My letters from Madrid, and afterwards a few lines from Bordeaux,1 informed you of my being called to this place by a pressing letter from Dr. Franklin.

The slow manner of travelling in a Carriage through Spain, Mrs. Jay’s being taken with a Fever & Ague the Day we left Bordeaux, and the Post Horses at the different Stages having been engaged for the Count du Nord, who had left Paris with a great Retinue, preventing my arriving here until the Day before Yesterday.

After placing my Family in a Hotel, I immediately went out to Passy, and spent the Remainder of the afternoon in conversing with Doctor Franklin on the Subjects which had induced him to write for me. I found that he had then more Reason to think my Presence necessary than it seems to be at present.2

Yesterday we paid a Visit to the Count de Vergennes. He gave me a very friendly Reception, and entered pretty fully with us into the State of the negotiation. His answer to the british Minister appeared to me ably drawn. It breathes great Moderation, and yet is so general as to leave Room for such Demands as Circumstances, at the Time of the Treaty, may render convenient.3

There is Reason to believe that Mr. Fox and Lord Shelburne are not perfectly united,4 and that Rodney’s Success will repress the ardor of our Enemies, for an immediate Peace.5 On leaving the Count, he informed us that he was preparing Dispatches for America, and that our Letters, if sent to him Tomorrow Morning, might go by the same opportunity. This short notice, together with the Interruptions I meet with every moment, obliged me to be less particular than I could wish, but as Doctor Franklin also writes by this Conveyance, you will doubtless receive from him full Intelligence on these Subjects.6

My last Letters also informed You that the Court of Spain had Commissioned the Count de Yranda,7 their Ambassador here to continue with me the Negotiation for a Treaty with our Country. I have not yet seen him, and Doctor Franklin concurs with me in opinion that it is more expedient to open this Business by a Letter than by a Visit. I wrote him the following Letter this morning.

[Here JJ embedded his letter to Aranda, 25 June 1782, below]

Mr. Adams can not leave Amsterdam at present, and I hear that Mr. Laurens thinks of returning soon to America, so that I apprehend Doctor Franklin and myself will be left to manage at least the skirmishing Business, if I may so call it, of our Commission, without the Benefit of their Counsel and Assistance. You know what I think and feel on this Subject, and I wish things were so circumstanced as to admit of my being indulged.

You may rely on my writing often, very often— My Letters will now have fairer play, and you will find that I have not ceased to consider Amusement and Rest as secondary Objects to those of Business.

I shall endeavor to get Lodgings as near to Doctor Franklin as I can— He is in perfect good Health, and his Mind appears more vigorous than that of any Man of his age I have known— He certainly is a valuable Minister, and an agreeable Companion.

The Count d’Artois and Duke de Bourbon are soon to set out for Gibraltar. The Siege of that place will be honored with the presence of several Princes, and therefore the Issue of it (according to the prevailing modes of thinking) becomes in a more particular manner interesting. The Duke de Crillon is sanguine—he told me that in his Opinion, Gibraltar was far more pregnable than Mahon. It is possible that Fortune may again smile upon him. I am, Dear Sir, &c.,