A Conversation which I had this day with his Excellency the Count de Florida Blanca confirms me in the Idea which I lately mentioned That this Court is either really indisposed against the United States or that it affects to be so, in order to spur them on to a conclusion of a Convention conformable to the Instructions given to Mr. Gardoqui.1

Having perceived a delay in the Ministry to redress complaints, of Measures which are calculated to interrupt & Distress Individuals or our Commerce in general, I thought it my Duty to press the Minister on the Subject, for a state of indecision & Incertainty is more prejudicial to the Parties Interested, than a negative to their applications.

I accordingly waited upon him for this purpose & after having remained from ten to near twelve & a half until all the Ambassadors & all the Ministers present had their audience nine in Number, I was admitted.

The Charges des Affaires of France & England having come later than myself, were the only persons of the Corps Diplomatic who remained in the Antichamber.

After the usual Compliments, I observed to his Excellency that as it was probable the Court would soon leave Aranjuez & of course that he would be too much occupied some time previous to his departure & after his arrival in the Capital to permit him to attend to the applications I had made lately in favor of Individuals of my Country I had taken the Liberty to profit of Perhaps the only moment left me of reminding him in person of these affairs & at the same time of begging him to favor me with his Sentiments on other Subjects.

He replied that he had passed my offices to the proper departments & that until he recd. the answers from the Ministers of these Departments, He could not satisfy me. I took the Liberty of observing in the first place that with respect to Mr. Plunkets affair2 I knew from good authority that the Minister of the Indias would either procrastinate the business under the usual pretext of Sending to the Havanna for further Information or give an order for his being paid there: With several Interruptions I was permitted to Continue; I proceeded therefore in remarking that I knew of a certainty that all the necessary Information was in the Archives of the Department of the Indias & of Course no pretext of delay could be employed without manifest Injustice to Mr. Plunket, That with respect to an order for paying him at the Havanna no confidence could be placed in it, since I had Obtained a similar order in the year 1785 which had been repeated since & constantly eluded under various pretexts I added that I knew there was no money in the Treasury there & that his Excellency need not be surprized at my knowledge of this Circumstance since Every packet brought Letters Confirming its authenticity, particularly the Last. I meant to proceed but His Excellency Stopped me & began a conversation which had at least all the appearance of sincerity on his part. In substance it was as follows He said that He could not help telling me that It appeared some what Extraordinary that we should expect that Spain should treat us on the footing of the most favored Nation, while on our part we Observed not a correspondent conduct. He recapitulated animatedly the good offices, which we had received from this Country our Treatment on their Ports as the most favored Nation —the Satisfaction given to the complaints of Individuals—Our treaty with Morrocco—His Late Majesty’s firm Intentions to employ for the States any influence he might have with the other Barbary powers. In return For all which, this court had experienced a delay & an Indifference on our part little corresponding with the Views it had in Sending Mr. Gardoqui to America: It was in Vain to Interrupt, Indeed I thought it better not to do it. He continued, that our delay & Indifference were not the only cause of Complaint, that he had recd. proofs of another Nature of the ill will of the United States I immediately desired to know what These were, for that it often happened that misconceptions arose from mistaken notions of the persons who gave Information, I prayed his Excellency to have the goodness to communicate to me Candidly the Intelligence, He had recd. that I might have an opportunity of giving such explanations, as I was convinced I should be able to do from my knowledge of the desire of my Constituents to cultivate the Friendship of his Catholic Majesty—I could however draw Nothing from him but general Expressions & a recapitulation of the abovementioned. He added that Mr. Gardoqui had recd. every instruction necessary to conclude a convention with the United States, but that unaccountable delay & aversion on our part had rendered the measures taken here Ineffectual. In vain [I] endeavoured to enter into explanations & discussions on these points. He constantly interrupted me in Saying “All that I can tell you, is that Spain only desires to receive from the United States, the same treatment that it has evinced towards them.”3 As he opened the door in finishing this Sentence I was constrained to leave him. I met with him soon after in the Gardens of the Palace He spoke to me in a very friendly manner & at Dinner sent me plates of different dishes & wines which are partially distributed. I spoke after dinner to Mr. Otamendi who has the Department of our Affairs4 & complained to him that the Ct. had deprived me of my appetite by his Conversation of the forenoon & then recapitulated briefly what had passed, He assures me that it must be some Communication made by the Minister of the Indias perhaps from Kentucky5 It is true that reports were circulated in Madrid lately that the Americans on the Ohio were preparing to force their passage to the Sea. I shall Endeavour to discover the source from whence proceeds this real or pretended ill humor. I refer You to a Letter which I had the honor to address you the 28 Ulto. for Intelligence of another Nature. I have the honor to be with the greatest Respect Sir your Most Obedient & Humble Servant