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Spanish Record of the British Parliament's reaction to the British Surrender at Saratoga -- Written and Translated By The Mayor of Madrid, an Erstwhile Colonial Official in Cuba

Unpublished Spanish contemporary manuscript translation of the British Parliamentary proceedings in the wake of reports of General Burgoyne's surrender to General Horatio Gates on October 17, 1777, including translations of Burgoyne's letter of surrender at Saratoga and Gates reply to Burgoyne.

The British surrender to American forces at Saratoga was a landmark event in the American Revolution, which stopped the British from separating New England from the rest of the colonies.  This American military success was one of the deciding factors in establishing support for the American Revolution in both France and Spain. 

The volume was compiled by Don Josef Antonio de Armona, who is styled on the title page as "Coregidor [sic] de la Villa de Madrid." The manuscript is executed in a handsome and very neat italic hand. Armona lists on the title page the subjects of the debates, here translated:

On the War with Her North American Colonies: the Battle of Saratoga, in which the entirety of the English army, commanded by General Burgoñe, was taken as prisoner of war; the Parliamentary review of the state of the nation; of the expenses of the war; of the army and naval forces available for the continuation of the war; and on the conduct of their ministers. Proposed bills and decrees agreed to by the King, to treat peace with the colonies, dispatching to them (as they dispatched) authorized commissioners.

The title page then notes, with bold emphasis by underlining:

The Colonies, now denominated: The United States of America, have defeated the English power and by solemn act in its general assembly, has declared itself a free and independent sovereign power in the same year of 1778 [sic].

Though largely a compilation of Spanish translations from printed English sources, the final two pages contain Armona's summarizing editorial commentary on Burgoyne's actions, here translated into English:

Albany.

Herein it has just been learned that J. Burgoyne, Lieutenant General of the Armies of His Britannic Majesty in America, Colonel of the regiment of light dragoons, governor of Fort William in North Britain, one of the representatives of the Commons of Great Britain in Parliament, and Commander of an army and fleet, destined for a famous expedition from Canada, that this General, ever at the forefront of his success, and his success ever overflowing with good health, famous for his bravery and discipline, who has but to release the reins on the thousands of savage Indians at his command, to force into their duty, the hardened colonists, enemies of Great Britain: that this famous General, delayed for a moment in the environs of this city [Albany], on his way to Saratoga for England; and that he returns with a permission or passport issued by His Excellency General Gates, who had never been a representative in Parliament.  

Who would have believed that when John Burgoyne stated to Parliament that he could cover the entire continent of America with only fifty men, that he would have to keep his word so soon!

Though Spain had secretly provided aid to the Americans in the form of loans and military supplies as early as 1776, it was reluctant to openly declare war against the British, largely due to concern that a sovereign United States might threaten Spanish interests, both as a competing power and inspiration to Spain's American colonies. However, given their involvement and pressure to ally with the French, reports on the war and the debates in Parliament were intensively reviewed by the Spanish government. The present volume was likely compiled for those very inquests, by a capable Madrid-based official proficient in English.

The volume includes the text of the full convention of surrender between Burgoyne and Gates, a roster of the dead, wounded, and captured at Saratoga, correspondence between Gates and Burgoyne, resolutions of Lord Shelburne, George III, Chatham, and a letter of Louis XVI to George II on American independence.

Contents:

