To John Jay from Lafayette, 15 February 1783
From Lafayette
Madrid February the 15th 1783
Dear Sir
I am Happy in this private Opportunity to write to You, and Have long Wanted Safe Means to do it Confidentially. The Same Reason, I Suppose, Has prevented My Hearing from You to this Moment— But as I am just Arrived at Madrid, and the Gentleman Who Carries this is just Setting out I Shall only Write a Few Lines
My feelings on the Occasion of a General Peace1 Are Better known to You than I Could Express them— They are Consistent With My Zeal for Our Cause, and My love to America, and More I Cannot Say.
On My Leaving Paris I Had Great Hopes of our Plans— On My Arriving at Cadiz, I found they Had Succeeded Beihond My Expectations— Nay, Besides the More Advantageous Cooperation With America, Particulars of which I Will Relate, I Had Some Hopes Monney Might be Got for that Purpose— Upon this I wrote to Mr Carmichael— I had the Honor to Give You an Account of My Conduct and ideas on the Occasion, But Your Answer Has Not Come to Hand2
Upon the Prospect of a Peace, I Had a Letter from Mr Carmichael Wherein He Entreats My Advice upon His future Conduct— He Had No letters from Paris— My Advice Being Asked for, I Gave it in a Letter a Copy of Which I Enclose and Sent it By Post for the Perusal of the Court of Spain and probably of the Court of Versailles With Spanish Constructions Upon it3
I am told El Campo on His journey to Paris is instructed to Settle Matters With You, and I wish it at last May Be Upon a proper footing4
I Had determined Upon Going to America, But Had A Letter from Mr Carmichael Wherein He Entreats My Coming to Madrid, and Says I May Be Useful in Reasoning with this Ministry—5 I Gave up My favorite Plan, and Contenting Myself With Sending a letter to Congress,6 I Have Posted of[f] to Madrid Where Now I am and Had only a Short Conference With the french Ambassador, and an other with Mr Carmichael Whose ideas, I am Happy to find, Coincide With Mine on the Line We ought to follow in the few days I Remain Here I Would Wish 1st to induce this Ministry to Give El Campo liberal Instructions 2dly to See that the American Charge d’Affaires Be Officially Received, 3dly to Advise their Proposing to You a Loan of Monney— My Expectations are Very Small— But I Have Been invited Here— The little I can do I must Exert to the Utmost— Whatever disposition I find them in, I Will Hasten to Paris, and Give You Every Intelligence I Can Collect— I look Upon Myself as Your Political Aid de Camp—if I May Any How Serve America, I am Happy and Satisfied.
At all Events, When My Advice is Asked for, No Court, No Country, No Consideration Can Induce Me to Advise a thing that is not Consistent With the dignity of the United States.
By the Month of June I Intend taking up Again My Plan of a Voyage to America— Untill that time I Have Nothing to do, and towards the start ^First^ of March, I will offer Myself to You With Spanish Intelligence, and a Great Zeal to do Any thing that May Serve the Public
I Beg My Best Respects to Be Presented to Your Colleagues— I do not write to them, and in this letter They May See What You Think Worth Communicating My Most Respectful Compliments Wait Upon Mrs Jay— I Have Hardly time Enough left to write a line to Mde. de Lafayette, and in Great Haste Subscribe Myself Most Respectfully and Affectionately Yours
Lafayette
P.S.
Mr Littlepage Having Been pleased to Come into My family for the Expedition, I Have Advised Him to Go with me on My journey to Paris— His Voyage to America is But little differed, and it May prove Agreable to Him to know the Best part of france.
ALS, NNC (EJ: 6734). Endorsed: “ . . . Recd. 28 Feby. 1783.”
1. Concluded on 20 Jan. 1783.
2. See Lafayette to JJ, 26 Dec. 1782, and JJ’s reply of 19 Jan. 1783, both above.
3. Carmichael’s letter to Lafayette of 14 Jan. 1783 has not been found, but may have complained about Spain’s failure to recognize him as American representative. See Lafayette’s reply of 20 Jan., a copy of which he enclosed in his letter of 29 Jan. 1783, both in , 5: 81–83; and : 515–16. In this letter, intended as much for the Spanish authorities as for Carmichael, the marquis criticized Spain’s refusal to recognize the United States and hinted that “there are more Powers than you know of who are making advances to America.” He urged Carmichael to go to Paris, where he might find France prepared to act as a mediator.
4. Bernardo del Campo had been named Spain’s provisional envoy to Great Britain. Campo journeyed to London by way of Paris, bringing further instructions relating to the peace negotiations. Danvila y Collado, Reinado de Carlos III (Madrid, 1893), 5: 389–94.
5. Possibly the letter mentioned in note 3, above.
6. See the two letters of Lafayette to the President of Congress (Elias Boudinot), and to RRL, all 5 Feb. 1783, in , 5: 84–90.