There is reason to think his nomination and instructions will have his Majesty's approbation on Sunday next, though possibly it may not be formally communicated until the Court is at the Escurial, to which place the royal family goes the 10th of next month.

M. Del Campo, whom I mentioned in my last, is the person who probably will be chosen. I repeat his name lest that letter should miscarry; he is First Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs and acting Secretary of the Council of State, and has the reputation of possessing great abilities and application to business, and I believe he merits what is said of him. He has also the entire confidence of the Count de Florida Blanca. His residence in England as Secretary of the embassy there, and his attention to Mr. Cumberland and family while here, occasioned some to believe him secretly inclined to the interests of that country, but, I believe, without foundation, for I know that Mr. Cumberland left this country much chagrined, and I believe he was the dupe of this gentleman's policy. I have had the satisfaction of being on very good terms with him for several months past, and have often expressed to him my hopes and wishes that he might prove another M. Gerard in our affairs. His being employed in this negociation is so far favorable to us as its successful issue interests his own reputation, and will be probably a step to further honors and employments to which, as mentioned in my last, the public opinion destines him. I hope the Court is now serious in its intentions to conclude the negociations, but it is still not improbable this business may be delayed until the fate of the campaign is known, unless it should be accelerated by the confirmation of news received from Cadiz last week of the arrival of Count de Grasse's squadron on the coast of Virginia, the consequent critical situation of the army of Lord Cornwallis, and the defeat of Lord Rawdon by General Greene.

I shall seize every opportunity of informing the Committee of the progress made in this important business, and am happy to find by a letter I have just had the honor to receive from Mr. Lovell, dated the 15th of June, that my correspondence has contributed in any degree to the satisfaction of Congress, but am surprised that so few of my letters have reached the Committee; for on reading the list of those received, and comparing it with my letter-book, I find several missing which were sent by vessels from Bilboa and elsewhere, which I know arrived in safety to America, particularly my

answer to Mr. Jay's instructions to me at Cadiz, of which he sent only the state of the revenues and expenses of this country in the year 1778.

I am informed by letters from Holland that Mr. Adams has had a nervous fever, but that he is now in a fair way to recover. The South Carolina frigate sailed from thence, with the ships under her convoy, the 19th ultimo. I hope their safe arrival will convey to Congress ample information of the situation of their affairs in that quarter. I am afraid the loan does not fill fast, because I have letters from a house at Hamburg which mention that Congress bills to a large amount, that they had presented for acceptance, had been protested. The Republican party gains ground, and the Duke of Brunswick, though not removed, is obliged to act with more caution, and the Stadtholder with more resolution and force. I am informed that the Court of France has consented to replace the cargo lost in the Marquis de la Fayette, but Dr. Franklin is not enabled to accept any more of Mr. Jay's bills, even for our salaries.

The rumors of a general negociation subside, owing, it is said, to the obstinacy of Great Britain and the demands of this Court. The Imperial Minister has just received a courier from his Court charged with its excuses for the detention of a Spanish courier, who, after delivering his despatches to the Spanish Ambassador at Vienna, on his journey from thence to Petersburgh, was stopped in Hungary, and not permitted to proceed until released by order of the Imperial Court. The Imperial Minister named to the Court of Berlin from hence will soon go thither; his nomination is still a secret. The Spanish squadron has returned to Cadiz. Major Franks will leave this next week. I must do this officer the justice to observe to the Committee that he has conducted himself with great discretion and economy here, and I hope that Congress will be induced by the success and expedition with which he delivered their despatches to Mr. Jay, to send in future such as are important in a similar way. I have the honor to be, &c., WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.

TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

Gentlemen,

Madrid, October 5th, 1781.

On my arrival here from St. Ildefonso this day, I found the

enclosed letters for his Excellency the President of Congress from Mr. Dumas. On the 14th and 28th ultimo I wrote to the Committee that the Court appeared more serious in its intentions of bringing on the negociation than it had shown itself to be for a long time. In my last I informed the Committee that M. Del Campo would probably be appointed to negociate with Mr. Jay, and that his instructions and nomination would have his Majesty's approbation on the night of the 30th ultimo. The Minister of State once proposed to entrust M. Gardoqui with this business. Yesterday, when I left the Sitio, the Court had not formally notified the appointment to Mr. Jay; but from some hints I received from wellinformed persons, I have hopes that the communication will be made either before he comes from thence to-morrow, or directly after the Court is fixed at the Escurial. I shall, however, be very agreeably disappointed if much progress is made in this affair until the fate of the campaign is known.

