From George Washington to Charles IV of Spain, 20 February 1797
To Charles IV of Spain
[Philadelphia, 20 Feb. 1797]
Great and Good Friend,
I have chosen David Humphreys, one of our distinguished citizens, to reside near your Majesty in quality of Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America. From a knowledge of his fidelity, probity and good conduct, I have entire confidence that he will render himself acceptable to your Majesty that he will study to preserve and strengthen the harmony and good understanding so happily established between us; and give effect to our desire of advancing, on all occasions, the interest and happiness of the two Nations. I therefore beseech your Majesty to give full credence to whatever he shall say on the part of the United States, and especially when he shall assure your Majesty of their friendship and wishes for your prosperity:1 and I pray God to have your Majesty in his safe and holy keeping. Written at Philadelphia the 20th day of February 1797.
Go: Washington
LB, DNA: RG 59, Credences, entry 33.
On this date, GW wrote a letter of recredence to Maria I of Portugal: “It being found expedient that David Humphreys Minister Resident for the United States of America near your Majesty, should enter on another Mission, he is instructed to take leave of your Majesty and to express to you, in terms unreserved, our friendship, and our desire to preserve and strengthen the harmony and confidence which so happily s[u]bsist between your Majesty and the United States. Knowing his fidelity and discretion we assure ourselves that he will perform this duty in a manner corresponding with the sincerity of our professions, and the respect we bear you. And we pray God to have your Majesty in his holy keeping” (LS, National Archives, Lisbon; LS, NjP: De Coppet Collection; LB, DNA: RG 59, Credences, entry 33). David Humphreys had served as U.S. minister to Portugal since 1791.
1. GW had nominated Humphreys as minister to Spain in May 1796. However, Humphreys had been instructed to remain in Portugal in order to continue negotiations with the Barbary powers (see GW to the U.S. Senate, 19 May 1796 [first letter], and n.2 to that document; see also GW to Maria I of Portugal, 17 Feb. 1797, and n.1). Secretary of State Timothy Pickering sent Humphreys his commission as minister to Spain on 17 Feb. 1797, shortly after Humphreys approved the 4 Nov. 1796 treaty between the United States and Tripoli on 10 Feb. 1797 (see Pickering to Humphreys, 17 Feb. 1797, in DNA: RG 59, Diplomatic and Consular Instructions, 1791–1801). However, in a letter of 15 July 1797, Pickering wrote William Loughton Smith, Humphreys’s replacement as minister to Portugal, that negotiations with the Barbary powers still detained Humphreys at Lisbon: “The negociations with the powers of Barbary having been under the direction of Colo. Humphreys … he will continue of course to conduct them until peace shall be concluded with all of them: It is hoped they are drawing to a close. Should he at any time need your aid in any respect, you will have the goodness to render it” (DNA: RG 59, Diplomatic and Consular Instructions, 1791–1801). Humphreys finally arrived at Madrid on 12 Aug. 1797, and served as U.S. minister to Spain until Thomas Jefferson recalled him in 1801 (see Humphreys to Thomas Jefferson, 28 June 1802, in , 37:671–75; and , 2:263–65, 303–4).