I have recd. your Letter of the 5th Inst.1 requesting Information respecting the Aids afforded us by Spain in our revolutionary war. These come under two Heads—viz— those which preceded my leaving this Country for Spain in 1779—and those which were afterward recd.— Your Letter relates only to the former—

As to the first— In a Letter to me from the Count de Florida Blanca, dated the 24 Feb, 1779^80^,2 is this Sentence— “His majesty recd. with pleasure the Information of the Desire of the Colonies to form a Connection with Spain, of whose good Disposition they have already recieved strong Proofs.”—

In a Conference I had with the Count on the 11 May 1780,3 he assured me that the Kings Disposition and Intentions towards us were friendly— adding “as might be judged from his Conduct heretofore” touching lightly on the Succours sent us from Spain, the Havanna and Louisiana.

In a Letter dated 9 June 1780,4 which I wrote to the Count respecting aids of money &c.— is this Paragraph— “as to the aids heretofore supplied to the united States— I am without Information relative to the precise Terms on which they were furnished, as well as their amount. When I left Congress, they appeared to me not to possess full and positive Intelligence on these points. I ascribe this not to omissions in their Commissioner, who then had the Direction of these Affairs, but to those miscarriages and Accidents to which the Communication of Intelligence to a distant Country is liable in Time of war. If it should appear proper to your Excellency to order that I be furnished with an accurate and full state of these Transactions, I will do myself the honor of transmitting the same to Congress— and (as they happened prior to my appointment) I shall request particular Instructions on the Subject.” The Count however did not send me any Statement or accounts respecting those Aids.

On the 4 Septr 1780,5 in a Conference with Mr. Del Campo and Mr. Gardoqui, the former complained “that the greater part of the money heretofore advanced by Spain, had been laid out in France.”

I do not recollect, nor can I think of any Document in my possession by which I can decide, whether the first foreign Aid we recd., was from Spain or France. Spain had early a real, and very ostensible agent at Ph[iladelphi]a.— I mean D[o]n. Juan Miralles— There doubtless are Papers both in the Departmt. of State and Treasury which could decide this Question— The Letters of Arthur Lee probably afford Information on it—

I wish it was in my power to answer your Inquiry in a Manner more particular and satisfactory, but it is not—

My Health about which you kindly inquire, is better than it was a Year ago. I have been confined to the House since last Fall— I suffer but little, and at present have no Reason to apprehend that the ensuing Spring will find me in that State of extreme Debility, in which the last winter left me. I consider a cure as out of question— but that is the less important, as I have another chronic malady which always proves mortal—old age— with the best wishes for your Health and Happiness I am Dear Sir your obt. Servt.