To John Jay from William Bingham, 27 September 1782
From William Bingham
Philadelphia Sept. 27th 1782
Dear Sir
Under Date of August 4th1 I had the honor of addressing you, Since which we have the fullest Prospect of an approaching Peace, as it appears that the Negotiations in europe will most certainly terminate in that desirable Event
There is a Point of the greatest Consequence for the Interests of the merchant states which is not consulted in the treaty of commerce with France, & which if unattended to in that with Great Britain will involve us in considerable distress— I mean the liberty of trading to the West India Islands— The act of navigation of Great Britain & the order of France at present effectually exclude us, & I am afraid this jealous policy will Still be continued2
If so the trade of export of merchant states will be for several years after the War very much circumscribed, as from the expensive Equipment of Ships, freights will be very high, & will not admit of our bread produce being carried to europe on Such Terms as to enter into Competition with that raised on the spot— It is certain that the real Interests of both France & England would dictate a very different Line of Conduct but the commercial Legislation of the island has been always founded on a very narrow policy— I have the honor to enclose you a Short address to the governor & intendant of Martinique on the Subject, Some time after my arrival there3
As for Spain it is not to be expected that She will throw off the confined System, she has long persevered in relative to the trade of the colonies— The port of Havannah & of the NARANNAS are now open for our exports & our vessels are permitted to navigate freely to & from these ports & carry off their products— It will be of very material Service to my commercial Views to be informed whether this liberty will probably be contract[ed] to us after the war, and for what length of Time, as by engaging too deeply in this trade, great Losses may ensue by too Sudden a proliferation of it.4
I think it is very probable that the court of Madrid would find its Interests in having the Havannah furnished with flour &c by contract after the war— If Such Proposals would be accepted I Should be very happy in having a commercial house that I have establish[ed] in this Place, joined in the contract with Some of my friend[s]5
I must trust to your Friendship to excuse the Trouble I give you—
L’Aigle & LaGloire (two french Frigates) were pursued within these few Days by a Superior force of the Enemy, that had been laying in Wait for them—the first was under the Necessity of running ashore, but fortunately saved the whole of the Money that She had on board, & had the good fortune to land her Passengers in Safety— The Captain & Crew were made Prisoners
La Gloire escaped.6
I have not time to address you So fully by this opportunity as I would wish, as it is just on the Departure.
Please to make my respectfull Compliments to Mrs Jay, with those of Mrs Bingham, & believe me to be with Sincere Regard & Esteem Dear Sir Your obed & hbl Servt
Wm. Bingham
ALS, NNC (EJ: 90259, 7494). Decoded by the editors of JJUP. Endorsed: “ . . . Recd 5 Novr”. Encrypted in a book code based on Entick’s New Spelling Dictionary (1777) and the Jay-Bingham cipher (WE076). See “John Jay’s Use of Codes and Ciphers” (editorial note), : 9–10.
2. News of peace prospects unleashed a comprehensive effort to reverse British, French, and Spanish mercantile regulations, some of which had been relaxed during the war, but would be reinstated once peace was declared. For American attempts to open trade with the British and French West Indies, see the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to JJ, 12 Sept. 1782, above; and , 8: 542–50, 681–98.
3. Address not found. For Bingham’s subsequent participation in the debate on free trade, see William Bingham, A letter from an American, now resident in London, to a Member of Parliament, on the subject of the restraining proclamation; and containing strictures on Lord Sheffield’s pamphlet, on the commerce of the American states. Said to be written by William Bingham, Esquire; late agent for Congress of the United States of America at Martinico, 1784. (, no. 18367); and , 8: 611.
4. The Narranas is probably an error for the Matanzas, a port on the Bay of Matanzas, on the north coast of Cuba west of Havana. On efforts of the United States to keep the Havana trade open, see , 8: 62–70.
5. For a contract proposal made by one of Bingham’s business associates, see , 9: 266–75.
6. On L’Aigle, which was captured, and La Gloire, which escaped, see , 19: 158, 167, 197–99. L’Aigle, it was reported, was one of six frigates intended for the protection of American trade.