Diego de Gardoqui to John Jay, 15 September 1780
[S n . Ildefonso 15 th . Sep re . 1780.]
The following answer 1 has been dictated to me in his Excellency–s name by S r . D n . Bernardo del Campo to be deliver–d to the Hon ble . John Jay Esq r .
That it is not his majesty–s intention to stop assisting the States whenever means can be found to do it, but that it will be impossible to suply with money in Europe, there being none to spare, for that which ought to have come this year from America will neither come nor is it known when will, & that which wou–d have facilitated a far advanced negociation, is likely to produce no effect in a great measure, thro– the undermining of some persons of rank in France.– 2
The States not giving timely advise nor haveing taken his Majesty–s previous consent, he cou–d not arrenge his affairs before hand, in order to assure the acceptance & payment of the bills they have drawn, for which reasons & that Congress has not to this day given any tokens of a recompence, his Majesty might have just cause of dissgust, but notwithstanding he does not nor will change his Ideas, & will always retain those of humanity, friendship, & compassion that has had towards the Colonies. That consequently if M r . Jay or his Constituents shou–d find money upon credit to the sum of one hundred or one hundred & fifty thousand dollars, that his Majesty will be answerable to said sum payable in the space of three years. That his Majesty will besides exert all that is possible to assist them with cloathing 3 & other things, & finally in order that his Majesty may extend his further dispossitions, it is precisely necessary that they shou–d give sure & effective tokens of a good correspondence, proposing reciprocal measures of a compensation that may establish a solid freindship & confidence, without reducing it to words & protests of mere compliment. This being the substance, wou–d further sett into M r . Jay–s consideration that the continuance of assisting the States by answering the sum expressed in a manner much more publick than that of paying the money privatly, shews plainly the sincerity of his Majesty altho– the States have not to this day proposs–d any equivalent to the assistance already given, & to the expenses occasion–d by a war which has it–s true origin from them, to all which must be add, (tho– by the way, no creditt is given to it) that there are hints of some understanding between the Colonies & the Metropoly of England. 4
James Gardoqui.