Ambassador despatched to Cadiz yesterday morning; since which, I have
been introduced to their Excellencies, delivered your letter to the
latter, and explained to the former the reasons, which induce you to
address the other, with which he was perfectly satisfied. Don Joseph
de Galves told me, that he should give your letter to the Count de
Florida Blanca, whose business it was to lay it before the King, and
receive his orders on the subject, and that the Count or himself would
be directed to answer it. I repeated the substance of your
instructions to me as far as they respect him, and was answered, that
he would take an opportunity of conversing with me on our affairs, and
would inform me through the French Ambassador, when it would be
convenient for him to receive me. Some compliments passed with respect
to the characters he had received of us, which it is unnecessary to
repeat.
The Count de Florida Blanca told me that he would lay your letter
before the King the same night for his consideration. I took this
opportunity of mentioning the pleasure it would give Congress to hear
of your reception at Madrid, from the earnest desire they had to
cultivate the King's friendship, that their expectations were
sanguine, having been led to believe the dispositions of the Court
were favorable, by the suggestions of persons supposed to be well
acquainted with its intentions, that the hopes of the people were also
great, and I hinted, that there were several vessels about to sail
from Bilboa, and the ports of France, by which you would be happy to
communicate this news to Congress, and to gratify the expectations of
the people.
He then told me he had informed the King of your arrival at Cadiz,
although they had understood your original destination was to France;
that the King had ordered him to receive your overtures, and that I
was at liberty to give you this information, and after a pause, added,
that on Monday he hoped to have it in his power to return an answer.
You will please to observe, that it had not been read by either when
this conversation passed. He also told me, that he would take an
opportunity to converse with me, and would inform me when it would be
convenient for him to see me through the channel beforementioned.
On Monday next I go to the Pardo, by their appointment. Here I see
every day a person, who I believe to be sent by them to converse with
me, although I appear to know nothing of his connexion with the Court.
I think you may make the necessary preparations for your journey on
the receipt of this. Messrs Adams and Dana were at Bordeaux the 2d
instant. They mean to proceed to Amsterdam from thence, so that the
plan spoken of has taken place. They go in a good time, as the Dutch
are at present much irritated against Great Britain.
Mr Arthur Lee corresponded with the Count de Florida Blanca, but if I
am well informed, the correspondence consisted of American news on the
one part, and compliment on the other.[4] M. Gerard leaves this
tomorrow, he has had conversations with the Spanish Ministers, of
about two hours at one time and three at another. I am in a way of
obtaining most of the information you desired. I beg you to present
the proper compliments to your lady and Colonel Livingston.
I have the honor to be, &c.
WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.
FOOTNOTES:
[4] See _Arthur Lee's Correspondence_, Vol. II. pp. 36-54.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Madrid, February 19th, 1780.
Sir,
The short time I remained at Cadiz, and the constant employment in
which I was engaged of copying Mr Jay's letters and making the
necessary preparations for my journey, prevented me from doing myself
the honor of writing to your Excellency from thence. But having now an
opportunity by M. Gerard to France, and an offer from M. Gardoqui to
forward my letters by the way of Bilboa, I enclose to Congress copies
of those I have written to Mr Jay since my arrival in this city, as
they contain the most material intelligence I have been able to
procure. I have every reason to be pleased with the disposition of
those whom I have seen here, as well foreigners as natives, and I
cannot sufficiently express my gratitude for the liberal and friendly
manner in which I have been received by the Count de Montmorin, the
Ambassador of France, which I should impute entirely to M. Gerard's
good offices, was not his own good will and desire to conform to the
favorable disposition of his Court apparent. M. Gerard in the circle
of foreign Ministers, is more of an American than a Frenchman, and I
should do him injustice if I did not mention it.
