8 Thomas Jefferson Letters to Bernardo Gálvez
Thomas Jefferson, acting as the diplomatic representative of Virginia, wrote Bernardo de Gálvez, Spain’s governor in Louisiana and commanding general of forces of the Gulf Theater. The first letter describes the potential for trade, requests for loans, and proposes border crossings.
To Bernardo de Gálvez
Williamsburg November 8th. 1779
Sir
…Our Vicinity to the State over which you immediately preside; the direct channel of Commerce by the River Mississippi, the nature of those Commodities with which we can reciprocally furnish each other, point out the advantages which may result from a close Connection, and correspondence, for which on our part the best Foundations are laid by a grateful Sense of the Favors we have received at your Hands. Notwithstanding the pressure of the present War on our people, they are lately beginning to extend their Settlements rapidly on the Waters of the Mississippi; and we have reason to believe, that on the Ohio particularly, and the Branches immediately communicating with it, there will in the Course of another Year, be such a number of Settlers, as to render the Commerce an object worth your notice. From New Orleans alone can they be tolerably supplied with necessaries of European Manufactures, and thither they will carry in Exchange Staves (lumber) and Peltry (animal hides) immediately, and Flour pork and Beef, as soon as they shall have somewhat opened their Lands. For their Protection from the Indians, we are obliged to send and station among them, a considerable armed Force; the providing of which with cloathing, and the Friendly Indians with necessaries, becomes a matter of great Difficulty with us…
With this view Governor (Patrick) Henry in his Letters of January 14 and 26th 1778 solicited from Your Nation a loan of money which your Excellency was so kind, as to undertake to communicate to Your Court. The Success of this application we expect to learn by Col. Rogers, and should not till then have troubled you with the same Subject, had we not heard of Mr. Pollock’s distress. As we flatter ourselves that the Application thro’ the intervention of your Excellency may have been successful, and that you may be authorized to advance for us some loans in money, I take the Liberty of soliciting you in such Case, to advance for us to Mr. Pollock Sixty five Thousand Eight Hundred fourteen & ⅝ Dollars. Encompassed as we are with Difficulties, we may fail in doing as much as our Gratitude would prompt us to, in speedily replacing these Aids; But most assuredly nothing in that way within our Power will be left undone…
By Col. Rogers I hope also to learn your Excellency’s Sentiments, on the Other proposition in the Same Letters, for the establishment of corresponding Posts on Your Side and ours of the Mississippi, near the mouth of the Ohio, for the promotion of Commerce Between us. After returning our most cordial thanks to your Excellency for the friendly Disposition you have personally shewn to us, and, assuring you of our profound Respect and Esteem, beg Leave to Subscribe myself, Your Excellency’s most obedient, and most humble Servant,
TH: JEFFERSON
“From Thomas Jefferson to Bernardo de Gálvez, 8 November 1779,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-03-02-0174The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 3, 18 June 1779 – 30 September 1780, ed. Julian P. Boyd. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1951, pp. 167–170.
A second letter by Jefferson to Gálvez, January 29, 1780. This describes the loss of Spanish aid and a request for further help.
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-27-02-0609
To Bernardo de Gálvez
Williamsburg January 29th. 1780.
Sir
I had the Honor of writing to your Excellency the last month expressing hopes that by the return of Colo. (David) Rogers we should receive information on the Subject of a Loan of Money formerly solicited through the intervention of your Excellency by my Predecessor Governor (Patrick) Henry.
Colo. Rogers however was unhappily surprised and killed on his return by the Indians together with about 20 others of his escort and with them we lost a valuable Cargo of Goods formerly carried for us from New Orleans to St. Louis and then going under his care up the Ohio. I thought it necessary to Notify this unfortunate event to your Excellency, that if you should have sent by him any dispatches for this Government you might be apprised of their fate and repair the Loss by taking the trouble of transmitting duplicates. I have the Honor to be with every Sentiment of Esteem and respect Your Excellency’s most Obedt. & most humble Servant
TH: JEFFERSON
“From Thomas Jefferson to Bernardo de Gálvez, 29 January 1780,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-27-02-0609
The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 27, 1 September–31 December 1793, ed. John Catanzariti. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1997, p. 688.