Whatever may be the Issue of the american Revolution—whether that Country shall continue independent—or be doomed to reunite her Power with that of ^G.^ Britain, the good Will and Affection of the People of North America will never cease to ^cannot in either Case^ be of some Importance to ^unimportant to^ their Neighbours: nor will they ma Impressions made upon their Minds ^either^ by the Benefits or ^the^ Injuries ^wh^ they may recieve from other Nations in the Course of their present Difficulties ^present Struggles^, ever cease from ^to^ havinge a certain Degree of Influence on their future Conduct.

various Circumstances led Congress, at a very ^an^ early period, to suppose that the Court of Spain was ^had wisely & generously^ determined to take a decided Part in their Favor—1 The Supplies granted to them by his Catholic Majesty soon after the british Armies became numerous in America, spoke this Language in strong Terms;2 and the assurances repeatedly given me by your Excellency, that his Majesty would firmly support their Cause,3 & never consent to their being reduced to the Subjection of Britain, left no Room to doubt of his friendly Intentions & Disposition ^& Intentions^ towards them.

Many ^obvious^ Considerations prompted Congress to desire that an intimate Connection might be speedily ^be^ established between the two Countries, by such Treaties which by consulting the Interest of each mi would ^might^ forever be agreable & advantageous to both ^as wd. take from the Enemy every Prospect of Success, & secure to Spain & the United States the Ben permanent Enjoyment of mutual advantages & reciprocal Attachmt.^ With this View Congress were pleased to send me to Spain, and the first Letter I had the Honor of recieving from your Excellency, gave me Reason to believe that the Object of my Mission was not displeasing to his Majesty.4 Unavoidable & long Delays were nevertheless created by the Demands of Spain respecting a certain important Point, which America considered very interesting to them ^Differences respecting a certain Article Claim ^^in^^ which both Partners important Right which America wished. to retain—^ So strong however was the Reliance of Congress on his Majesty’s Assurances of Support; and such was their Disposition to render the proposed Treaties consistent with his Inclinations, that they have since disp ^agreed to^ removed Assurances by substantial Aids, a the only Obstacle which seemed to prevent his Majesty from realizing those nd an open Declaration of his Intentions.5

But, unfortunately for America & perhaps for the general Cause, the Delays in Question have not ceased with the Causes to which they were ascribed Your Excellency still forbears to inform me ^& altho’^ the Confidence reposed by Congress in his Majesty’s Assurances, will not permit them to doubt of his Determination to support their Independence; yet it must ^would^ appear to them very singular, that ^the silent Inattention with which^ their offers ^made^ to remove the former Obstacles to a Treaty, and their Requests that ^to^ be informed of his Majesty’s Pleasure on the Subject, should so long remain unansw receive no other Answer, but that what may be inferred from the profound Silence observed on this important Subject, & that, in all that Time it was not Had It been been in my Power to obtain the Honor of a Conference with your Excellency on that, or any other Bus affair; tho your Excellency had often ^from Time to Time^ promised me to name a Day for the Purpose—^have long lain unanswered cannot but ^^must^^ appear to them as ^^as being^^ very singular. Your Excellency has indeed for more than nine weeks pro repeatedly promised me to name a Time when I should have an opportunity of conferring with you on that and other Subjects which press submitted for to your Consideration, but it has as often happened that other but and but it constantly happened that the Expectations excited by These Promises proved abortive^

I most sincerely wish that all the ^my^ Letters I write to Congress may be contain such Facts only bear witness to the Wisdom Candor ^&^ Amity of his Majesty & his Ministers, and that nothing may ever Drop from us

It wd. mortify me exceedingly that if it should not be in my Power to communicate to Congress in my Letters by Major Franks any more welcome Intelligence than tedious ^Knowing that Congress wd. expect to recieve by the Return of Major Franks particular Information respecting their Affairs here, I was anxious to avoid the Necessity of sending nothing them some Intelligence more welcome than I have Reason I have Reason to think ^^a^^ Details of these Delays & Procrastinations, and that too^ ^would be to^ at a Season, when they are ^wd be^ indulging the most flattering Expectations from the Measures they had taken to gratify his Majesty— For this Reason I have hitherto ^informed your Exy that I shd.^ detained Major Franks ^for the present^, & your Excellency promised me last Saturday Evening ^on the 8 Inst^ that you would in the Course of this ^appoint some Ti Time in the ensuing^ Week appoint when we should ^for^ enterg into a serious Conference about these Matters, and that Mr. Del Campo shd. give me Notice ^of it^— That Week however is now ended to Night and has be ^will^ ^has passed away^ without having been Witness to the any such Appointment ^Notice^ or Conference

