To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 3 May 1783
From David Hartley
ALS: Library of Congress
Paris May 3 1783
My Dear friend
The Duke of Manchester7 is come. I have seen Mr Adams & Mr Jay8 this Morning. They both intend to pay their respects to his Grace I believe this evening or tomorrow morning—9 I have not seen Mr Jay but I presume he will do the same. I take the liberty to inform you of this.
Yours ever affecly
D H.
Addressed: To Dr Franklin / &c &c &c / Passy
Endorsed: Mr Hartley May 3. 1783
7. The new British ambassador to the French court; see his letter of May 7.
8. A slip of the pen; Hartley meant Laurens. JA was at Hartley’s residence on May 3 when Laurens came in. Their discussions about the English maintaining garrisons in North America and “carrying places” or portages for the fur trade, and the need for clarifying the northeastern boundary of the United States, are described in Butterfield, John Adams Diary, III, 118–19.
9. Ignoring French etiquette (which would have required that the “last comer make the first Visit”), JA attempted to visit the duke that evening but he was not at home. The duke returned the visit either the following day or the day after that: Butterfield, John Adams Diary, III, 118–19.