1From John Adams to William Carmichael, 8 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment, the Honour of your Letter, from Madrid of the 29 of February as I suppose, altho the month is not mentioned. I thank you, Sir for commencing a Correspondence which I have Sometime wished to begin. I wrote to Mr Jay at Madrid the 22d of February, and wish to know if he has received the Letter. It is certainly proper, that those who are intrusted abroad, Should maintain a...
2From John Adams to William Carmichael, 12 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had, two days ago the favour of yours without a date, and thank you for the History of Sir John Dalrimple, whose Memoires would be sufficient to put me upon my guard, if I knew no more of him. He has seen the Imperial Ambassador. Pray, do you discover any of the Sentiments of the Austrian Family where you are. The old Rivalry, between that and Bourbon, the old Friendship and alliance with...
3John Adams to William Carmichael, 22 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letters you did me the Honour to write me from Madrid the 15. Jan. and the Feb.— I am very glad that M r Barry and M r Fitch are pleased with your Civilities to them: But I never knew any Thing of M r Fitch’s Note, nor of the Watch, nor did I ever introduce either of them to you, with a Thought of their making you presents. and I agree with you that presents upon Such...
4From John Adams to William Carmichael, 29 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
M r Samuel Watson, a Citizen of the United States of America and Settled at Charlestown South Carolina as a Merchant Sailed from thence about two Years ago on board a Vessell bound to the Havannah and nothing has been heard of him or Vessell Since, till lately, a Gentleman from the Havannah has reported that a M r Watson from Charleston was taken in the Bay of Mexico and carried into...
5IV. The American Commissioners to William Carmichael, 12 September 1785 – 11 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
M r. Barclay will deliver you this letter in his way to Morocco. We have appointed him to this negotiation in hopes of obtaining the friendship of that State to our country, & of opening by that means the commerce of the Mediterranean, an object of sufficient importance to induce him to accept of the trust We recommend him & Col o. Franks who goes with him to your attention & assistance, and...
6From Alexander Hamilton to William Carmichael, 28 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
It has been represented to me by the Accounting Officers of the Treasury that a regular account of all the monies which have been received by you from our Commissioners in Europe, or which have been paid by them by your direction, would be requisite in the examination and adjustment of the accounts of the said Commissioners. I have therefore to request that you will furnish me with an account,...
7Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Carmichael, 3 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Two Days ago I saw Mr. Le Couteulx, who told me that his friend had made application to the Spanish Court to obtain an assignment on the Debt from the United States in discharge of a Debt due to him; and that Mr. Gardoqui said the United States owed Spain above a Million of Dollars, being in part for advances made in America. This assertion struck me, and as I had formerly some knowledge of...
8From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 8 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives I received your Favour of the 1st Instant. My Sentiments of Esteem for you have been always uniform, ever since I had the pleasure of knowing you. I never had the least doubt of your Integrity, and Zeal for our Cause, in which I know you have been HIGHLY serviceable. My intrusting the enclos’d important Letter to your Care, is an additional Proof of the Confidence I...
9From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 29 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives Yours of May 14. gave me great Pleasure, as it inform’d me of your safe Arrival and Welfare. And I hope that as soon as you have seen your Friends and settled your Affairs, You will return again to Europe, where your Abilities may be greatly useful to your Country. I continue in the same or rather in a more uncomfortable Situation than that in which you left me. If ever...
10From Benjamin Franklin to [William Carmichael], [2 June 1779] (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete copy: Library of Congress … Copies of the Letters, Votes &c relating to that Amiable and excellent young Man. He was mighty well received, at Court, and has a Regiment given him. Ever Since his arrival he has been industrious in moving or projecting Something or other for the Advantage of America. I am Sorry to hear of Dissensions in Congress, You are now one of that Body, and will,...
11From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 22 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress I received with great Pleasure yours of the 25. of January, and shall write to you fully by the first good Oportunity. I cannot recollect the Name of the Correspondent you mention but I have ordered a Credit of 24000 Livres Tournois to be lodged in Madrid for M. Jay and you, which I suppose you will divide in Proportion to your Appointments. Inclosed are the...
12From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 31 March[–7 April 1780] (Franklin Papers)
Copies (two): Library of Congress I received by M. Gerard your kind Letter written at Philadelphia. His safe Return has given me great pleasure. As soon as I received yours of Jan 25 from Cadix, I order’d a Credit of 1000 Louis d’ors to be Lodg’d for Mr. Jay and you, by Mr. Grand with his Banker at Madrid. He wrote by the next post. It does not appear by yours of March 13, that you had then...
13From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 17 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Your favour of the 22 past came duly to Hand. Sir J.D. has been here some time, but I hear nothing of his political Operations. The Learned talk of the Discovery he has made in the Escurial Library, of 40 Epistles of Brutus, a missing Part of Tacitus and a Piece of Seneca, that have never yet been printed which excite much Curiosity. He has not been with me and I am...
14From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 27 January 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress I have before me your Favours of Oct. 25. Nov. 5. & Dec. 21.— I do not know whether the Duke de Crillon whom you recommend, is come to Paris. That Letter came while I was ill, & I have not since heard any thing of him. But I will enquire for him of the Prince, to whom it was not till yesterday that I was able to pay my Respects & to thank the...
15From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 12 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour by M. Cabarrus, & should have been glad if I could have rendred him any Service here. He appears an amiable Man, and expert in Affairs.— I have also your obliging Letters of the 28th of February and the 12th & 30th of March. I thank you much for your friendly Hints of the Operations of my Enemies, and of the means I might use to...
