1. JA to JJ, 22 Feb., LS, NNC (EJ: 5406); PJA description begins Robert J. Taylor, Gregg L. Lint, et al., eds., Papers of John Adams (15 vols. to date; Cambridge, Mass., 1977–) description ends , 8: 348–49. In this letter JA, who, following a severe leak in the vessel carrying him to Europe, had unexpectedly landed at El Ferrol, a port in northwest Spain, on 8 Dec. 1779, asserted, “From what I saw and heard in Spain from the strong Assurances I received of the good Will of the Court and Nation, and from the great attention and Respect that was paid me by officers of Government of the highest Rank in the Provinces thro’ which I passed, You will meet with the most distinguished Reception, and I hope will soon have the Honour and Satisfaction of concluding a Treaty with Spain.”

JA’s arrival in Spain alarmed Vergennes, who feared he would make indiscreet remarks on Spain’s reluctance to recognize American independence. See Vergennes to Montmorin, 29 Jan. 1780, FrPMAE: CP-E, 597: 222r–v.

2. Here in the Dft, JJ excised the following: “I found the same at Cadiz, altho there were Pains taken there and here, to prevent any conduct towards me, that might savour of an Admission or Knowledge of our Independence. Considering the Object of our Treaty with France, I thought this extraordinary. I do not however ascribe it to any Malevolence with Respect to us, but merely to a Design in that Gentleman [Montmorin?] or his Instructions, so to manage the proposed Treaties here, as that both Spain and America may hold themselves indebted for the Attainment of their respective Objects to the Influence and good Offices of their common Ally, with the one and the other.

The acknowledged Integrity of his Catholic majesty, and the reputed Abilities and Candor of his minister, are very flattering Circumstances, and I have too much Confidence in our Friends the French, to believe that they wish to keep Spain and America longer assunder; Altho a Design of squeesing a little Reputation out of the Business, may embarrass the Measures for a Junction. Nor am I without Hopes, that”.

Contrary to JJ’s conjectures, Montmorin at this time was urging Spain to recognize American independence. See Montmorin to Vergennes, 29 Mar. 1780, FrPMAE: CP-E, 598: 320v–321v.

3. See JA to JJ, 13 May, below.

4. JJ included an extract of this paragraph in his letter to the President of Congress of 26 May, below. Sir John Dalrymple’s trip to Spain was an apparently private and personal effort at Anglo-Spanish reconciliation. The imperial ambassador to Madrid was Count Joseph von Kaunitz-Rietberg (1746–85), son of the Austrian chancellor, Wenzel Anton Dominik, Prince von Kaunitz (1711–94). Thomas Robinson, second Baron Grantham (1738–86), had served as British ambassador to Madrid, 1771–79. Peacemakers description begins Richard B. Morris, The Peacemakers: The Great Powers and American Independence (New York, 1965) description ends , 56, 60, 157.

Montmorin was extremely suspicious of Spain’s willingness to meet with British emissaries and confronted Floridablanca about it. Floridablanca claimed that Britain was seriously interested in ending the war and had approached Spain because it did not believe France was disposed to peace. Montmorin replied that this amounted to an attempt to pressure France to accept a dishonorable peace that might lead the United States to seek its own settlement with Britain. A heated discussion ensued, in which Floridablanca argued that Spain’s losses during the war justified its interest in peace. Montmorin conjectured that England had hoped to persuade Spain to make a separate peace in return for certain advantages and to make France suspect to the Americans. He believed that Spain’s “extreme” desire for peace was strengthened by its fear that the war’s only result might be American independence.

Floridablanca reported the conversation to Charles III, who summoned Montmorin to offer assurances that Spain would not lose sight of France’s commitments to the United States in any negotiations with the British. Floridablanca also reported the negotiations directly to Vergennes and informed him that he wished to withhold information about them from both Aranda and BF. Louis XVI wrote directly to Charles III, expressing his concern about any attempt to listen to English proposals. Floridablanca’s response, on behalf of Charles III, pledged that Spain would never do anything contrary to French glory or the interests of the Bourbons, but noted that Spain and France saw things very differently. Vergennes subsequently criticized Montmorin’s confrontation with Floridablanca as imprudent, suggested that he might instead have been grateful that he had been informed, and ordered him not to reveal what he had learned to JJ. See Montmorin to Vergennes, 14 Apr. (two letters), 15 Apr., and 13 May (two letters); Floridablanca to Vergennes, 15 Apr.; Louis XVI to Charles III, 23 Apr.; and Vergennes to Montmorin, 26 Apr. 1780, FrPMAE: CP-E, 598: 117–21, 400–402, 405–14, 417–18, 432–35, 504; 599: 7–8, 124–32. For Floridablanca’s true sentiments about the Franco-American alliance, see Notes on John Jay’s Conference with Floridablanca, 23 Sept., below.

5. JA had recommended Cádiz and Bilboa as the most reliable ports for sending and receiving correspondence with America. PJA description begins Robert J. Taylor, Gregg L. Lint, et al., eds., Papers of John Adams (15 vols. to date; Cambridge, Mass., 1977–) description ends , 9: 349.