Chapter IX: Front Matter (9)

"Before entering into a discussion with Mr Jay or Mr
Carmichael, jointly or separately, on the subject of the
affairs of the United States of North 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 succors they may be able
to afford Spain in its operations, in case hereafter this
Crown should become the ally of America. The _Civil Affairs_
ought to comprehend,

"1st. A true account of the population and form of government
of each Province of the Union, and the 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.

"3dly. A statement of the revenues of these Provinces, and of
their ability to contribute to the general expense; to which
may be added, whether they will be able long to support this
burthen, and even to increase it should it be judged
necessary.

"4thly. A statement 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 with what branches of commerce,
will the States of America have it in their power to
indemnify Spain, whenever this power may second the views and
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 the
vessels and these naval stores to Spain.

"With respect to the _Military State_ of America, it is
necessary to be informed first, 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, and
particularly in Carolina and Georgia.

"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 clothing and arms are at present;
whether they are partly in want of those articles, and how
much it would require to remedy those 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 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 its strength, including the
armed vessels belonging to individuals, and by what means it
may be augmented, and what succors will be necessary for that
purpose.

"The Court of Spain, desirous of information on these
subjects with all possible frankness and precision, does not
pretend to dive into matters, which Mr Jay or Mr Carmichael
may regard as reserved to themselves. Its 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
succors of any kind, the former might be able to plan on
solid grounds their operations convenient for the common
cause, and for the particular advantage of these States,
without running the risk of being misled by false
calculations for want of foresight and proper information."

"_Pardo, March 9th, 1780._"

My answer to these questions is contained in a letter I wrote to the Count de Florida Blanca, on the 25th of April, 1780; the removal of the Court to Aranjues, and his attending the King at that time at an annual chase, rendering it useless, and perhaps improper, to endeavor to call his attention to these matters sooner. The following is a copy of it.

"Madrid, April 25th, 1780.

"Sir,

"Mr Carmichael has delivered to me a paper he had the honor
of receiving from your Excellency before my arrival here,
containing heads of many important inquiries respecting which
it was thought necessary, that his Catholic Majesty should be
exactly informed before entering into a discussion with me
and Mr Carmichael jointly or separately, on the subject of
the affairs of the United States of North America, and their
mutual interest with respect to Spain; but that the Court,
though desirous of information on these several articles,
with all possible frankness and precision, did not mean to
dive into matters which Mr Carmichael and myself might regard
as reserved to ourselves only.

"Being persuaded, that direct and accurate information
respecting the nature and extent of the commissions given to
that gentleman and myself, would be very agreeable to your
Excellency, I take the liberty of transmitting the following
copies of each.

'The delegates of the United States of New Hampshire,
Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and
Georgia, in Congress assembled, to all who shall see these
presents, Greeting.

'Whereas an intercourse between the subjects of his Catholic
Majesty, and the citizens of these United States, founded on
the principles of equality, reciprocity, and friendship, may
be of mutual advantage to both nations, and it being the
sincere desire of the United States to enter into a treaty of
alliance and of amity and commerce with his Catholic Majesty,
know ye, therefore, that we, confiding in the integrity,
prudence, and ability of the Honorable John Jay, late
President of Congress, and Chief Justice of the State of New
York, have nominated and constituted, and by these presents
do nominate and constitute him, the said John Jay, our
Minister Plenipotentiary; giving him full power general and
special to act in that quality, to confer, treat, agree, and
conclude, with the Ambassador or Plenipotentiary of his
Catholic Majesty vested with equal powers, of and concerning
a treaty of amity and commerce, and of alliance, and whatever
shall be so agreed and concluded for us and in our names, to
sign, and thereupon make such treaty or treaties, conventions
and agreements, as he shall judge conformable to the ends we
have in view, in as ample form, and with the same effect, as
if we were personally present and acted therein, hereby
promising in good faith, that we will accept, ratify, fulfil,
and execute whatever shall be agreed, concluded, and signed
by our said Minister Plenipotentiary, and that we will never
act, nor suffer any person to act, contrary to the same in
the whole, or in any part.

'In witness whereof, we have caused these presents to be
given in Congress, at Philadelphia, the 29th day of
September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
and seventynine, and the fourth year of the independence of
the United States of America.

'Signed by the President, and sealed with his seal.

'SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, _President_.

'Attest, CHARLES THOMSON, _Secretary_.'

'The United States of America, in Congress assembled. To the
Honorable William Carmichael, a delegate in Congress from the
State of Maryland. Greeting.

'We, reposing especial trust and confidence in your
patriotism, ability, conduct, and fidelity, do, by these
presents, constitute and appoint you, during our pleasure,
Secretary to our Minister Plenipotentiary, appointed to
negotiate a treaty of amity and commerce, and of alliance
with his Catholic Majesty. You are, therefore, carefully and
diligently to discharge the duty of Secretary, by doing and
performing all things thereunto belonging, and, in case of
the death of our said Minister, you are to signify it to us
by the earliest opportunity, and on such event, we authorise
and direct you to take into your charge all our public
affairs, which were in the hands of said Minister at the time
of his death, or which may be addressed to him before notice
thereof, and proceed therein, according to the instructions
to our said Minister given, until our further orders.

'Witness, his Excellency, Samuel Huntington, President of the
Congress of the United States of America, at Philadelphia,
the 29th day of September, in the year of our Lord, 1779, and
in the fourth year of our independence.

'SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, _President_.

'Attest, CHARLES THOMSON, _Secretary_.'

"The inquiries in question are numerous and important. They
do honor to the sagacity which suggested them, and, if fully
answered, would produce a very interesting history of the
present condition of the American States. On some of the
subjects proposed, I can give your Excellency full and
positive intelligence; on others, only general and by no
means precise information. On all, however, I shall write
with candor.

"Such is the nature of the American governments and
confederacy, that the Congress, and all other rulers of the
people, are responsible to them for their conduct, and cannot
withhold from their constituents a knowledge of their true
situation, without subjecting themselves to all the evils,
which they experience, who substitute cunning in the place of
wisdom. Hence it is, that a knowledge of their affairs is
easily attainable by all who will be at the trouble of
collecting it, and as it is neither the policy nor
inclination of America to draw a veil over any part of their
affairs, your Excellency may be persuaded, that every
consideration forbids their servants, by a suppression, or
misrepresentation of facts, to deceive or mislead those whose
amity they so sincerely endeavor to cultivate, as they do
that of Spain.