d as a
commercial and political agent from the United States. He lived with
Mr Deane for some time in Paris, and aided him in his correspondence
and the transaction of his affairs. It was suggested by the Prussian
Minister, that the King would be pleased with information respecting
American commerce, and would receive at Berlin any American who could
give such information. Mr Deane proposed the enterprise to Mr
Carmichael. He performed the journey in the autumn of 1776, by way of
Amsterdam.

From Berlin he returned to Paris, where he lived on intimate terms
with the American Commissioners, occasionally executing specific
duties at their request, for more than a year, till he sailed for his
native country. He arrived at Boston in May, 1778, and soon afterwards
received an appointment which had recently been conferred on him by
Congress, as Secretary to the Commissioners at the Court of France. It
does not appear that he ever accepted this appointment, for on the
19th of November following he took his seat in Congress as a delegate
from Maryland.

Mr Carmichael remained in Congress till Mr Jay was elected Minister
Plenipotentiary to the Court of Spain. He was chosen Secretary of
Legation to the same Mission on the 28th of September, 1779, and went
to Spain in company with Mr Jay, and remained with him during the
whole of that Minister's residence in Madrid. When Mr Jay joined Dr
Franklin in Paris, June, 1782, to aid in the negotiations of peace, Mr
Carmichael was left as _Charge d'Affaires_ at the Court of Spain.
After the peace he was regularly commissioned in that character by
Congress, and recognized as such by the King of Spain.

He continued to reside there in the same capacity during the term of
the old Confederation, and for some time after the organization of the
new government under Washington. In the year 1793, Mr Short was joined
with him in a commission for negotiating at Madrid a treaty between
Spain and the United States. Several months were passed in this
attempt, but without success. Mr Carmichael returned soon afterwards
to the United States.

THE

CORRESPONDENCE

OF

WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.

* * * * *

TO THE COMMITTEE OF SECRET CORRESPONDENCE.

Amsterdam, November 2d, 1776.

Gentlemen,

Previous to your attention to what follows, it will be necessary for
you to know that I have lived with Mr Deane