When I consider that the delicate State of your Excellency’s health demands a greater degree of leisure & relaxation than the various business of your Office will permit, it is with great reluctance that I can prevail upon myself to remind your Excellency that Since our conference at Aranjues,1 the Affairs of the United States at this Court have made no Progress.

The short residence of his Majesty at Madrid, I am persuaded, made it necessary to postpone the discussion of these Affairs to this place; & since my arrival here on the 4th August last, I have daily flattered myself with being enabled to communicate to Congress, his Majesty’s pleasure on the important subjects, which by their order I have had the honor of laying before your Excellency—

It has also for some time past been my duty to ^have^ requested your Excellency’s attention to some other Objects, which tho’ of less public importance, are nevertheless interesting to Individuals, as well as to the commercial Intercourse of the two Countries, but it did not appear to me to be consistent with the respect due to your Excellency, to sollicit your attention to new Subjects, while the former remained undispatched for want of time—

It would give me great pleasure to have it in my power to regulate all my applications by your Excellency’s convenience, & tho’ I am happy to see the connection between our two Countries daily increasing, yet as that circumstance will naturally render necessary applications to Government more frequent, I fear the duties of my situation will often press me to be troublesome to your Excellency—

On friday evening last I received some important dispatches from Congress which I shall do myself the honor of communicating at anytime which your Excellency may be pleased to name2 the Gentleman, who brought them will after passing on to Paris, return immediately to Philadelphia and will with pleasure invite any Orders which your Excellency may honor him with for either of those Places— His stay here will be but short— As soon as I can as-certain the day of his departure, Your Excellency shall have immediate notice of it As Congress will naturally expect to receive by him particular information respecting their affairs here, I cannot forbear expressing how anxious I am to make him the Bearer of welcome Tidings, & permit me to hope that your Excellency’s sensibility will suggest an apology for the solicitude which appears in this letter I have the Honor to be with great Respect Your Excellency’s Most Obedient & Most Humble Servant3