M. Gerard has often endeavored to persuade me, that a certain resolution of Congress would, if persisted in, ruin the business, which however he did not appear much inclined to believe, but, on the contrary, that if every other matter was adjusted you would not part on that point. I assured him that ground had, in my opinion, been taken with too much deliberation now to be quitted, and that expectations of that kind would certainly deceive those who trusted them. And, indeed, as affairs are now circumstanced, it would, in my opinion, be better for America to have no treaty with Spain, than to purchase one on such servile terms. There was a time when it might have been proper to have given that country something for their making common cause with us, but that day is now past. Spain is at war with Britain.
I do not like the cypher in which I write, and shall therefore defer further particulars till Mr Thompson shall receive the one now sent him.
I have the honor to be, with great respect and esteem, your Excellency's most obedient servant,
JOHN JAY.
FOOTNOTE:
[17] See this letter above, dated February 24th, p. [210].
DE NEUFVILLE & SON TO JOHN JAY.
Amsterdam, April 6th, 1780.
Sir,