From John Jay to Montmorin, 26 June [–19 July] 1782
To Montmorin
Paris 26 June [–19 July] 1782
Dear Sir
I devote the first Leisure moment which has occurred since my arrival, to the Pleasure of writing a few Lines to You—
Our Journey was pursued without any avoidable Intermission, to Bayonne, where it became adviseable to rest a few Days; and where we recieved many kind attentions from1 Monsr. Formalaguer, to whom it seems you and the Chevalier2 had been so obliging as to make friendly mention of us— That City is turning it’s Attention to the american Trade, and it’s Situation, in certain Respects is favorable to that Design—
Your Friend Mr. Risteau at Bordeaux pleased me much—there is a Frankness in his Manner, and a Warmth about his Heart, that is very engaging.3 I made some agreable acquaintances in that City, and wish I could have stayed longer with them. Commerce, appears to flourish there, and if their Trade with America could be properly protected, there is Reason to believe that it would soon become an object of great Importance.—
on leaving Bordeaux Mrs. Jay catched an intermitting Fever, which with the great Demand for Post Horses made by the Prince du Nord, delayed us greatly.
I went with Dr. Franklin to Versailles the Day after my arrival— The Minister4 spoke of you in Terms very friendly and very just—and my next Visit would have been to the Countess de Montmorin,5 but as we learned that a Mail was to be dismissed for Philadelphia To Day, we returned immediately to prepare our Dispatches; so that I have been obliged to deny myself the Honor of paying my Respects to a Lady, whose Character and Connection with you, render me particularly desirous of seeing. To Morrow we are promised a Visit from the Marqs. de la Fayette and his Lady—after which I shall take the first opportunity me poner a los Pies de la Condesa de Montmorin—6 I am not sure that this is good Spanish—if not I wish the Inspectors of the Post Office may be so obliging as to correct it—7
19 July
I had written thus far when a Variety of Interruptions prevented my proceeding for several Days, and then I became violently attacked with the Influenza, from which I am just now beginning to recover. It has been very severe in all my Family, none except my Nephew, having escaped.8 Mrs. Jay has been obliged to struggle with that and the intermitting Fever together, and this is the first Day that she has been out of the House since our Arrival. I am much mortified at not having yet seen the Countess de Montmorin. The Day before I was taken sick, I did myself the Honor of calling at her House, but she was from Home. As soon as the Doctor sets me at Liberty, the first use I shall make of it will be to renew my visit.—
What I have seen of France pleases me exceedingly— Doctr. Franklin has recd. some late noble Proofs of the Kings Liberality in the Liquidation of his Accounts, and the Terms & Manner of paying the Ballance due on them.9 No People understand doing civil Things so well as the French. The Aids they have afforded us recieved additional value from the generous and gracious Manner in which they were supplied, and10 that Circumstance will have a proportionable Degree of Influence in cementing the Connection between the two Countries—
I think the late Resolutions and Conduct of America respecting Mr Carlton’s proposed Correspondence with Congress must have given you Pleasure.11 As Monsr. De Clonard passed thro’ Spain, he doubtless brought you Copies—12 Some Letters and Instructions I have recd. by the same Vessel, contain strong Evidence of the Determination of Congress to consult the Interest and wishes of France upon all occasions.13
I have seen and dined with the Count d Aranda—14 His Conversation leads me to suspect that his Court is at last in earnest—this however is a Question which Facts, & not Words, must determine.15 It is hard to judge of Men, especially of old Politicians—at present I like the Count, for he appears frank and candid, as well as sagacious— They say he is a little obstinate, but for my part, I prefer plain dealing obstinate Men to those who like the Moon, change once a Fortnight, and are mere Dispensors of borrowed Light.
I cannot forbear mentioning that I am particularly indebted to the polite Attention of your Friend Count D’Estaing— He is at Passy enjoying “otium cum Dignitate”—16 There is a singular Taste displayed in the ornaments of his House— The very Walls (like Portius in Addison’s Cato) are ambitiously sententious, and shew that they do not belong to an ordinary Man—
My Head begins to grow so dizzy that I must conclude this Letter—17 I am Dear Sir with great Esteem and Attachment your most obedient & very hble Servant
