James Lovell to John Jay, 11 July 1780
[Philadelphia] July 11. 1780
Dear Sir
By a Letter from Mess rs . Gardoqui & Sons of May 3 d . rec d . yesterday I have the pleasure of knowing you were then well. In a postscript to one of his former of Feb 24, the PS not dated, he says he hears of you every Week – This creates a Chagrin as we have none of your Favors later than March 3 d .– 1 you are not to suppose, however, that I dare to complain . I have read my Bible to better Purpose. I am not entitled to throw the –first stones–. But I have as good a title as anybody to paliate my own faults, and to shift them upon others. There is said to be a Com tee . of for gn . Affairs each member is loaded with a variety of business, two have amiable Wives near Pensylvania I miss the Gentlemen therefore frequently. M r . Livingston is now absent but you have here with a Letter he sent to my Care a few days ago. The weather is murderous hot and I cannot go up and down to the Offices in search of those authenticated Papers which ought to be regularly forwarded to you and other dignified Officers abroad. You will be pleased therefore to know from me individually and by Way of a Resolve of Congress of June 21 st certified by me that M r . Dohrman of Lisbon is appointed an Agent in Portugal. 2 The chief View at this time was that the lives of our poor sailors might not be lost in captivity in that Kingdom. M r . Dohrman has done an infinitude of kind acts already to such as have been carried into Ports near Lisbon. He is a Gentleman of much Influence through his personal Character his Riches & Relations. I have no doubt you will find Advantage from frequent Correspondence with him. He is not yet furnished with any authentic account of his appointment. He ought to have some Commission perhaps beyond a certified Resolve, and he should have some regular instructions. I will endeavor to get M r . Houston to join me in a Letter to ^ the ^ Gentleman to cover the Proof of his having been elected on the 21 st . of June. It was represented by M r Anderson of Virginia 3 who is his Agent, that M r . Dohrman expected no other recompense than the repayment of his Advances, in the usual Way, and those Emoluments that will be naturally consequential upon his being known the public Agent of these States in Portugal. The Proofs of his Spirit in our Cause are unequivocal and his liberality to our suffering countrymen has abundant Proofs. I did give M r . Anderson a Copy of the Resolve for his own satisfaction but I told him it would go with authority through You and that M r . Dohrman ought not to be deprived of the Safe Judgement of making the Appointment more or less a thing of Notoriety according to the Politicks of the Kingdom of Portugal.–
M r . Searle 4 is the Bearer of this Via France and M r Laurens will either go for Holland in the same Ship, the Jay , or will sail in a few days by another opportunity for Holland. The former Gentleman is on business for the State of Pensylv a : and perhaps for some mercantile Companies also. You already know M r . Laurens is to negotiate a Loan. Indeed an Instruction was given to a Com tee . to bring in a Draught of a Letter to the ministers Plenipotentiary of these States at Versailles and Madrid directing them to inform his most christian & Catholic Majesty of the appointment of M r . Laurens and to solicit the Aid of their Majesties respectively on this Occasion I am Sir your Friend and very humble Servant
James Lovell 5
Hon ble . M r Jay