John Jay Papers
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Commission to the Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain, 29 September 1779

Commission to the Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain

[Philadelphia, 29 September 1779]

The Delegates of the united States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia In congress assembled—

To all who shall see these Presents send Greeting—

Whereas an intercourse between the Subjects of his Catholic Majesty, and the Citizens of these united States, founded on the Principles of Equality, Reciprocity & Friendship may be of mutual advantage to both nations And it being the sincere Desire of the united States to enter into a Treaty of Alliance and of Amity and Commerce with his Catholic Majesty Know Ye therefore that we confiding in the Integrity Prudence & Ability of the Honorable John Jay Esquire, late President of Congress, and Chief Justice of the State of New York have nominated and constituted, And by these Presents do nominate and constitute him the said John Jay our Minister plenipotentiary, Giving him full Power general and special to act in that Quality, to confer, treat, agree and conclude with the Embassador or plenipotentiary of his Catholic Majesty, vested with equal Powers of and concerning a Treaty of Amity and Commerce and of Alliance, and whatever shall be so agreed and concluded, for us and in our names to sign, and thereupon make such Treaty or Treaties, Conventions and Agreements as he shall judge conformable to the Ends we have in View, in as ample Form, and with the same Effect as if we were personally present and acted therein. hereby promising in good Faith that we will accept ratify, fulfill and execute whatever shall be agreed concluded and signed by our said Minister plenipotentiary, and that we will never act nor suffer any Person to act contrary to the same in the whole or in any Part. In Witness whereof we have caused these Presents to be given in Congress at Philadelphia the twenty ninth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Seventy nine and in the fourth Year of the Independence of the united States of America—

Signed by the President and sealed with his Seal

Saml. Huntington President

Attest Cha Thomson Secy

Cs, enclosed in JJ to Floridablanca, 25 Apr. 1780, SpMaAHN; DLC: Franklin Papers; FrPMAE, CP-E; and NHi: Jay; C of draft commission, DNA: PCC, item 5 (Secret Foreign Journal), 1: 342–43, 345; LbkCs, enclosed in JJ to the president of Congress, 26 May 1780, DNA: PCC, item 110, 1: 95–97; NNC: JJ Lbk. 1; and CSmH; LbkC, NNC, JJ Lbk. 4: 1–2.

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