To Benjamin Franklin from John Jay, 5 October 1780
From John Jay
Copy: Library of Congress
Madrid 5. Oct. 1780.
Dear Sir,
Altho’ you have not informed me that you had recd. my Letter from St. Ildefonso, yet I find it has not only come safe to your Hands, but that Mr. Grand (to whom I wrote a few Lines by last Post) is actually engaged in obtaining the Object of it. I thank you for this in both the Capacities of American & Friend. How far the Responsibility of the King of Spain may be a means of opening the Chests of your Money holders, I know not—but that nothing on my Part might be wanting, I applied lately to be furnished with some Evidence of it, and to be informed of the manner in which it should be given.— The Answer was that proper Instructions on this Head should be sent to the Spanish Ambassadors in France and Holland, and that they would on Application give this Responsibility in due Form to such Persons as might consent to lend Money on the Credit of it in those Countries and that the Ministry would do the Same there with respect to those in Spain.—1 By this Opportunity I ought to add nothing further, than that I am, Dear Sir, Your affect: Friend &c.
(signed) John Jay.
1. James (Diego) de Gardoqui so informed Jay on behalf of Floridablanca: Morris, Jay: Revolutionary, pp. 717–18, 833.
2. Deane Papers, IV, 225–6, 227–31; Wharton, Diplomatic Correspondence, IV, 49–50. The last Jay letter (mentioned in Deane Papers, IV, 244) apparently is no longer extant.
3. Deane had sent by diplomatic courier a sealed letter from the late unofficial Spanish representative in Philadelphia, Juan de Miralles, whom Jay had much admired. For some reason Jay did not receive the letter: ibid., IV, 244; Light Townsend Cummins, Spanish Observers and the American Revolution, 1775–1783 (Baton Rouge and London, 1991), pp. 162–3.