CHAPTER IV CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES The death of the Spanish King Carlos III, December 14, 1788, coming just on the eve of the institution of a new government in the United States, brought a new difficulty in its train for Carmichael. The enemies of the Count de Florida Blanca, observing the approaching end of the king, who had so fully trusted him, had gathered in a disaffected group about the Count de Aranda. Among them were former associates of Carmichael whom he now avoided.2 The new king, Carlos IV, now forty years of age, and dominated by his queen, announced his retention of the ministry of his father. Speculation continued, however, as to the probable successor of Florida Blanca, and the favorites of the queen, two brothers of Estremadura, named Godoy, let it be known that there would soon be a successor. In the midst of these court plots, Florida Blanca continued his work, as his health permitted, too proud to seek the favor of the queen to retain his post. Carmichael marked time until orders should come.1 6 Affairs in Morocco and Algiers concerned him somewhat during the year 1789. In Morocco the Emperor still continued friendly, and Jefferson, just prior to leaving Paris, had, at Carmichael's request,5 sent a letter of thanks to the Emperor through Joseph Chiappi, our agent at his court. The result was evident when an American vessel The Polly of Salem, returning from Cadiz to Salem with a cargo of salt, was captured by two Moorish cruisers. The captains were severely reprimanded by the Emperor and the vessel released with liberal supplies. The peace with Morocco seemed 7 1 Jefferson MSS., Carmichael to Jefferson, Dec. 14, 1788. Ibid., Carmichael to Jefferson, Aug. 13, 1789. Ibid., Jefferson to Guiseppe Chiappi, Sept. 9, 1789. Ibid., Maurice Roberts to Carmichael, Aug. 7, 1789, inclosure in Carmichael to Jefferson, Aug. 13, 1789. assured as long as this Emperor ruled. In Algiers the American captives, now reduced to fourteen by six deaths from the plague, and one ransomed by friends, were still cared for by the Spanish Consul, Las Heras, although Carmichael had been instructed by Jefferson to have him discontinue such aid. Their lot had not been such a hard one, as the new Dey, formerly the Minister of Marine, favored the Americans and employed several about the palace. Las Heras, now anxious for his money, made a draft on Carmichael for the amount he had expended, 833 sequins ($1875.37). This bill, and that of Count d'Expilly, his predecessor, Carmichael forwarded to Jefferson, requesting him to take them with him to the United States, and urge their payment. Bitter complaints from the captives continued to reach Carmichael for some years.10 Another request made of Jefferson at this time was that he urge the need of giving Carmichael the title of Minister.11 This request Carmichael based on the etiquette of the Spanish Court where precedence for purposes of audience was thus decided. He himself had never troubled Congress with demands for money or title, although he grew "every year poorer." As he told Jefferson, "I do not ask the salary of a Minister, but I wish to have the Title for their interests, because the Etiquette here is so much to the advantage of the Ambassadors and Ministers." The reply of Jefferson must have been most gratifying to Carmichael, and probably led him to entertain false hopes when he learned through Jay 12 that Jefferson was chosen as Secretary of State. In his reply Jefferson promised to use his time in America "to profit of any good occasion which may occur to show the difference between your real situation and what it ought to be." 13 Ibid., Capt. O'Bryan to Jefferson, July 7, 1790. Ibid., Carmichael to Jefferson, Jan. 26, 1789, Aug. 13, 1789. 10 Ibid., Carmichael to Jefferson, Jan. 26, 1789; Archives of Dept. of State, D. Humphreys to Secretary of State, Sept. 27, 1791. 11 Jefferson MSS., Carmichael to Jefferson, Jan. 26, 1789. 13 Dipl. Cor., VI, 415, Jay to Carmichael, Oct. 27, 1789. " Jefferson MSS., Jefferson to Carmichael, May 8, 1789. Jefferson's departure from Paris, in September, 1789, left Carmichael isolated in Madrid. He had no correspondence with William Short, left as Chargé d'Affaires at Paris, and the disorders attendant on the French Revolution would have prevented regular communication with him. The return of Don Diego Gardoqui to Spain,11 about the same time, cut off another opportunity for communication, since the Spanish packet boats to New York were discontinued. This isolation was rendered more complete by the interception of his letters, probably by one of his servants in the pay of Count Cabarrus.15 This interception was prompted by the interest aroused as to the attitude the United States would assume in the "Nootka Sound" controversy with Great Britain, 1789-1790, if war were to follow. The only sign of any activity on the part of Carmichael in the year 1790 is found in the success of his representations on the question of the return of fugitive slaves from East Florida. Jay had urged new representations on this subject just as he was leaving office.16 Orders finally reached Governor Quesada, of that province, to allow no refuge to such fugitives. Governor Quesada notified the Spanish Chargé d'Affaires, Don Joseph de Viar, at Philadelphia, who communicated the good news to Jefferson. Jefferson received this letter while at Monticello, and wrote Viar to convey his thanks to the king,17 and later sent a similar letter to Quesada.18 The death of the friendly Emperor of Morocco took place in that year. His son and successor proved quite different. He declared war on Spain immediately, but suffered the loss of several of his own vessels in the conflict.19 This news led to a message to Congress from President Washington on Barbary affairs which was submitted to Jefferson for his report. Jeffer 14 Dipl. Cor., VI, 271, Gardoqui to Jay, Oct. 3, 1789. 