[Extract]
N^o. 1178 Ex^tmo S^or.

Mui senor mio: En la expedicion de V.E. de 23. Octubre que recibió D^n. Ignacio Heredia en mi ausencia, los n^os. 2. y 11. tratan de asuntos de los Americanos; en aquel¹ se manifiestan las intenciones del Rey de ayudarlos competemente; y en este² se explica S.M. justamente disgustado del exceso cometido por un Corsario Insurgente³ apresando la embarcacion Francesa la Fortunée cargada con generos para el Comercio de Cadiz, por la sola razon de serlo Ingleses, y venir de aquellos puertos.

Mandabame S.M. hacer à  ésta Corte la explicacion correspondiente; y la evacuó imediamente D^n. Ignacio Heredia con copia que entregó del Oficio de V.E. à M^r. Devergennes. Igualmente queria el Rey que yo hiciese entender à los Diputados no solo la restitucion de la presa con total resarcimiento de los perjuicios causados, sino tambien unas eficaces providencias para que en lo sucesivo se evitasen iquales atentados.

Para evacuar ésta parte, luego que me restituí, llamé à M^r. Grand el interlocutor reconcido como V.E. sabe; le comuniqué quanto debía, y desde luego el mismo me manifestó el sentimíento con que se hallaban Franklin, Deane, y Lee, habiendo sabido por el S^r. Conde Devergennes el suceso, y el sumo desagrado del Rey Catholico: quedó en trasladar à dichos Diputados mi explicacion, y sus requisitos, y volvió en el sipiente día à manifestarme de parte de ellos la mas sumisa disposicion, à quanto pudiese satisfacer à S.M., y contribuir à evitar que se repitiesen semejantes desordenes.

Aseguróme M^r. Grand que por primera ocasion escribirían al Congreso para la restitucion de la presa, y resarcimiento de sus daños, como tambien para que con el mayor rigor impusiese à los Corsarios la continencia debida; y aun para remediar de pronto en lo posible comunicarían à sus corresponsales en los diferentes puertos de Europa una orden, para hacerla saber à todos los bastimentos Americanos que arribasen a fin de instruirlos, y encargarles que à quantos encontrasen de su Nacion en sus navegaciones, les previniesen la conducta que debian observar, para no incurir en aciones de ésta naturaleza.

En uno de los dias pasados me trajo M^r. Grand el borrador de una Memoria que pensaban pasarme los Diputados para dirigirla à mi Corte como en satisfaction de lo ocurrido, manifestando su sentimiento, y ofreciendo practicar quanto les fuese dable en prueba de su respeto por los Soberanos de Borbon. Preguntéle si la habia visto M^r. Devergennes, y respondiendome que no, le dixe que practicase con S.E. el mismo paso de exponersela; y que aquello que M^r. Devergennes aprobase, ò corrigiese, sería igualmente mi dictamen.

El 21. estube en Versailles, y pregunté à M^r. Devergennes si el Banquero Grand había complido con mi encargo de hacerle ver la Memoria dispuesta por los Diputados, diciendole al propio tiempo que yo me remitía à lo que S.E. arreglase; y me asequró que si, y haberle prevenido, que suprimiesen la proposicion que hacian de que entrasen en los puertos de ambas Coronas abiertamente sus corsarios con las presas, y que los Almirantazgos juzgasen desde luego las que fuesen hechas en debida forma, y las que practicadas fuera de las reglas corrientes; porque el admitir francamente los armadores con las presas hechas, era autorizar su Corso; y para que los Almirantazgos de por si tomasen conocimiento de las que se introdugesen, no necesitaban del permiso ò consentimiento de los Insurgentes.

Volviome à ver M^r. Grand, y habiendo quedado en que yo recibiría la Memoria que por M^r. Devergennes se hallase corriente, me ha trahido la que acompaño à V.E.⁴

Ha estado à verme M^r. Lee, para hacerme saber, que había recibido letras credenciales del Congreso, que lo autorizaban directamente para España, y me indicó si pasaría personalmente à noticiarlo: Respondile, que en ninguna forma, por subsistir las propias razones que anteriormente, y por ser suficiente que me Corte lo supiese para algun caso necesario. . . .⁵

Dios g^e. à V.E. m^s. a^s. Paris 26. de Nov^bre. de 1777.

Ex^mo. S^r. B. L. M. de VE. su seg^o. ser.

[Translation]

Dear Sir

In Your Excellency's packet dated October 23, received by Sir Ignacio Heredia in my absence, numbers 2 and 11 deal with the subject of the Americans. The former¹ expressed the King's intentions to give them adequate assistance and in the latter² His Majesty expresses justified displeasure with the immoderate act committed by an insurgent privateer³ in capturing the French ship la Fortunée laden with goods to sell in Cadiz, for the sole reason that these goods were English and it had come from English ports.

His Majesty asked me to make the proper explanations on this to this court, and Sir Ignacio Heredia did this immediately, sending a copy from Your Excellency's office to M. de Vergennes. The Eiing also wanted me to ensure that I made the deputies realize, not just that they must return the spoils with total compensation for damages caused, but also that measures must be taken to ensure that such attacks will not happen again in the future.

To fulfill this part of the request, as soon as I returned, I called on M. Grand, their acknowledge spokesman, as you know. I spoke to him about that which was required and immediately he himself passed on to me the opinions held by Franklin, Deane and Lee, having learned through the Comte de Vergennes the result and the extreme displeasure of the Catholic King. He agreed to give my explication and its stipulations to these deputies and returned the next day to tell me that they had taken a very submissive stance with regard to satisfying His Majesty and avoiding a repetition of these disruptions.

M. Grand assured me that they would take the first opportunity to write to Congress to return the spoils, make compensation for damages, and impose due restraint on the privateers. Also, to, remedy the situation as soon as possible, they would order their correspondents posted throughout Europe to inform all arriving American ships and charge them, when they meet others from their nation sailing, to warn them of the conduct they must observe to avoid committing an act of this type.

In the last few days, M. Grand brought me the first draft of a memorial which the deputies thought to send me, to pass on to my court as an apology for the occurrence. It contained their sentiments and an offer to do whatever was possible as proof of their respect for the sovereigns of Bourbon. I asked him if M. de Vergennes had seen it, and he answered that he had not. I told him to show to His Excellency the same text of apology, and whatever M. de Vergennes would approve or correct would be my judgment as well.

On the 21st, I was in Versailles and I asked M. de Vergennes whether M. Grand the banker had complied with my request to show him the memorial submitted by the deputies, telling him at the same time that I was referring to the one His Excellency was to check. He told me yes, and that he preferred to delete the proposition they were making that their privateers could enter the ports of both crowns openly with the prizes and that the admiralty courts be allowed to judge at that time which items were taken rightly and which taken illegally, because openly to receive the privateers with their prizes would be to sanction their act, and the admiralty courts themselves did not need the insurgents' consent to take cognisance of the prizes they brought in.

I went back to see M. Grand and having agreed to receive the report that M. de Vergennes emended, I have brought the one I am enclosing to Your Eccellency.⁴

M. Lee came to see me to let me know that he had received letters of credence from Congress, which authorized him directly for Spain, and asked me if he should come personally to notify me of it. I told him no, to continue as before, and it was enough that my court knew of it if needed. . . .⁵

God keep your Excellency many years. Paris November 26, 1777.

Most Excellent Sir, I kiss the hand of your Excellency, your devoted servant

El Conde de Aranda