From John Jay to Montmorin, 1 May 1782
To Montmorin
Madrid 1st. May 1782
Sir
The Letter brought for me, by your Excellency’s Courier, was from Doctr. Franklin, pressing me to go to Paris.1 As the Count de Florida Blanca has assured me, that our Conferences for a Treaty shall commence at Aranjues in earnest, I doubt the Propriety of going to France at present, especially as serious negociations for Peace will not probably take place before the End of the Campaign—
I submit to your Discretion the2 mentioning3 this Matter to the Count de Florida Blanca.
If this Court really means now to4 treat of an Alliance with us,5 would it not be adviseable to postpone6 my Journey to Paris? but if on the other Hand,7 I am to expect further Delays, it would be8 unnecessary for me to remain here—
Permit me to request the Favor of your friendly9 Advice on this Subject—and to assure You of the Esteem & Attachment with which I have the Honor to be Your Excellency’s most obedt. & very hb’le Servt.
John Jay
His Excy the Count de Montmorin10
2. In the Dft, JJ here excised “Propriety of.”
3. In the Dft, JJ here excised “Subject of Doctr Franklin’s Letter.”
4. In the Dft, JJ here excised “do Business” and wrote “seriously” above.
5. In the Dft, JJ here excised “I think will if you shd. concur with me in that Opinion, delay”.
6. In the Dft, JJ interlined the preceding seven words.
7. In the Dft, JJ here excised “Delay should be continue to be thought more convenient” and then interlined and struck through “that shd not be Case it wd. be”.
8. In the Dft, JJ interlined the preceding nine words.
9. JJ interlined this word in the Dft.
10. In a letter to JJ of 3 May, Montmorin’s secretary, Bourgoing, noted that Montmorin had received the present letter on 2 May, that he was too busy to answer it in person, and that he could not give JJ “any solution about the matter now” but would speak with him in the near future. ALS, NNC (EJ: 12803).