Floridablanca to John Jay, 24 February 1780
[El Pardo á 24 de Febrero de 1780]
Muy Señor mio.
Habiendo yo recibido de mano del S r . D n . José de Galvez la carta que V. S. le hà dirigido por medio de M r . de Carmichael, 1 y hecho presente al Rey todo su contexto; me manda responda à V. S. diciendole que S. M. há celebrado, y aplaudido la eleccion que de su persona há hecho el Congreso Americano para el encargo que expresa dha carta, asi por lo recomendables que son para S. M los miembros que han concurrido á esta eleccion, como por los informes que S. M. tiene de la probidad, 2 talentos, y circumstancias de V. S. Ha oido tambien S. M. con agrado el anhelo que tienen las Colonias de formar un enlace con la España de cuyas buenas disposiciones han recibido ya bastantes pruebas. Sin embargo piensa S. M. que antes de todo conviene que se arreglen el modo, puntos, y reciproca correspondencia sobre que deba fundarse la union que desean entablar con esta Monarquia los Estados Americanos. Para esto no hay reparo en que V. S. se transfiera à esta Corte para explicar sus intenciones y las del Congreso, y oir las de S. M: acordandose por este medio la basa sobre la que pueda fixarse una perfecta amistad, sus extensiones, y consecuencias. 3 El Rey cree 4 que hasta ver la proporcion que haya de concertar aquellos puntos como S. M. espera, no corresponde que V. S. explique un caracter formal el qual depende del reconocimiento y tratado futuro; per debe V. S. persuadirse de las sanas y sinceras dispocisiones de su Real animo para con los Estados unidos, y de sus deseos de que se allanen qualesquiera dificultades para la mutua felicidad de ellos, y de esta Monarquia. Esto mismo hé insinuado à M r . de Carmichael quien podrá manifestarlo á V. S. à cuya obediencia me ofrezco, deseando que nro S or . gữe la vida de V. S. m s . a s . El Pardo à 24 de Febrero de 1780. B. L. m s . de V. S. Su mayor Serv or .
El Conde de Floridablanca
S or . D n . Juan Jay.
[The Pardo 24 th Feb y 1780]
Sir,
Having rec d . from the hands of Don Joseph De Galvez the Letter which Your Excellency had directed to him by M r . Carmichael, & having presented its contents to the King; He commands me to answer your Excell y by saying that his Majesty extols & applauds the Election which the American Congress has made of your Person for the charge which the said Letter expresses, as well on account of the Esteem his Majesty has for the Members who have concurred in this election, as for the Informations his Majesty has of the Probity, Talents, & Circumstances of your Excell y – His Majesty has also heard with pleasure the desire of the Colonies to form a connexion with Spain of whose good dispositions they have already had received sufficient Proofs– His Majesty notwithst however thinks that it will be first proper that ^ to regulate ^ the manner, points, & reciprocal correspondence upon which the union ought to be founded, which the American States desire to establish with this Monarchy– There is therefore no hindrance to your Excellency–s passing to this Court, to explain your Intentions, & those of Congress, and to hear those of his Majesty, settling by this means the base upon which may be fixed a perfect Friendship ^ Amity ^ , it–s extentions & consequences. The King thinks that until the Proportion, which must be concerted on those Points, is determined on, which his Majesty hopes for, it will ^ not ^ be proper that your Exc y should explain a formal Character which must depend on a future acknowledgement, and Treaty– But your Exc y ought may persuade yourself of the honest & sincere dispositions of his royal mind towards the United States, and his desire that every difficulty whatever may be removed for the mutual felicity of them & of this Monarchy– The same he has intimated to M r . Carmichael who will be able to make it known to your Excellency, to whose obedience I offer myself, praying that our Lord may preserve the life of your Exc y . 5