To John Jay from Floridablanca, 9 March 1780
From Floridablanca
[Pardo, 9 March 1780]
Avant que de pouvoir entrer en matiere avec Mrs: Jay et Carmichael, eux deux ensemble ou separemment, sur les affaires des Etats Unis de l’Amerique Septentrionelle et de leurs Interets mutuels vis a vis de l’Espagne, l’on juge a Madrid indispensable que le Roi Catholique soit exactement instruit de l’état civil & militaire des Provinces Americaines, et de toutes leurs ressources pour la continuation de la presente guerre, non seulement en egard a la defense de leur propre Liberté, mais aussi par Rapport a l’assistance et aux secours qu’elles devroient donner a l’Espagne dans ses operations si cette couronne devenoit un jour L’Alliée de l’Amerique.
Dans l’état civil il doit etre compris
1o. Un detail tres sincere de la Population & de la classe de Gouvernement de chaque Province; de l’union et de la fermeté de ses Habitans dans le dessein de pousser la guerre autant qu’il seroit necessaire.
2o. S’il y a malheureusement quelque parti puissant pour les Interests l’Angleterre, & jusqu’à quel point l’on pourroit en craindre les suites; si le chefs de ce parti se laissoient entrainer par de vastes promesses de la part du gouvernement Britaine.
3o: Un Etat des Revenus de ces memes Provinces, et de leurs moyens de contribuer aux depenses generales; sur quoi on doit ajouter si elles seront dans le cas de supporter longtems ce poids, et encore meme de l’augmenter selon le besoin.
4o: L’Etat de la dette generale, et les dettes particulieres de chaque province prises ensemble, ou separemment, de leurs Ressources pour la faire diminuer, et de leurs possibilités pour soutenir le credit dans toutes les operations du gouvernement, dans le commerce de ses habitans, & surtout dans la protection de tous les Articles d’Industrie nationale.
5o Quels seroient les moyens ou les branches de commerce par lesquelles les Etats de l’Amerique croiroient pouvoir satisfaire aux depenses de l’Espagne toute fois que cette puissance seconda de quelque maniere les vües et les operations des Americains. L’on souhaiteroit sur tout de savoir si les dits Etats trouveroient convenable de fournir des vaisseaux de guerre de la meilleure qualité pour la marine Espagnole; et pareillement des bois, & d’autres articles pour nos arsenaux, le tout sans perte de temps; en y marquant aussi les conditions sur lesquelles on feroit un arrangement de cette nature; et qui en seroit chargé de conduire en Espagne ces vaisseaux, & ces effets de marine.
Au Sujet d l’état militaire de l’Amerique il faudroit 1o: etre instruit du nombre, & de la force des differens corps de troupes armés par les Provinces; de leur position actuelle, a fin de juger si elles se trouvent en proportion de s’opposer aux ennemis partout ou ils iront et nommement dans la Georgie y la Caroline.
Au surplus il conveniendroit de savoir quelles sont les ressources pour augmenter l’armée Americaine en cas de besoin; ou bien pour la tenir toujours sur le meme pied malgre les pertes journalieres; en quel etat est leur armement, et leur vetement; si elles manquent en partie de ces deux articles, et a combien monteroient les depenses pour y remedier.
L’Objet de vivres, et la subsistance de l’armée etant de la premiere consequence, l’on desire de savoir ^si^ le Congrés à bien pris ses mesures à cet egard; de façon qu’on soit assuré qu’elles pourront agir par tout ou il le faudra, même dans les deux provinces surmentionnées sans que rien leur manque.
Il est tres essentiel que les Provinces de l’Amerique entretiennent un pied de marine militaire pour agir contre l’ennemi commun, et pour guarantir ses propres possessions pendant la guerre actuelle; Le Ministre Espagnol voudroit donc savoir au juste en quoi consiste aujourd’huy cette force Navale, en y comprenant les vaisseaux armés qui appartiennent à des Particuliers, quelles proportions il y auroit pour l’augmenter, et quels secours seroient necessaires à cet effet.
La Cour d’Espagne desirant, d’etre eclaircie sur ces differents articles avec toute la franchise et l’exactitude possibles, ne pretend pas approfondir dans des objets que Mrs: Jay et Carmichael pourroient regarder comme reservées a eux seuls. Il s’agit uniquement de connoitre l’etat actuel des forces Americaines, leurs ressources, et leurs possibilités pour le cas de la continuation de la guerre; de sorte que s’il etoit question de leur fournir des secours de quelque espece par des nouveaux Alliès, ceuxci fussent en etat de combiner sur des fondemens solides les operations convenables a la cause commune, et à l’avantage particulier des memes Provinces, sans risque d’etre entrainés dans des faux calculs, manque de prevoyance, ou des justes notions. du Pardo le 9 mars 1780
[Translation]
[Pardo, 9 march 1780]
Before entering into a discussion with Mr. Jay, or Carmichael jointly or separately, on the Subject of the Affairs of the United States of N: America, and their mutual Interest with respect to Spain, it is judged indispensable at Madrid, that the Catholic King should be exactly informed of the civil and military State of the American Provinces, and of their resources to continue the present war, not only for the defence of their own Liberty, but also with respect to the aid, and succours they may be able to afford Spain in it’s operations, in case hereafter this crown should become the Ally of America.
