capitulation of Mahon, in twentyeight days after the trenches were
opened. The garrison are prisoners of war, and, including sailors,
&c., amount to two thousand six hundred men. Sickness, which reduced
their number of effective men to one thousand three hundred,
unwholesome provision, fatigue, and despair of succor, are the motives
assigned by the Governor, for the surrender of this important place,
which has cost Spain two hundred killed, and three hundred wounded.
The joy of the Court is excessive. The Count de Florida Blanca has the
merit of having planned this expedition. It is said, the
fortifications are to be entirely ruined, and the port rendered
incapable of receiving large vessels. The officer charged with the
despatches, announcing this event, accuses our allies of having shown
a backwardness and reluctance to assist in this siege, which has
excited much indignation here. The Princess of Asturias said publicly
at dinner, that the Spaniards had taken Fort St Philip's in sight of
four thousand spectators, (meaning the French troops.) I had this from
a foreign Minister who was present. I am persuaded the charge is
without foundation, but still it will have a bad effect, and augment a
national animosity, which prevails too much already.
It is probable that the siege of Gibraltar will now be pushed with
more vigor. It is the King's favorite object, and the Duc de Crillon,
I know, is of opinion that it may be taken. His late success will give
weight to his opinion. I have been told that the Irish who obtained
permission to return to the sea-ports, after being exiled from thence
for several months, will again be ordered to quit them. This
circumstance induces me to believe, that strong efforts will be made
to take Gibraltar. The Spanish fleet has returned to Cadiz, where it
will not remain long, the magazines being abundantly provided, and
although there is no great number of workmen, or docks, for the
repairs of vessels of the line, yet as few of the vessels have
suffered in their cruise, these inconveniences will not be felt. The
Count de Guichen was ready for sea the 28th ultimo, and only waited
for a wind. His fleet consists of ten sail of the line, which has
under its convoy fifty sail of transports; five of the first mentioned
are destined for Cadiz, to join the Spanish fleet, which will then be
superior to any the enemy can assemble in the seas of Europe. Admiral
Rodney was still in the Channel the 22d ultimo, and will probably push
for the West Indies, without any transports; the convoys for the West
and East Indies, and America, not being yet in readiness. It is said
that great reinforcements are to be sent to these quarters. Lord
George Germain, it is said, will resign, and be succeeded by Mr Ellis.
The Russian and Imperial Ministers, still interpose their good offices
to mediate a peace. The neutral Ministers say here, that Lord
Stormont, in a late conversation with the first mentioned, declared
with heat, that his Sovereign would treat with France on the subject
of our independence, when a French army was in possession of the Tower
of London, and not before, and that they would negotiate with Spain
for the cession of Gibraltar, in exchange for the city of Madrid. I
should not commit this extravagance to paper if I had not heard it
mentioned by the Count de Montmorin, and other Ministers.
Mr Adams has demanded a categorical answer from the States-General to
the proposition made them on behalf of the United States. The Dutch
Secretary here informs me, that his letter was well received. The
Dutch Minister at this Court has invited me to his house, since the
presentation of the above mentioned demand. I have lately had
conversation with the Swedish Minister, which I hope will enable me
two months hence to give you some information of the disposition of
his Court. This Minister is exceedingly well disposed to forward a
connexion between Sweden and America, as is the Baron de Ramel,
formerly Minister here, now Vice Chancellor of Sweden, to whose good
offices I believe I owe the countenance and civilities of its
representative here.
The _cedula_ for the bank will appear shortly. I shall take care to
forward that, and any other paper that I think worthy your attention.
I have sent the Madrid Gazette to Mr Harrison, and have desired him to
forward it in future. This gentleman is every way deserving your
esteem and notice. He acts at present as Consul for America at Cadiz,
and has been very useful there. His good sense and agreeable manners,
have acquired the good will of natives and foreigners.
I have the honor to be, &c.
WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.
* * * * *
TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
Madrid, February 27th, 1782.
