John Jay to Floridablanca, 14 September 1780

[S t Ildefonso 14 th Sept r . 1780]

Sir

The information I received yesterday from your Excellency, by M r Gardoqui, has drawn the affair of the Bills of Exchange to a conclusion. He told me that the Exigencies of the State would not permit his Majesty to provide for the payment of more of those bills than were already accepted, amounting to about 14–€²000 dollars.

As it is important that every Nation at war should know exactly the State of their resources, and as America has been induced to Consider the friendship of his Catholic Majesty as among the number of hers, I must request the favour of your Excellency to tell me frankly, whether the United States may expect any, and what, aids from Spain. The General assurances of Amity which that Country has received from this, together with what has passed between your Excellency & myself relative to Cloathing for our Troops, and supplies of Specie in America, will I Hope be considered as authorizing this Question; and the more so, as M r . Gardoqui, (to whose arrival your Excellency postponed the discussion of these matters) informs me, he is not instructed to say any thing to me on these, or indeed any other Subjects.–€” I have the honor to be with Great Respect Your Excellencys Most Obed t & Most Hble Ser t .

John Jay

His Excellency The Ct. de Florida Blanca 1