It is with very sensible Pleasure that I commence a correspondence with a Minister of whose disposition and Abilities to promote the happiness of my Country we have received repeated proofs and on a subject that affords his most Christian Majesty an opportunity of perceiving the desire and endeavors of the united States to become cordial and steadfast Friends and Allies to an illustrious Branch of his Royal house.

By the treaties subsisting between his most Christian Majesty and the united States of America, His most Christian Majesty in Consequence of his intimate union, with the King of Spain did expressly reserve to his Catholic Majesty the Power of acceding to the said treaties and to participate in their Stipulations at such time as he should judge proper. It being [illegible] well understood nevertheless that if any of the said Stipulations should not be agreable to the King of Spain, his Catholic ^Majesty^ might propose other conditions analogous to the principal aim of the Alliance and conformable to the rules of Equity Reciprocity & Friendship. And the Deputy of the Said States empowered to treat with Spain did promise to sign on the first requisition of his Catholic Majesty the act or acts necessary to communicate to him the stipulations of the Treaties above written, and to endeavor in good Faith the adjustment of the Points in which the King of Spain might propose any alteration conformable to the Principles of Equality Reciprocity & perfect amity.

But as the above reservation has always been no less agreable to the United States than to their Great & Good Ally, both considerations conspired in inducing them to make the first advances towards attaining the Object of it.

And therefore instead of waiting till ^the^ Requisitions mentioned in the said Article should be made, have thought proper to assure his most Catholic ^majesty^ not only of their Readiness to comply with the Terms of it, but of their desire to obtain his confidence and alliance by carrying it immediately into execution on the most liberal Principles. Trusting also that the same wise reasons which induced his most Christian Majesty to give birth to the said article would lead him to facilitate the endeavors of his Allies to execute it, They resolved that their desire to enter into the said Treaties should be communicated to his Majesty, and that his favorable Interposition should be requested. The more fully to ^effect^ these Purposes the Congress were pleased in September last, to do me the honor of appointing me their Minister Plenipotentiary, and in pursuance of this appointment I sailed from America for France on the 26th October last, with Mr Gerard who was so obliging as to wait till I could embark in the Frigate assigned for his service. After being thirteen days at Sea the Frigate was dismasted and her Rudder so much damaged that it was thought imprudent to proceeded on our voyage, we therefore Steered for Martinico and Arrived the 18th of Decembr. I cannot on this occasion for-bear expressing my warmest acknowledgments for the very polite attention & hospitality with which we were received and treated both by the Officers of Government and many respectable Inhabitants of that Island. We left Martinico on the 28th day of the Same Month in the Aurora, In which I expected to have gone to Toulon, but on touching at this place, it appeared that the further Prosecution of our voyage had become impracticable without running the Risques that could not be justified. Thus circumstanced the Respect due to his most Catholic Majesty demanded an immediate communication of my appointment and arrival which I had the honor to make ^in a letter>^ to His Excellency Don Joseph de Galvez of the Council of his most Catholic Majesty and General Secretary of State for the Department of the Indies of which the inclosed is a Copy—1

Will you therefore Sir be so obliging as to lay these circumstances before his most Christian Majesty and permit me thro Your Excellency to assure Him of the Desire of Congress to enter into a treaty of alliance, and of Amity and Commerce with his Catholic Majesty, and to request his favorable interposition for that purpose.

I am happy in being able to assure you that the United States consider a cordial union between France Spain and them as a very desirable and most important Object, and They view the provision which his most Christian Majesty has made for it by the abovementioned Article not only as evincive of his attention to his Royal Ally but of his regard to them. Under these Views & these Impressions They are most sincerely disposed by the Liberality and candor of their conduct to render the proposed Treaties speedy in their accomplishment and perpetual in their Duration.

Your Excellency will receive this Letter by Mr Gerard who is so obliging as to take charge of it and to whom the Congress have been pleased to give such ample Testimonies of their Esteem and Confidences as to enable him to exert his Talents with great advantage on every occasion interesting to them.

I cannot conclude without indulging myself in the Pleasure of acknowledging how much we are indebted to the Politeness and Attention of the Marquis De Flotte2 and the other officers of the Aurora during the course of our voyage. With great Respect and esteem, I have the honor to be Your Excellencys Most Obedt. & most Humble Servt.