Sir,
I did myself the honor of addressing you the 18th instant, which I
enclosed in the first copy of this. My letter of the 18th contained
all the intelligence of the state of our affairs in Holland, which had
come to my knowledge. My mind now is full of another object, for I
have the mortification to inform you, that unless Mr Jay is enabled by
Dr Franklin in a few days to pay the drafts he has accepted, he will
be obliged to stop payment. I am persuaded the latter has done
everything in his power to extricate us from this cruel situation, but
he has had so many other bills to answer, and France is itself so
pushed for money, that hitherto he has not been able to succeed, nor
indeed to pay us regularly our salaries.
This Court has at length consented to pay us the balance of the three
millions, promised last year, which amounts to near twentysix
thousand dollars, but this money is in some sort appropriated to the
repayment of the advances made for two months past, by M. Cabarrus,
who, after the conversation he has had with the Minister, is
discouraged from making equal advances. Less than twenty thousand
pounds sterling would now pay all our debts in this country. I shall
not despair until the bills are refused, although after what we have
experienced here, I have little ground to hope. The Count de Florida
Blanca has engaged to take such measures, as that Mr Jay shall not be
personally exposed, which, without the interference of the Court,
might be the case, as he is not acknowledged in a public character.
Mr Jay has not yet received any notice, that M. Del Campo's
instructions are ready. That gentleman has now been near four months
named for this business. It is now confidently asserted, that the
works at Mahon are to be destroyed. Two ships of the line, and two
frigates, have sailed from Cadiz, to escort the transports with troops
from Minorca, which, it is said, are to be employed in the siege of
Gibraltar. I know of a certainty, that the Court has given orders, to
amass considerable sums of money in Andalusia. The Count de Guichen
sailed on the 10th instant, and we expect every day to hear of his
arrival at Cadiz, with five ships of the line. The English East India
convoy sailed the 26th ult., and consists of six ships of the line, a
frigate, and nineteen transports and ships of the Company. The letters
and papers I have received the last posts from France and Holland,
assert that since the arrival of Lord Cornwallis and Arnold in
England, the king is resolved to continue an offensive war in America
at every hazard. As this intelligence corresponds with the character
of the king, and the officers above mentioned, some credit may be
given to it. It has been asserted in the English papers, that the king
of Great Britain was negotiating as Elector of Hanover with Saxony, to
take into pay ten thousand of its troops, to replace the like number
to be drawn from Hanover for the American war. The _Charge d'Affaires_
of Saxony at this Court assures me that this is false.
It is expected by the friends of America, that preparations will be
early made, to repel every attack the enemy may be in force to make,
and if occasion presents, to act offensively. I have nothing to add to
this or my last, but that a copy of each will be delivered to you by
Colonel Livingston, whose zeal, abilities, application, and prudent
conduct, have acquired him general esteem, and have made his departure
regretted by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. Mr Vaughan,
who accompanies him, was strongly recommended to me by Dr Franklin,
and I have found him every way worthy of his recommendation. These
gentlemen will be able to give more ample details of general
intelligence, than I can do by letter, and of a later date than this.
I have the honor to be, &c.
WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.
* * * * *
TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
Madrid, April 14th, 1782.
Sir,
A violent defluxion of the eyes, which was epidemical here this
winter, incapacitated me for near three weeks after the date of my
last from writing, and the perplexed and uncertain situation of our
affairs here for some time past, induced me not to do myself the honor
of addressing you, until I could inform you in what manner our
difficulties were likely to have a period. Indeed, during this
interval, my time was so much engaged by the bills of exchange
accepted by Mr Jay, and the conversations I held with, and the visits
I was obliged to make to the various persons interested in this
affair, that I had very little leisure left for other occupations.
