To John Jay from William Carmichael, 14 August 1780
From William Carmichael
St. Ildephonso August 14th 1780
Dear Sir
I wrote you on the 12th Inst. since which I have had the honor to receive yours of the 11th.1 I yesterday dined with the French Ambassader at a grand entertainment given to 28 of the Nobility of both sexes & the Foreighn Ministers. The Ambassader & the Ct. D’Estaing took every opportunity of making their attention to me, and on the whole I was well received. The Ct. De F. B. came in after dinner and was polite. This Afternoon the Ambassader & the Ct. D Estaing showed me part of their Letters from the Court of France By which the Junction of the two fleets in the West Indies is confirmed. This fortunate event happened on the 10th & not on the 19th of June, as the English have published.2 The King, as the Prince Masserano informed since dinner, appeared highly delighted with this Intelligence. The Ct. de Vergennes seems satisfied with the Situation of Affairs in America, and says that Charles Town surrendered for want of Provision & other necessaries.3 The Expected arrival of Monsr. Ternay gave great Spirits & the Ct. de Vergennes remarks that this circumstance had a happy effect there in every respect except restoring the Credit of our paper, which was worse every day.4 I have advices were brought by the Fier Roderique.5 I have every reason to be satisfied, that the Ct. D Estaings former regard for me hath not diminished, as he converses with me with a frankness, which is remarked even by the Ambassaders Family. He dines with the Ct. de Lascy6 on Wedneday at Segovia and will not I beleive quit this place this week at Soonest. Altho from some purchases of Post Saddles &c. & by the Ct. de Montmorins maitre De Hotel, I am induced to think he is preparing for a Journey. If I know him, he will not engage to serve, without Carte Blanche & this will be a mortal blow to Spanish hauteur. The only child of Mr. Galvez, a daughter is ill, for which reason I enquire for her health every day, leaving my name with his Porter. The Person I mentioned7 in my last letter is still here & lodges with Mr. Del Campo who overacts his part, if he sincerely espouses our Interest. It is whispered that Giusti will be replaced by the Abbe Casti.8 No Person in the Corps Diplomatique is more civil to me than the Ct. de Kaunitz. I walk with him now & then, and he appears to be convinced that our Independance will take place, in spite as he observes, of the Wonderful Exertions of England & the Absurdity of this Court with respect to the latter, you will readily beleive that I do not appear to concur with him in opinion. I have just heard that Spain hath a prospect of obtaining 8 millions of hard dollars by Loan. I shall endeaver to trace & ascertain the Truth of this Intelligence9 Your favorite Mr. Tervase will put this into your hands. He is a way of succeeding here. The Plan for the seige of Gibraltar hath been approved, but the Expence, delays &c. I hope will delay the enterprise— I have this from the person, who formed the plan—
The air is delightfull here, the trouts & the Walks are delicious & the Gardens as solitary as you can desire— I took the opportunity of a courier to write to Doctor Franklin, just informing him, that we were without remittances & without Intelligence from Him or any other Quarter— I hope this hint will not be dissapproved of by you—10 I beg you to present the proper Compliments for me to Mrs. Jay & the Colonel & to beleive me with much Respect Your Excellencys Most Obedt. & Most Humble Servt.
Wm. Carmichael11
ALS, NNC (EJ: 7544). Addressed: “His Excellency / John Jay Esquire / Madrid.” Endorsed: “ . . . Recd 16 Do. [Aug.]”
1. See the notes to Carmichael to JJ, 12 Aug., above.
2. This news was also announced to JJ by Montmorin in a letter of 9 Aug., RC, NNC (EJ: 7987). The fleets under Guichen and Solano met at Guadeloupe. In early July, Solano sailed for Havana while Guichen brought 2,000 French troops to Saint Domingue to reinforce the Spanish. See , 188–89.
3. On the fall of Charleston, see Notes on John Jay’s Conference with Floridablanca, 5 July, above. In his response to this letter, JJ noted that there were many stories circulating in Madrid that the two Carolinas had revolted from “the Confederacy &.” He suggested that Cumberland might have been the author of these stories and commented that a licensed spy from an enemy in the capital of an empire was a “Novelty in Politics.” See JJ to Carmichael, 17 Aug., Dft, NNC (EJ: 7658).
4. On Ternay, see Carmichael to JJ, 25 May, above.
5. A ship owned by Caron de Beaumarchais.
6. Francisco de Lacy, conde de Lacy (1731–92), the Barcelona-born son of Irish parents, was inspector general of artillery from 1780 to 1793 and artillery commander at the siege of Gibraltar. He was also a member of the Spanish diplomatic corps, serving as ambassador to Russia.
7. Diego de Gardoqui.
8. Peter Paul, Baron Giusti, was secretary to the imperial embassy and occasionally chargé d’affaires for the grand duke of Tuscany as well as for Austria. He returned to Vienna by way of France in 1781. JJ to BF, 18 Apr. 1781, Dft, NNC (EJ: 7804); LbkC, DLC: Franklin (EJ: 10319); , 34: 405–6, 553, 565 and n. “Abbe Casti” refers to licentious Italian poet and satirist Giambattista Casti, later author of the Novelle galanti, a series of tales; Gli animali parlanti, an epic poem; and comic operas. Herman van den Bergh, Giambattista Casti (1724–1803): L’homme et l’oeuvre (Amsterdam, 1951).
9. For Carmichael’s reports, see “John Jay’s Conference with Floridablanca” (editorial note) on pp. 97–98.
10. See , 33: 186–89. In his reply, cited in note 3, above, JJ described Carmichael’s letter to BF as “proper ^seasonable^.”
11. JJ acknowledged Carmichael’s letters of 12 and 14 Aug. in his letter of 17 Aug. (cited in note 3, above).