John Jay Papers
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From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 7 April 1783

To the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston)

Paris 7 Ap. 1783

Dr Sir

After the Preliminaries had been settled and ratified, the Spanish Embassador informed me that his Court was ready to recieve me not only in Form, but “tres honnêtemont”. He then expected full Instructions relative to the proposed Treaty.

The Marqs. de la Fayette in his Journey thro’ Madrid manifested great Zeal to serve us there. A Copy of a Letter from him to the Minister will be sent you by another opportunity. tho’ I imagine he has already forwarded it.

on the 29 Ult. the Spanish Embassador communicated to me the Desire of his Court that I would return to Madrid, and there compleat the Treaty; for that in their opinion it ought to be concluded either at Madrid or at Philadelphia.1 You will have this Communication at large in another Letter.

No Ministry yet in England,2 nor any News of Barney,3 nor from you since the 3 Jany.4

The definitive Treaties must be concluded & the Heats of Summer abated, before either my Business here, or the very delicate State of my Health will admit of a Journey to Spain. Be assured of my Esteem & Regard. I am Dr sir your most obt. & h’ble Servt

John Jay5

The Honble R.R. Livingston Esqr The Secy for foreign Affairs &ca.

ALS, Duplicate, DNA: PCC, item 89, 2: 456, 459 (EJ: 11914). Addressed: “The Hon’ble / Robt R. Livingston Esqr / Secretary for foreign Affairs &ca. / Philadelphia / J.Jay—/ favd. by / Mr Mason”. Dft, NNC (EJ: 7960). LbkCs, DNA: PCC, item 110, 3: 1–2 (EJ: 4244); NNC: JJ Lbk. 2.

1On Lafayette’s activities in Spain and on the desirability of JJ’s return to Spain, see the editorial note “Lafayette: John Jay’s Self-appointed ‘Political Aide-de-Camp,’ Takes on the Spanish” on pp. 318–22; and Lafayette to JJ, 15 Feb. 1783, above.

2On the fall of the Shelburne ministry, see the editorial note “Signing the Definitive Peace Treaty” on pp. 463–64.

3Barney returned to France by 1 July after a voyage that began sometime after 31 May 1783. See PRM description begins E. James Ferguson et al., eds., The Papers of Robert Morris, 1781–1784 (9 vols.; Pittsburgh, Pa., 1973–99) description ends , 8: 136–37.

5Madison reported that Congress received this letter along with many other dispatches carried by the General Washington, Captain Joshua Barney, on 12 Sept. 1783. See PJM description begins William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, Robert A. Rutland et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison, Congressional Series (17 vols.; Chicago and Charlottesville, Va., 1962–91) description ends , 7: 314–16; and LDC description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds., Letters of Delegates to the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (26 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1976–98) description ends , 20: 669–70.

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