I have delayed writing to your Excellency in expectation of having it in my power to advise you that the unfortunate Mr. Hartwell would be entirely extricated from the situation, to which however as you will see by the enclosed papers his imprudence exposed him. Much about the time I received your Excellency’s letter respecting his confinement at Logroño one written to me from Bourdeaux gave me the same information. I immediately wrote to Bilboa to obtain a circumstantial account of the abovementioned gentleman, but not receiving in course of post an answer to my letters, I made use of that of your Excellency in an office I passed to His Excellency the Cte. de Florida Blanca reclaiming his liberty and the restitution of his property—the annexed No. 1. is a copy of the answer thereto. Your Excellency will perceive by its contents that some time must elapse, owing to the forms established by the tribunal of the Inquisition, before the prisoner could receive any material benefit from my application, and in consequence, altho I frequently pressed dispatch in an affair which affected the liberty and interests of a Countryman I did not receive further advice from the Minister until the 2d of last month. No. 2. is a copy of Ct. F. Blanca’s letter in the interval between the reception of the abovementioned letters the enclosed No. 3. was sent me without signature by a person at Bilbao whom I know to be connected with Mr. Hartwell. On receiving the answer of the court No. 2. I wrote Mr. Hartwell to know what I could do further for his service I have lately received a letter from him requesting me to procure him entire liberty—The Ct de F. Blanca will readily grant his request on condition that he will leave Spain. The condition is not made by the Minister, but by the confessor and inquisitor general. The altercation which the case of Mr. Hartwell has occasioned between the Ct. de F. B. and the two latter, will give a great shock to the power of the Inquisition, as I am assured that the Tribunal will be restricted in future from passing sentence on any Grandee of Spain, on all persons employed in the councils, in the army, navy &c. or on any foreigner until the process has been submitted to his Majesty that is to his Minister.

In the month of Novr I received advice from Cadiz of the capture of an American vessel by a corsair of the Emperor of Morrocco—I was also informed you had been applied to on the same subject. I immediately requested the Chargé D’Affaires of France agreeable to the 8th Art. of our Treaty, to write to the consul of his nation to employ his good offices to procure the liberation of the vessel and crew and endeavour to induce the Emperor to suspend farther hostilities until Congress have time to take such measures as they might judge proper to produce a good understanding between the two Countries. I also prevailed on the Ambassador of Holland, the Minister of Sweden and Chargé D’Affaires of Denmark to write to their respective Consuls for the same purpose. Finding by letters I received from the Sea-ports of this Kingdom that the merchants were under the greatest apprehensions for vessels expected from America; I took occasion to insinuate to the Ct. de F. Blanca how agreeable it would be to the People of America to learn that his C. M. had interposed his interference on a subject of such importance to their commercial interests, that not being authorized, I could not officially request it, but that animated by a sincere desire to promote a good understanding between the two countries I could not let slip the occasion of giving his Excellency an opportunity of exerting his influence with his Majesty to render a service which could not be but productive of the happiest consequences. That Minister with much apparent candor assured me of his readiness to serve us on this occasion; but seemed to think it requisite that I should write to him on the subject, this I did and No. 4. is the copy of his answer. The enclosed copies of letters which I have received from Barbary will shew your Excellency the situation in which this affair remains.

I lately received letters from Robert Morris Esqr. containing a letter from the President of the Committee of the States and Copies of letters from Mr. Pollock and others at the Havanna complaining of the cruelty and injustice of the Spanish Government—I immediately laid these complaints before the Minister and have obtained orders to render justice, to the parties aggrieved. The Governor will be reprimanded by the Kings direction. I have not yet received these assurances in writing, but have been promised an answer to my office in time for the march packet. I meant to have written more fully to your Excellency, but as the person to whose care I commit this, is only waiting for my letters, I must conclude with praying you to make the proper Compliments for me to Messrs. Adams and Jefferson, to the Marquis de la Fayette and my name same and to believe me with much respect and affection Your Excellency’s Obliged and obedient Servant