On the 27th of February, I expressed my apprehensions for the fate of
our accepted bills, although I could not but hope, that either this
Court or that of France, would interfere in time to relieve us from
this cruel mortification. Whether this Court withheld its aid, from
expectation that the French Ambassador was secretly instructed to
assist us, as on a former occasion, in case of extreme necessity;
whether their wants, which are pressing, occasioned their indecision;
or whether it was produced by the secret influence and artifices of
ill disposed persons, I will not pretend to say; but the fact is, that
notwithstanding the frequent representations of Mr Jay, and as
frequent good offices of the French Ambassador, the Minister did not,
until the day before Mr Jay found himself under the absolute necessity
of protesting the bills, authorise verbally the Count de Montmorin to
inform Mr Jay, that if M. Cabarrus persisted in his former intentions
of making the necessary advances, he would see him repaid in ten or
twelve months, to the amount of forty or fifty thousand current
dollars. It must be observed that this consent was given the day after
M. Del Campo had been informed by M. Cabarrus, at his own house, of
the terms on which he would make the advances in question. These terms
were different from those he had frequently repeated to Mr Jay and
myself, and which Mr Jay made known to the Minister; but I believe the
conversations with the latter, had excited apprehensions of his not
being reimbursed even in the time he had originally proposed.
These apprehensions were augmented by finding that the French
Ambassador was not authorised to extricate us from our distress,
although the Court of France was apprized of our situation. I early
remarked these fears, and endeavored to remove them by every means in
my power. I was clearly of opinion, however, that after the
conversation, above mentioned, with M. Del Campo, no reliance could be
placed on his assistance for our relief, and informed Mr Jay of my
conjectures on this subject, as I had done from the first moment I
discovered M. Cabarrus's fears and apprehensions. This disappointment,
constrained Mr Jay to protest a number of bills, some of which the
holders had the complaisance and indulgence to keep by them near three
weeks, in order to give time to Mr Jay to make arrangements for their
payment. Indeed, the whole commercial interest here, behaved in a
manner that scarce could be expected from persons who have so little
connexions with our country, and expressed their indignation and
astonishment, that the Court should expose to this mortification, for
a sum so trifling, a country united with them against a common enemy.
The foreign Ministers were not less surprised, and this incident, I
believe, furnished materials for their despatches at the time, and has
occasioned much conjecture since.
A letter from Dr Franklin, authorising Mr Jay to draw upon him for the
payment of the bills he had accepted, soon established our credit to
the general satisfaction of everybody who have no political
connexions to influence their opinion, and the news from England of
the address of the House of Commons to the King, to put an end to
offensive operations in America, and of the general fermentation in
Ireland, will probably give a more favorable aspect to our affairs
here, as has been the case elsewhere. Courier after courier arrived
from the Count d'Aranda, the Spanish Ambassador at Paris, and several
cabinet councils were held immediately after their respective
arrivals. Each of these couriers announced the various appearances of
a change in the British Cabinet, and probably gave some intelligence
of the overtures from Great Britain, made to Dr Franklin.
The flattering prospect of our affairs in Holland, may contribute also
to accelerate the conduct of others with respect to the United States.
The Minister promised Mr Jay, some time ago, that the conferences with
M. Del Campo, on the subject of a treaty should positively take place
at Aranjues, and the actual crisis of affairs renders it probable,
that more reliance may be placed on this than on former assurances;
but after the experience we have had of the dilatoriness of this
Court, I cannot flatter myself, that the treaty will be very speedily
concluded, for I have been led to resume my former opinion, that this
Court has wished, and still desires, to delay the acknowledgment of
our independence, until a general treaty of peace shall take place.
The Dutch Minister sent for me immediately after receiving advice,
that Friesland had resolved to admit Mr Adams in a public character,
and told me he had not the least doubt of the other provinces doing
the same. Indeed I heard extracts of letters read, from persons of
high repute in this republic, who speak of this affair, as a matter
determined, and which will meet with no other obstruction, than what
arises from the usual formalities and delays in the constitution of
that republic. The Swedish Minister daily expects news from his Court,
which he tells me he hopes will prove agreeable.
