From William Carmichael (unpublished)
Madrid 14th April 1783
Dear Sir

I had the honor to address your Excellency some time ago by the Baron le Fort and to advise you that I should find myself under the necessity of calling on you for the advances made by our Bankers here for the Public.

After having delayed as long as possible these payments, as well to comply with the request you made Mr. Jay to give you all the time in his power at the period you authorized him to draw on you for this purpose, as on account of the loss which would have arisen from the Depretiation of the paper money and the consequent effect it had on the course of exchange, I now find myself absolutely constrained to satisfy their demands and therefore Draw upon you this day for £30000 in favor of Messrs. Cabarrus & Co. and for £2254 2s. in favor of Messrs. Drouilhet? on the public Account. I transmit herewith the accompts of these Gentlemen to your Excy. lest Mr. Jay should have left Paris. I sent to that Gentleman Mr. Cabarrus Account in the month of Novr. Last and in the letter which I wrote him on that Occasion repeated a request mentioned in a former to have Copies of the receipts he took from Mr. Cabarrus for the Sums placed in his hands. For these being cheifly in paper bearing a daily Interest and the payments having been often made some days after the receipt of the Money from Others, This Circumstance creates a difference in my Entries and Mr. Cabarru’s Credits which cannot be ascertained so accurately as I desire without the receipts which that Banker gave to Mr. Jay.

I have compared the bills paid by these Gentlemen with their Accounts and my Books and I find their Entries thereof as accurate and as correspondent with mine as the Time of their presentation for payment (frequently irregular) permitted.

I gave Mr. Jay a State of the Accounts of the Marquis de Yranda and Mr. Gardoqui before he left this Country. I received from him my Salary in proportion I beleive as he received his from your Excy and I expected that when he settled his private Account with you, he would have Informed you of the Amount of what he paid me, as he has my receipts for the same. I began to draw upon you in the Month of March 1782 when there was a considerable ballance due me. The next Post you will receive my account from that Period, for what precedes you will please to have recourse to Mr. Jay.

In consequence of Advice which I have received from your Grandson I take the Liberty of Drawing upon you for £7524 10s. 8d. in favor of Messrs. Drouilhets.

Permit me to thank you for your kindness in accepting hitherto my bills. My situation otherwise would have been extremely embarrassing. The Marquis de la Fayette and others can Inform you that If I spend what Congress allows me, It is more for their Service, than my own Pleasure.

I have waited hitherto for Mr. Jay’s answer to the Count de Arandas Communication of the present Disposition of this Court to regulate my Conduct thereby; But unless I hear soon from that Gentleman, I shall request the Minister to fix a day for my presentation to the King and Royal Family as Chargé des Affaires of the United States. In every Other respect I am treated as such and have every reason to be personally satisfied with the Conduct of the Minister. With the greatest respect and Affection I have the honor to be your Excellencys Obliged and Humble Servant

Wm. Carmichael

His Excy Benjamin Franklin
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