The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 07
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 07
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
I was obliged to wait with patience, and endeavor to keep the holders
of the bills from returning them, noted for non-acceptance. The Count
went to St Ildefonso; the time limited for the arrival of the person
expected having expired, I wrote the Count three notes on the subject
of the bills, and in one requested his permission for Mr Harrison of
Maryland to remain at Cadiz, from whence he was threatened to be
removed in pursuance of the King's ordinance against Irishmen. To
these I received the following answer, dated the 29th of July.
Translation.
"The Count de Florida Blanca presents his compliments to Mr
Jay, and acquaints him that he has duly received his three
last letters.
"For the satisfaction of Mr Jay, orders shall be given for Mr
Harrison to remain at Cadiz, the general regulations
established by the King notwithstanding.
"On the subject of the acceptance of the bills of exchange,
the Count can only say that he still waits for the person in
question, who has informed him that he was on the point of
setting out on his journey.
"He is moreover very sensible of the attention in
communicating to him the last advices received respecting the
affair of Charleston, and persuades himself that Mr Jay will
always observe the same complaisance.
"_Saturday, July 29th._"
I immediately wrote him a letter of thanks for his civility to Mr
Harrison, and nothing further passed between us till the 11th of
August, when I sent him the following note.
"Mr Jay presents his respectful compliments to his Excellency
the Count de Florida Blanca, and has the honor of informing
him, that since the date of his last, bills to the amount of
six thousand and six hundred dollars have been presented to
him for acceptance. Mr Jay has prevailed on the holders of
these bills to wait six or eight days for his answer, on a
promise that the time for their payment, if accepted, shall
be computed from the day on which they were presented.
"_Madrid, August 11th, 1780._"
To this was written the following answer.
Translation.
"The Count de Florida Blanca has just received Mr Jay's note
of yesterday, on the subject of the new bills, which have
been presented to him. He is mortified not to be able to
return a positive answer today, respecting the acceptance of
said bills, and must repeat, that he still waits for the
person of whom mention has been made in preceding notes.
"_St Ildefonso, August 12th, 1780._"
Mrs Jay's illness, and the death of a child, detaining me at Madrid, I
requested the Count to give me notice when it would be necessary I
should wait upon him, and in the mean time Mr Carmichael went to St
Ildefonso.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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