I have had the honour of receiving your Excellency’s Letters of the ^6th1 &^ 17 October last with the Inclosures. They arrived the 30 Day of Jany last—2 There is more than reason to suspect that the French Court were apprized of their Contents before they arrived and to beleive that the Construction of the Treaty by which the navigation of the Mississippi is supposed to be comprehended in the Garantee does not correspond with their Ideas on that Subject.3 This Court continues pertinaciously to insist on ceding that navigation, nor will they as yet listen to any middle Line. Whether this be their Real motive for them declining a Treaty with us at Present, or whether the bills drawn upon me have inspired an expectation of profiting by our necessities, or whether they flatter themselves with a future Majority of Congress on that point, or whether they chuse by continuing free from Engagements with us, to be better enabled to improve to their advantage the Casualties of the War, are questions which still remain undecided. Indeed the movements of this Court in general when compared with the great Rules of National Policy applicable to their situation is so inexplicable, that I should not be surprized if it should appear in future that they had no fixed System whatever.

My last particular Letter informed your Excellency that having in Septr. last been told that his Majesty could not advance us any money, but could be responsible for a Loan to the amount of 150,000 dollrs I determined to continue accepting the Bills, to attempt the Loan, and by a representation of my Situation to the French Court, endeavour to save the necessity of protesting them for non Payment.4

I tryed to borrow here on the Security of this Responsibility, but without the least success. I attempted it in France but it would not do— I made the like attempt in Holland and a Gleam of hope appearing there, I was about improving it, when a Letter from America Informed me that Mr Adams was authorized to execute the Business which had been Committed to Mr Laurens. I had learned before of his being in Holland, but did not know the object which had called him there. Several Letters passed between Messeurs De Neufville and myself on the Subject of this Loan; The following is a Copy of my last to them about it.

[Here Jay embedded a copy of his letter to John de Neufville & Son of 8 January 1781, above.]

My last particular Dispatches contained a Copy of my letter to Count de Vergennes requesting his aid. I received from Ct. de Montmorin an Extract of a Letter he had received from the Minister on that Subject in which he mentions the Advances made to Dr. Franklin and the Improbability of his being able to assist me, but concluded with saying he would do his best. Shortly after I received a letter from Count de Vergennes which left me without hopes of succour from that Quarter, except that Doctor Franklin promised to accept my drafts to the amount of 25,000 dollrs.5

In December following, I had a long and Interesting Conference with Count de Florida Blanca, the particulars of which it is not necessary minutely to enumerate by this opportunity.6 He expressly promised me 150,000 dollars—as the Bills afterwards became due, I applied for Money to pay them and received it to the amount of 34′380 Dollars On the 15th of March I sent him a list of the bills payable in April which amounted to 89′083 Dollars7 On the 25th I was informed that the payment of this Sum could not then be possibly made, but that the Ballance due on the 150,000 Dollrs. promised should be paid in the Course of six months.8

I communicated this Matter to the Embassador of Fr[ance] and I must do him the Justice to say that his Conduct on this Occasion merits our thanks.9 All he could obtain from this Court was that the amount of the April bills should be paid me in six equal monthly payments. This Arrangement still leaving me unprovided with the means of satisfying the approaching Demands, the Embassador made personal application to a rich Banker here,10 and on his Personal Credit & my Consenting that the aforesaid six monthly payments should be applied to the Repayment, obtained a loan for me of the whole Sum wanted for April. I have passed my note for it payable as soon as possible with Interest at the Rate of Six pr. Ct. But this Provision not extending beyond April, the Fate of the bills payable in the succeeding months still remained Dubious. That nothing in my power might be left undone I sent on the 1st. of April an Express to Doctor Franklin representing to him my true Situation and the Injuries our Credit would sustain from the Protest of a single bill drawn by order of Congress I desired him to communicate my letter to Col: Laurens to whom I also wrote on the Subject. The Express returned on the 19th Instant with a letter from Doctor Franklin, by which I am authorized to draw upon him as occasion might ^may^ require to the amount of 142,220 Dollars, towards paying the bills that become due between May & September.11

My Endeavors however to obtain further aids from Spain shall not be relaxed. They seem very desirous of having the ships of the Line still unfinished on the Stocks at Boston & Portsmouth. I have written to your Excellency on this Subject and have as yet received no answer. When I consider that the State of our Finances has so long prevented the Compleating those Ships & the difficulties heretofore experienced in providing for those in Service, when I reflect that the finishing and fitting out those Ships will bring Money into our Country and probably prepare the way for Spains building more vessels in it, and lastly when I consider how much these Ships seem to be an Object, I am almost prevailed upon to engage Positively that Spain shall have at least one of them at Prime cost. To exercise a power not clearly within the Limits of those Confided to me is a delicate and disagreable business. This is the first time I ever found myself disposed to hazard it, and yet so many Circumstances lead me to think that the Public good would be promoted by the sale of these Ships, that In case I should be again pressed on this Subject, I believe I shall run the risque, from a Persuasion that though such conduct ought not to be approved or encouraged by Congress, yet that when directed by the Purest Motives and for the best purposes it may obtain forgiveness.12