16From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 24 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress On looking over your Letters I am asham’d to find my self so much & so long in your Debt. I thank you for making me acquainted with Mr. Sonnerat. He appears a very amiable Man, and is full of Intelligence & Information. We are all much obliged to Count de Montmorin, for his friendly Assistance in our Affairs. Please to present him my thankful...
17From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 23[–25] January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress It is a long time since I have written to you; but I am not the less sensible of your obliging Attention in writing frequently to me. I have now before me your several Favours of Sept. 15, Oct. 23, Nov. 8, & Jan 11. Your Communications are always agreable, and I beg you would continue them, and continue also to excuse the Want of Punctuality in Correspondence of an...
18From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 15 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Henry E. Huntington Library; press copy of LS and transcript: National Archives I am much concern’d to find by your Letter to my Grandson, that you are hurt by my long Silence, and that you ascribe it to a suppos’d Diminution of my Friendship. Believe me, that is by no means the case; but I am too much harassed by a Variety of Correspondence together with Gout and Gravel, which induces me...
19From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 26 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have received your kind Letter of the 11th. Inst. with one from the Cte. de Campomanes enclos’d, wch. I shall answer in a few Days. Your Namesake is gone to England; but I think he wrote to you before he went. I expect him back in 4 or 5 Weeks.— I suppose he acquainted you that Mr. Jefferson is arrived. He has brought Commissions joining him with Mr...
20From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 11[–15] October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS and copy: American Philosophical Society I have just received the honour of yours of the 25th past, and shall communicate it as you desire to my Colleagues, tomorrow. I think you did right in mentioning to the Minister the Nature of our Commission, &c. In my last I sent you a Copy of our Letter to the Count d’Aranda. Herein I inclose his Answer, in order to keep you fully...
21Enclosure: Floridablanca to William Carmichael, 24 November 1784 (Washington Papers)
The King has not only condescended with pleasure to permit the extraction of the Jack Ass which you sollicit on acct of General Washington But further his Majesty desirous that this Commission should be executed to the entire Satisfaction of so distinguished a personage, has ordered me to look out for & place at your orders two of the best of those Animals, in case that an accident should...
22From George Washington to William Carmichael, 10 June 1785 (Washington Papers)
It is with grateful pleasure I sit down to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 25th of March covering a triplicate of your letter of the 3d of December (which is the first that has been received), & a copy of the Count of Florida Blanca’s note to you. I feel myself under singular obligation to you sir, as the mean of procuring two Jacks of the first race, to be sent me; but my...
23From George Washington to William Carmichael, 19 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
One of the Jacks with which his Catholic Majesty was pleased to present me, has arrived safe; & the enclos’d to his Minister is a testimony of my gratitude for this singular mark of his royal notice—I pray you Sir, to do me the honor of presenting it. I hesitated a while, whether to express my sense of this obligation at first, or second hand; but considering the value of it, I determined on...
24Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael and William Short to be in cypher, 23 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
It is intimated to us, in such a way as to attract our attention, that France means to send a strong force early this spring to offer independance to the Spanish American colonies, beginning with those on the Missisipi: & that she will not object to the receiving those on the East side into our confederation, interesting considerations require that we should keep ourselves free to act in this...
25Instructions to William Carmichael, 27 January 1780 (Jay Papers)
You will proceed to Madrid with convenient Expedition, and and if M r . Gerard with whom you set out should travel too very deliberately I advise you to go on before him. The Propriety of this however will depend much on Circumstances, & must be determined by your own Discretion. And I [ illegible ] On delivering my Letter to Mr. Galvaise, it would be proper to intimate to him that I presumed...
26From John Jay to William Carmichael, 21 February 1780 (Jay Papers)
Your favor of the 15 th Inst, was delivered to me last Evening. I congratulate you on your safe arrival, and hope the agreeable circumstances of your present Situation will compensate for the fatigue & trouble you experienced on the way to it. It gives me pleasure to hear the French Embassador has been so obliging, & am glad to find from your letter that your Attentions to him at least keep...
27From John Jay to William Carmichael, 16–17 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
On coming to this Place last M ^ my Arrival here I unexpectedly ^ found that M rs . Jay had been and still was very much indisposed. The Col. had written for me, but neither his Letter, nor mine from Aranjues to M rs . Jay, had ever come to Hand. She is now ^ somewhat ^ better tho far from well, having more Spirits than Strength, and rather an Exemption from Constant pain, than Health. In this...
28From John Jay to William Carmichael, 27 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
It is with great Reluctance that I can ^ ever ^ prevail upon myself to tell you that what ^ any thing ^ you do is not right ^ in my Opinion im ^ proper, and especially when my tell g
29From John Jay to William Carmichael, 29 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
Perhaps an opp y may offer of send g you this before you leave aranjues. I wish it may. I assure you it was far from my Intention to give you Pain or Uneasiness by my Letter of the 27 Inst. It w d have given me less Trouble and more pleasure to have talked the Matter over with you after your Return, but a Letter was necessary to suspend the Conference w h . I understood was to have been held...
30From John Jay to William Carmichael, 2 October 1780 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . yours Le Guerre just now ^ this afternoon ^ gave me a Letter from you dated to Day enclosing a Bundle ^ parcel ^ of Bills which I dare say are right—those from of Nesbit and Williams I return en enclosed as you desire— As to the Residue of the Letter it w d