To John Jay from Bourgoing, 11 February 1782
From Bourgoing1
[11 February 1782]
L’horrible tems qu’il fait aujourdhuy Monsieur empeche un pauvre piéton d’aller de vous rendre de vive voix ce que M de Montmorin a à vous faire savoir d’après son entrevue de ce matin. En voici le resultat en peu de mots.
Le Ministre instruit de votre embarras, y compatit de tout son cour, et voudroit bien y remedier. Il va faire tous ses efforts en conséquence, mais comme les besoins actuels du Gouvernement sont pressants, il ne repond pas de reussir. Ce dont il peut assurer seulement M Jay, c’est que si le cas malheureux dont il est menacé arrivoit il peut être parfaitement tranquille quant à son personnel, et que le Ministre veillera à ce qu’il n’en résulte aucune suite facheuse pour lui.
J’ai cru que ce peu des lignes, Monsieur, suffiroit pour vous tranquilliser—en attendant que M de Montmorin puisse vous en dire davantage. J’ai l’honneur d’etre avec un respectueuse considération Monsieur Votre trés humble et très obeissant serviteur
Bourgoing
[Translation]
The dreadful weather to-day prevents me from coming to inform you orally, what M. de Montmorin has to communicate to you in pursuance of his interview of this morning.2 I give you the result briefly.
The Minister being informed of your embarrassment feels for you sincerely, and would be glad to remedy it. He will make every effort, but as the actual necessities of the government are pressing, he cannot answer for his success. He assures Mr. Jay, that if the misfortune he apprehends should take place, Mr. Jay may be perfectly easy in regard to personal consequences, as the Minister will take care that no inconvenience shall follow it.3
I have thought that these few lines would serve to calm your apprehensions, until M. de Montmorin shall have an opportunity to give you further information.4 I have the honor to be, &c.
De Bourgoing
ALS, in French, NNC (EJ: 12806). LbkCs, in French, embedded in JJ to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 28 Apr. 1782, below, DNA: PCC, item 110, 2: 68–69 (EJ: 4209); CSmH (EJ: 3458); NNC: JJ Lbks. 1 and 6. Translation from , 5: 356.
1. Bourgoing was secretary to Montmorin.
2. On this meeting, see JJ to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 28 Apr. 1782, below.
3. In his letter to RRL of 27 Feb., Carmichael reported that Floridablanca had pledged to take measures to ensure that in the event that JJ was compelled to protest bills he had already accepted, he would not be held personally liable for them, which he might have been, as Spain had never recognized JJ in his public capacity. See , 5: 205.
4. See JJ’s reply to Bourgoing of this same date, below.