To John Jay from Floridablanca, 7 June 1780
From Floridablanca
En Aranjz a 7 de Junio 1780
Quisiera el Rey tener fondos en el dia para pagar los 100d libras esterlinas que importarán las letras de cambio giradas contra Monsr Jai, porqe S. M. desea contribuir alos alivios de los estados unidos y ala satisfaccion personal del mismo Monsr Jai; Pero las necesidades de la guerra, y la dificultad de conducir nro. dinero de America sin exponerlo a grandes riesgos nos [illegible]
pone en la imposibilidad de suplir esta cantidad en moneda corriente, como deseariamos.
Puede aver algun medio de salir deste ahogo, [illegible] como por exemplo si los Dueños destas letras se contentasen con la obligacon del rey de pagarlas dentro de [illegible] dos años, aunqe fuese mediante algun interes. La seguridd. deste nuevo Deudo podria servir de estimulo a los Acrehedores del Congreso, y Dueños destas letras, para aceptar el Partido, y mantener la buena fè al mismo Congreso. Monsr. Jai puede hacer sus reflexiones sobre este punto, y comunicarnos el modo qe tendra de concertarse con los Dueños è Interesados enlas letras paraqe se arregle todo con acuerdo y resolucion de S. M.
Pero, si este medio tubiese lugar seria justo concertar desde luego el modo de recompensar e indemnizar al Rey deste y otros desembolsos. Desde luego se nos ocurre que los estados unidos pudieran obligarse a construir para S. Magd. cierto numro. de fragtas. y otros Bageles [bajeles] de guerra menores; fixando el tpo y los precios enqe podrian fabricarse. Concertado este punto, seria preciso tambien desde luego examinar y acordar el modo de armarlos, especificando todos los efectos que en las colonias se necesitarian para ello y a que parage se conducirian. Luego se deberia tratar si los mismos colonos por medio de sus ligeros Buques ya de corso; o ya de corso y mercancia querrian conducir en partidos sueltas y progresivas los tales efectos pra. los armamtos. desde Bilbao Sn. Sebastian,1 el Ferrol y aun Cadiz. Si esto se arreglada, no seria dificil hallan en las colonias gente pra. los equipages, y armamtos. y aun Oficles. que los mandasen, con Pavellon suyo o español.2
Con este motivo ha ocurrido aqui la idea de que si se pudiessen armar desde luego tres or quatro fragtas. y otros Buques ligeros enlas costas de las colonias, embiando de aca los efectos para armarlos por quenta del Rey, se podria concertar el modo de caer sobre alguna flota de las compaña. inglesa delas Indias; supto. que ay muchos Americanos practicos delos Parages enqe se deberia buscar y dar este golpe. De aqui una indemnizaon. de los suplemtos. y obligacions. qe el Rey haga a favor del Congreso; pudiendo asignarse una parte de la Presa a los equipages y aun almismo Congreso, segn. lo qe. auxiliase pra. ello sre. todo se debe darnos una respta bien reflexionda. y positiva.
