From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 11 April 1783
To the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston)
Paris 11 Ap. 1783
Dear Sir
I wrote you a short Letter on the 7th. Inst.1 certain Intelligence has since arrived from England, that the Duke of Portland2 is first Lord of the Treasury, Mr Fox & Ld. North Secretaries of State, and Ld. John Cavendish Chancellor of the Exchequer. It is also said that Lord Stormont3 is Presidt. of the Council and the Duke of Manchester4 Embassador to Versailles. I hear that Mr. David Hartley is appointed to conclude a definitive Treaty with us.5
The Emperor and Russia have been requested in their mediatorial Capacity, to send Plenipotentiaries to assist at the definitive Treaties.6 The true Motives to this Measure can as yet, be only conjectured: The ostensible one is, a mark of Respect to their offered but not accepted Mediation. The Proposition originated here. Their answer is expected daily—it is whispered that Russia consents.
Safe opportunities of sending important Letters from Hence to Madrid are so very rare, that I think your’s for that Place had better be always conveyed directly to Cadiz or other ports in Spain, where some American of Confidence may be settled.
Numberless applications for Consulships continue to be made, & some will probably reach you. In my opinion Americans only should be employed to serve America. I early entertained this Opinion, & it has been almost daily gathering Strength since my arrival in Europe. I have the Honor to be Sir with great Esteem & Regard Your most obt. & very hble Servt
John Jay7
The Hon’ble R. R. Livingston Esqr Secy &c &c.
ALS, DNA: PCC, item 89, 2: 460 (EJ: 11915). Marked: No. 1. Dft, NNC (EJ: 7961). LbkCs, DNA: PCC, item 110, 3: 2–3 (EJ: 4245); NNC: JJ Lbk. 2.
2. William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland.
3. David Murray, viscount Stormont.
4. George Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester.
5. Hartley had opposed the war and favored reintegration of American trade into that of the British Empire on favorable terms. He arrived in Paris on 24 Apr. and reported that he found the American commissioners ready to conclude both a trade agreement and a definitive treaty. See , 1: 836. On Hartley’s instructions, and subsequent conduct of trade negotiations, see the editorial note “Negotiating a Trade Agreement,” on pp. 373–86; and Harlow, Second British Empire, 1: 461–92. On the definitive treaty, see the editorial note “Signing the Definitive Treaty” on pp. 362–67.
6. Declarations certifying the role of the mediators were attached to the French and Spanish treaties and signed by Florimond Claude Mercy d’Argenteau for Joseph II of Austria, and Prince I. S. Bariatinski and A. I. Markov for Russia. , 436.
7. This letter, along with that of 7 Apr., may be one referred to in JJ to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 1783, below, as carried by Mr. Mason. Congress received it on 12 Sept. 1783. See , 20: 669–70; and , 7: 314–16.