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THE

DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE

OF THE

AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

VOL. IX.




THE

DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE

OF THE

AMERICAN REVOLUTION;

BEING

THE LETTERS OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, SILAS DEANE, JOHN ADAMS, JOHN JAY,
ARTHUR LEE, WILLIAM LEE, RALPH IZARD, FRANCIS DANA, WILLIAM
CARMICHAEL, HENRY LAURENS, JOHN LAURENS, M. DE LAFAYETTE, M. DUMAS,
AND OTHERS, CONCERNING THE FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES
DURING THE WHOLE REVOLUTION;

TOGETHER WITH

THE LETTERS IN REPLY FROM THE SECRET COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS, AND THE
SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

ALSO,

THE ENTIRE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE FRENCH MINISTERS, GERARD AND LUZERNE,
WITH CONGRESS.


Published under the Direction of the President of the United States,
from the original Manuscripts in the Department of State, conformably
to a Resolution of Congress, of March 27th, 1818.


EDITED

BY JARED SPARKS.


VOL. IX.


BOSTON:

NATHAN HALE AND GRAY & BOWEN;

G. & C. & H. CARVILL, NEW YORK; P. THOMPSON, WASHINGTON.


1830.




Steam Power Press--W. L. Lewis' Print.

No. 6, Congress Street, Boston.




CONTENTS

OF THE

NINTH VOLUME.


WILLIAM CARMICHAEL'S CORRESPONDENCE.

                                                                 Page.

    To the Committee of Secret Correspondence. Amsterdam,
    November 2d, 1776,                                               5

        Sent by Mr Deane on a mission to Berlin.--Disposition of
        the Dutch.--Financial credit of the different
        powers.--Credit of the United States.--Plan for
        attacking the English coasts.--The conduct of Congress
        in relation to Portugal has made a favorable
        impression.--Offers of a House in Amsterdam to discount
        bills of Congress, drawn on certain conditions.

    To William Bingham, at Martinique. Paris, June 25th to July
    6th, 1777,                                                      14

        Reasons for opening a correspondence with him.--Causes
        of the temporising policy of France.--The English loan
        completed at home.--Dispute between Spain and
        Portugal.--Warlike preparations of France and Spain.

    To the President of Congress. Yorktown, June 17th, 1778,        19

        Receives information of his appointment as Secretary to
        the Commissioners.

    To the President of Congress. Off Reedy Island, November
    25th, 1779,                                                     19

        Acknowledges the reception of certain resolutions of
        Congress.

    To the President of Congress. Martinique, December 27th,
    1779,                                                           20

        Naval operations of the English and French in the West
        Indian Seas.

    To John Jay. Madrid, February 18th, 1780,                       21

        Interview with the Count de Florida Blanca, who promises
        to answer Mr Jay's letter.--Advises Mr Jay to prepare
        for a journey to Madrid.--Mr Lee's correspondence.

    To the President of Congress. Madrid, February 19th, 1780,      23

        Favorable reception.--Kindness of the French Ambassador
        and of M. Gerard.--English forces.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. Aranjues, May 28th,
    1780,                                                           24

        Difficulty of communication.--Dispositions of the
        Spanish Court.--English policy in Spain.--Dispositions
        of the other European powers.--Bills on Mr Jay.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. Madrid, July 17th,
    1780,                                                           30

        Mr Cumberland, English agent at Madrid.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. St Ildefonso, August
    22d, 1780,                                                      32

        Finances of Spain.--Mr Cumberland.--Armed
        neutrality.--Naval forces and operations of France and
        Spain.--M. Gardoqui succeeds M. Miralles.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. St Ildefonso, September
    9th, 1780,                                                      38

        Failure of the Spanish loan attributed to M.
        Necker.--Scheme of the loan.--Unsettled policy of
        Spain.--Armed neutrality.--The navigation of the
        Mississippi the chief obstacle to the opening of
        negotiations with Spain.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. St Ildefonso, September
    25th, 1780,                                                     43

        Supplies from Spain.--Conference with the Count de
        Florida Blanca.--The Count declares that Spain will
        never relinquish the exclusive navigation of the
        Mississippi.--Finances of the belligerent powers.--The
        Count de Montmorin.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. Madrid, October 15th,
    1780,                                                           47

        The Spanish government finds it difficult to raise
        money.--The armed neutrality and Holland.--Revolt in
        Peru.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. Madrid, November 28th,
    1780,                                                           50

        Finances and financial operations of Spain.--Vigorous
        preparations of England.--Spain aims at the exclusive
        possession of the Gulf of Mexico.--The European powers
        are jealous of the House of Bourbon.--Suggests the
        expediency in securing the alliance of Spain by further
        concessions.--Proceedings in Holland.--The Count de
        Vergennes informs Mr Jay that France cannot pay the
        bills drawn on him.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. Madrid, December 19th,
    1780,                                                           56

        Amount of bills drawn on Mr Jay.--Accession of Holland
        to the armed neutrality.--Disposition of the
        Emperor.--Mr Cumberland continues to reside at Madrid.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. Madrid, January 4th,
    1781,                                                           58

