To John Jay from Floridablanca, 5 September 1781
From Floridablanca
[Mercredi le 5. Septe. 1781]
Le Comte de Florida Blanca a eté bien mortifié de ne pas pouvoir recevoir la visite de Mr de Jay non seulement par les affaires trop pressantes qui l’ont pris tout son temps, mais aussi a cause des incommodites qu’il a souffert et soufre encore. Cependant quoiqu’il ne soit pas en état de s’engager dans des longues et serieuses conferences par les motifs susmentiones, il sera charmé de pouvoir s’entretenir un moment avec lui Mr de Jay dans une des soirées libres [ou il n’y a point de travail avec le Roi,]1 auquel cas il pourra, [s’il le trouve à propos,] amener avec lui l’officier en question.
Mercredi le 5 Septe. 1781
Samedi par Exemple vers les huit heures, l’entrevue pourroit avoir lieu.
[Translation]
[Wednesday 5 September 1781]
The Count de Florida Blanca has been much mortified, not to be able to receive the visit of Mr. Jay, not only on account of the too pressing business, which has engaged all his time, but also by reason of the indisposition he has ^suffered^ & still suffers—nevertheless
Altho’ he be not in a situation to engage in long & serious conferences for the reasons above mentioned, he will ^nevertheless^ be charmed to converse a moment with Mr. Jay, one of those leisure evenings when there is no business with the King—in which case, Mr. Jay may, if he thinks proper, bring with him the officer in question—2
Wednesday 5th Septr—
Saturday for Instance, towards eight OClock, the interview may take place.3
Dft, in French, SpMaAHN: Estado, leg. 3884, exp. 15, doc. 2 (EJ: 12114); English translation, NNC (EJ: 8217). C, with English translation, embedded in JJ to the President of Congress, 3 Oct. 1781, below, DNA: PCC, item 89, 410–11 (EJ: 11912). LbkCs, with English translations, DNA: PCC, item 110, 1: 463–64 (EJ: 4172); NNC: JJ Lbks. 1 and 6; CSmH (EJ: 3421).
1. Here and below, the words in brackets are missing from the Dft but are found in the copies cited in the source note, above. The excuses offered here are repeated in Floridablanca’s letter to JJ of 19 Sept., below.
2. David S. Franks, on whom see JJ to Robert Morris, 1 Sept., above.
3. See JJ’s draft reply to Floridablanca, c. 16 Sept.; the reply actually sent on 17 Sept.; and JJ to Montmorin, 16 Sept. 1781, all below.