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The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
Translation of a letter from Havana dated September 15, 1779, congratulating on a diplomatic arrangement involving Benjamin Franklin ceding provinces to France and Spain, including restitution of Canada and possession of the Floridas, with concerns over recognizing American independence and plans to equip ships for troops to New Orleans.
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Translation of an original letter taken on board the Spanish packet, brought into New York October 13, 1779.
SIR,
Havannah September 15.
I CONGRATULATE you on the arrangement contained in your letter of July 20. How hath Mr. Franklin distinguished himself; assuredly he is a great man to have so contributed to aggrandize the House of Bourbon; for a single citizen to have the power of ceding to the two greatest Kings of the earth provinces entire! His Most Christian Majesty ought to be happy in the restitution of Canada; and ours in the possession of the two Floridas, may God protect them many years. The engagement made by this able American to put them in possession June 10 1780, proves beyond doubt his Plenipotentiary power. Let us now suppose ourselves on the two flanks of independence, will it be astonishing if a few years hence our descendants meet in the middle. All things gravitate to the center. The registering the independence of N. America by our two courts, does not appear to me convenient to our interest. It may again tempt our southern colonies to a second revolt, which may not only ruin us individuals, but one day shake the throne of Spain, and bring it to the lowest ebb. Therefore we wish its revocation. That the great God may preserve us in these dangerous times. We are working day and night to equip many ships, probably to transport our troops to the island of Orleans, to be at hand to take possession of the Floridas.
ANTONIO XUAREZ.
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Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Havannah
Event Date
September 15, 1779
Key Persons
Outcome
restitution of canada to france; possession of the two floridas to spain; engagement to take possession june 10 1780; concerns over recognition of n. america independence and potential southern colonies revolt; equipping ships to transport troops to island of orleans for floridas.
Event Details
Letter congratulates on arrangement in recipient's July 20 letter, praises Mr. Franklin's role in ceding provinces to Bourbon kings, notes happiness over Canada and Floridas, affirms Franklin's plenipotentiary power, worries about recognizing American independence tempting southern colonies revolt and harming Spanish interests, wishes revocation, mentions equipping ships for troops to island of Orleans to take Floridas.