He added that his reason for desiring to see him at present proceeded from something mentioned to him by the French Ambassador, of which he supposed he was informed. He recapitulated what he had before mentioned of the King's good faith and favorable disposition towards America, and entered more fully into his conduct in the negotiation with Great Britain, when the Court of Spain proposed a truce between that country and the United States, observing, that as the King at that period was determined not to sacrifice our interests, it could not be supposed that now, when at war with Great Britain, his Majesty would be less disposed to maintain them. After these reflections and assurances, he told Mr Jay that the person lately from England, by the way of Portugal, was the chaplain of their former Embassy at London; that he had been there for some time on his private affairs, and had at the same time instructions concerning an exchange of prisoners, which their sufferings rendered expedient; that the death of an uncle, a chaplain of the Court, had obliged him to return; that an English gentleman and his family had come to Lisbon with him, under the pretext, or really on account of the ill health of a daughter, to whom the Duke of Dorset was much attached; that the opposition made by his friends to the marriage had affected her health, and that this family was desirous of passing through Spain to Italy. He added, that this gentleman was one of Lord George Germain's secretaries, and would perhaps have some proposals to make for an exchange of prisoners, and possibly others of a different nature, which he assured Mr Jay should be communicated to him as candidly as he had communicated the extravagant scheme presented by Sir J. Dalrymple. He desired Mr Jay, therefore, to make himself easy on this subject, giving new assurances of the King's strict regard to justice and good faith, and of his disposition to assist America.
Mr Jay begged him to be persuaded of the perfect confidence of America and himself, and of their reliance on the good faith, justice, and honor of his Catholic Majesty; that he had no other apprehension from the circumstance of Englishmen resorting to this Court, than that the enemy would on this, as on former occasions, avail themselves of it, by endeavoring to alarm and deceive our people.
The Count de Florida Blanca assured Mr Jay, that he would shortly give him such proofs of the King's intentions, as would enable him to prevent any bad effects from such misrepresentations, and convince America of his Majesty's favorable disposition and good faith. After repeating assurances of his full confidence, Mr Jay mentioned that he had received two bills of exchange, drawn by order of Congress on him, and that he should take no measures on that subject, as he had before the honor of telling him, till he had consulted his Excellency. The Count, having asked the amount, and being told that the bills were for between six and seven hundred dollars, told him, smiling, that he might accept them, and he hoped so to arrange matters, as, in a short time, to make him easy on that head. He then said, that an expedition had been suggested to him, in which the Americans might co-operate; but, without entering into particulars, he recollected himself, and said he would send the project to Mr Jay by Mr Carmichael at the same time that he should give him the other papers. The conference ended with mutual compliments.
June 4th. This morning the Chevalier de Burgoing, Secretary of the French Embassy, waited on Mr Jay, and afterwards on Mr Carmichael, and told them the Ambassador had informed him, that the Count de Florida Blanca had received despatches from Versailles, which demanded his instant attention, and that, therefore, he could not see Mr Carmichael until the 5th, at the hour mentioned in the conference of the 2d. Mr Jay, however, having received no direct message from the Minister, thought it proper for Mr Carmichael to wait on him at the place and hour appointed. Accordingly he went to the Bureau of Foreign Affairs, and was told by order of the Minister, that he had desired the Ambassador to acquaint Mr Jay, that he could not see Mr Carmichael that day, but desired to see him next Monday, at eleven.
June 5th. Mr Carmichael waited on the Minister, agreeably to appointment, who, on his entrance, immediately expressed his concern, that the arrival of a courier, which informed him of the intentions of the Court of Great Britain to expedite the sailing of their grand fleet, had engaged his attention so much as to prevent him from fulfilling his promise of sending the notes mentioned in the former conferences, that he would certainly do it on the Wednesday following, and desired Mr Carmichael to wait on him that day at the same hour to receive them. He then mentioned an expedition, which had been proposed to him from Bilboa, to intercept the homeward bound ships of the East India Company, by equipping some frigates in America at the expense of his Catholic Majesty, desiring Mr Carmichael to communicate this to Mr Jay, that he might turn his attention to that object, to enable him to judge of the probability of its success. He touched slightly on the subject of bills of exchange, and on the only difficulty of the treaty, viz. the navigation of the Mississippi, which he said he hoped some middle means might be hit on to obviate. He concluded by saying that he would give his sentiments on that, and other subjects to Mr Jay in writing at the time abovementioned, and hoped that he would believe the delay hitherto proceeded from no other motives than those he had mentioned. Mr Carmichael assured him, that Mr Jay was too sensible of the importance of his other occupations, and of his candor, to impute the delay to any other cause, and after common civilities he withdrew.
This conversation needs no comment. It promised well. On or about the 19th of June, Mr Cumberland, his wife, and two daughters arrived, appeared publicly, and were openly visited and received by persons of distinction. But although it was not difficult to know who he was, and with whom he associated, his business and measures continue to this day mere objects of conjecture, further that he or the Minister has thought proper to communicate them.[25] The impression made by his arrival on the minds of the people is worthy of remark. They supposed his errand to be secret overtures for peace, and as far as I can judge were very glad of it. There is reason to believe that he favored these conjectures from the first. He has since said publicly, that he was authorised to offer to Spain Gibraltar, and other advantageous terms.
On the 7th of June, I received from the Minister his notes on the subject of aids. They are in these words.
Translation.
Aranjues, June 7th, 1780.
"His Catholic Majesty would be very glad to be able to furnish, at the present crisis, funds for the payment of the one hundred thousand pounds sterling, proposed to be addressed to Mr Jay, in order to evince the concern which the King takes in the prosperity and relief of the United States of North America, as well as in the personal satisfaction of the abovementioned gentleman. But the demands of the present war, and the great difficulty there would be to transport hither the treasures of the King's possessions in that part of the world, render it impracticable to furnish here, the said sum in specie, as could be wished. Some expedient, however, may be found to remedy this inconvenience. For example; if the owners of the bills of exchange would be content with the security or responsibility of his Catholic Majesty, to pay the sum already mentioned in the term of two years. The King will readily agree to such an arrangement, even if it should be found necessary to add a moderate interest. This security, given by such a sovereign as the King of Spain, would induce the owners of those bills of exchange, and the creditors of Congress to consent to a measure so advantageous, and would equally serve to sustain the credit and good faith of the same body.