From John Jay to Francis Dana, 19 August 1780
To Francis Dana
Madrid 19 August 1780
Dear Sir
Your Favor of the 5th. Inst was delivered to me Yesterday Morning. I am happy to hear Mr Adams is gone to Holland.1 He will I am persuaded be very useful there. Accept my thanks for the Intelligence communicated in your Letter, and be so obliging as to continue the Correspondence you have begun. The Character I heard of you at Congress induced me to wish for an Occasion of commencing it, and our present Situation will enable us to render its Continuance not only agreable but useful.—
Your Remarks on the Loss of Charles Town correspond with my Sentimts—after General Washington’s Retreat from Long Island the Convention of New York unanimously advised him to abandon the City rather than risque his Army. Forts and Towns have too often proved Snares to us. I wait with Impatience for General Lincoln’s Letters to Congress. I hope he will be able to rescue his own and the Honor of our arms, from the various Imputations they both suffer here from that Event.2 Ternays Success is I think precarious, and for the Reasons you assign—but who knows what that Providence which has so often and by such seemingly fortuitous means interposed in our Behalf, may yet do for us? Capt Cooke who left Salem the 19 July informs us that Mr. Ternay had arrived safe and landed his Troops at Rhode Island—3
My Adventurers are in a most perillous Suspense. God grant them a safe Deliverance.4
As to Col. Laurens I have heard nothing of him except as follows. Capt. Bryan of the Schooner Peggy arrived at Cadiz this 18 July in 49 Days, from Wilmington in No. Carolina, freighted with 34 Hdds. of Indigo by Col. Laurens on acct. of Congress— He says that Col. Laurens had had his Stores on Board this Vessel upwards of ten Weeks, and was to have come with him to Europe, but was determined by the Fate of Charles Town to return to Philadelphia.
The Credulity of the English Nation has always afforded to Politicians an ample Field for playing of their Tricks and Squibs. You doubtless know that Mr Cumberland one of Ld. George Germaines Secretaries, has been here sometime— His mission as well as Admission has given Room to many Conjectures. I am not apprehensive that Spain will make a separate Peace—but I by no means think it prudent to recieve the Spies of Britain into their Capital, and even into their Palaces. There are a great many Wheels in our Business, and the Machine wont move easily, unless the great Wheel be turned by the Waters of the Missisippi which I neither believe nor wish will be the Case— Successes in America would give it Motion.
The English pay more Attention to the Security of their Trade than any other nation. France and Spain have that part of Policy yet to learn— The American Commerce would well bear the Expence of Convoys, and a fast Ship of War on that Coast would enable our Privateers to gain much Prey— France however has done, and is still doing, great Things for us, and we must not be extreme to mark what may be amiss—
Be pleased in your next to present my Compts. to Mr Adams— If he be near to Mrs Izard, be pray so kind as to send the enclosed under Cover him— If not, send it by such Conveyance & in such Manner as you may think best— I am Dear Sr very sincerely Your most obedient & hble Servant
John Jay
The Hon’ble F. Dana Esqr.
P.S By Letters from Cadiz just arrived we hear that a large Fleet from Britain bound to Jamaica, convoyed by a 74 and three Frigates, had fallen in with Admiral Cordova—that he had taken one Frigate & many Prizes (one of which had arrived at Cadiz) & was in pursuit of the others—5
21 Augt
I have accidentally spilled so much Ink on Mrs. Izards Letter that I cannot now send it, it being too late at Night to copy it before the post goes.6
ALS, MHi: Dana (EJ: 4677). Addressed: “The Hon’ble / Francis Dana Esqr. / Paris.” Endorsed: “Honble Jno Jay’s Letter / Received Sept. 3d / No. 1”.
1. Dana’s letter of 5 Aug. 1780 has not been located. JA left Paris for the United Provinces on 27 July 1780 because the departure of Henry Laurens, who had been appointed minister there, was delayed. Laurens sailed from Philadelphia on 13 Aug. aboard the Mercury, which was captured by the British off Newfoundland on 3 Sept. , 24–25.
2. On the loss of Charleston, see Notes on John Jay’s Conference with Floridablanca, 5 July, above, and notes.
3. On Ternay, see the notes to Carmichael to JJ, 14 Aug., above. JJ had received the news brought by Captain Rutherford Cooke in a letter from Gardoqui and Sons of 14 Aug., E, NNC (EJ: 8246). On Cooke, see Notes on John Jay’s Conversation with Rutherfood Cooke, 1 Apr. 1781, below.
4. On JJ’s efforts to cover the bills drawn on him by Congress, see “John Jay’s Conference with Floridablanca” (editorial note) on pp. 94–104.
5. JJ had learned of Córdova’s victory from a letter from Carmichael of 18 Aug., ALS, NNC (EJ: 7545). This event, along with the Gordon riots in June 1780, contributed to Floridablanca’s decision to break off negotiations with Cumberland. See the editorial note “John Jay’s Conference with Floridablanca,” note 12, on p. 103; and Charles Petrie, King Charles III of Spain: An Enlightened Despot (London, 1971), 191–92.
6. The letter to Mrs. Izard was finally sent as an enclosure in JJ to Dana, 7 Sept. 1780, ALS, MHi: Dana (EJ: 4678). BF acknowledged receipt of this letter and that of 16 Aug., Dft, NNC (EJ: 7796), in his letter of 2 Oct., below.