[Translation]
Aranjues, June 7th. 1780
His Catholic Majesty would be very glad to be able to furnish at the present crisis funds for the payment of the One hundred thousand Pounds Sterling proposed to be addressed to Mr. Jay, in order to evince the concern which the King takes in the Prosperity and Relief of the United States of North America, as well as in the personal satisfaction of the abovementioned Gentleman. But the demands of the present War, and the great difficulty there would be to transport hither, the Treasures of the King’s Possessions in that part of the world, render it impracticable to furnish here the said Sum in Specie, as could be wished.3 Some expedient however may be found to remedy this Inconvenience— For example; If the owners of the Bills of Exchange would be content with the security, or responsibility of his Catholic Majesty to pay the Sum already mentioned in the Term of two Years— The King will readily agree to such an arrangement, even if it should be found necessary to add a moderate Interest— This Security given by such a Sovereign as the King of Spain4 would induce the owners of those Bills of Exchange, and the Creditors of Congress to consent to a measure so advantageous, and would equally serve to sustain the Credit and good faith of the same Body. Mr. Jay therefore is entreated to reflect on the Idea just started to him, and in answer to inform us, what measures he thinks suitable to this Scheme, in order that they may be laid before the King, and his orders taken thereon. If the Expedient in question should be adopted, it will at the same time be necessary to take measures in concert, to reimburse to the King this considerable Sum, as well as others already expended in favor of the United States. The first Idea which offers for reciprocal convenience is, that Congress should engage to build without delay some handsome Frigates, and other smaller Vessels of War, fixing the Price of each, and the time when they will be finished—5 This Point once settled, it will be proper immediately to take measures to equip these Vessels as fast as they are ready, to point out what Articles will be necessary to send from Spain for this purpose, and in what Port they will have notice to receive them. After this, it is expedient to be informed whether the Americans themselves will engage to come to the Ports of Bilboa, St Ander, Ferrol, or Cadiz for the said Articles, which they will find ready, and afterwards transport them in their own Vessels of war or Letters of Marque to America— On this supposition it is conjectured, that it would be easy to find hands enough in America to Man these new built Vessels which will sail under Spanish Colours— There are certainly among the Subjects of the said United States, many who have made the Voyage, and are acquainted with the usual Route of the Ships of the English East India Company, and who know perfectly well the Ports and Places at which they stop— This fact established, it is proposed to equip in the Ports of the United States four good Frigates, and some other lighter Vessels with the Effects which shall be sent from hence on account of Spain— This small Squadron, under Spanish Colours, shall be employed to intercept the Convoys of the said Company by cruising in the proper Latitudes— The measures just pointed out appear to be the most proper to reimburse, in some shape the Expenses already incurred by his Catholic Majesty, and to answer for such security as has been proposed to be given in this Memoir— It being always understood that a share of the prizes taken from the English by this small Squadron shall be given to the Crews, and even to Congress, in proportion to the Assistance which they shall furnish for the equipment of the Vessels.6
A speedy and decisive Answer to all the Points here enumerated is requested, and Mr. Jay is too enlightened not to perceive that the common cause is interested therein.7
Dft (FC), in Spanish, with revised Dft translated into French, SpMaAHN: Estado, leg. 3884, exp. 4, doc. 49 (EJ: 12324). C, in French, FrPMAE: CP-E, 599: 231–33 (EJ: 3999). C, in French, bearing William Carmichael’s signature as secretary, enclosed in JJ to BF, 17 July, below, LbkC, DLC: Franklin (EJ: 10264). C, in French with English translation, embedded in JJ to the President of Congress, 6 Nov., below, LbkCs, DNA: PCC, item 110, 1: 202–9 (EJ: 4117); CSmH (EJ: 3364); NNC: JJ Lbk. 1. The translation is as given in the DNA: PCC LbkC and is based on the French text, the original recipient’s copy of which has not been found. The Spanish Dft differs in wording, but the meaning is preserved. Notation on the FrPMAE text states: “(Exact copy of the two French writings sent by Floridablanca to M. Jay.)” The second “French writing” mentioned is Floridablanca’s note of 20 June, below.
1. The French texts and English translation replace St. Sebastian with “Santander” or “St. Ander,” a port west of Bilbao on Spain’s northern coast.
2. The French texts and English translation omit the reference to officers and specify only that the vessels would sail under Spanish colors.
3. On the bills drawn on JJ and Spanish aid to the United States, see Notes on John Jay’s Conference with Floridablanca, 11 May, above.
4. No equivalent of the preceding ten words appears in the Spanish Dft, but the phrase is included in the French texts.
5. Floridablanca had detailed the recent heavy expenditures for the Spanish navy in his conference with JJ on 11 May (see note 3, above). For JJ’s comments on Floridablanca’s proposals, see JJ to the President of Congress, 6 Nov., below. For Congress’s attempt to assess the feasibility of providing a frigate to Spain, see , 2: 110–11.
6. For Floridablanca’s first hint about this project, see William Carmichael’s Notes on John Jay’s Conference with Floridablanca, 2 June, above. For JJ’s summary of this discussion, see JJ to the President of Congress, 6 Nov., below. For earlier American consideration of an attack on Britain’s East India Company fleet, see the American Commissioners to JJ, 2 June 1777, : 424–25.