John Jay Papers
Documents filtered by: Recipient="Carmichael, William" AND Period="Confederation Period"
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-03-02-0232

From John Jay to William Carmichael, 28 January 1784

To William Carmichael

Paris 28th. Janry. 1784

Sir

Your letter of the 12th. October:1 was delivered to me in England at a time when I was so ill, as to write only to Mrs. Jay— That Circumstance and the Constant Expectation of receiving the Letter you intended to write when the Appraisement you was making of my Effects should be finished, but which I have not yet recd., are the Causes which have delayed my writing to you since.— It is not necessary that I should enter into Particulars, because they may be more conveniently discussed when we meet. I subjoin to this ^Letter^ a Copy of the Resolution of Congress I lately recd. Dated the 1st October last, which obviates your former Objections to leaving Spain; and it is in pursuance of it that I now desire you to come here without Delay, and to bring with you all the Books ^vouchers^ and Papers necessary to make a final and complete Settlement of the Accounts of public money which have passed thro our Hands. I have no reason to think that the Interest of the united States will be Injured by your Absence from Madrid for the Space of time necessary for the Purpose in question or that it will be attended with any other Inconveniences than such as would probably attend your Absence at any future Period—

If when you recieve this Letter any of my Effects which I have requested You to sell should, be undisposed of, you will oblige me greatly by causing them to be sold immediately to the highest Bidder for ready money; so that on your coming here, we may also be able to liquidate and Settle our private account. The Readiness with which You undertook to do that Business for me merits and has my Acknowledgments— Let not an apprehension of my sustaining Loss by the Instant Sale of those Effects restrain you from Turning them ^immediately^ into as much money as they will fetch, for I would rather submit to that loss than to leave any thing behind me of a private or indeed of a public nature ^unsettled^ which may in the least depend upon me to adjust. I wish You a safe and pleasant Journey, and am Sir Your most obt. & very hble Servt.

(signed) John Jay

“In Congress Octr. 1st. 1783

Resolved that Mr. Jay be authorized to direct Mr. Carmichael to repair to Paris should Mr. Jay be of opinion that the Interest of the united States at the Court of Madrid may not be injured by Mr. Carmichaels absence—and that he bring with him the Books and vouchers necessary to make a final and complete Settlement of the accounts of public money which have passed thro’ the Hands of Mr. Jay & himself and that Mr. Barclay attend Mr. Jay and Mr. Carmichael to adjust those Accts—”

The aforegoing is a true Copy of the Extract sent me by President Boudinot in a letter of 1st. novr. last—

(signed) John Jay

The Hon’ble Wm. Carmichael Esqr.

FC, in the hand of Peter Jay Munro with corrections in JJ’s hand, NNC (EJ: 7716). Endorsed: “ . . . In Ansr. to 12 Octr last”. Two additional FCs in Munro’s hand with JJ’s corrections, NNC (EJ: 7717, 7719).

1See the editorial note “Settling the Spanish Accounts” on pp. 550–54; and Carmichael to JJ, 12 Oct. 1783, ALS, NNC (EJ: 7635).

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