Mr Gardoqui informed me yesterday that he had recieved an order to pay to Mr Cabarrus on my acct. 26000 Dollars, being somewhat more than the Ballance due on the 150.000;1 and for which be pleased to accept my thanks and acknowledgments.

As the Residue of the Bills drawn upon me by Congress does not amount to a great sum, and as Mr Cabarrus had generously offered to furnish it, provided Your Excellency would give him Assurances of its being repaid in ten or twelve months, I had flattered myself that his Majesty’s Friendship for my Country would have induced Him, by this further proof of his goodness, to save me the Necessity I shall otherwise be under to protest them, and thereby ruin the Credit of Congress at so critical a Period.2

It is with great pain that I hear his Majesty is displeased with the Silence of Congress respecting Returns on their part to the Friendship of Spain; & particularly in not having offered to comply with the propositions made by your Excellency relative to the Ships building in New England.3

Permit me to Observe to your Excellency that the long and Constant expectation of Mr Gardoquis arrival in America, with full powers on these Subjects, naturally induced Congress to postpone coming to any Resolutions on them, until they should have the pleasure of seeing him. They were well apprized of my Ignorance respecting such matters, and therefore could not with any propriety refer to my Direction, the entering into Engagements on Subjects with which I was wholly unacquainted.

I am authorized to assure Your Excellency of the readiness of Congress to make every return in their Power to the kindness of his Majesty; and there is reason to hope that by the End of the next Campaign, their Abilities may be more proportionate to their wishes, than they have hitherto been.—

Your Excellency will also be pleased to recollect, that the Propositions of Congress respecting the Mississippi, evince a strong desire to oblige his Majesty; and that Reason has been given me to hope, that their Compliance in that Instance, would be followed by new Proofs of his Majesty’s good disposition towards us.4

I must candidly confess to your Excellency that I now find Myself entirely without resources. The Embassador of France can afford me no assistance, and my only remaining Hope arises from ^the^ Reliance on his Majestys Friendship and Magnanimity, which your Excellency has so often encouraged me to entertain and Confide in— I have the honor to be with great Respect & Consideration Your Excellencys Most obedt.& most Humble Servt.