Gardoqui and Sons of Bilbao: the Spanish supply line to the Continental Army, 1777-1778

While refusing both alliance and recognition, the Spanish crown routed material aid to the Continental Army through a Bilbao merchant house. Arthur Lee's papers, printed by resolution of Congress in 1829, carry the terms Spain offered at Vitoria in 1777, the order to ship naval stores from Bilbao the moment the Court of Spain furnished the money, an invoice for 1,926 Palencia blankets sent to Cape Ann in 1778, and the price Spain later named for a loan: Florida and ship timber.