These changes in the political situation of the United States and
Great Britain, I believe are not seen by Russia and Denmark with
pleasure, if I may be allowed to form conjectures from the conduct and
sentiments of their respective Ministers here, who cannot conceal
their chagrin, on the reception of any news favorable to France,
Spain, or America. Indeed most of the neutral nations seem to have a
particular aversion to this Court, excited as they say, by its conduct
with respect to the capture and detention of their vessels. As I have
an opportunity of seeing themselves, or their Secretaries very often,
and am on an intimate footing with the latter, I am frequently a
witness of their complaints and murmurs; Congress need not therefore
conclude, that their inattention to Mr Jay's Memorial, is pointed or a
proof of its ill will, for I have seen near eighty Memorials from a
Minister more nearly connected with them than we are, few of which
have been attended to.
The capture of a Danish vessel laden with powder and artillery, with
two King's officers on board, and instructions from the Admiralty, has
excited the clamors of the Danish Minister here, who despatched a
courier to Copenhagen on the occasion. I am promised a statement of
the case presented by the Minister above mentioned to those of the
armed neutrality, and copies of two letters from the Count de Florida
Blanca, one to the Danish Minister, and the other to the neutral
Ministers here, which if obtained shall accompany this letter.
Great preparations are making for the siege of Gibraltar. The Duc de
Crillon is to command in chief, and it is said will have under his
orders, from twentyfive to thirtytwo thousand men, including the
French troops at Mahon; the place is to be attacked by sea and land,
and I hear twelve ships are bought by government to be fitted up and
serve as floating batteries. This operation will probably commence in
July, a month favorable for it on account of the calms which then
prevail. The loan proposed by this Court in Holland is not likely to
meet the expected success. The armaments they have equipped and are
equipping, and the expensive preparations for the siege of Gibraltar,
straiten them exceedingly for funds. The difficulties they encounter
in procuring money, and the alarming state of their colonies, may
probably dispose them to peace by the end of the present campaign, but
it is likely their claims will be great, and thought extravagant by
all the neutral nations.
I have frequently mentioned the reports of disturbances in their
colonies. It is difficult to obtain accurate information on this
subject. The King has certainly ratified a convention made with the
malcontents at Santa Fe and in its neighborhood, which was transmitted
by the ecclesiastical, civil, and military officers, with their advice
to accord all the demands therein contained, as the only means to
prevent the total revolt of these provinces. I have reason to believe
this ratification was made with great reluctance. I am also promised a
copy of this convention, which I shall forward with this letter if
obtained in time.
The papers are full of the Pope's voyage to Vienna. The Imperial
Secretary here assures me, that the Emperor will not recede from the
plans of reformation he has adopted. Some persons having suggested,
to him, that fanaticism might possibly endeavor to put a period to his
progress by assassination, he replied, that he had no apprehensions on
that score, for his brother's firmness and sentiments being known to
be the same, nothing could be hoped from a single assassination. He is
regarded here and in Portugal as a heretic, and if his sight should be
affected by the defluxion on his eyes at present, this misfortune will
be regarded as a punishment from heaven, inflicted on him for his
encroachments on the church. As I know you will receive ample details
of all that regards the mission here from Mr Jay, I confine myself to
a very summary detail on the subject, in order to supply in a small
degree the loss or delay of his more important despatches. With a
sincere wish that my intentions may be acceptable to Congress,
I have the honor to be, &c.
WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.
_P. S. April 29th, 1782._ The enclosed papers are copies of the
letters herein mentioned. Duplicates have been already sent with their
translations. The despatches of Mr Jay have taken up so much of my
time for three weeks past, that it has not been possible for me to
make out copies of the translations for Major Franks, the bearer of
the present, and the great earnestness with which Mr Jay desires to
send him away, prevents my sending the copy of the statement of the
case, and the convention made with the disaffected in Spanish America.
Mr Jay's information is so explicit, that it leaves but little for me
to add, which I shall do this week via Cadiz.
W. C.
* * * * *
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.
Philadelphia, May 1st, 1782.