The last post from France and Holland brought no news of an interesting nature. The French and Spanish troops destined to reinforce the Duc de Crillon's army at Minorca are not yet embarked, and he cannot act with effect until he receives reinforcements. It is said the desertion from the place is considerable. The South Carolina frigate, armed for that State in Holland, has put into Corunna, and I am concerned to find by letters from Messrs Searle and Trumbull, passengers on board, that Commodore Gillon's conduct is much censured. Knowing Mr. Searle's zeal and solicitude for the public interest, I must own that his letter has influenced my opinion in a great degree; but it would be unjust to condemn the former before having seen an exposition of the reasons which have determined his conduct, and which he has promised to forward to Mr. Jay by express.

The fact is, he sailed from the Texel without the ships he had engaged to escort; that he has cruised six or seven weeks with little success, and that he has been obliged to put into the port abovementioned to refit and get a supply of provisions, which he writes he shall do immediately. It is probable Mr. Jay may think proper to send me to Corunna in this business, which commission, I must confess, I shall accept with reluctance; because I not only foresee the delay and expense that must inevitably have place if this Government is obliged to interfere, but the disgrace which must

ensue from the notoriety of these unhappy differences between the commander and the American gentlemen aboard. I have another motive, which arises from the nature of the employment with which Congress has honored me, and which, with submission, I conceive does not admit of my absence at the most important period of the negociation, when most knowledge is to be acquired of the real dispositions and intentions of this Court, and when I may avail myself of the esteem and confidence with which the proposed negociator has appeared to honor me for several months past. Although, for the reasons abovementioned, and for others which I could add, I may leave the Court at this crisis with reluctance, I shall, if directed, proceed to Corunna, and execute the trust reposed in me with a zeal, assiduity, and activity which, I hope, will always influence my conduct when the public interest and reputation are in question.

I enclose a letter for his Excellency the Chevalier de la Luzerne from the Count de Montmorin, whose talents and warm espousal of our interests, not only here, but at his own Court, entitle him to the approbation and esteem of Congress. I just hear that the Court has received advices from Buenos Ayres, dated the 7th of July. These are very agreeable. The rebellion mentioned in my former letters is entirely quelled by the defeat and capture of the Indian chief at the head of it, and his principal officers, cannon, treasure, &c., &c. It seems two English officers are in the number of the prisoners, and that many letters and papers were found, which discover that the Portuguese excited and fomented these disturbances.*

The Havana fleet is expected daily. On its arrival, perhaps, the Court may do something for us. But I repeat again that little is to be depended on in the money way. Letters from France talk of a large expedition preparing at Brest. Its object is a secret. I shall seize every opportunity of informing the Committee of what passes in Europe relative to our affairs, and in future will multiply the copies of my letters to ensure their safe arrival.

I have the honor to be, &c.,

WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.

This alludes to the revolt of the celebrated Peruvian Chief, Tupac Amaru, of which an eloquent account is given by Dean Funes, in his Ensayo de la Historia Civil del Paraguay, Buenos Ayres y Tucuman. See North American Review, Vol. XX., p. 283

TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

Madrid, November 17th, 1781.

Gentlemen,

On the 2d instant the pretended ex-Jesuit who made so much noise in the English papers last winter and spring was arrested at the Escurial, where he arrived the day before from Lisbon, under an assumed name. Commodore Johnson sent him to Rio Janeiro, in order to pass from thence to the Spanish settlements in Peru. He pretended to the Portuguese Governor that he had been taken by Johnson on his way to the Caracas, but the former, from some suspicion arising from the man's appearance and story, refused him permission to pass into the country, which obliged him to embark for Lisbon, at which place, under his borrowed name, he addressed Don Ferdinand Nunes, the Spanish Ambassador, offering to make some important discoveries to the Count de Florida Blanca. The former advised the Minister of these offers, and was directed by him to furnish the person in question with cash for his journey. It is said that he was recognized the very day of his arrival at the Escurial by one who knew him at Buenos Ayres. It is more probable that M. Nunes knew his real character previous to his departure from Lisbon, for the magistrate whom the Minister of the Indies employs on such occasions, went to the Escurial with his officers the day he arrived there, and arrested him the same evening. He is now in close prison, and I am told has discovered all he knew relative to the designs of the English to foment the spirit of revolt existing in that country. This affair furnished conversation to the Court the few days I resided at the Escurial, whither I went, at the instance of the French Ambassador, to Mr. Jay, to be present at the Besa Manos, on St. Carlos's day.

I found by conversation with M. del Campo, First Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs, that nothing had been done by the Court to advance the conferences for a treaty since it left St. Ildefonso. In my letter of the 5th of October, I mentioned that the gentleman abovenamed was nominated by the King to treat with Mr. Jay; this nomination has never been formally communicated, but I had my information from such a quarter that I am convinced the appointment was made, and the instructions given near about the time mentioned in my letter. Multiplicity of business, and the confusion occasioned