[Extract]
N^o. 3.

Ex^mo. S^or.

Ha destinado V.E. la Carta No. 1178. de 26. de Noviembre¹ á los puntos relativos a las Colonias Anglo-americanas, y voi á contextarla despues de haber enterado al Rey de las diversas especies que contiene, y tomado sus R^s. ordenes sobre cada punto.

Ha parecido mui bien á S.M. quanto V.E. ha trabado con M^r. Grand, interlocutor de los Diputados Americanos, sobrè la restitucion de la embarcacion Francesa la Fortunée cargada para el Comercio de Cadiz, y apresada por un Cosario insurgente,² por la sola razon de venir de Puerto Ingles con generos Yngleses.

Mediante las ofertas hechas á V.E. por esos Diputados de escribir inmediatamente al Congreso para la restitucion de la presa y resarcim^to de todos perjuicios, las me didas que iban á tomar para evitar se incurriese en adelante en otros atentados de igual naturaleza, el sentimiento con que se hallaban, su sumisa disposicion á quanto pudiese satisfacer á S.M. y la confirmacion de estas expresiones en la Memoria³ que entregaron á V.E. y me remite, queda S.M. enteram^te. satisfecho, y aprueba admitiese V.E. la Memoria, puesto de acuerdo anticipadamente para ello con el S^r. Conde de Vergennes.

Ahora manifestará V.E. á los Diputados para su consuelo, que su deferencia y disposiciones han merecido el agrado de S.M. asi como el insulto del Cosario le causó gran desagrado, que precisa recomienden al Congreso mucha firmeza en hacer executar las órdenes que tienen sus Armadores de respetar el Pavellon Español y no inquietar en ninguna manera su Comercio, pues no podrá tolerar S.M, lo contrario, y que en el caso presente, prescindiendo de la pronta restitucion y resarcimiento completo de daños, de que no desisterá S.M., experimentarán como hasta ahora la continuacion de los efectos de la R^t. liberalidad y compasion con que los mira su mag nanimo corazon, y de que verán pruebas efectivas y no escasas.

Este mismo en todas sus partes expresará V.E. para su noticia al S^r. Conde de Vergennes.

Para govierno solo de V.E. le diré que la intencion del Rey en qualesquiera so corros que haga á los Americanos, és no legarse con promesas ni contratos por muchas consideraciones que interesan tanto su honor quanto su politica, combinando todas las circunstancias actuales de Europa con nuestros intereses y la situacion de nuestros negocios.

Queda enterado S.M. de haber recibido M^r. Lee Cartas credenicales del Con greso que le autorizan directamente para España, y aprueba la respuesta que dió V.E. á su insinuacion de si vendria personalmente á noticiarlo; pues si hubiese venido, no solo no hubiera permitido S.M. se le escuchase ni admitiese á tratar negocio al guno sino que le hubiera hecho salir, no siendo en ninguna manera necesaria la res idencia aqui de ningun Diputado Americano.....

Dios gu^l á V.E. m^s. a^s. Madrid á 9. de Diciembre de 1777

[Translation]
No. 3.

Most Excellent Sir

Your Excellency has devoted letter no. 1178 of November 26¹ to topics relating to the Anglo-American colonies, and I am going to answer it after having in formed the King on the various items it contained and receiving his royal orders on each point

His Majesty was pleased when Your Excellency was dealing with Mr. Grand, speaker for the American Deputies on the return of the French ship la Fortunée, laden for the commerce of Cadiz and which was captured by an insurgent privateer² for the sole reason that it came from an English port with English goods.

The offers made to Your Excellency by those Deputies to write immediately to Congress for return of the captured ship and compensation for all damages, the measures which they were going to take to avoid the occurrence of other attacks of this nature, their regret, their willingness to submit to whatever may satisfy His Majesty, and confirmation of these statements in the Memorials that they delivered to Your Excellency and is sent to me, His Majesty rests entirely satisfied, and approves Your Excellency's accepting the Memorial,³ on account of the agreement obtained beforehand for him with the Comte de Vergennes.

Now Your Excellency will show the Deputies, for their consolation, that their deference and disposition have earned the approval of His Majesty as much as the attack of the privateer has caused him displeasure. He goes on to say they should recommend that Congress firmly enforce the orders given their privateers to respect the Spanish flag, and not hinder Spanish commerce in any way, and that His Majesty would not in any way tolerate the contrary. He says that in the present case, as long as the ship is returned and compensation made for damages—failure to do so will not be countenanced by His Majesty—they will continue to enjoy the effects of royal indulgence and compassion with which his magnanimous heart regards them, and of which they will see actual proofs and not parsimonious ones.

Your Excellency will please express these statements in their totality to the Comte de Vergennes.

For your Excellency's sole guidance I will tell you that the intention of the king in providing aid to the Americans is not to commit himself to promises or contracts for many considerations which involve either his honor or politics, but rather to take into account all the current circumstances of Europe as well as our interests and the situation of our commerce.

His Majesty was informed that Mr. Lee received credentials in the form of letters from Congress which directly authorize him for Spain, and approves the response which Your Excellency gave to his suggestion that he come personally to inform him. If Mr. Lee would have come here, not only would His Majesty not have permitted him to be heard or allowed any dealing to take place, but also would have made him leave, as he believes that it is in no way necessary for an American Deputy to reside here. ...

May God keep you many years. Madrid 9 December 1777.

El Conde de Floridablanca