From John Jay to Montmorin, 16 September 1781
To Montmorin
[St. Ildefonso 16 Aug Sept. 1781]
Sir
The Paper herewith enclosed is the Dt. of a Letter which I think of addressing ^writing^ to his Exey the Count De Florida Blanca1
The Subject as well as the occasion render ^call for^ much Circumspection necessary ^demand^ that cautious ^dextrous^ & delicate managemt. wh of which they only are capable who possess accurate Judgments & much Experience in Affairs of this Kind
I am happy therefore ^that^ on such occasions to avoi ^I can avoid^ the Risque of committing Errors by recurring to your friendly advice
Without Complimt. with ^but^ with Sincerity I am Sir your Obliged sert ^Friend &^ Servt.
Dft, NNC (EJ: 7995). Enclosure: JJ to Floridablanca, c. 16 Sept., above. C, embedded in JJ to the President of Congress, 3 Oct. 1781, below, DNA: PCC, item 89, 416–19 (EJ: 11912). LbkCs, DNA: PCC, item 110, 1: 468 (EJ: 4173); NNC: JJ Lbks. 1 and 6; CSmH (EJ: 3422). Tr, NN: Bancroft (EJ: 2789).
1. See JJ to Floridablanca, c. 16 Sept. 1781, above. Montmorin informed Vergennes that JJ’s letter bore vivid testimony of all the temper he felt, and noted that he had persuaded JJ to burn it and write another in a different style. See Montmorin’s dispatch to Vergennes of 2 Oct. 1781, FrPMAE: CP-E, 608: 9r–v. For JJ’s reasons for asking Montmorin’s opinion, and for JJ’s remark that Montmorin had not returned this letter, see JJ to the President of Congress, 3 Oct. 1781, below.