15 Carmichael MSS., Carmichael to Jefferson, Jan. 24, 1791. 16 Dipl. Cor., VI, 415, Jay to Carmichael, Oct. 2, 1789. 17 Jefferson MSS., Jefferson to Viar, Oct. 27, 1790. 18 Ibid., Jefferson to Quesada, March 10, 1791. 10 Ibid., Short to Jefferson, Oct. 27, 1790. son reported that a new treaty with Morocco would have to be made and that the captives in Algiers should be ransomed. A resolution of the Senate advised the President to undertake both of these provided the ransom did not exceed forty thousand dollars.20 Since negotiations for a treaty with Spain had been broken off by the departure of Gardoqui, and the question of an outlet for the growing West left unsettled, Jefferson now planned to have Carmichael press the question of the navigation of the Mississippi. For this he prepared an exhaustive brief, recapitulating all of the arguments formerly used, and labeled it, "Heads of Consideration on the Navigation of the Mississippi for Mr. Carmichael." 21 In this he argued for the right (1) by Nature; (2) by Treaty, and urged that Spain had better yield the right from choice than from necessity. His conclusion was that the United States was a safer neighbor for Spain than was England, for, "Conquest not in our principles: inconsistent with our government, not to our interest to cross the Mississippi for ages and will never be to our interest to remain united to those who do." This brief was prepared August 2, 1790, and submitted to President Washington along with a letter to Carmichael of the same date, and both, receiving his approval, were entrusted to Colonel David Humphreys, who was to deliver them to Mr. Carmichael at Madrid. Colonel Humphreys was selected because of his knowledge of the situation in the West and was to add oral information to the written dispatches. After spending such time with Carmichael as the latter judged necessary, Colonel Humphreys was to repair to Lisbon to enter into conversations with the Portuguese Ministry concerning an exchange of ministers.22 To understand the situation in Spain prior to Colonel Humphreys' arrival much must be conjectured. Carmichael 30 Ibid., LX, p. 10409. 21 Ibid., LVI, p. 9678. "Am. St. Papers, For. Rel., I, 127, Message of President Washington to U. S. Senate, Feb. 18, 1791. had only one visit of importance from an American during this period, and that visit from Lewis Littlepage, a Virginian, then prominent in Polish affairs. Littlepage had served as a volunteer in the family of the Duc de Crillon at Minorca, and as his aide in the unsuccessful siege of Gibraltar, hence was well known in Spain.25 He and Carmichael had talked over the "Nootka Sound" controversy resulting from the seizure of two British fishing vessels in Nootka Sound by Spanish vessels on the charge that they were encroaching on Spanish territory. Littlepage promised to write Jefferson "to make some political communications of a secret nature to the President respecting the late contestations between the Courts of Madrid and London." 24 He had indeed written to President Washington from Madrid while the contest was apparently inevitable, and forwarded the letter through the Marquis de La Fayette. The letter of Littlepage is the only confirmation of Carmichael's claim that he was fully informed of the progress of affairs in the crisis, so vital in its bearing on the fortunes of the United States, unless we add the statement of Colonel Humphreys that Carmichael showed him copies of many letters and confidential documents sent to Jefferson but never received.2 Another factor entering into the Spanish situation was the mission of Gouverneur Morris, sent as the personal agent of President Washington to London, in October, 1789. Morris was to press the question of fulfillment of the treaty of 1783 by evacuation of military posts on the part of England and payment of losses due to negro slaves carried from New York by General Carleton. He was also to discover the possibilities of a commercial treaty. The letter of President Washington, serving as credentials for Morris, was innocent of any design against Spain.26 However, a garbled copy of this letter was 23 Carmichael MSS., Carmichael to R. Livingston, Sept. 29, 1782. 24 Jefferson MSS., Lewis Littlepage to Jefferson, March 5, 1791. 25 Ibid., Jefferson to President Washington, April 2, 1791; Archives of Dept. of State, D. Humphreys to Jefferson, Dec. 18, 1790, Jan. 15, 1791. 26 Am. St. Papers, For. Rel., I, 122, Pres. Washington to G. Morris, Oct. 13, 1789. |