d by the British Court have no
apprehensions, and, possibly, the capture of these papers may
eventually be of great advantage to the United States, by
precipitating the conduct of England, and obliging the States to take
a part contrary to their dispositions, and, perhaps, to the interest
of one or other nation. The situation of M. Dumas is rendered more
critical by this circumstance, and it would be injustice to him not to
mention, that he is indefatigable to contribute to our information by
his correspondence, and by his frequent publications to represent our
situation in the most favorable point of view.

Mr Jay will transmit Congress a full state of our affairs here, with
all the papers necessary to elucidate it. I have seen but one letter
from Congress since my residence in Spain, from which I conjecture Mr
Jay has received but one. He informs me he has written Congress, that
it has not been my fault, that all copies of letters for their
inspection did not appear with my signature. In the month of May, I
answered in writing the instructions he gave me at Cadiz, as I did
_viva voce_ at Aranjues in April, before he entered Madrid. I should
not mention this circumstance to the Committee, if I did not know that
copies of these instructions had been forwarded to Congress, and only
abstracts of the most important part of my answer sent them; I will
take the liberty, therefore, of sending by the first safe opportunity
the whole of my answer, from no other motive than that of evincing my
desire to comply in every point with the duties of the trust reposed
in me.

I have the honor to be, &c.

WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.

_P. S. December 8th._--The Count d'Estaing sailed the 7th ult. from
Cadiz, and, as yet, we have no news of his arrival in France. Mr
Cumberland is still here, and waits an answer to despatches sent by
the Abbe Hussey to England, which is daily expected. Mr Jay has
received a letter from the Count de Vergennes, that France cannot
provide for the payment of your bills here. But I always hope the
credit of America must not be ruined for want of L100,000 sterling,
although, personally, your servants have not money to pay their debts.

W. C.

FOOTNOTES:

[8] See all the above papers in the Annual Register for 1780, pp.
356-380.

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TO TH