The civil State ought to comprehend: 1st: A true Account of the Population, and form of Government of each Province, of the union, and resolution of the Inhabitants to continue the war with vigor as long as it is necessary.
2dly: Whether there is any powerful party in favor of England, and what consequences are to be apprehended from it. Whether the heads of this party suffer themselves to be seduced by the great promises of the British Government.1
3dly: A State of the Revenues of these Provinces, and of their ability to contribute to the general expence; to which may be added, whether they will be able long, to support this burthen, & even to encrease it should it be judged necessary.
4thly. A State of the public debts, and of the particular debts of each State, taken collectively, or separately; of their resources to lessen them, and the possibility of their being able to support their credit in all the operations of government, in the commerce of their Inhabitants, and above all, in the protection of National Industry.
5thly. By what means, or by what branches of commerce, will the States of America have it in their power to indemnify Spain whenever this Power may second the views, & operations of the Americans. And particularly the Court wishes to know whether it may be convenient for the said States to furnish Ships of War of the best construction for the Spanish Marine, and likewise timber, and other articles for the King’s Arsenals, and the whole without loss of time, and fixing the terms on which they would make an agreement of this Nature, and who would be commissioned to bring these Vessels and these naval Stores to Spain.2
With respect to the military State of America, it is necessary to be informed—
1st: Of the number and strength of the different bodies of troops armed by the Provinces, and of their present Situation: in order to judge whether they are sufficient to oppose the Enemy wherever they may go & particularly in Carolina and Georgia.3
Further, it may be expedient to know the means of augmenting the American Army in case it is necessary, or to keep it always on the same footing notwithstanding its daily losses. In what condition their cloathing and arms are at present— Whether they are partly in want of these articles, and how much it would require to remedy these defects.
The subsistence of an army being an object of the greatest consequence, the Court desires to know if proper measures have been taken for that purpose, that it may be ascertained whether it can act everywhere, if necessary, even in the above mentioned Provinces, without danger of it’s being in want of necessaries.
It is highly essential for the Provinces of America to keep a Marine to act against the common enemy, and to secure their own possessions during the present war; the Spanish Minister therefore is desirous of knowing it’s Strength, including the armed vessels which belong to Individuals, and by what means it may be augmented, and what succours will be necessary for that purpose.
The Court of Spain, desirous of information on these Subjects with all possible frankness, and precision, doth not pretend to dive into matters which Mr: Jay or Carmichael may regard as reserved to themselves; It’s only aim is to be acquainted with the present State of the American forces, their resources and ability to continue the war, so that if it was in consideration for new allies to supply them with succours of any kind, the former might be able to plan on solid grounds their operations convenient for the common cause, and to the particular advantage of these States without running the risque of being mislead by false calculations, for want of foresight and proper Information.4
C, in French, with translation, NHi: Jay (EJ: 10089); C, in French, enclosed in JJ to BF, 17 July 1780, below, LbkC, DLC: Franklin, 3: 35–37; C, in French, FrPMAE: CP-E, 598: 60–62; LbkCs, in French with English translation, of text embedded in JJ to the President of Congress, 26 May 1780, below, DNA: PCC, item 110, 1: 86–90, 90–94 (EJ: 4088); NNC: JJ Lbks. 1 and 5; CSmH (EJ: 3345).
1. French officials had long regarded the Lee-Adams faction, and New England generally, as anti-French and consequently pro-British, a view that played a major role in the Deane-Lee affair, on which see the editorial notes on JJ’s presidency of Congress and on Congress’s appointment of JJ as minister to Spain on 16 Oct. 1779, : 549–57, 709–16; and , 233. Floridablanca also believed that the northern states remained attached to Britain and might, if they attained independence, form an alliance with that country. See Montmorin to Vergennes, 20 Nov. 1780, FrPMAE: CP-E, 602: 348.
2. On Floridablanca’s belief that Britain’s power would be more effectively curtailed by the destruction or diminishment of its naval supremacy than by support for American independence, see the editorial note “Congress Appoints John Jay Minister to Spain,” : 712.
3. On Spain’s interest in American support for its reconquest of the Floridas, see the editorial note “Foreigner of Distinction” on p. 2.
4. Montmorin reported that these questions had been given to Carmichael. See Montmorin to Vergennes, 13 Mar. 1780, SpMaAHN: CP-E, 598: 119. For JJ’s reply, see his letter to Floridablanca, 25 Apr. 1780, below. For efforts by Robert and Gouverneur Morris and RRL to update information on American military strength for the forthcoming campaign, prospects for domestic revenues and for postwar commerce with Spain and its American possessions, facilities afforded to Spain to build or acquire ships in the United States, and postwar boundary aspirations in the event that Spain conquered East Florida, see Robert Morris to JJ, 4 July 1781, below; the notes to Gouverneur Morris to JJ, 20 Jan. 1782, below; and Gouverneur Morris to JJ, 10 Mar. 1782, below.