John Jay Papers
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From John Jay to John de Neufville & Son, 4 October 1780

To John de Neufville & Son

Madrid 4th Octr: 1780—

Gentlemen,

I have lately had the pleasure of receiving Your favor of the 7th Septr: after the Proofs You have given of disinterested Zeal, in the Cause of Liberty & America, I cannot harbour a doubt of Your opposing the measures of a Court industriously employed in attempts to destroy both—1

Your sentiments respecting the Expediency of a Connection between the United States and Your Republic, concur with my own & I am persuaded that those who know & wish well to the Interests of both will assiduously promote it—

As I have received no further Intelligence respecting Mr: Laurens, I can add nothing on that Subject—2 I cannot doubt but that good Reasons have detained him, tho’ I do not know what they are— Congress I am sure will continue their Attention to the objects of his Appointment, and will be happy in cultivating a friendly connection with a people whose history exhibits many Instances of heroic and glorious Exertions in a cause similar to their own— Those among You, who know ^the^ history, and venerate the Names & characters of their forefathers cannot consent to be the Instruments of despotism to deprive others of those rights which were purchased for themselves by the blood of their own Ancestors—3

When, or how far it may consist with the views of Congress to make Mercantile appointments in Your Country I cannot determine; should they ever become necessary I cannot doubt of your being remembered; the most powerful Recommendation I can give them, will be by sending them our Correspondence, and for that purpose Copies of all the Letters that have passed between us, are now preparing & shall together with duplicates; & triplicates be sent by the first Vessels—

As to the late Ordinance of Spain, establishing a paper Currency, it is a Subject on which I can make no Remarks, and for this very good Reason, that the Policy & propriety of that measure, are objects without my Sphere, on which I can have no Influence, and which would not be altered by any thing I might say or write about them—4

The Mexican dollars mentioned in the Bills drawn upon me I understand to be only another Name for Spanish-milled Dollars which You know pass here at twenty Reals of Vellon— How far the Sale or Payment of these Bills may be effected by the Paper in question I know not; tho’ I must confess that I do not apprehend so much Evil from it as some others do—5 These Bills will be on an equal footing with all others drawn on Spain, and You will readily suppose it not to be in my power to put them on a better—

The King of Spain has been so kind as to offer to become responsible to a certain Amount for monies which I may borrow for Congress, payable in three Years— Be so kind as to inform me whether this could be done in your Country, on their same ^joint^ credit ^& how far^ and on what terms—6 I have the honor to be Gentlemen, with great Respect, & Esteem— Your most Obedient and Humble Servant—

(Signed) John Jay

Messrs: De Neufville & Son.

C, NNC (EJ: 7902, 7890). LbkCs, embedded in JJ to the President of Congress, 30 Nov., below, DNA: PCC, item 110, 1: 380–83 (EJ: 4158); NNC: JJ Lbk. 1; CSmH.

1In the firm’s letter of 7 Sept., John de Neufville & Son had described the motives which prompted it to oppose the “English party.” C, NNC (EJ: 7890); LbkCs, enclosed in JJ to the President of Congress, 30 Nov. (first letter), below, DNA: PCC, item 110, 1: 377–80 (EJ: 4157); NNC: JJ Lbk. 1; CSmH (EJ: 3404).

2On Laurens’s capture by the British, see the notes to JJ to Francis Dana, 19 Aug., above.

3See also JJ’s references to the history of the 16th-century Dutch struggle for independence from Spain in his letter to Vergennes of 11 Sept. 1782, Dft, NHi (EJ: 574).

4See the editorial note “John Jay’s Conference with Floridablanca” on pp. 98–99, and notes.

5In John de Neufville & Son to JJ, 25 Oct. 1780, typescript of ALS, NNC (EJ: 12567), the firm informed JJ that it was not as optimistic about paper money as he was.

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