I think you Excellency will do me the Justice to acknowledge that the utmost Respect Delicacy & Patience have been observed in all my Transactions with your Excellency, and therefore I cannot forbear thinking ^hinting^ that my Constituents are at least entitled to that Species of Attention which among civilized Nations is never withheld from those who make friendly Propositions in a ^the most dignified Sovereigns usually pay to the friendly Propositions of such States as sollicit either their aid or alliance in^ [a] ^decent Manner^ & particularly especially in Cases such Sollicitations had been ^previously^ encouraged by Royal vizt. a candid Answer—

I am well sensible that Spain possesses a higher Degree on the Scale of national Importance than the united States, and I can readily admit ^that^ the Friendship of this Court is of more immediate Consequence to to America, than that of America to the spanish Empire: but as his Catholic Majesty & his Ministers doubtless extend their Views beyond the present Moment, it would ill become me to remark how essential it is to the Happiness of neighbouring Nations that they their Conduct towards each other should be actuated by only by such Passions and Sentiments only, as naturally tend to establish & perpetuate Harmony & good will between them— Most certain it is that some consequences, good or evil, must necessarily flow ^in whatever man manner^ the Negociations between Spain & north America may terminate, important ^various certain good or evil^ Consequences will necessarily flo at interesting to both must ^will in future naturally &^ necessarily flow from it to both

America has long and assiduously cultivated the Friendship ^alliance^ of his C M. she is ^now^ ready to go great Lengths to obtain it, & the flattering Assurances she has recd. have excited sanguine Expectations, and If therefore these Negociations should end like a Dream, I fear ^there is Reason to apprehend that^ the Interpretations of it would not be a Prophetic of Evils ^a Prophecy of good^ ^not^. Similar Causes will produce Similar

For my own Part I am most sincerely desirous to see the Seeds of future Pea & mutual good Will planted & cultivated in both Countries, & I should be happy that the Annals of America may inform succeeding Generations how much they are ^that^ Success of the present Revolution was owing to the Wisdom Constancy & generous Policy ^Protection^ of ^his Cath. Majesty^ of Charles the 3d. of Spain & ^of^ his Principal Minister of State the Count De Florida Blanca, are to be ranked among the Causes which ^that^ ensured Success to a Revolution which will always be ^will Posterity will certainly have Reason to^ considered as one of the most important ^& interesting^ Events in modern History.

There is good Reason to believe that the Indec apparent Indecision of Spain relative to an open acknowledgment of the Independence of the United States has had & continues to have great Influence ^an unforseen Unfavorable Influence^ on the Councils Conduct of ^inspired^ other Nations and there is it is very unfavorable to the Am Cause ^[in margin] with Doubts and Conjectures unfavorable to the am. Cause, & on the other Hand it is^ ^also^ more than probable that if his Catholic Majesty would openly Honor us with his Protection and ^be pleased to^ declare to the World that he had honor the United States were his Allies, and that he had given his royal Word to support their Independence, that all Europe ^Holland & many other Nations^ would follow his Example, and thereby ^and a Period^ be thereby put the War on Terms ^On such an Event^

Since therefore it is in the Power of Spain by a Measure worthy of the such a Sovereign, to, command the gratitud ^reign^ - ^command^ ^in the Hearts &^ Affections of a rising Nation, & thereby not only give new and warm Friends to his Crown & People, but ^and restore the Blessing of Peace to us.^

On such an Event also I should suppose it ^it might not be^ difficult to form a permanent Alliance between France, Spain, Holland ^the Dutch^ and the United States, and thereby not only prevent a seperate Peace between the English & Dutch & English, but effectually reduce the latter to such ^reasonable^ Terms of general Pacification. as

The Limits of a Letter forbid my enlarging on these Topics— The Eyes of America & indeed of all Europe are turned towards Spain— It is in the Power of his Catholic Majesty to increase his Friends & humble his Enemies— I will only add my most sincere Wishes that the Annals of America may inform succeeding Generations, that the Wisdom, Constancy & generous Protection of his Catholic Majesty Charles the 3d. and of his Minister the Count De Florida Blanca are to be ranked among the Causes which ^that^ ensured Success to a Revolution which Posterity will consider as one of the most important & interesting Events in Modern History6