On the 25th. Inst. I received a Letter from you dated the 24th Novr. 1784 inclosing the Copy of an Answer made by the Commissioners to the Spanish Ambassader at Paris and also a Letter from Mr. Jay. This astonishing detention is the more distressing to me, as it subjects me to an imputation of neglect to a Person whom of all others, I should wish least to entertain such an Idea of me. I made the Same day complaint to Escarano one of the Directers of the Post Office and inclose you a letter I received from him on the Subject. The British Minister Mr. Lister being with Escarano for a similar purpose at the Time I remonstrated on this Extraordinary Conduct, I took the Liberty of writing him a note requesting him to favor me with the Motives of his complaint. He favored me with the Inclosed Answer. Mr. Escarano assured me that the Letter had not been detained in the Office here and that he should write to Vittoria to prevent in future a neglect of this Nature. I beg your care of these Letters, because I may need them hereafter.

Since my Letter of the 27th. Ulto. I have received an answer from the Ct de Florida Blanca to my representations in favor of Several Americans at the Havanna complaining of the oppression and Injustice of the Spanish Governor who unfortunately happens to be the Husband of the Sister of the Countess of Galven, wife of the favored nephew of the Minister of the Indias. The Ct de Florida Blanca had promised me, that not only satisfaction should be made to the Sufferers, but that the Governor should be reprimanded in his Majesty’s Name—So that the difference between his verbal and written Answer must have originated in the Department of the Indies—As this Answer is by no means Satisfactory, I have had again recourse to the Ct de Florida Blanca by a memorial couched in very strong but decent terms. To this memorial I have received no Answer. That Minister told me in a Friendly Manner the last time I spoke to him on the Subject “you and I will settle all these affairs amicably at Aranjuer, Here it is impossible to do any thing” This is in some measure true. The Intermarriages take up the attention of the Court at present; The Portuguese Ambassador made his public Entry and demand on the 27th, the Same Evening the Infanta was married by Proxy; I was present at the Signing of the Articles of Marriage and at the Ceremony. The Chargé D’Affaires of France and myself were the only persons of our character who were at court on this occasion. The Ambassador of Portugal has been decorated with the Toison D’Or and received the Insignia of the order in a Magnificent present of Valuable Diamonds. These marriages Cost a great deal of Money to Spain and Portugal. To these Disbursements, as not being a Subject of either Country, I should submit without murmuring, But unfortunately I am taxed against my consent, for the King has been pleased to order Gala for three days at Court and Illuminations for three nights, and all the Corps Diplomatique have received official Letters to this purpose. Your friendship led you—to advice me to retrench my expences; and my Situation and Inclinations induce me to follow your advice, But I am persuaded that when you know that I am obliged to take four different Lodgings in the year here, and at the different residences of the Royal Family, that when you consider the Expence of voyages Backwards and forwards from these residences, with those of removing to and Fro’ furniture &c and you will easily perceive that unless I render myself particular, It is and will be impossible for me to oeconomise more than I do. During more than five years that I have been here, I have never charged my postage to Congress, neither have I made the least charge of new years Gifts to the Servants of the King, Ministers Post office &c &c which however are regular Taxes received by these Gentry from the Corps Diplomatique. Ambassadors pay more than sixty pounds at that period and Chargé D’Affaires from twenty five to thirty guineas—My presentation to the Royal Family cost me more than thirty five pounds Sterling. These Marriages will cost me in extraordinaries more than fifty pounds Sterling, and Still other who are not so well paid nominally as Myself, and who I know have nothing of their own, have put themselves to still greater Expence, because being allowed for extraordinary Expences they find ways and means to make their Courts pay fully these and other disbursements, by which they are enabled to make a certain     figure. As I never shall write to Congress on this Subject, without knowing the Sentiments of others employed by them at Foreign Courts, I must beg your Excellency to give me yours and at the Same time to communicate to Messrs. Adams and Jefferson that I have the honor to write you at present, that I may have theirs. I have not mentioned my expences on my voyage to and from Paris, altho’ then Absorbed in a great measure the Little savings which I flattered myself I should be enabled to make to reimburse what I have spent of my private Patromony since I have been here. I am sorry to trouble your Excellency so much on my own Account. The confidence I have in your friendship is the only Apology I can make.

Some questions made me by the Ambassador of Venice and the Minister of Genoa, induce me to pray you to inform me, whether Congress Authorized their Commissioners to treat with these Republics and in consequence whether propositions have been made to the respective Ambassador and Minister of those Republics at Paris—From the Desultory conversation I have had with the Abovementioned Ministers, It appears to me, that in some Treaties with these Republics, A Convention might be made, obliging the Contending Parties to furnish certain quotas to support a war against the Piratical States Should not other ways and means be found to pacify them. This might make the United States to commence a Little Marine, partly paid by others. I take the Liberty merely of suggesting the Idea you will judge of its practicability and expedience. By Letters which I received from Gebralter dated the 11th Inst. I am informed that the Governor of Tanger, had the Emperors orders to put the Captain in possession of the vessel carried in these some months ago and to furnish him with every assistance that he might Stand in need of. I wish this Intelligence may prove true. With a cordial and affectionate Compliments to My Name Sake. I have the honor to be With great Respect Your Excellency’s Most Affectionate and Obliged Humble Servant