Your Excellency will receive herewith inclosed a copy of the Invoice of Prize Cloathing taken by Admiral Cordova & presented by the Courts of France and Spain to Congress—13 The Ct de Montmorin was very much an American on this occasion also. Mr Harrison at Cadiz has my orders to ship these goods in different vessels to America. Part of them is now on the Ocean. The Rest will soon follow— Your Excellency will receive a letter of Advice with each Parcel from Mr Harrison, of whom I have a very good opinion. He charges no commission for doing this business, being contented with the satisfaction of serving his Country.

I have often mentioned to Congress the Necessity of more effectual Provision for our Captive Seamen; for want of money I cannot pay that attention to them, which their misfortunes and usefulness demand. I am already greatly in arrears on their acct. and Mr Harrison unless reimbursed must soon stop his hand.14

Portugal tho’ overawed by France and Spain fears and perhaps loves England, her Conduct will be determined by future events. The Minister here has promised me to interpose the good offices of his Court with that of Lisbon in our behalf In time something good may result from it. I have not received a line from Mr Dohrman, I fear he is obliged to be very Circumspect and Cautious.15 The Letters herewith inclosed from Doctor Franklin were left open for my perusal. The Short Stay of my Courier not allowing time for Copies to be made of the Information conveyed in and with them. The intercepted Letters will be found Interesting— One of them ascertains the Price paid Arnold.

I perceive that Doctor Franklin desires to retire— This Circumstance calls upon me to assure Congress, that I have reason to be perfectly satisfied with his Conduct towards me & that I have received from him all the aid and attention, I could wish or expect— His Character is very high here & I really believe that the Respectability ^wh.^ he enjoys throughout Europe has been of general use to our Cause and Country.16

Your Excellency may rely on my Cordially adopting and pursuing any measures that can conduce to the enlargement of Mr Laurens, and I regret that no occasion has yet offer’d in which I could do any thing towards the attainment of that desirable object.17 Mr Cumberland is on the Road home, I much suspect that he was sent & received from mutual views in the two Courts of deceiving each other. Which of them has been most successful is hard to determine. I believe in Point of Intelligence England has had the Advantage. As to the Assurances of the Minister on this Subject they are all of Little Consequence, because on such occasions Courts only say what may be convenient, & therefore may or may not merit Confidence. Time and Circumstances will cast more light on this Subject.18

Whatever we may get from this Court is clear gain. We have no demands open, and if we had are not in Capacity to insist upon them. In my opinion therefore it is of the Utmost Importance to avoid appearances of Discontent, and rather to impress other Nations with an opinion of the Friendship of Spain for us than otherwise.

Indeed I really beleive the King means well towards us and that the Prime Minister is also well disposed, but whether as much can be said of the Minister’s ^confidential & I believe^ influential [illegible] Secretary Mr Del Campo, is by no means a clear Point. It is proper that Congress should know that the Gentleman intended to succeed Mr Mirales was recommended by Mr Del Campo with whom he has long been on Terms of intimacy and Friendship. I have nevertheless no room to doubt of this Gentlemans attachment to our Cause, tho’ I am inclined to think his Conduct will be conformable in a certain Degree with the views of his Patron. This ought to remain a Secret. He is still here, altho’ he expects daily to be dispatched.19

I represented the case of the Dover Cutter to the Ministry here the 22d June last. In December I obtained a promise that it should be appraised and the value paid to the Captors, and two days ago I was again assured that Measures were taking to bring this matter to a conclusion, festina Lente seems to be the first maxim in Spanish Politics and operations; it is the fashion of the Country and Strangers must conform to it—20

I congratulate Congress on the Victory obtained by Gen. Morgan & the Success of the French in the Chesapeake. The enclosed Gazette contains much good news from the East Indies. These Events will probably give Lord George Germaine other Ideas than those which appear in his intercepted Letters. Mr Toscan, who goes to reside as vice Consul of France at Boston, will carry this Letter to America, & perhaps to Philadelphia. He was ready to set out when my Courier returned from France. I was obliged to delay my Letters till his arrival, and Mr Toscan has been so obliging as to wait till I could compleate them—21 I have the Honour to be with great Esteem & Regard Your Excellency’s most obedient & hble Servant