son still believed that he was the best man for that particular place. The only American visiting Spain for several years after the inauguration of President Washington was David Humphreys. He had been Secretary to Washington, an intimate friend, and was sent as Minister to Portugal. When Humphreys informed Carmichael of the failure of his letters to reach Jefferson, he appeared much hurt, and showed Humphreys copies of letters and authenticated information gathered and sent to Jefferson. Humphreys was convinced that Carmichael had written often, and so wrote Jefferson, advancing the hypothesis that all had been intercepted. His opinion of Carmichael as Chargé d'Affaires is of interest coming as late as January, 1791. He wrote to Jefferson: "Mr. Carmichael being on terms of intimacy with the characters here, is certainly capable of effecting more at this court than any other American. He is heartily desirous of accomplishing the object in view at all events and fully determined to return to America in twelve or eighteen months at farthest." 45 46 In a letter sent by Colonel Humphreys to Lisbon to avoid interception, Carmichael expressed to Jefferson the depths of his humiliation that his time and fortune had been so ill spent. Recalling now the promise Jefferson had made him on his departure for America to use his time "to profit of any good occasion which may occur to show the difference between your real situation and what it ought to be," " Carmichael wrote: "Relying on the good opinion of me that you have been pleased to express on many occasions I entreat you to engage the President to permit me to return to my native country." 48 In the absence of President Washington, then in the South, Jefferson wrote to Carmichael that as changed circumstances indicated he would have an oppor 45 David Humphreys MSS., Humphreys to Secretary of State, Jan. 15, 1791, Dec. 18, 1790. 46 Carmichael MSS., Carmichael to Jefferson, Jan. 24, 1791. tunity to make a name for himself he would not present his request to the President unless it was repeated in a later letter. Jefferson, however, informed President Washington of Carmichael's request and the nature of his reply.“ The opportunity Jefferson had in mind was that of pressing the claim to navigation of the Mississippi, but the opportunity had passed. The resumption in 1792 of negotiations for a treaty with Spain, to be carried on at Madrid, with Carmichael and William Short as Commissioners, seemed to offer another chance. Jefferson, however, took care that Carmichael should have scant share in any glory to be gained at Madrid. Short went to Madrid, instructed by Jefferson to report on Carmichael, and with the promise that when the time was ripe for concluding negotiations Carmichael would be recalled and Short put in his place.50 When Carmichael was relieved and replaced by Short, as had been prearranged, changed conditions in Europe and the Jay treaty with England made it evident that Spain was at last eager for the long delayed treaty with the United States. At this propitious moment Mr. Short, much to his chagrin, was relieved by Thomas Pinckney, who reaped the benefit of such fame as the successful negotiator of a treaty receives.51 The death of Carmichael, early in 1795, prevented any regret that such fame was denied to him. In the foregoing pages the attempt has been made to give an account without bias of the mission of our first official representative at the Court of Spain. His continuance there for fourteen years would indicate a certain measure of the estimation in which his superiors held him. The unusual situation in which he was placed, being stationed at a court with which we had no treaty, without regular means of sending or receiving information, with a salary incommensurate "Jefferson MSS., Jefferson to President of the United States, April 2, 1791. 50 Ibid., Jefferson to Short (private), March 18, 1792. 51 Am. St. Papers, For. Rel., I, 496, Message of Pres. Washington, Nov. 21, 1794. with the expense of living decently in Spain, gradually exhausting his own financial resources to maintain respect for himself and his country, with scanty thanks for such services as he did render, and dealing with a court not too well pleased with its treatment by his government-all this must be taken into consideration in forming any judgment. A just consideration of these circumstances must lead to a conclusion that William Carmichael, if not an unqualified success as a diplomat, was far from being a "highly unsuccessful minister." BIBLIOGRAPHY PRINCIPAL SOURCES The Papers of the Continental Congress, Letters of William Carmichael, 88, Vols. I and II, Library of Congress, Manuscripts Division. Quoted as Carmichael MSS. Thomas Jefferson Papers, Library of Congress, Manuscripts Division. Quoted as Jefferson MSS. Wharton's Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution. 6 volumes. Quoted as Wharton. Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States, 1783-1789. 7 volumes. Quoted as Dipl. Cor. B. F. Stevens, Facsimiles of Manuscripts in European Archives Relating to America, 1773-1783. Quoted as Stevens, Facsimiles. David Humphreys Papers, Archives of Department of State. Quoted as Humphreys MSS. William Short Papers, Archives of Department of State. Quoted as Wm. Short MSS. American State Papers, Foreign Relations, Vol. I. Quoted as Am. St. Papers, For. Rel. |