The English squadron sailed from Gibraltar the 13th instant, and part
of it is said to be destined for the West Indies. The French will have
seventytwo sail of the line in actual service this year. The troops,
at the disposition of the person mentioned in the first[5] letter to
Mr Jay, will amount to near four thousand, and consist chiefly of
Germans; six sail of the line will escort them, and I am well informed
they will sail in less than two months. It is said the English
Ministry will be able to procure the necessary supplies for the
present year, owing to their late successes. I beg leave, through your
Excellency, to assure Congress of my unremitted attention to merit the
confidence reposed in me.
I have the honor to be, &c.
WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.
FOOTNOTES:
[5] See _Jay's Correspondence_, Vol. VII. p. 207.
* * * * *
TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Aranjues, May 28th, 1780.
Gentlemen,
Mr Jay having judged it proper for me to reside at this place while
the Court remains here, I did not know until his letters for Congress
were closed, that Mr Harrison, who charges himself with the care of
them to Cadiz, was on the point of setting out from Madrid for that
city. This prevented me from assisting him in copying papers, which he
tells me he has transmitted by this opportunity. I regret exceedingly,
my not having received earlier information, because I wished to convey
several papers, which I do not choose to trust to the ordinary post.
Our situation in this respect is very disagreeable and delicate, for
we can neither send nor receive letters without their being subject to
the inspection of others, and, indeed, we have sometimes the
mortification to hear of the arrival of letters from America in the
sea-ports, which, notwithstanding, never reach us. Our opportunities
of information thus become very precarious, and I am much afraid, that
the same cause will frequently interrupt our correspondence with
Congress.
Before Mr Jay arrived in the capital, I did myself the honor to inform
his Excellency, the President, of my arrival at Madrid, and enclosed
him copies of the letters I wrote to Mr Jay, on the subject of his
reception, and of the disposition in which the Court appeared to be.
As I sent several copies of these letters, I subjoined all that
occurred worthy of the notice of Congress in the interval of the
departure of several copies. Not having had any instructions to
address myself to Congress, unless in the absence of Mr Jay, or in
case of any event that deprived the public of his services, I know not
whether I may not appear officious at present; particularly as I have
already communicated to him regularly, all the intelligence I have
been able to procure, as also my reflections on that intelligence,
which his ability and long experience in affairs, will enable him to
put in a much clearer point of view than I can pretend to do. If I
err, I hope the Committee will set me right, and instruct me how to
conduct myself in future.
The King, the Prince of Asturias, and the Ministry, appear favorable
to our cause, but I am much afraid their ability to assist us in the
article of money, is neither equal to our expectations, or their
desires to serve us. The papers sent by Mr Jay, will show the
sentiments of this Court with respect to the object of his mission. I
think the negotiation will be attended with more delay than Congress
had reason to apprehend when we left America. This Court manifest a
strong desire of excluding every other nation from the navigation of
the Mississippi, and indeed of the Gulf of Mexico. The situation of
the affairs of America will undoubtedly regulate the conduct of
Congress on this subject, and I hope it will be such as to enable them
to adhere to the rights of all the States.
Our enemies are making use of the time before Spain takes a decided
opinion, to sow jealousies between us. Governor Johnson sounded the
dispositions of this Court early last winter. At the close of it Sir
John Dalrymple obtained permission to come to Madrid, on the pretence
of the bad state of health of his lady. His strange Memorial to the
Count de Florida Blanca, is transmitted to you.[6] I have no doubts
that other attempts will be made to bring about a negotiation. If they
succeed no better than Sir John's, we shall not have much to apprehend
on that score. The Count de Florida Blanca appears to act with much
candor, and gives Mr Jay such strong and frequent assurances of the
King's favorable intentions, and his own disposition to second them,
that I hope we may rely on what he tells us. His character for probity
is high in this country, and among the foreign Ministers at this
Court. As I have frequent opportunities of mixing with the latter, I
have not omitted to give them proper impressions of our strength,
union, and firmness, without seeming too solicitous to do it. It is
possible, that if the neutral maritime powers were fully persuaded of
this unanimity and firmness, and were sincerely disposed to bring
about a peace, instead of regarding with pleasure the mutual losses of
the House of Bourbon and Great Britain, they might end the war by
declaring their disposition to acknowledge our independence.
