000,000
General duties, 48,060,000
Duties on brandy, 4,525,000
2 per cent duty on the Octrois,
former grants of the Crown, 500,000
Taxes on the houses in Madrid, 1,200,000
1. King's domain in the Serrara, 140,000
Post office and couriers, 34,000,000
Tax on cards, 1,000,000
Stamp paper, 4,312,000
Tax on the taverns in Madrid, 196,000
Various revenues farmed, 6,418,552
2 Manufacture of glass at St Ildefonso, 1,500,000
3 Manufactures of St Ferdinando and
Guaudalaxa, 1,800,000
Extraordinary effects, 35,000,000
Books of Advocates and Attorneys, 62,000
Fines in the chamber of Castille, 72,000
Effects in the same chamber, 786,800
Tax on the Grand Masters, 1,800,000
Do. arising from the secular annals and
vacancies, 1,300,000
Royal lottery, 4,500,000
Cruzada, 20,000,000
4 Effects of the kingdom of Navarre, 47,500,000
American revenue[27], 200,600,000
Clergy, 13,000,000
-----------
562,273,152
EXPENSES.
Reals de vel.
The Court[28], 108,500,000
5 Land forces, 204,202,000
6 Marine, 100,000,000
Secretary of the Indies, 8,000,000
Department of Finance, 4,500,000
Favers and justice, 1,100,000
To support the tribunals, 8,422,769
7 Secretary of state and foreign
affairs, 9,873,288
8 Extraordinary expenses, 30,000,000
-----------
474,598,251
I subjoin the result of my inquiries touching the articles marked No.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
No. 1, 2, 3. The sums mentioned in the preceding statement as arising
from the revenues numbered as above may be deducted, as concurrent
testimony induces me to believe, that the expenses consume near the
whole of the revenue.
No. 4. I have been also assured, that this article is much
exaggerated.
No. 5. The expenses of this establishment have greatly increased, but
I have not been able to ascertain the sum.
No. 6. I have heard from good authority, that the expenses of the
marine in 1776 amounted to one hundred and twentyfour millions of
reals, owing to the expedition against Portuguese America. In 1777
they amounted to eightyeight millions of reals, and in 1779 to near
four hundred millions of reals; which information induces me to
conclude, that there were great arrears of the expenses of 1778, or
that the estimate for that year is not exact.
No. 7, 8. The expenses of these departments have greatly augmented.
FOOTNOTES:
[27] The American revenue is difficult to ascertain from this
circumstance; that not arriving regularly and annually, it is
necessary to have the receipts for several years to be able to form an
exact calculation of the modium communibus annis.
[28] The birth of the Infant has increased the Court expenses.
* * * * *
TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Madrid, November 30th, 1780.
Gentlemen,
I have had the honor of receiving from you a letter of the 16th of
June, and another of the 12th of July, 1780, with the several papers
mentioned in them. With respect to the subjects of the first, you will
find them fully discussed in my letter to the President of Congress,
which will accompany this. The description of the bills will, I hope,
answer good purposes.
How far the resolution, which immediately follows the one respecting
Mr Dohrman, can be fully executed, is hard to determine. Had I funds
necessary for the purpose, I should meet with few difficulties. The
measure is a wise one, and my attention to it shall be unremitted. In
a future letter I shall say more on this subject; as yet nothing has
had time to ripen.
I must request your attention to the necessity of putting your
correspondence with the public servants in Europe on a better
footing. I am now at the expense of sending Colonel Livingston to the
sea side with my despatches, with orders to wait for American vessels,
and deliver them to the Captain with his own hands. I receive no
letters by the post, but with marks of inspection, and after much
delay. Some that I write never come to hand, and I know of letters
having arrived from America for me, which I have never seen, and never
expect to see. I know of but one man at the sea ports whom I can
confide in, viz. Mr Harrison, at Cadiz. I cannot even find a courier,
that I can depend on. Is it not time for America like other nations to
provide against these inconveniences by proper regulations and
establishments? Would it not be well to have American agents or
consuls in one or more of the ports of France and Spain? Public
despatches might be sent by packet boats, or other vessels to these
agents, and should on no account be delivered to any other person; the
agents might be ordered to send them to the Courts, to which they may
be directed, by a trusty American; one of the officers of the ship,
for example; and he should be ordered to wait for, and return with,
the despatches of the Minister.
