From John Jay to the President of Congress (Samuel Huntington), 16 September 1780
To the President of Congress (Samuel Huntington)
St. Ildefonso 16th Septr. 1780
Sir
This letter and several copies of it are to be sent by the next Post to Bilboa, Cadiz, Nantes &c. The Object of it is to inform you that it is necessary immediately to cease drawing bills upon me—for the Present. Your Excellency may soon expect a full detail of Particulars from me, you will then receive an answer to every question that may be raised upon this letter.1
His Catholic Majesty has been pleased to offer his Responsibility to facilitate a Loan of 150′000 Dollars for us payable in three years, and to promise us some cloathing— This need not be kept secret.2
I have written several letters to your Excellency, but have received only one from the Committee since I left America, it covered the resolutions respecting these Bills—
The Philadelphia Bank, the Ladies subscriptions,3 and other Indications of Public spirit have a fine effect here. I have the honor to be with much respect & Esteem Your Excellencys most Obedt & most Hble. Sert4
His Excellency Samuel Huntington Esqr. Presidt of Congress
C, in the hand of William Carmichael, NNC (EJ: 7742). Endorsed. LbkCs, DNA: PCC, item 110, 1: 189–90; NNC: JJ Lbk. 1; CSmH.
1. See Gardoqui to JJ, 15 Sept., above; and Notes on John Jay’s Conference with Floridablanca, 23 Sept., below. Congress prohibited the further sale of bills of exchange on JJ on 27 Apr. 1781. , 20: 451; and the President of Congress to JJ, 28 May 1781, below. For modifications to that decision, see Robert Morris to JJ, 29 June, 13 July, and 15 Aug.; BF to JJ, 4 Sept.; and JJ to BF, 10 Sept. 1781, and notes, all below.
2. For the offer, see Gardoqui to JJ, 15 Sept., above.
3. On the Bank of Pennsylvania and the £200,000 (Pennsylvania currency) subscription initiated by the Ladies Association of Philadelphia to supply the army, see also William Bingham to JJ, 1 July, and JJ to Robert Morris, 16 Sept., above; JJ to Timothy Matlack, 17 Sept., and SLJ to Catharine W. Livingston, 1 Dec. 1780, below; and, for the background, , 1: 73–74; and , 15: 355.
4. Congress received a copy of this letter on 4 Dec., and Huntington acknowledged receipt of it in his letters to JJ of 18 Dec. 1780 and 28 May 1781, both below. On the fate of another copy, see JJ to James Lovell, 27 Oct. 1780, below.