The King of Prussia seems to be a cool calculator, prepared to profit
by the general distress. Denmark is influenced by Russia, and Sweden
by France. Great Britain also still retains some influence in Denmark.
The Court of Vienna will be adverse to us, as long as the Empress
Queen exists. How the Emperor is inclined, I do not know. Sardinia and
Portugal are friendly and attached to England. The Dutch are divided
into parties, neither of which is strong enough to give firmness and
decision to the conduct of the Republic. The Stadtholder and his party
find means to thwart and retard all the vigorous resolves, which the
French and republican party engage the state to enter into, to support
their honor and dignity. The hopes entertained in Great Britain of the
influence of the former party, and the proneness of the King and his
Ministers to violent measures, induced the late extraordinary conduct
of that Court, with respect to the Dutch. They will submit to this and
more, rather than go to war. If the Empress of Russia is determined to
support her late declaration, and to coincide effectually with the
powers whom she has invited to accede to it, Great Britain must,
however, recede from her present conduct, or offend highly the neutral
powers.
The negotiation between Russia and Holland proceeds slowly. The Court
party in England has gained once more its superiority in Parliament; a
feigned sickness of the speaker, Sir Fletcher Norton, gave the
Minister time to rally his forces, since which opposition grows more
feeble every day. That of Ireland, for want of system and union among
its members, and by the promises of places and honors, is a little
staggered. There is however a fermentation in both nations, which the
continuance of the war and its consequent distresses will probably
increase, if not bring to maturity. The distresses of our army last
winter, the depreciation of our paper money, the exaggerated accounts
of our divisions, and our apparent inactivity, have had a bad effect
in Europe, which I hope the firmness and unanimity of Congress, added
to the exertions of our ally, and those of this Court, will entirely
efface.
The expedition, which sailed from Cadiz the 28th ultimo, consisting of
twelve sail of the line, besides frigates, and eleven thousand five
hundred men, proceeds to the Windward Islands, and there joins M. de
Guichen, or goes against Jamaica or the Floridas, as circumstances may
render it proper. Another expedition from France, follows M. Ternay's,
I believe, to reinforce M. de Guichen, who, if I am not deceived, will
join the Spaniards to the leeward in the hurricane months, and if
necessary and practicable, send eight or ten ships to our coasts in
the beginning of the autumn. This depends, however, much on the
events of war. Spain in concurrence with France, will have between
forty and fifty sail of the line, to oppose the grand English fleet,
which I am informed will sail the last of this month or the beginning
of next. The allied fleet is not in such readiness. Strong interest is
making for the Count d'Estaing to command in chief, and I think he
will be nominated.
A very little time will determine the fate of the bills drawn on Mr
Jay. I received the first last week, in a letter from M. Nesbitt of
L'Orient who very prudently did not negotiate it, until he consulted
me on the subject. I am also informed, that bills on Mr Laurens are in
circulation, and we have not yet heard of his arrival. I have written
to Dr Franklin, and Messrs Adams and Dana, and if I have not heard
from them oftener, I impute it to the miscarriage of their letters,
which was the case of those of Dr Franklin, the first two months after
my arrival at Madrid. Mr Jay will transmit an account of the revenues,
and expenses of Spain, with which I have furnished him, which will
show, that Congress cannot depend on such pecuniary assistance from
this nation as they expected.
Mr Jay's situation has been particularly disagreeable; the sum
allotted by Congress, by no means accords with his necessary expenses,
even if he received his salary as it became due. I do not complain,
although I have been obliged since my departure from America to expend
more than six hundred and fifty pounds sterling, and have not as yet
received more than two hundred pounds of my salary. Almost everything
that passes, even in Congress, is known here, either by intercepted
letters, or otherwise. You, Gentlemen, will conceive, how delicate Mr
Jay's situation must be, if he delivers faithfully his sentiments of
men and measures. I must repeat again, however, that there is a great
appearance of candor and good faith. The Count de Florida Blanca, and
M. Galvez speak with much apparent civility and frankness, and seem
desirous of doing all that is possible to succor us consistent with
the actual situation of their finances, the former particularly. I
have sent a copy of this via Bilboa, and another from Cadiz. I have
not yet had the pleasure of receiving one letter from any one member
of Congress.
