To De Neufville & Son. Madrid, October 4th, 1780,
Connexion between Holland and the United States.—Shall recommend their house to Congress.—Spanish ordinance establishing a paper currency.—Effect of this measure on the bills drawn on him; wishes to know if money could be raised in Holland for Congress on the joint credit of Spain and the United States.
To James Lovell. Madrid, October 27th, 1780,
Difficulties of finding a safe conveyance for his letters.—Receives little information from the committee.—M. Dohrmer.
To the President of Congress. Madrid, November 6th, 1780,
The Abbé Hussey arrives at Madrid with Mr Cumberland.—Notes of Mr Jay's conference with the Count de Florida Blanca.—Conference of Mr Carmichael with the Minister.—Note from the Count de Florida Blanca (Aranjues, June 9, 1780); to Mr Jay on the subject of aids; his Majesty is willing to become responsible at the expiration of two years to the holders of the bills drawn on Mr Jay, provided Congress will build four frigates and some light vessels for the King; the Americans may send for stores to the Spanish ports for this purpose; the squadron manned by Americans and under Spanish colors to intercept the English East India vessels.—Reply of Mr Jay (Aranjues, June 9th, 1780); expectations of the Americans from Spain; the holders of the bills will prefer recovering the amount on protest, to waiting for the payment two years; the Spanish treasure from America may arrive before the bills become payable; Mr Jay is authorised to pledge the faith of the United States for the repayment of any sums his Majesty may lend; former aids; Congress has not the resources necessary for building ships; difficulty of manning them with American sailors, who prefer sailing in privateers; the country is not in a condition to undertake foreign enterprises; the Americans will always be ready to cooperate with Spain against the Floridas or elsewhere; unfavorable conclusions will be drawn as to the condition of Spain, if she cannot supply such aid to men in arms against her enemy.—Mr Jay's reasons for not touching on other points of the proposition.—Note from Mr Jay to the Count, informing him of a new draft.—Reply of the Count, promising to pay the bill, and declaring that no more can be paid without consulting the King; the proposition of the Count having been rejected, it becomes necessary for Mr Jay to devise other means.—Reply of Mr Jay to the preceding (Madrid, June 22d, 1780), proposing as a means of paying the bills the advance of the £25,000 to £40,000 sterling promised; the sum necessary for building the ships cannot be raised by Congress; America cannot pay the debts occasioned by the war till peace; advantages resulting to Spain by the furnishing of aid to America.—Reasons for not pushing the treaty at this time.—Letter from Mr Jay to the Count de Florida Blanca (Madrid, June 28th, 1780), transmitting the resolutions of Congress, directing that bills be issued redeemable in specie in six years; this plan may enable the United States to supply the vessels, his Majesty becoming responsible for a certain part of the sum so issued.—Note from Mr Jay to the Count de Florida Blanca, stating that he has been called on to accept new bills.—Reply of the Count de Florida Blanca, declaring nothing can be done in regard to the new drafts without consulting the King and the other Ministers; requests further explanations of Mr Jay's plan for furnishing the ships and engaging the responsibility of the King.—Note from the Count de Florida Blanca to Mr Jay, requesting to know when the bills lately arrived will become due.—News of the capture of Charleston.—Mr Jay's notes of a conference with the Count de Florida Blanca, July 5th; capture of Charleston; death of M. Miralles; the Count advises Mr Jay to be cautious of Messrs Joyce, who hold the bills; regrets the precipitancy of Congress in drawing; specie might have been remitted from the Spanish Colonies directly to the United States; remarks on the deranged state of the finances of the United States; the difficulty of raising money in Europe; wishes to wait the arrival of a certain person; Mr Jay observes, that Congress have adopted measures for restoring the finances; suggests that Spain might furnish aid by bills on Havana; states in reply to a question of the Count, that ship timber may be furnished from America; urges the importance of accepting the bills; reminds the Minister of the promise of clothing; evasive and uncertain nature of this conference.—Note from Mr Jay to the Count de Florida Blanca (Madrid, July 11th, 1780), informing him that new bills have been presented; the Messrs Joyce consent to have their bills payable at Bilboa.—Answer of the Count to the preceding, desiring a delay till the arrival of a certain person.