Dear Sir,
I was favored with your letters of the 20th of December; that of the
17th, which you mention to have written to the late Committee of
Foreign Affairs, never came to hand. If you have received my former
letter, you will find your question relative to the continuance of
your correspondence already answered. But lest you should not, let me
repeat it, by assuring you that it will always give me very great
pleasure to hear from you. The channels of communication with this
office are much too few to induce me to shut up one by which we
receive the most frequent and important intelligence. I shall endeavor
to send you a cypher by this, or the next safe opportunity, and shall
alter that look for a strict compliance with your promise. I make no
remark on the political parts of your letters, both because I have no
cypher yet settled with you, and because I shall always write fully on
these subjects to Mr Jay. It gives me pleasure to see the train you
are establishing to procure intelligence, and to cultivate the esteem
of persons who may be of use to us. This has been, and is still too
much neglected, but that neglect makes your address and attention the
more important.
The season of the year, and the inactivity of the British, deprive me
of the means of making a full return for the intelligence you
communicate. Our attention is at present turned to an object, which,
though apparently small, promises to have consequences of some moment.
You will find in the papers enclosed, an account of the execution of a
militia officer, Capt. Huddy, by a band of tories, on some false
pretences. The General has demanded the perpetrators of this crime,
or threatened to retaliate upon some British officer of equal rank. As
his letter does him honor, I enclose a copy, which you will be pleased
to show to Mr Jay. Clinton is reduced to great straits; he has already
been the means of one officer's dying on a gibbet. He would be
execrated by the army should he occasion the ignominious death of
another. On the other hand, he is already very unpopular with the
tories. Should he give up those of the refugee corps, who are
concerned in this business, which has probably been done by the
direction, or at least the connivance of their board of directors, he
will be embroiled with them. They form a kind of _imperium in
imperio_. The directors, being in a great measure independent of the
commander-in-chief, have the custody of their own prisoners, regulate
their own exchanges, divide the plunder they make according to their
own rules; and correspond regularly with the Ministry, which
circumstance alone is sufficient to excite a kind of rivalry between
them, and the commander-in-chief.
Several propositions have been made for the exchange and comfortable
support of prisoners, all of which have proved abortive, from the
resolution of the British not to pay arrears, they have incurred,
which amounts to near L300,000 sterling. Some measures, which will
surprise them not a little, will be taken. I shall write particularly
to Mr Jay on this subject, because it will need explanation in Europe.
You will consult Mr Jay on the propriety of publishing the affair of
Huddy in the European papers; and if he shall think it may be of any
use, take measures for the purpose.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
* * * * *
TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
Madrid, June 12th, 1782.
Sir,
On the 5th instant, I had the honor to address you, enclosing a copy
of a letter, which I wrote to Mr Jay soon after his departure from
Madrid.[13] The Court is now here, but the Ministers are generally so
harassed by business and visits during their short stay in the
capital, that there are few opportunities of having access to them.
Before I left Aranjues, I frequently reminded M. Del Campo of the
promises made me, to pay attention to the different offices passed
from Mr Jay, interesting to various citizens of the United States. I
was well received, and had those promises reiterated. I judged it more
proper to solicit the notice of the Ministry to these objects in
person, than by writing, because I could have small hopes of success
from memorials, when I reflected how little attention had been paid to
those written by a man so much my superior in that mode of address.
Besides, frequent conferences, perhaps develop better the opinions and
dispositions of men, than deliberate answers to requests, or
remonstrances, however clearly, or however strongly they may be stated
in writing.
In my conversations with the Minister, and the gentleman above
mentioned, they seemed to think the work of peace to be in a fair way.
I have, however, some reason to suppose, that neither their
instructions to their Ambassador at Paris for this object, nor those
for him to treat with Mr Jay, are yet forwarded, and there are grounds
to conjecture that this Court would have retarded the negotiation as
much as possible, had not the defeat of the Count de Grasse blasted
their hopes of taking Jamaica. Even now they will be desirous of
knowing the fate of the siege of Gibraltar, before they agree to any
treaty, which does not put them in possession of that important
fortress.