To John Jay from Floridablanca, 21 July 1781
From Floridablanca
[a St Ildefse le 21 Juillet 1781]
Le Comte de Floridablanca fait bien ses compliments a Mr de Jay et a l’honneur de lui faire savoir qu’il a reçu dans son temps ses deux Lettres datees du 2 et du 13 de ce Mois. Le court sejour de Madrid n’ayant pas donné lieu a vaquer a d’autres affaires qu’aux plus pressantes le Comte de Floridablanca n’a pas eté dans le cas de pouvoir prendre en consideration les points qui font l’objet des susdites Lettres. Il se propose donc de le faire a present pour en rendre compte au Roi: et en attendant il a l’honneur de reiterer a Mr de Jay les assurances de la plus parfaite estime et consideration.
[Translation]
[Saint Ildefonso 21 July 1781]
The Count de Florida Blanca presents his compliments to Mr. Jay, and has the honor of acquainting him that he has duely received his two letters of the 2nd & the 13th inst.1 The short stay of the Court at Madrid allowing time to despatch only the most pressing business, the Count de Florida Blanca has not been able to take into consideration the points which form the object of the above mentioned Letters— He proposes therefore to do it at present in order to render an account thereof to the King, and in the mean while he has the honour to repeat to Mr. Jay the assurances of the most perfect esteem & consideration
RC, in French, NNC (EJ: 8225). Dft, in French, SpMaAHN: Estado, leg. 3884, exp. 4, doc. 136 (EJ: 12168). C, in English, NNC (EJ: 8217). C, with English translation, embedded in JJ to the President of Congress, 3 Oct. 1781, below, DNA: PCC, item 89, 404–5. LbkCs, DNA: PCC, item 110, 1: 455–57 (EJ: 4169); NNC: JJ Lbks. 1 and 6; CSmH (EJ: 3418).