Would it not also be proper to provide for the safe conduct of letters
to Congress after their arrival in America? I have reason not only to
suspect, but to believe, that certain persons in America are attentive
to these matters, and care should be taken to keep American letters
out of their way.
This is an important subject and merits attention. For my own part I
find several persons here, who have more intelligence from America
than myself; and it is the more mortifying when considered, that they
are probably often indebted for their information to the contents of
letters directed to me.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN JAY.
* * * * *
INSTRUCTIONS TO JOHN JAY.
In Congress, February 15th, 1781.
Sir,
Congress having since their instructions to you of the 29th of
September, 1779, and 4th of October, 1780, relative to the claim of
the United States to the free navigation of the river Mississippi, and
to a free port or ports below the thirtyfirst degree of north
latitude, resumed the consideration of that subject, and being
desirous to manifest to all the world, and particularly to his
Catholic Majesty, the moderation of their views, the high value they
place on the friendship of his Catholic Majesty, and their disposition
to remove every reasonable obstacle to his accession to the alliance
subsisting between his Most Christian Majesty and these United States,
in order to unite the more closely in their measures and operations
three powers who have so great a unity of interests, and thereby to
compel the common enemy to a speedy, just, and honorable peace; have
resolved, and you are hereby instructed to recede from the
instructions above referred to, so far as they insist on the free
navigation of that part of the river Mississippi, which lies below the
thirtyfirst degree of north latitude, and on a free port or ports
below the same; provided such cession shall be unalterably insisted
upon by Spain; and provided the free navigation of the said river,
above the said degree of north latitude, shall be acknowledged and
guarantied by his Catholic Majesty to the citizens of the United
States in common with his own subjects. It is the order of Congress,
at the same time, that you exert every possible effort to obtain from
his Catholic Majesty the use of the river aforesaid, with a free port
or ports below the said thirtyfirst degree of north latitude for the
citizens of the United States, under such regulations and restrictions
only, as may be a necessary safeguard against illicit commerce.
I am, &c.
SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, _President_.
* * * * *
TO JOHN JAY
February 20th, 1781.
Sir,
The President sends you instructions passed in Congress the 15th.
Personally, I am mortified that no letters from you since September
16th have reached us. We have not waited for the minute information
promised in yours of that date, nor have we received any notice of
your receipt of our instructions of October 4th, before we discussed
anew the old subject. There has been unfair dealing with your
despatches. I apprehend that we are allowed to see only sentiments
somewhat different from yours. Perhaps the enclosed memorandum may be
some clue to your scrutiny.
On the 10th of January, Congress resolved to establish an office for
foreign affairs, which I hope will make your station more easy and
reputable. I wish most earnestly to have a choice made of the
secretary, to whom I may deliver all the papers in my possession
connected with his duty.
I am, Sir, your friend and humble servant,
JAMES LOVELL,
_For the Committee_.
* * * * *
TO JOHN JAY.
March 9th, 1781.
Sir,
You will herewith receive gazettes and journals, also a resolve
respecting the complete ratification of the articles binding the
Thirteen States as a confederated body. The delay of that business
appears now like all the other circumstances of our rise and growth;
for the present is really the best of all times for that particular
event. Our enemies have been ripening themselves for this capital
_mentitis_.
We have no letters from you or Mr Carmichael later than those
mentioned in my last, a copy of which attends this.
I am, Sir, your friend and humble servant,
JAMES LOVELL.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Madrid, March 22d, 1781.
Sir,
I ought, and wish to write your Excellency a long letter, but not by
the post. The French fleet is not yet sailed. It will, in my opinion,
be late in the summer before the fleet at Rhode Island will be
reinforced. This Court has promised me one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. Some clothing is now shipping on account of Congress from
Cadiz.