John Jay
P. S. I intended to have written also to the Chevr. but I must defer it
His Exy the Count de Montmorin18
1. Here in the draft JJ excised “the imperial Embassador” and interlined “Monsr. Formalaguer.”
2. Bourgoing.
3. In the Dft, JJ excised: “pleased me much ^is very engaging^— His attachment to you is strong”. The reference is probably to the Bordeaux merchant François Risteau (1714–84), a director of La Compagnie des Indes, correspondent of Montesquieu, and author, in 1751, of Réponse aux Observations sur L’Esprit des loix. Paul Burton Cheney, Revolutionary Commerce, Globalization, and the French Monarchy (Cambridge, Mass., 2010), 69, 70, 77, 81; Dictionnaire Biographique Universel et Pittoresque (Paris, 1834), 3: 158; Michael Sonenscher, Before the Deluge: Public Debt, Inequality, and the Intellectual Origins of the French Revolution (Princeton, 2007), 115, 135, 136, 167–69.
4. Vergennes.
5. Françoise-Gabrielle de Tane, Montmorin’s cousin, whom he had married in 1767. She has been described as “la grosse Madame de Montmorin,” “moins jeune et moins riche que son cousin, mais autrement intelligente, fine, délice et ambitieuse.” Frédéric Masson, Le départment des affaires étrangères pendant la revolution, 1787–1804 (Paris, 1877), 57.
6. “Place myself at the feet of” or pay my respects to Madame de Montmorin.
7. At this point in the Dft, JJ excised a passage beginning “Politics must for obvious Reasons be reserved for some future Letter”. He then scored out: “[illegible] objections that every body should know, so permit me [to] assure you, that I am with great Esteem and Regard and.” Three more lines, illegibly scored through, follow.
8. The Jays were victims of the influenza pandemic of 1781–82, which ranked as one of “the most widespread and dramatic outbreaks of disease in history” and reached France in June 1782. The same disease killed the Duke of Rockingham on 1 July, bringing about another change in the British ministry. K. David Patterson, Pandemic Influenza, 1700–1900 (Totawa, N.J. 1986), 20–24; , 280–81.
9. Several weeks later, on 16 July 1782, BF and Vergennes concluded an agreement that provided for repayment of loans from February 1778 to July 1782. The principal, amounting to 18 million livres tournois ($3,333,300), was to be repaid in twelve equal yearly installments of 1,500,000 l.t. ($277,800), payment to begin “the third year after a peace.” As “a new proof of his affection and friendship,” the king provided that the five percent annual interest on these sums would be computed not from the dates on which the loans were made, but from the “day of the date of the treaty of peace.” Provision was also made for American assumption of the Dutch loan of 1781. See , 24: 51–63.
10. In the Dft JJ excised “we sensibly find our Hearts uniting with our Interest” and interlined the passage that follows ending with “Influence.”
11. In response to Carleton’s peace feeler, Congress had resolved: “That the Commander in Chief be, and hereby is, directed to refuse the request of Sir Guy Carleton, of a passport for Mr. Morgan to bring despatches to Philadelphia.” , 22: 263.
12. Ambrose Sutton, chevalier de Clonard, a French naval officer and privateersman during the Revolution, remained with a small squadron left behind by de Grasse after Yorktown. In May 1782, La Luzerne picked Clonard to run the British coastal blockade to deliver dispatches to Europe. Clonard was in Spain in early July. See Carmichael to JJ, 3 July 1782, below; , 5: 602; and G. Rutherford, “Ambrose Sutton, Chevalier de Clonard, The Irish Sword,” Military History Society of Ireland, Journal, 1 (1952–53): 253–61.
13. A reference to a resolution of Congress reaffirming its determination to uphold the Alliance of 1778 and make no separate peace with Great Britain. The resolution had been proposed by RRL to quiet the French court’s anxiety concerning the recent British attempts to open separate peace talks in America, drafted by Madison, and finally accepted in altered form on 31 May 1782. See , 22: 302–5, 311–13; , 4: 192–93, 302–4; and the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to JJ, 9 May 1782, : 787–91.
14. On the meeting with Aranda, see Aranda to JJ, 27 June 1782, note 2, below.
15. In the Dft, JJ interlined and scored out “has lost somewhat of its Importance, and which.”
16. “Leisure with dignity.”
17. In his letter to JJ of 9 July 1782, ALS, NNC (EJ: 7586), Carmichael reported that both Montmorin and Bourgoing expressed surprise at not having yet heard from JJ.
18. Montmorin acknowledged receipt of this letter on 22 Aug. 1782, below.