—Mr Jay requests that Mr Harrison be allowed to remain at Cadiz.—Note from the Count de Florida Blanca (July 29th), granting Mr Harrison permission to remain at Cadiz; still waits the arrival of the person above mentioned.—Note from Mr Jay to the Count de Florida Blanca (August 11th), announcing the presentation of more bills.—Reply of the Count de Florida Blanca, regretting that he must still wait the arrival of a certain person.—Letter of Mr Jay (Madrid, August 16th, 1780), to the Count de Florida Blanca, stating that the holders of the bills grow impatient.—Letter of Mr Jay to the Count de Florida Blanca (Madrid, August 18th, 1780), informing him that bills have been received by the Gardoquis, which will be immediately presented.—Letter from Mr Jay to the Count de Florida Blanca (St Ildefonso, August 25th, 1780), urging the necessity of providing for the acceptance of the bills.—Mr Jay's notes of a conference with the French Ambassador, August 27th; Mr Jay gives an account of his proceedings since his arrival, and requests the Ambassador to obtain an answer for him from the Spanish Minister; Mr Jay was encouraged to expect that he should be supplied with money to meet the bills; the Ambassador thinks that the Spanish Minister will pay the bills, and promises to speak to him on the subject.—Subsequent coolness of the French Ambassador.—Second visit to him; he advises Mr Jay to write again to the Count de Florida Blanca, praying an audience; Mr Jay declines making any supplications, or purchasing by concessions the acknowledgment of independence; declares his determination to write on the subject of the treaty, and if treated with the same neglect to return; conduct of France.—Mr Jay consents to send Mr Carmichael to the Minister.—Note from the Count de Florida Blanca introducing M. Gardoqui.—Conversation with M. Gardoqui on the subject of the bills; second conversation with M. Gardoqui, who proposes the surrender of the navigation of the Mississippi.—Objections to this measure.—Conversation with M. Del Campo on the same subjects.—Conversation with the Secretary of the French Ambassador.—M. Gardoqui informs him from the Count de Florida Blanca that no more bills can be paid by Spain.—Letter of Mr Jay (St Ildefonso, September 14th, 1780), to the Count de Florida Blanca, requesting to know if any aid is to be expected from Spain.—Answer to the preceding, dictated by M. Del Campo, in the name of the Count de Florida Blanca, to M. Gardoqui, declaring the readiness of his Majesty to assist the States.—Letter from Mr Jay to Count de Vergennes (St Ildefonso, September 22d, 1780), giving an account of his proceedings in Spain; requesting the aid of France in meeting the bills.—Letter of Mr Jay to Dr Franklin (same date), on the same subject.—Notes of a conference between Mr Jay and the Count de Florida Blanca (September 23d); satisfaction of the King with the measures of Congress for supplying the Spanish forces in the West Indies; plan of the English Court to attempt an accommodation with America; Mr Jay enters upon the points mentioned in the paper dictated to M. Gardoqui; on the manner of making known the King's responsibility; on the King's being disgusted with the drawing of bills without his consent, and without terms of recompense; the bills were drawn on Mr Jay, and the faith of the United States was pledged for the payment of any sum advanced; Mr Jay wishes the evidence of an understanding between America and England; Congress had given proofs of friendship by sending a Minister to negotiate treaties of amity and alliance; the delaying of the negotiations owing to the Minister not sending the promised notes on the subject; terms of such a treaty; Spain ought not to expect the expenses of the war will be refunded; America will be ready to render every assistance possible.—Mr Jay returns to Madrid and accepts the bills.—Equivocal nature of the Spanish policy.—Extract of a letter from the Count de Vergennes to the French Ambassador, stating that it will be difficult to make advances to Mr Jay.—Letter from Messrs Couteulx and Co. to Mr Jay (Cadiz, October 3d, 1780), complaining of the expenses and difficulty of supplying and sending home American seamen.—Mr Jay to Messrs Couteulx and Co. (Madrid, October 15th, 1780), directing them to settle accounts with Mr Harrison.—Difficulties in the conveyance of correspondence.—A copy of the correspondence of the Commissioners in France in the hands of a certain foreigner.
To the President of Congress. Madrid, November 30th, 1780,
Enclosing copies of papers from Morocco.—Delays of the Spanish Court.—Remarks on the enclosed account of the revenues and expenditures of Spain for 1778.
From D'Audibert Caille to John Jay. Aranjues, April 21st, 1780,