I know not whether I am more greived or hurt by yours of the 27th which St John brought me about nine oClock last night. I impute it neither to Pride nor Prudence, because I am perswaded that if you had done me the Justice to wait my return to Town, the latter would have prevented you from giving me without cause the most uneasy sensations, I have felt, since I have been in Spain; and your own good sense, if not my conduct would have prevented you from being hurt in the former point.

The State of Facts will better remove your conclusions, which give me leave to say are hasty, than the present Situation of my mind will otherwise allow me to do. When In consequence of your directions, I showed to the Ct. de Montmorin your letter of the 22d to the Ct. de F Blanca, He was pleased to give me his opinion on the Subject of it & advice how to conduct myself when I delivered it, I listend to him with that attention which is due to his character and Connection with us, and thanked Him in the manner, which his apparent good Intentions demanded. This is the manner in which I consulted Him. He at the same time told me he was going to Town, and He will do me the justice to say, that I requested him to see you and repeat the Sentiments he had just mentioned to me.

The Journal which I shall have the honor to deliver you in Madrid, will show whether I was guided by his advice or not. If that is not Evidence, your first Conference with the Ct. de F B. may remove any doubts on that Subject.

You remember the proposition respecting the information to be communicated thro the Channel of France to ^some one in England^, respecting Mr Cumberland & his supposed negociations, ^upon^ which you permitted me to consult the Embassador, This necessarily induced a conversation respecting him. With regard to the Chevalier & his knowledge of my attention in watching Cumberland, you will be pleased to recollect that I have more than once told ^you^ that, it was probable that the Same Person whom I particularly employed would communicate to the Embassador or Some one of his Family, in which He in a Manner lives, not only all I gleaned thro’ his means, but also most of what he knew respecting my Conduct in this business. I was led to form this Conclusion from many questions put me by the Chevalier & if not positively denying the truth of his Information, be to communicate Intelligence I certainly communicated it, for I never will, if I can avoid it give, & that unnecessarily, to Persons with whom our Interest & consequently my Duty obliges me to be on Intimate terms either a bad opinion of my heart or head.1 I have endeavored to procure all the Intelligence that the Small sphere of my knowledge or acquaintance in this Country would allow me to obtain, & This I have always communicated to you almost Instantaneously. The use of it hath been left hitherto entirely to your discretion, and as long as I continue in Spain, I think, If I know myself, I shall not change my conduct. I never had but one Idea of our Commissions, which is still the same, That you are Minister & I Secretary. The second time I had the honor of seeing the Ct de Florida Blanca, I put the Copies of these commissions into his hands, of which circumstance I had the honor to inform you on our first Meeting at this Place, & when in Consequence of a reference in your Letter to Mr Galvez to me for Information, The Ct. de F. Blanca sent me the queries I also gave you on your arrival at Madrid. I declined answering them, not only in respect to your Commission, but to your superior knowledge of the past and actual Situation of America, and altho on acct of your not arriving so soon as you was expected, I was more than once pressed on that Subject, I always declined answering them, alledging the Abovementioned Reasons—

When I hinted to you the propriety of Countersigning your letters, I thought it customary, & you may Judge whether I had it much at heart. Since I do not recollect having mentioned it more than once. To be frank with you the Idea Struck me, from Seeing Mr Fergusons name countersigned to some of the Commissioners dispatches to Congress,2 on Reflection you must Allow, that I could have no Idea but the proper one of my Commission, from the single Circumstance of being desirous to sighn Myself Secretary at the foot of your Public Letters. I am sorry that your opinion of my understanding or Prudence induced you to think the restrictions you have made necessary. I shall however profit by the Circumstance, as it shows me the necessity of Scrutinizing severely my conduct, since it hath drawn upon ^me^ a censure, as unexpected as I hope it is unmerited. I immediately delivered your Letters for the Ct De F. B. to Monsr Del Campo,3 His Excellency not being at the Office, & told Him that I should set out for Madrid on Fryday evening & would charge myself with any thing answer to these or your former letter which his Excellency might Judge proper to make. I waited on the Ct D’Odunne on his arrival here & have seen him several times since. He has done me the honor to repeat the Same assurances which he made you in Madrid. I yesterday paid my respects to Mr Galvez to take my leave of Him & was received with much Politness & many assurances of his disposition to be usefull to us. The Inclosed list of Delegates may be satisfactory to you. I beg you to make the proper Compliments for me to Mrs Jay & the Colonel and to beleive me with much respect Your Most Obedt. & Most Humble Servt