ubjects, because I
shall insert in this letter a copy of a paper, which at my request he
wrote to me on them. That paper will speak for itself. You will be at
no loss to form a judgment of the mode in which he proposed to
reconcile us, by what he called a conciliatory line. We discussed very
freely the propriety of my objecting to proceed with the Count
d'Aranda; and among other reasons, which induced him to think I ought
to go on, was my having already conferred with him on those subjects.
My answer to this was obvious, viz. that though I had heard Count
d'Aranda's propositions, yet that I had offered none of any kind
whatever.

On the 6th of September, M. de Rayneval wrote me the following letter.

M. DE RAYNEVAL TO JOHN JAY.

Translation.

"Versailles, September 6th, 1782.

"I have the honor, Sir, to send you as you desired me, my personal
ideas on the manner of terminating your discussions about limits with
Spain. I hope they will appear to you worthy to be taken into
consideration.

"I have reflected, Sir, on what you said to me yesterday of the
Spanish Ambassador's want of powers. You cannot in my opinion urge
that reason to dispense treating with that Ambassador, without
offending him, and without contradicting the first step you have taken
towards him. This reflection leads me to advise you again to see the
Count d'Aranda, and to make him a proposition of some sort or other on
the object in question. That which results from my memoir appears to
me the most proper to effect a reasonable conciliation; but it is for
you to judge whether I am mistaken, because you alone have a knowledge
of the title, which the United States can have to extend their
possessions at the expense of nations, whom England herself has
acknowledged to be independent.

"As to the rest, Sir, whatever use you may think proper to make of my
memoir, I pray you to regard it at least as a proof of my zeal, and of
my desire to be useful to the cause of your country.

"I have the honor to be, with perfect consideration, yours, &c. &c.

RAYNEVAL.

"_P. S._ As I shall be absent for some days, I pray you to address
your answer to M. Stenin, Secretary to the Council of State, at
Versailles.

"I must desire you not to let the perusal of the following memoir make
you forget the postscript of th