John Jay to William Carmichael, 27 June 1780
Madrid, 2 6 7 [June 1780]
D r . Sir
It is with great Reluctance that I can ^ ever ^ prevail upon myself to tell you that what ^ any thing ^ you do is not right ^ in my Opinion im ^ proper, and especially when my tell g you so may possibly be attributed as much ^ is capable of being imputed ^ to my Pride as to my ^ well as to ^ Prudence
The Count de Montmorin informed me Yesterday that you had consulted him on the Subject of a Conference you proposed to have with the Spanish Minister relative to M r . Cumberland Errand and he recapitulated the Advice he had given you relative on that Head
As I consider the exclusive Direction ^ Condu ^ ^ Affairs ^ of the Am. Legation at this Court to be committed to my exclusive Direction, and consequently that I alone am responsible for the Manner in w h . they may be conducted, I cannot ap consent ^ must object ^ to your taking any measures respecting them but such as I shall ^ may ^ previously have approved of and assigned to your Management.
Nor can I consider your ^ I also think it w d . no Advantage can result from your ^ having communicated to the the Chevalier DBurgoyne ^ the Count Secretary the Chev. DBurgoyne ^ 1 all the Intelligence you had relative to M r . Cumberland & his maneuvers as well as the Channels thro which it was acquired ^ obtained ^ – To obtain ^ assist in gaing ^ Intelligence is doubtless is doubtless within your Province ^ as well as Duty ^ but the Use to be made of such as may concern ^ affect ^ the Business ^ & Objects ^ of the Legation I conceive to belong solely to mine– Besides It w d . I know ^ doubtless ^ be red ridiculous to appear ignorant of what every Body knows, but it is not necessary nor ^ [ in margin ] always [ wise ] ^ ^ useful ^ ^ to communicate what others do not know, & particularly the Means of acquiring it – this Kn ones knowledge ^
I am a little suspicious that we entertain different Ideas as to the Extent of your Appointment– From your ^ hav g ^ urging your Commission of Charge Des Affairs as a Reason as a Reason why you sh d . countersign my Letters ^ and from some other Circumstances ^ I apprehend that you view it as being now in For some Degree in Force, and perhaps that my temporary absences from the Habitations ^ Seats ^ of the King may in Virtue of that Commission devolve upon you ^ on such occasions ^ farther Powers than those annexed to your Office as Secretary .–on the other Hand I ^ cannot ^ look upon that Commission as contingent ^ in any other Light than as ^ eventual and to take Effect only on my ^ the ^ Death or absence from Spain ^ of the Am. Minister here, ^ – and that the only Powers you are now vested with are ^ at present ^ ^ confined to ^ are those which originate in your office ^ app t . ^ of Secretary– and that you have been led to take these measures merely from an opinion of their Expediency . 2
Perhaps ^ perhaps ^ these are only Conjectures– perhaps they may be ^ are ^ groundless. I wish they may be–if they ^ t ^ should not ^ be the case ^ ^ If our Sentiments do really thus vary on these points ^ it will be best that the y ^ se points ^ sh d be explained and all Cause of Variance removed. Perfect Harmony between us is essential to the public Good, and I should regret exceedingly to and adjusted ^ the Difference removed ^ If you think my Construction of our sev respective Commissions right, ^ I hope ^ you will then in future forbear to taking any Steps ^ in the Business of the Legation ^ without the Line of Secretary without previously ^ unless with my approbation ^ as as to Intelligence ^ touch g those Affairs ^ you will will continue with your usual Diligence and Address to obtain it, but avoid communicating ^ more ^ either ^ of ^ the Matter or the Means of acquiring it ^ than may be ( unless already public) ^ to any Persons except to Congress without my Consent– If indeed you should should chuse to transmit ^ it yourself ^ to Congress I have not the least Objection– But if on the other Hand you should be of opinion that my Construction of our Commissions does you Injustice– In that Case I must and for the Sake of Harmony as well as to prevent any ^ the ^ Evils from In ^ often resulting ^ from interfering Measures I must request the Honor of you to suspend confine yourself to the Duties of Sec y until all Doubts can be removed by Congress.
As on the one Hand ^ I assure you ^ it will always give me Pleasure to be a witness to your Services & to represent them in a true Light to Congress so on the other I flatter myself you will ascribe this Letter to the true Motives and nothing but th at ^ e ^ Regard Consideration of public Good and that Consideration of being responsible for ^ the Issue ^ of Measures not my own, could prompt ^ prevail upon ^ ^ induce ^ me to write you this Letter–
I acknowledge with Pleasure your Readiness to ^ do ^ your Duty, and think ^ that ^ you deserve Credit for the Attentions & Addresses ^ in ^ gaining Intelligence .
It would give me Pain to be if the Restrictions I impose upon sh d be thought merely arbitrary and not founded on Reason– I am persuaded ^ I am persuaded you will not ^ think they arise from Caprice when you Reflect .
When you turn your Thoughts I ^ seriously on ^ these Restrictions I am lay upon you am persuaded you will think them sound reasonable and not merely arbitrary and capricious– I will not therefore pay so ill a Compt. to your your good Sense as to suppose it necessary to assign the several Reasons which enduce me to think them proper indispensible ^ requisite ^
In a Word my dear Sir it is our Duty to harmonize and to avoid all occasion of Contentions and you have too much Experience not to know that it is . 3 I am dr Sir Your most obt. & hble Servt
I have given the Bearer ^ the Bearer ^ ^ the Paper for you ^ an american newspaper for you, which I rec d . have just rec d. from France ^ arrived just after you left us ^ – M r . D Neufville ^ A Dutch Merch t ^ has made an offer of accepting the Bills drawn on M r . Laurens, on Terms very generous– I have mentioned this to Count Montmorin .– 4 I have seen Count O Dunne, 5 I think you w d do well to visit him– He may & indeed has promised to a ^ be very useful to our Affairs ^ in Portugal which have taken ^ By a Letter just recieved from M r Adams I have just rec d . ^ I find are ^ appear to be ^ in a very unpleasant Situation– Dohrman 6 hav g been ordered to cease attending to them– The Count appears ^ seems ^ very well disposed, and has promised me to extend his Care to such Americans as may unfortunately be carried to that Kingdom.
As the Court will be here on Saturday, I think you had better not send the Journal I desired you ^ to ^ keep, by the Bearer but to retain it till you come yourself– There are various Speculations in this City respecting the Objects of ^ M r . ^ Cumberlands Mission some ^ most people ^ suppose he is charged with offers for Peace, and as far as I can judge most People appear ^ are ^ very glad of it
I had written thus far when a Number of Letters from Am. were delivered to me–we have later news than ^ they ^ contain–among them was a Letter for you which you will find enclosed with this– The Seals of my Letters have been barbarously toasted– They pass you know through hot Fires in France & in Spain . ^ I have rec d . your Favr of the 23 d . Inst– The Report from Bordeaux you mention had reached us– God Grant it may be confirmed ^ I am D r S r . your most ob t . & hble Serv t
The Hon W m Carmichael Esq r