• Arenga del Rey de Ynglaterra el dia veinte de Noviembre de 1777, en la abertura del Parlamento.
• Debates del Parlamento de Londres desde el dia tres de Diciembre de 1777, sobre los negocios presentes.
• El Lord Shelburne añadio contra el Secretario de la Guerra.
• Sesion del 20 de Noviembre de 1777.
• Debates de la Sesion de el 2 de Diciembre de 1777.
• Sesion del Viernes 5 de Diciembre de 1777.
• Debates de la Sesion de once de Diciembre en la Camara de los Pares.
• Discurso del Conde de Chatam.
• Camara de los Comunes.
• Sesion del Lunes 2 de Febrero de 1778
• Carta del General Gates (de los Colonos) al Lord Tanet, Miembro del Parlamento, lehida en la Camara
• [translation of Lord North's proposal of Feb. 17, 1778, prefaced by remarks that suggest a newspaper source:] El martes 17 de Febrero, El Lord Nort [i.e. North] hizo a la Camara la proposicion que ya havia anunciado ocho dias antes. Ella fue precedida de una introduccion, ó arenga, que duro mas de dos horas, cuya substancia daremos otra semana para poder tratar afondo, de tan importante asunto. Ahora nos limitaremos a decir, lo que el Ministro llama: La basa de su Plan.]
• Camara de los Comunes. Sesion del Martes 17 de Febrero de 1778.
• Declaracion de el Rey de Francia A.S.M. Britanica.
• En la misma Sesion del Parlamento, se explico el Duque (segun otra version) en los terminos siguientes.
• Piezas Justificativas que acompañan los despachos remitidos por el General Burgoyne de 13 de Octubre de 1777.
• Minutas del Consejo de Guerra, celebrado sobre las alturas de Saratoga el 19 de Octubre de 1777.
• Minutas del Consejo de Guerra, tenido por todos los oficiales Generales los oficiales del estado menor y los Capitanes Comandantes de algunos cuerpos sobre las alturas de Saratoga. Al trece de Octubre de 1777.
• Estado de los muertos, heridos, y prisioneros del Exercito Yngles hasta el dia 12 de Octubre, mientras que se puede tener otro mas exacto.

The final three items: 

• General Burgoyne's letter of surrender to General Horatio Gates dated August 30, 1777 (on the Hudson River): Carta del General Burgoyne a el General Gates, de su Quarteles General sobre el Rio Hudson a 30 de Agosto de 1777.
• Gates's Response dated September 2, 1777: Respuesta del General Gates del Quartel del Exercito del los Estados Unidos - a 2 de Septiembre de 1777.
• Burgoyne's letter to the British Minister of War explaining his surrender: Carta del General Burgoyne al Ministro de la Guerra despues de su Capitulacion. 

The significance to Spain of the news of Gates victory at Saratoga in the fall of 1777 has been pointed out by Thomas E. Chávez in his book on Spain and the Independence of the United States (2002):

News of Gates' victory at Saratoga on 17 October 1777 reached Europe as early as 3 December 1777. On December 13th, in Paris, the Conde de Aranda commented to Franklin about Burgoyne's defeat and stated that he believed that "the moment had come" for Spain to act. The Americans had reason for their enthusiasm, for they had ruined the British strategy to cut them in half... When Great Britain lost the battle at Saratoga, the Parliament realized, perhaps for the first time, that they might not win the war... The British Parliament ...authorized a commission... to make an offer to end the rebellion ... Word of London's desire to end the war was exactly what Vergennes [the French minister] did not want to hear. If Great Britain succeeded... France's opportunity to inflict a crippling blow on its traditional enemy would be lost. ... France did, indeed, seem to note Great Britain's reaction to Saratoga, but Spain, with the very stable Floridablanca at the helm, maintained its patient course ... Carlos III and his ministers had been preparing for an anticipated confrontation since the previous war. The government had been sending instructions in expectations of war. - Chávez, pages 69-71.

A remarkable historical document, compiled by a noted Spanish official who spent the early part of his career in Cuba, and a unique item reflecting Spain's involvement and interest in the American Revolution, shedding light on the political situation in Spain leading up to its alliance with France in 1779.

The compiler and translator

José Antonio de Armona y Murga (1726-1792), a prominent Spanish official and historian, was born in Respaldiza, in the province of Álava. He studied under the Jesuits and at early age became proficient in both French and English, the latter clearly indicated by the present manuscript translation from English source documents. During the reign of Fernando VI he worked as a contador de almojarifazgos (accountant of the treasury), an important office concerned with the control of fraud, especially in shipments arriving from America. In 1764 he moved to Cuba where he reorganized the postal system as well as the transportation and trade routes between certain Spanish ports and many of the Spanish colonies including Guatemala, Campeche in Mexico, Cartagena, Santa Fe de Bogotá, and Cuba. He returned to Spain in 1776 taking an official post in Galicia before being appointed Corregidor of Madrid by Carlos III after the death of the incumbent Andrés Gómez de la Vega. Armona remained Corregidor of Madrid until his death in 1792. Deeply interested in history, Armona amassed an impressive private library of important historical manuscripts, including many relating to Spanish colonial possessions in America. His books and manuscripts were sold by his heirs to Pascual de Gayangos, who dispersed the collection.

Provenance:

Dr. Jorge Beato Nuñez (his private library stamp)