Madrid Letters for the years 1780 thru 1792

Madrid, ESP - 27 October 1780

It is true that I might write to Congress very often, indeed by every vessel, and there are many of them ; but how are my letters to get to the seaside ? By the post ? They would be all inspected, and many suppressed.

Madrid, ESP - 30 October 1780

Bills to the amount of 100,000 dollars have arrived. A loan cannot be effected here. What the court will do is as yet uncertain, and will long continue so.

Madrid, ESP - 0 November 1780

I have a favour to ask of you ; it is that you would make a visit to my father, and send me a minute account of his health, and that of the family. Make a half dozen copies of your letter, and send them

Madrid, ESP - 19 November 1780

I have lately received a letter from Francis Child, a lad whom I had taken by the hand after his father's death, and put apprentice to Mr. Dunlap, your printer.

Madrid, ESP - 9 January 1781

Your Constitution gives me much satisfaction. It appears to me to be, upon the whole, wisely formed and well digested. I find that it describes your State as being in New-England, as well as in America. Perhaps it would be better if these distinction

Madrid, ESP - 21 February 1781

Affairs here begin to wear a better aspect. I am promised 3,000,000 rials, that is, 150,000 dollars, which, though inadequate to the demands upon me, is still a great consolation, especially as men who are at the pains of planting and watering trees,

Madrid, ESP - 0 March 1781

The vulgar proverb, out of sight, out of mind, always appeared to me in the light of a vulgar error, when applied to old friends and companions. I hope I have not been mistaken

Madrid, ESP - 29 March 1781

I take the liberty of sending you a cask of Packaretti, the favourite wine of our late friend, Don Juan, whose death I much lament.

Madrid, ESP - 0 April 1781

Notwithstanding my repeated and earnest applications to the Count de Florida Blanca, I have as yet been able to obtain only $34,880 of the 8150,000 expressly promised me in December last.

Madrid, ESP - 23 April 1781

The able manner in which it treats the important subject of American finances induced me to give that part of it to the minister, and to send a copy of the same extract to Dr. Franklin

Madrid, ESP - 9 July 1781

A vessel has arrived at Bilboa, in twenty-four days from Salem. I received by her some family letters, which came from Bilboa under cover to a gentleman here.

Madrid, ESP - 14 July 1781

Not being authorized by Congress to provide for American prisoners in England, I could not justify undertaking it, and therefore referred your application to Dr. Franklin

Madrid, ESP - 31 July 1781

We have heard (though not from you) that a number of armed robbers have paid you a visit, and taken from the family their money, plate, &c. ; it is also said that they behaved towards our father, Peter, and Nancy, with more decency and respect than p

Madrid, ESP - 1 August 1781

Several letters I have received from Jersey and Philadelphia mention your having been robbed in April last by a number of armed men. It is said, they behaved with uncommon respect to you

Madrid, ESP - 10 December 1781

The harmony subsisting between the French troops and ours, is an agreeable, as well as an important circumstance, and I am glad that the Marquis De La Fayette had an opportunity of cutting some sprigs of laurel on one of the enemy's redoubts.

Madrid, ESP - 23 February 1782

I congratulate you on the successful issue of the last campaign, to the brilliancy of which the late surrender of Fort St. Philip, at Mahon, has much contributed.

Madrid, ESP - 25 April 1782

Mrs. Jay's time is much employed in nursing and amusing herself with her little girl. She is writing to Mrs. Morris. We are cheerful, and not unhappy, though distant from our friends

Madrid, ESP - 26 June 1782

Your friend, Mons. Risleau, at Bordeaux, pleased me much ; there is a frankness in his manner, and a warmth about his heart, that is very engaging. I made some agreeable acquaintances in that city, and wish I could have staid longer with them.

Madrid, ESP - 13 August 1782

Almost ever since my arrival here I have had, and still have, a sick family. The epidemic disorder which has spread through the northern part of Europe has been severe upon us. I am free from it at present, but it has taken from me some flesh and muc

Madrid, ESP - 13 October 1782

This has led me to make your sons the subject of this letter. It is an interesting one to you, and therefore not indifferent to me.

Madrid, ESP - 4 December 1782

Your ladyship will, therefore, see the necessity as well as propriety of applying after the war, to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, for a reconsideration of the act respecting your family.

Madrid, ESP - 14 December 1782

Some of my colleagues flatter themselves with the probability of obtaining compensation for damages. I have no objections to a further trial, but I confess I doubt its success, for Britain has no money to spare

Madrid, ESP - 22 February 1783

The time has been, when my writing to you would not have depended on such a circumstance, for you are not mistaken in supposing that I was once your friend.

Madrid, ESP - 28 March 1783

So far as the peace respects France and America, I am persuaded it was wise in Britain to conclude it. The cessions to France are not, in my opinion, extravagant

Madrid, ESP - 8 April 1783

Permit me to introduce to you a gentleman who is going to help you to pay tuxes, and to participate in the liberties which render them necessary, viz. Mr. Joshua Grigley.

Madrid, ESP - 11 May 1783

You belong to a large and helpless family, and I wish to see you as able, as I hope you would be willing, to provide for them.

Madrid, ESP - 10 February 1784

You suppose that ill health induces me to resign. You are mistaken. It seldom happens that any measure is prompted by one single motive, though one among others may sometimes have decisive weight and influence.

Madrid, ESP - 25 February 1784

I have never broken the bands of friendship in my life, nor when once broken, have I ever been anxious to mend them.

Madrid, ESP - 13 October 1792

I have received your festina Jente letter, but wish it had been at least partly in cipher ; you need not be informed of my reasons for the wish, as by this time you must know that seals are, on this side of the water, rather matters of decoration