_June 5th._ Mr Carmichael waited on the Minister, agreeably to appointment, who, on his entrance, immediately expressed his concern, that the arrival of a courier, which informed him of the intentions of the Court of Great Britain to expedite the sailing of their grand fleet, had engaged his attention so much as to prevent him from fulfilling his promise of sending the notes mentioned in the former conferences, that he would certainly do it on the Wednesday following, and desired Mr Carmichael to wait on him that day at the same hour to receive them. He then mentioned an expedition, which had been proposed to him from Bilboa, to intercept the homeward bound ships of the East India Company, by equipping some frigates in America at the expense of his Catholic Majesty, desiring Mr Carmichael to communicate this to Mr Jay, that he might turn his attention to that object, to enable him to judge of the probability of its success. He touched slightly on the subject of bills of exchange, and on the only difficulty of the treaty, viz. the navigation of the Mississippi, which he said he hoped some middle means might be hit on to obviate. He concluded by saying that he would give his sentiments on that, and other subjects to Mr Jay in writing at the time abovementioned, and hoped that he would believe the delay hitherto proceeded from no other motives than those he had mentioned. Mr Carmichael assured him, that Mr Jay was too sensible of the importance of his other occupations, and of his candor, to impute the delay to any other cause, and after common civilities he withdrew. This conversation needs no comment. It promised well. On or about the 19th of June, Mr Cumberland, his wife, and two daughters arrived, appeared publicly, and were openly visited and received by persons of distinction. But although it was not difficult to know who he was, and with whom he associated, his business and measures continue to this day mere objects of conjecture, further that he or the Minister has thought proper to communicate them.[25] The impression made by his arrival on the minds of the people is worthy of remark. They supposed his errand to be secret overtures for peace, and as far as I can judge were very glad of it. There is reason to believe that he favored these conjectures from the first. He has since said publicly, that he was authorised to offer to Spain Gibraltar, and other advantageous terms. On the 7th of June, I received from the Minister his notes on the subject of aids. They are in these words. Translation. Aranjues, June 7th, 1780.