I have the honor to be, &c.
WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.
FOOTNOTES:
[6] See this Memorial in _John Jay's Correspondence_, Vol. VII. p.
268.
* * * * *
TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Madrid, July 17th, 1780.
Gentlemen,
Since writing the preceding letter, bills to the amount of about
fifteen thousand dollars have been presented, and at a time when the
news of our misfortune at Charleston made an impression much to our
disadvantage. These bills however are accepted, and the Count de
Florida Blanca appears to interest himself more than ever in
contributing to aid us, repeating in the strongest manner his Catholic
Majesty's favorable intentions. What he hinted at with respect to the
attempts of the enemy, to thwart Mr Jay's negotiations has proved
true. A Mr Cumberland, Secretary to Lord George Germain, has obtained
permission to come to Madrid, and is actually here at present. But as
his Excellency has promised to communicate his proposals, whatever
they may be, on the subject of an accommodation, we cannot entertain a
doubt, but that he will do it with the same frankness, with which he
made known to us those of Sir John Dalrymple. The Count de Montmorin,
Ambassador for France here, is not the least alarmed by the reception
of this gentleman, and that Court is full as much interested as we are
in the object for which he is sent. Mr Jay will transmit to Congress a
narrative, which I have given him, of this gentleman's motions.
We have likewise received an account of the death of M. Miralles. He
will soon have a successor, by whom we shall write more fully, and I
hope more to the satisfaction of Congress. Nothing can hurt us here,
or in Europe, so long as we are united, firm, and vigorous. I
experienced at first a little coldness from the foreign Ministers at
this Court, after the news of the surrender of Charleston, but that is
worn off.
The public papers will announce the disturbances, which have lately
arisen at London; all is at present quiet in that quarter, and
government seems to have acquired fresh confidence and vigor. The
Count d'Estaing is expected at St Ildefonso the 1st of next month, to
go from thence to take the command of the united fleets, which will
consist of thirtysix sail of the line, from Cadiz, including the
French from Toulon, and other French ports, and twelve or fifteen from
Brest. The last advices import that the English squadron amounted to
twentyeight, chiefly capital ships; they left port about the 20th ult.
The rest of Europe is in the same situation that I have already
mentioned.
Since writing my letter of the 28th of May, I received a letter from
the Baron de Schulenburg,[7] of which the enclosed is a copy, in
answer to a civil letter, which I wrote him on my arrival here,
representing the situation of our affairs in a favorable light. I
daily expect another letter from him more particular, in consequence
of an address, which I have transmitted to him, by which he may write
to me in safety. I have cultivated the friendship of the foreign
Ministers and their Secretaries as often as I have had occasion, and
as I have always avoided an appearance of prejudice, I flatter myself,
that I have been listened to with attention. My conduct has been the
same with those of this nation with whom I have found means to be
acquainted, and I doubt not, with time and patience, we shall
ultimately succeed. I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of the
Count de Montmorin, personally or politically. M. Gerard in his
letters to me, expresses the same attachment as ever to our cause, and
his late acquisition of dignity and consequence, puts it more in his
power to be useful to us. As yet, Mr Jay has received but one letter
from Congress, which conveyed their resolves respecting the bills of
exchange drawn on him. I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of a
letter from Mr Houston last week, which I shall answer, if possible,
by this opportunity.
I have the honor to be, &c.
WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.
FOOTNOTES:
[7] Missing.
* * * * *
TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
St Ildefonso, August 22d, 1780.
