John Jay to Silas Deane, 26 October 1780
Madrid 26 Oct r . 1780
D r Sir
At Length your first Letter contrary to my Expectations, has arrived been deliverd to me ^ arrived ^ , and my Attentions to the object of it shall not be wanting– I have also rec d . your Favor of the 18 th : Sept r . since which more of my Letters than one have I hope reached you, this being the fourth– 1
I have read considered and reconsidered the Facts & reflections you communicate, & am persuaded that that the Consequences you draw tho in a certain Degree just are not quite so extensive as you seem to suppose– I am not free from the ^ similar ^ apprehensions you of that kind but they are not so strong as yours–but however well founded they may be, they ought only to increase our Prudence, & shd. be carefully concealed – If I had Leisure for it it would give me pleasure to go largely into this Subject–at present I cannot because matters of more immediate Importance engage me–
That you have been hardly treated I know and shall never hesitate to say–but I cannot think the Cases of Mr. Adams, Izard and Lee ^ the Gent[lemen] are ^ similar or prove the points to which you apply them– 2 You was blamed not for omitting to ^ finally to ^ settle your accounts in France, but for not being in Capacity to shew ^ (when ^ in Am.) what those acc ts . were & I dont know that those Gent[lemen] were or will be chargeable with the like Incapacity– I mention this ^ only ^ to shew the Destinction [ illegible ] ^ between the ^ Cases How far the Destinction is important or how far that Incapacity c d . justify the Treatment it occasion d . are other Questions–for my own part I think it c d . not justify it
It will also remain a Question of how far your Measures were prudent– I think some of them were & some not but this Inquiry requires many Considerations & Combinations of Circumstances, which I must defer for the present–the Discoveries you allude to respecting secret practices surprize me exceedingly– I have no such Suspicions–perhaps you may give more Weight to Circumstances than they may merit– The Inquiry nevertheless is very important and while any Doubts remain the pursuit sh d be continued– Justice demands that we sh d not ^ even in our opinions ^ , injure Men who may be innocent even in o & prudence also demands that we permit not the ^ a ^ Good ness of the Heart to impose on the Dict ^ a ^ good Head, a Case by no means uncommon.
I wish there were twenty other Motives than those you mention for for drawing you to Spain ^ for undertaking ^ ^ for your passing to Spain ^ Exclusive of the Pleasure ^ Satisfaction ^ it will always give me to see you , The Facts ^ Matters ^ you mention are ^ highly ^ interesting ^ in ^ ^ a ^ ^ public as well as ^ ^ & ^ ^ private view ^ and ^ they ^ cannot possibly be so well discussed or understood from ^ handled ^ in the Way of Letters and in ^ as ^ Conversation –
Whether it will be in my power to meet you at th at either of the places you name I cannot predict and therefore cannot promise– The Excursion would be agreable to me but I have hitherto found so many Matters not to be neglected constantly demanding my Attention, that I cannot flatter myself with being more disengaged till the ^ greater ^ Objects of coming here are shall be either attained or become unattainable. If I should nevertheless be able to meet you I will–if not I hope you will not permit a few Days Journey to separate us ^ come on ^ , especially as your coming here w d . probably be a means of bringing your Business with the Minister to a more Speedy and perhaps ^ more ^ satisfactory Conclusion– ^ but ^ of this how I cannot as yet be certain–
The attachm t of you express for your Country notwithstanding the Injuries your [ Measures ?] in some of her Representatives which you have been used ^ your Complaints of this her Ingratitude ^ does you much Honor– And altho the The Injustice of endeavouring to resent g on a acc t whole [ illegible ] People the mistakes or Transgressions of a few is obvious, yet as ^ but as ^ there are comparatively not many who under similar Circumstances either think right & or act so– Truth is seldom so immersed in Darkness as to ^ not ^ be capable of being brought to Light ^ if attempted in season ^ and as the Mass of the People mean well, they will finally do Justice, tho their Mistakes and Passions sometimes delay it–persevere therefore–do good to your Country & evince your ^ the ^ Rectitude of your Conduct while in her Service– I believe you honest & I think you injured– These Considerations will always prompt me to every friendly office in my power to render– I must again advise you to review collect review & ascertain precisely the Evidence you ha may have or can coll obtain of the Duplicity of the Persons you allude to whoever they may be– I see this Business in many important Lights & the Time may come when you may rejoice in all the Trouble you may now be at ab t . it. nay all this Evidence provided it sh d prove conclusive ^ sh d . appear material ^ ought to be put on ^ committed to ^ Paper and be ^ not ^ permitted to diminish or die in or with your memory– Put ^ Put ^ it in the power of your Friends to vindicate your ^ Reputation ^ when you are shall ^ may ^ be no more– It will be of ^ particular ^ Importance to your Son, 3 to whom you cannot leave a better Inheritance than a good, nor a worse one, than a bad Name ^ or doubtful Reputation ^ – Remember too that time elapses ^ is spending ^ Men forgetting or die g , Papers wasting &c: and therefore the sooner you reduce these Matters to certainty the better–
M rs . Jay & the Col. desire to be particularly remembered to you– This will go under cover to Doct r Franklin– 4 be pleased to assure him of my Regard & Esteem, of which also believe you have no little Share I am D r . Sir very sincerely yours &c a .
J.J.