Spain, as well as France, was then in alliance with America, and the minister was everywhere received with respect and kindness.

The French officers at Ferrol wore cockades in honor of the Triple Alliance, combining a white ribbon for the French, a red one for the Spanish, and a black one for the Americans.
The United Powers proposed demands which were ominous of disappointment to the Minister .-- On the 12th of December he wrote:--"It is said that England is as reluctant to acknowledge the independence of America, as to cede Gibraltar, the last of which is insisted upon, as well as the first." The travellers reached Paris about the middle of February, 1780.

John Adams mentioned a singular coincidence in his letter announcing their arrival.

"I have the honor to be lodged here with no less a personage than the Prince of Hesse-Cassel, who is here upon a visit.

We occupy different apartments in the same house, and have no intercourse with each other, to be sure; but some wags are of opinion, that if I were authorised to open a negotiation with him, I might obtain from him as many troops to fight on our side of the question, as he has already hired to the English against us!" The American Revolution has wrought wonderful changes since that day.