Gentlemen,
In the course of this month I did myself the honor of writing to you
by the General Pickering from Bilboa, and the Captain Kyan from Cadiz,
as also via France. In these letters I informed you of the situation
of our affairs here, and of that of Europe in general; since which, we
have advanced very little. The Minister had informed Mr Jay, on the
5th of July, that he had sent for a person to succeed M. Miralles, and
that on his arrival, arrangements would be made with respect to the
bills presented to Mr Jay for payment, and that he would then enter
into discussions on the other objects of Mr Jay's mission. Before and
since that period, bills to the amount of thirty thousand dollars have
been presented, of which Mr Jay has accepted for fourteen thousand, by
the direction of the Minister, and none of the others have as yet been
protested.
You will see by a state of the finances of this country, which in
compliance with Mr Jay's instructions to me, at my departure from
Cadiz, I have had the honor to give him, that their revenues and
resources since the war have greatly diminished, and that previous to
that period, they were by no means so flourishing as Congress had
reason to suppose. In most of the conferences with the Minister, the
scarcity of cash has been objected more than the want of inclination,
and hints have been thrown out, that it would be much more convenient
for the Court, to grant the United States aids in money from their
possessions in America than in Europe. Although hopes have been as
constantly given, that a part of the sum drawn for would be furnished
at the end of the present year, or commencement of the next, and that
measures in the mean time might be taken to prevent embarrassments, in
case of the arrival of bills after that period, great surprise has
been expressed, that Congress should take such a step without
previously informing the Court of their intentions, and obtaining its
approbation of the measure. Congress will therefore judge of the
propriety of disposing of any bills, that may remain unsold, until it
is fully ascertained, that they will be punctually paid. Mr Jay, now
at Madrid, where the death of his child, and the consequent distresses
of his family, detain him a few days, will undoubtedly transmit more
ample intelligence on this subject, with the various papers in his
possession necessary to explain it. This Court has been obliged to
make considerable loans, for their own current expenses, the nature of
which I hope to be able to explain in a future letter. It has lately
obtained seven millions, five hundred thousand current dollars, in
France and elsewhere. The loan is for nine millions, and from the
nature of it will create a temporary paper circulation to that amount
in this kingdom. I shall transmit to Congress, as soon as it becomes
public, a full detail of its operations.
Mr Cumberland, whom I mentioned in my last, and whose name you will
find in all the European gazettes, is still at Madrid, from whence he
has lately had permission to send a courier to London, but as the
Spanish Minister has engaged to impart any serious proposals he may
make, and as the French Ambassador expresses no uneasiness from the
residence of this gentleman in Spain, although this circumstance at
this crisis is extraordinary, we cannot presume there can be solid
ground for apprehension. Considerable revolutions, however, have
happened in the system of politics of this country, ever since the
accession of the House of Bourbon, and where governments are often
more influenced by the counsels, and sometimes the caprices of
individuals, than from regard to the real and permanent interest of a
nation, there is always something to fear. Congress judging from the
assurances of the Minister, and the King's character, which is
remarkable for steadiness, on the one part, and from the circumstance
of Mr Cumberland's residence here, and the constant endeavors of our
enemies by every insidious art to misrepresent our situation, on the
other, will be best able to draw conclusions from the whole.
The treaty proposed by Russia to the neutral maritime powers, to
secure their commerce, and protect their navigation, has been or will
be acceded to by Sweden, Denmark, the Hanseatic towns, and Holland,
and a Russian squadron is expected in the Channel daily. Portugal, it
is said, influenced by England, will not accede to this treaty, which
will put a stop to the piratical conduct of that country. France and
Spain exclaim, against the partiality of Portugal to Great Britain,
and I have been informed, but I do not pretend to vouch for the
authenticity of the intelligence, that strong representations have
been made to that Court, either to shut its ports against the armed
vessels of the nations at war, or to take a part in it. The French
Minister to that Court said something to the same purpose to me at
Madrid, on his way to Lisbon. The English at present sell their prizes
there, without the formality of condemnation.