To John Jay from William Carmichael, 18 February 1780
From William Carmichael
[Madrid 18th Feby 1780]
Dear Sir
I did myself the honor of writing to you by a Courier whom the French Embassador dispatched to Cadiz yesterday morning1 since which I have been introduced by Him to their excellencies the Marquis de Florida Blanca & Don Joseph de Galvez. I deliver[ed] your letter to the latter and explain[ed] to the former the reason which induce[d] you [to] address the other with which he appear[ed] perfectly satisfy[ed].2
Don Joseph de Galvez told me he should give your letter to the Marquis de Florida Blanca whose business it was to lay it before the king and receive his order on the subject and that either the Marquis or Himself would be directed to answer it. I repeated the Substance of your instructions to me as far as they respect Him and was answered that he would take an opportunity of conversing with Me on our affair[s] & would inform me thro the french embassador when it would be convenient for Him to receive me. Some compliments passed with respect to the Characters He had received of us which it is unnecessary to repeat. The Marquis de Florida Blanca told me that he would lay your letter before the king the same night for his consideration.3 I took this opportunity of mentioning the pleasure it would give congress to hear of your reception at Madrid from the earnest desire they had to cultivate the kings Friendship, that their Expectations were sanguine, having been led to beleive the disposition of the court was favorable by the suggestions of Persons supposed to be well acquainted with its intentions, that the hopes of the people were also great & hinted that there were several vessels about to sail from Bilboa and the port of France by which you would be happy to communicate these news to congress and to gratify the Expectations of the people. He then told me that He had informed the king of your arrival at4 Cadiz altho they had understood your original destination was to France. That the king had ordered Him to receive your overtures and that I was at Liberty to give you this information & after a pause added that on Monday next He hoped to have it in his power to return an answer to your letter.5 You will please to observe that it had not been read by other[s] when this conversation passed.
He also told me that he would take an opportunity of conversing with me, and would inform me when it would be convenient for Him to see me thro the same channel above mentioned. On monday next i go to the Prado by their appointment. here I see every day a person whom I beleive to be sent by them to converse with me altho I appear to know nothing of his connection with the court.6 I think you may make the necessary preparations for your Journey on the receipt of this. Messrs. Adams and Dana were at Bordeaux on the 2d. of February.7 They mean to proceed to Amsterdam from [there] so that the plan of our Friend Morris8 hath taken place. Mr Lee corresponded with the Marquis de Florida Blanca, but if I am well informed the correspondence consisted of American news on the one part and compliment on the other. Mr. Girard leaves this tomorow, he hath had conversations [with] the spanish minister of about two hours at one time and three at another. I am in a way of obtaining most of the information you desired. I beg you to present the proper compliments for me to your Lady & the Colonel & to beleive me with much respect and esteem Your most obedient & most Humble Servt.
Wm. Carmichael
ALS, partly in code, NNC (EJ: 90261). The encoded sections, decoded by JJ with minor corrections by the editors, are in Carmichael’s book code (WE080b), on which see “John Jay’s Use of Codes and Ciphers” (editorial note) on pp. 9–10. ALS, marked “Copy from Mr C to Mr Jay”, DNA: PCC, Misc., roll 2, f10–14 (EJ: 11709). Partly in code, decoded by Charles Thomson. Endorsed: “ . . . recd May 12.—” and in another hand: “ . . . enclosed in Feb. 19”. LbkC, DNA: PCC, item 108, 33–36. E, partly in code, decoded, DNA: PCC, item 88, 1: 55, endorsed: “ . . . Recd. May 18. & read.—” and in another hand: “enclosed in Feb. 19.”
1. Carmichael to JJ, 15 Feb. 1780, above.
2. See Carmichael’s letters to JJ of 15 Feb., above, and 26 Feb., below, and JJ to Gálvez, 27 Jan., above. On 18 Feb., Montmorin reported to Vergennes that he had presented Carmichael to both Floridablanca and Gálvez and that the American appeared satisfied with his reception. Floridablanca indicated that he was authorized to receive communications from the Americans and that he would bring JJ’s letter to the attention of the king for his instructions about it. He added that JJ was free to come to Madrid to discuss establishment of a satisfactory relationship between Spain and the United States. Vergennes approved Montmorin’s presentation of Carmichael but instructed him to take no part in any negotiations between Spain and the Americans. See Montmorin to Vergennes, 18 Feb., and Vergennes to Montmorin, 2 Mar. 1780, FrPMAE: CP-E, 597: 304r–306v; 598: 18r–v.
5. Floridablanca to JJ, 24 Feb., below.
6. Probably Diego de Gardoqui, who later served as Floridablanca’s emissary in negotiations with JJ. See the postscript to Carmichael to JJ, 25 May, below.
7. JA and Dana embarked for France in November 1779 but were forced instead to land on the Spanish coast. The Americans began the long overland journey from La Coruña to Paris on 26 Dec., finally arriving there on 9 Feb. 1780. JA communicated news of his arrival at Paris in a letter to JJ of 22 Feb. See , 8: 348–49; and , 2: 434; 4: 191–240.
8. Probably a reference to the congressional plan to draw bills on Amsterdam and to seek a loan in Holland that originally appeared in a congressional committee report drafted by Gouverneur Morris. Letters regarding adoption of the plan to draw on both Holland and Spain had not yet reached JJ or Carmichael. See “John Jay’s Conference with Floridablanca” (editorial note) on pp. 94–104.