deficiency of arms, of clothing; means of subsistence; naval forces; the people will not submit; their disposition towards the Kings of France and of Spain; financial embarrassments; sending supplies to America would be the surest means of humiliating Great Britain.--Receives the resolutions of Congress drawing on Mr Laurens and himself for £100,000 sterling each.--Letter of Mr Jay (Aranjues, April 29th, 1780), to the Count de Florida Blanca in consequence of the foregoing resolution, giving an account of the financial operations of Congress, and requesting aid from his Majesty.--Conference with the Count on the subject of the preceding letter; the Count states that Spain has been subject to heavy expenses during the preceding year, but that his Majesty intends to give America all assistance in his power, and has directed him to confer with his colleagues in the Ministry on this point; wishes Mr Jay to contract to furnish Spain with frigates and light vessels; promises to engage in the King's name to pay the bills of exchange if presented; the pretensions of America to the navigation of the Mississippi an obstacle to a treaty.--Letter of Mr Jay (Aranjues, May 12th, 1780), to the Count de Florida Blanca stating his confidential connexion with the French Ambassador, and wishing to know if he may communicate to him the subject of the conference.--Reply of the Count de Florida Blanca (Aranjues, May 14th, 1780).--Mr Jay's note to the French Ambassador informing him of Sir J. Dalrymple's arrival at Madrid.--Note of M. de Montmorin in reply, declaring his entire confidence in the Spanish Ministry.--Extract of a letter from Mr Jay (April 26th 1780), to Mr Adams informing him of Sir J. Dalrymple's arrival at Aranjues.--Sir J. Dalrymple requests permission to go through Spain, and a passport through France.--Sir J. Dalrymple presents to the Count de Florida Blanca Lord Rochford's project to prevent the war by a confederation between France, Spain, Portugal and England; the confederates to guaranty mutually their Colonial possessions; to participate in the commerce of the English Colonies under certain limitations, to be settled by five persons, one from each country; to settle the contested privileges of the Americans on just principles; disadvantages resulting to Spain from the independence of the English American Colonies, first by promoting a contraband trade between the American States and the Spanish Colonies, and secondly by exposing the Spanish Colonies to the attacks of the Americans, who will soon form establishments in the South Seas; all