To John Jay from Floridablanca, 8 November 1781
From Floridablanca
[St. Laurent ce 8 de Novre 1781]
Le Comte de Florida Blanca fait bien ses complimens à Mr. de Jay, et a l’honneur de lui assurer que les informations qu’il a eu de l’affaire du Corsaire le Cicero, selon qu’elles sont detaillées dans sa Lettre du 6 de ce mois, ne sont pas exactes. Le Comte en ayant reçu des tres sures, de la part des personnes de consideration, et tres dignes de Foy. Il est donc indispensable qu’on donne quelque satisfaction convenable, qui puisse servir d’exemple pour contenir dans leur devoir les commandants des corsaires Americaines, d’autant plus que ce n’est pas la premiere fois qu’on a eu occasion de se plaindre de leur conduite et d’en demander des reparations.
[Translation]
[St. Lorenzo, November 8, 1781.]
The Count de Florida Blanca has the honor to present his compliments to Mr. Jay, and to assure him that the information he has received relative to the affair of the Cicero privateer, as set forth in his letter of the 6th instant,1 is not correct, the Count having received from persons of respectability and entirely worthy of credit very accurate statements. It is therefore necessary that some suitable satisfaction should be given, in order to serve as an example to restrain the captains of the American privateers within proper bounds. This is the more necessary, as it is not the first time that we have had reason to complain of their conduct and to demand reparation.2
FC, in French, SpMaAHN: Estado, leg. 3884, exp. 17, doc. 3 (EJ: 12122). Endorsed. LbkCs, in French, embedded in JJ to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 28 Apr. 1782, below, DNA: PCC, item 110, 2: 30–31 (EJ: 4193); NNC: JJ Lbks. 1 and 6; CSmH (EJ: 3442). Translation, originally by Jared Sparks, from , 5: 344.
1. JJ to Floridablanca, 6 Nov., above.
2. JJ replied on 12 Nov. 1781, below.