Russia has offered her mediation to England and the States-General.
The latter have accepted it. The answer of the former (if given) is
not known here. If she should refuse, Russia will probably take part
with the Dutch; if she accepts, she will doubtless be obliged either
to agree to terms consistent with the armed neutrality, or continue
the war. The consequences of either are obvious.
M. Necker has published a state of the French finances, much to his
honor and their credit. Perhaps a complimentary order to translate and
publish it would be useful.
Mr Cumberland will set out on his return, through France, in a few
days.
This letter is intended to go by Captain Trask, from Bilboa. I am told
he will sail much sooner than had been given out, and that unless my
letters go by this evening's post, they would arrive too late. Hence I
am obliged to write in haste, and say little, there being no time for
cyphers. I have received some letters from your Excellency. Their
dates shall be mentioned another time.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN JAY.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Madrid, April 25th, 1781.
Sir,
I have had the honor of receiving your Excellency's letters of the 6th
and 17th of October last, with the enclosures. They arrived the 30th
day of January last. There is more than reason to suspect, that the
French Court were apprised of their contents before they arrived, and
to believe that the construction of the treaty, by which the
navigation of the Mississippi is supposed to be comprehended in the
guarantee, does not correspond with their ideas on that subject. This
Court continues pertinaciously to insist on our ceding that
navigation, nor will they, as yet, listen to any middle line. Whether
this be their real motive for declining a treaty with us at present,
or whether the bills drawn upon me have inspired an expectation of
profiting by our necessities, or whether they flatter themselves with
a future majority of Congress on that point, or whether they choose,
by continuing free from engagements with us, to be better enabled to
improve to their advantage the casualties of the war, are questions
which still remain undecided. Indeed, the movements of this Court in
general, when compared with the great rules of national policy
applicable to their situation, is so inexplicable, that I should not
be surprised, if it should appear in future, that they had no fixed
system whatever.
My last particular letter informed your Excellency, that having, in
September last, been told that his Majesty could not advance us any
money, but could be responsible for a loan to the amount of one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars, I determined to continue accepting
the bills, to attempt the loan, and by a representation of my
situation to the French Court, endeavor to save the necessity of
protesting them for non-payment.
I tried to borrow here on the security of this responsibility, but
without the least success. I attempted it in France, but it would not
do. I made the like attempt in Holland, and a gleam of hope appearing
there, I was about improving it, when a letter from America informed
me, that Mr Adams was authorised to execute the business, which had
been committed to Mr Laurens. I had heard before of his being in
Holland, but did not know the object which had called him there.
Several letters passed between Messrs De Neufville and myself on the
subject of this loan. The following is a copy of my last to them about
it.
TO DE NEUFVILLLE & SON.
"Madrid, January 8th, 1781.
"Gentlemen,
"I have had the pleasure of receiving your favor of the 4th
ult. together with the one referred to in it.
"England has, it seems, declared war against the United
Provinces, and that in a style of such eminent superiority,
as I am persuaded will remind your countrymen, that the
United Netherlands are not comprehended among the territories
depending on the Crown of Great Britain.
"The English Ministry, by charging the States with having
acted under French influence, intend to alarm their national
pride, and, by making Holland the particular object of their
resentment, to sow the seeds of dissensions among them, and
render that most important Province obnoxious to the others.
The tone of the whole declaration is that of a nation going
rather to give correction to disobedient vassals, than to war
upon a free and independent people. It could have been
assumed only upon a persuasion, that the same supposed
timidity, to which they ascribed the long forbearance of the
Dutch under multiplied insults and injuries, would, on this
ostentatious display of terror, reduce them to the
humiliating measure of imploring forgiveness for having acted
like freemen, and purchasing peace at the expense of their
honor and liberty. Every other nation must expect better
things of you, and can never believe, that the present
generation will want firmness to assert the rights and
vindicate the honor of a Republic, which owes its very
existence to the glorious spirit and magnanimity of its
ancestors.