From John Jay to Floridablanca, 11 December 1780
To Floridablanca
Madrid 11 Decr. 1780
Sir
Some of the Bills drawn on me, will probably become due, before Mr Cabarrus’s operations can be brought to an Issue. So far as their Failure would injure the Credit, and relax the operations of a People actually at War with the Enemies of his Catholic Majesty, & opposing those Enemies in the very neighbourhood of his Dominions; it may certainly be considered as a matter interesting to Spain. This Consideration, together with the Proofs & assurances which America has recieved of his majesty’s friendly Disposition towards her, enduce me, to take the Liberty of proposing to your Excellency’s Consideration, a method for preventing an Event so prejudicial to both—
If his majesty would be pleased to lend the united States the amount of these Bills, to be paid at the Havanna or Porto Rico, I have Reason to think it would not be difficult ^immediately^ to obtain an equal Sum for it in Europe—1
I have the Honor to be with great Respect Your Excellency’s most obedient & most humble Servt.
John Jay
His Excellency the Count De Florida Blanca—
ALS, with Spanish translation, SpMaAHN: Estado, leg. 3884, exp. 4, doc. 89 (EJ: 12155). Endorsed.
1. JJ’s suggestion that Spain might provide funds in the form of bills payable in Havana or Puerto Rico responds to an earlier suggestion made by Floridablanca that Spain could have more easily provided funds to the United States from its American possessions than in Madrid. See Notes on John Jay’s Conference with Floridablanca, 5 July, above; and “Spain’s Finances and the Bills Drawn on John Jay” (editorial note) on p. 366.