        England declares war against Holland.--Supplies promised
        by Spain.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. Madrid, January 29th,
    1781,                                                           59

        Offer of mediation by the German Emperor and the Empress
        of Russia.--Spanish policy in regard to America.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. Madrid, February 22d,
    1781,                                                           62

        Supplies.--Imperial offer of mediation.--Russia
        unfavorably disposed towards England.--English
        preparations.--French preparations.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. Madrid, March 4th,
    1781,                                                           66

        M. Gardoqui.--The correspondence of the American
        Ministers is known to the European governments, by
        opening the letters.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. Madrid, March 11th,
    1781,                                                           68

        Mr Cumberland intends to leave Spain.--Naval forces of
        the belligerents.--Bad consequences of the mutiny of the
        Pennsylvania line.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. Aranjues, May 25th,
    1781,                                                           69

        Secret armament preparing at Cadiz.--Difficulty of
        communicating safely with America.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. Aranjues, May 26th,
    1781,                                                           70

        Naval operations.--Supplies granted by France.--Probable
        destination of the force raising in the South of Spain.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. Aranjues, June 2d,
    1781,                                                           72

        Dismission of M. Necker disagreeable to the Court of
        Spain.--M. Necker not favorable to the granting of
        supplies to the United States.--His character.--Proposed
        mediation by the Court of Vienna.

    James Lovell to William Carmichael. Philadelphia, June 15th,
    1781,                                                           74

        His communications have been valuable to Congress.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. St Ildefonso, August
    16th, 1781,                                                     75

        Progress of the negotiations.--Loans raised by
        Spain.--Bills on Mr Jay.--Apprehensions that the demands
        of Spain may delay the general peace.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. St Ildefonso, September
    28th, 1781,                                                     78

        The Court promises to appoint a person to treat.--M. Del
        Campo.--Little prospect of a general negotiation.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. Madrid, October 5th,
    1781,                                                           81

        No progress has been made in the
        negotiation.--Complaints against Commodore Gillon.--The
        rebellion in Peru quelled.

    To the Committee of Foreign Affairs. Madrid, November 17th,
    1781,                                                           84

        Arrest of an English agent.--No progress towards opening
        a conference with Mr Jay.--Animosity of the Irish at the
        Spanish Court against America.--Account of M.
        Cabarrus.--Spanish expedition against their
        Colonies.--French naval expeditions.--State of affairs
        in Holland and France.

    Robert R. Livingston to William Carmichael. Philadelphia,
    December 20th, 1781,                                            91

        Mr Carmichael's communications valuable to
        Congress.--Commodore Gillon is not in a United States
        ship.--Delays of Spain beget feelings of ill-will in
        America.--Evacuation of Wilmington.

    To Robert R. Livingston. Madrid, December 20th, 1781,           94

        Motives of his correspondence.--Delays of
        Spain.--General satisfaction in Spain at the capture of
        Lord Cornwallis.--Imperial and Swedish Ambassador desire
        to favor the trade with America.--Advances by M.
        Cabarrus.--State of the sieges of Gibraltar and
        Mahon.--M. Cabarrus's plan of a new bank.--Spain
        endeavors to discourage the commerce of foreigners in
        her ports.--Attempt to exclude salt-fish, by the sale of
        indulgences permitting the use of meat on fast
        days.--Character of the Spanish Ministry.

    To Robert R. Livingston. Madrid, December 24th, 1781,          102

        Mr Jay receives promises of supplies.--The Count de
        Florida Blanca also promises to interfere with Portugal
        in favor of the United States.--Probable consequences
        of the death of the Empress.--Proceedings of England.

    To Robert R. Livingston. Madrid, Feb. 18th, 1782,              105

        Difficulty of meeting the drafts.--Financial
        embarrassments of the Spanish Court.--Capitulation of
        Mahon.--Imperial mediation.--Reply of Lord Stormont to
        the proposal.

    To Robert R. Livingston. Madrid, February 27th, 1782,          111

        Mr Jay is unable to obtain supplies.--No progress made
        toward negotiations.--The King of England is said to be
        determined to push the war in America.

    To Robert R. Livingston. Madrid, April 14th, 1782,             113

        Mr Jay obliged to protest bills.--Conduct of the Spanish
        Minister on this occasion.--The Spanish Court delays
        negotiations from policy.--Colonial
        disturbances.--Reforms of the Emperor.

    Robert R. Livingston to William Carmichael. Philadelphia,
    May 1st, 1782,                                                 120

        Desires a continuance of his correspondence.--Affair of
        Captain Huddy.

    To Robert R. Livingston. Madrid, June 12th, 1782,              122

        The Spanish Ministers show no inclination to
        treat.--Jealousy of the House of Bourbon among the
        European powers.--Financial difficulties of
        Spain.--Siege of Gibraltar.

    Robert R. Livingston to William Carmichael. Philadelphia,
    July 6th, 1782,                                                124

        Complains of want of information.--Payment of salaries.

    To Robert R. Livingston. St Ildefonso, July 8th, 1782,         126

        Interview with